Now bowling in a league means a lot of idle time between frames while your colleagues take their switch on the lane. Some see that as down time to socialise with others. Little wrong with that. One of the attractions of bowling is the social aspect.

But if you’re making idle chit-chat, sharing gossip, comparing stock exchange portfolios, deliberating business concerns or complaining about your CEO, that is not going to enhance your average.

If, like me, you’re in this to be the finest that you may be, then you’re wasting a handy resource. Socialise all you would like with your league mates, but talk about their game instead of their fave TV shows. Talk to the better bowlers about how they test for conditions and other variables. Do they use the pre-game frames simply to limber up or to tune what adjustments are needed for perfect results once the contest starts? How do they carry out this testing? You need details so you can gain benefit from their experience and start conducting your own pre-game testing. At the same time, focus on what’s occuring around you. If you are finding the lane conditions a little shoddy and are having difficulty hitting your average, try the scoreboard to see who’s having the best success. These are the people you need to consult. Supply a compliment or 2 on how well they are bowling and poke them for data on what adjustments they are making.

Are they slowing their ball down or speeding it up? Putting more spin on the ball or taking something off it? Most leagues have two solid bowlers who like to debate the minutiae of the game. Find them and make them gossip away.

Make psychological notes on what they do to work out of a slump. When they get off to a coarse start, what process do they use to get back on track? Your job is to simply listen and absorb. Use the data and use it on your own game. Keep what works ; drop what does not.

Once you have taken all you are able to get from the talkers and they begin to repeat themselves ( and they may ), move on to the less vociferous bowlers. Raise questions and get them chatting. It’s more work getting important pointers from them, but it is really worth the effort. I learned a very important lesson last season from one of the finest bowlers in our league. You want to let the more chilled, quiet folks know that you really value their input. Point out that you are not the type who resents helpful feedback. I am a good thirty pins under where I need to be average-wise. I know the most effective way to get where I am going is to take direction from better bowlers. This one night I was having a rotten time, missing all my strikes and spares, making adjustments that were not helping. I was well below my average and at my wit’s end.

Half-way thru the 3rd and last game, a high-roller on the competing team saw my disappointment and offered a well-intended observation. “I hate to say anything, but all night you have been dropping your shoulder and not following through.” I could not believe it! It seemed to be a total beginner mistake. I shut my eyes, took a big breath and recounted : “Now you tell me!” His answer was a genuine eye-opener. He claimed he never asserts anything because he learned to bowl from his pa, who would critique his game and give him pointers. He announced it drove him nuts to the point that he nearly give up the game a number of times. Now I had been bowling in the same league with this fellow for 6 years or more. I assumed we had become very good buds, but I hadn’t got any idea why he never let out a comment or beneficial hint. I realized he saw me as the contest and wished to keep his edge. Turns out he was being considerate. He believed I’d be insulted. Since that point, he has become my go-to guy when I am having a bad night. He doesn’t offer recommendation to anybody else. But I am getting all of the help I need just because I tell him what a high price I place on anything he will offer. Life and turning into a better bowler can be very simple infrequently.