[240sxDann]

I used to bowl hardcore. I mean like, everyday. Bowled a leage once a week, bowled in state wide competitions on the weekends. Wasn't all that great, but I loved it. I was avaraging maybe 180-ish to 210 depending on the shot laid out and what not. And as for leagues, I'm sure whatever alley is nearest to you has leagues. Just ask. And yea, get your own ball. Trust me, you'll bowl better with a ball fit to your hand, even if it is just plastic. You can pick up a plastic ball for like $40-$50 I think. If even that. Its better for your hand to, because when you use a house ball (the ones they have there to use) its not fit for you, and can hurt your hand. I'd say get it drilled conventional for now (meaning, you have your middle finger and ring finger in the ball up to your 2nd knuckle). Once you get better, you can get a reactive ball and get it drilled fingertip (when your fingers only go in to the first knuckle, this allows you to put spin on the ball to hook it), but for now, learn the basics with conventional.