How much does attitude play into a team’s chemistry?

[Ken Burwell]

I bowled in league last night at Metro and sat back and observed a few things. I started wondering, how much does a person’s attitude play into a team's chemistry? Does a poor attitude prevent a team from being consistent contenders? Does a gung-ho attitude, help a struggling team through a rough stretch? Can a positive attitude and a few words of encouragement or support pick-up a bowler who just missed a spare in the 9th or 10th frame of a close game? Just looking for some comments...

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

What's going on Ken? It was fun bowling yall last night. I think attitude plays a huge part. My team has known each other and bowled in college tournaments for about 3 years together and we just try to have fun. I look at it as captain that I have to use what I know about a person to motivate them. Like our anchor bowler. I know that if I talk trash to him and tell him he can't beat me that he will concentrate and make sure he beats me. and just like you probably saw me get upset, and our female bowler calming me down and talking to me. I think it is more of team chemisty playing a part in attitude if you have that chemisty, than attitude playing a part in chemistry if you don't.

[Ken Burwell]

Martin, your team was one of the reasons I dropped this thread. You guys seemed to be having a good time regardless of what was going on. However, on the next lane, there seemed to be tension brewing as the game progressed. I wonder, if there was more enjoyment in the match, as opposed to stress to win, would the outcome be any different? It was real fun bowling you guys...

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

We are in a slump right now, we haven't won a game in like 3 weeks, but it is more of we cant seemed to get 4 people there consistently. But I used to stress winning and losing until on one thread someone said something that made sense. League is for relieving the stress not creating it. I live for the weekend. Sat. I coach Yaba and Sun. league. I love bowling so it shouldn't be something that causes me to have a heart attack from stress. I like to talk to alot of bowlers to just if nothing get to know people, and I always find someone that is complaing about someone on there team. If you think about it, there is no money in league besides the extra stuff. you spend what $720 to win maybe if you win 1st place $1000. So why not have fun

[Randy Russell]

Good topic Ken,

Our team in Wednesday at AFC is a strange case. We are good friends and have a blast bowling together. We bowl Nationals every year together and usually do well in tournaments. For some reason we are in next to last in a 24 team league. We can't figure out what the problem is, but for some reason we are getting pounded week in and week out. We have fun, laugh, and even joke about our troubles....but the cycle continues.

I have been on tons of teams that don't have positive chemistry, but for some reason win. I really don't know what the winning combination is......if you figure it out please message it to me :)

[Ken Burwell]

Randy, I am trying to find it myself. I bowl in 4 local leagues and I am in the top 5 in all but 1. (I am a sub on that team though) Each team has its own unique circumstances. I guess that when you are winning, it really doesn't matter if you like each other, but when the slump comes, how do you handle it? As Martin said, in a average league, you pay $20.00 per week, $720.00 for the year and in the end, you win about $400 - $500. As one person once told me, if you are looking to win 1st place and retire then you picked up the wrong sport.

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

lol. I like that last sentence Ken. I know the feeling Randy. We started off well. then it just seems to go south. seems like teams are getting ridiculous luck on bad shots, and we can't get the same luck. I was an only child for 10 years and from that you fall into that you can do everything your self and not want to count on a team. Still to this day I love to bowl singles. Just something about being accountable for your self and not having to worry about any one else. but I do love the fun of being on a team

[F.O.X]

unfortunately, there isn't any "I" in "TEAM.

yes, we'd all like to bowl like superstars 95-100% of the time, but that isn't reality. chemistry can help, but if someone is down you try to "pick them up". sometimes without success. win as a team and lose as a team. sometimes you can go the whole game and make three or four spares. yet, guess what. without those spares, as a "team" you could have lost or won.

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

That is true F.o.x. Every pin counts.

[Akil Razzak]

I've been team bowling for about 15years now and I've been on all kinds of teams. There are a couple things I expect and they can expect from me and that is you give me 100% whether it's 150 or 250 and Show up with a possitive attitude. I do bowl to make money so I try to have a competitive team but also a team that pull each other up. Every team has it's points that make them gear up for the competition. I'll never forget we had a good scratch team playing for the Greensboro City Tournament and we were on our way to winning and breaking a record until 1 bowler because he wasn't bowling as well started giving up and missing very easy spares and after back to back 150's we ended up loosong by less than 40 pins. It hurt me that he didn't didn't focus on the team but on how he was bowling and started giving up and missing stuff. To this day I will not bowl on any kind of team or doubles with him...