When will the lane conditions be update,  as of today 2-12.   The lane conditions icon tells me it will be updated in Feb.   Just wonering, I bowl Feb 18 and 19,  I'm trying to figure out what equipment to bring.

Help.

There was already a thread on the first page dealing with this topic: http://community.bowl.com/forums/t/86471.aspx

 

well, since it takes 2-5 days to ship balls to the tournament site i guess the guys bowling  the first few days are just screwed as far as having a clue in what to bring, huh?

seems fair

my opinion is, if ya can't get it posted for everyone than don't post it for anyone

I guess,  or at least I am guessing,  I've bowled nationals before, but it's not the same every year.   Another group from my area is going in March with alot of first timers and all I can tell them is it is not like the house shot they normally play.   But on a blind fold pull out the old JOHNNY  PETRAGLIA  black ball  and fire at the head pin.  lol

This is insane.  You people on this forum act like Nationals is the hardest thing someone will ever see in their lives.  For one, we're talking about a 3:1 pattern that will, as always, be soft from multiple angles so anyone with some game will have a fair shake.  Secondly, the pattern is never TOO different year to year...I've bowled the last five years and I think there was maybe a foot or two difference in the pattern from one year to the next.  The only real difference last year from all the years previous was the number of units so the transition didn't get too vicious. 

 If you're good and can repeat shots, you'll bowl well.  For the hacks out there that like to put a good amount of $$ in brackets, hopefully you'll be in the ABQ at the same time I am, since I love taking advantage of all of you each and every year.  Here's hoping that you like bowling in all the side events, too.  Contributors make the bowling world go 'round.  Thanks in advance for helping me pay my college loans.

Lol thank you for the good laugh this morning I always enjoy reading post from people like you, please go ahead and continue to grace us with your superior bowling knowlege, and skill. Us " hacks " will sit back and bask in your glory over all of us...

BTW good luck this year at the nationals, but I guess you don't need luck because you are great....

 

LOL

What can I say???...When ya got it, ya got it

Lol........

We bowl Saturday night. Is it fair to not know the pattern yet? I guess so but this will be my 24th year at the nationals and the shot is never really too much different from year to year. We go in knowing pretty much what we need to look at first and then adapt from there.

What I do find puzzling is why somebody will shoot 2100 all events and then come on here and post exactly how he/she did it! What ball, what line, what speed, etc. etc. I posted this thought numerous times in this forum in the past so it's nothing new but this is the national tournament. Why would I come on here next Monday and tell everybody what the shot is like? Why should some guy bowling in May have three months of feedback from other bowlers to fall back on? It always amazes me that bowlers that go early to the tournament are so willing to tell other bowlers how to beat them at the nationals.

 I know that this is the minority opinion, even my brother who bowls with me disagrees. And I know Riggs disagrees completely! :)

Here we go! Less than 72 hours before we hit the lanes. Good luck everybody!

Gertron, you are right ... but that's because this topic has been BEATEN TO DEATH EVERY YEAR. Doesn't anyone have any original thoughts/topics?

Here is one: How can USBC in good conscience allow people who are going to bowl in the tournament bowl on the pattern as it is being selected in the sweepers in the (this) week leading up to the event? Anyone and everyone who bowls in the tournament should be making their first shots on the tournament lanes when they bowl their first event!  The way I understand it, some of the people who were testing the shot(s) this week are going to be bowling in the tournament. (If not, I retract what I say here.) THAT is an advantage I would love to have.

A lot of folks made a stink about the lane man bowling in the tournament a few years ago but that is a meaningless thing, IMHO, as I told Bowlers Journal then. So long as the pattern is publicly posted so anyone can try it somewhere (other than the USBC tournament lanes) the lane man bowling in the event is no big deal. HOWEVER, being able to actually bowl on the shot on the tournament lanes IS a huge advantage, whether you're the lane man or Joe Bowler.  

If they need to test the patterns, it should be PBA Exempy players (who are ineligible for the USBC tournament), or high school kids or anyone else who will NOT be bowling the tournament! 

 

 

I would have to agree with you on this one.  I would LOVE the chance to bowl on the tournament lanes at some point before my actual scores count.  Sure as hell can't hurt!

Riggs:

Gertron, you are right ... but that's because this topic has been BEATEN TO DEATH EVERY YEAR. Doesn't anyone have any original thoughts/topics?

Here is one: How can USBC in good conscience allow people who are going to bowl in the tournament bowl on the pattern as it is being selected in the sweepers in the (this) week leading up to the event? Anyone and everyone who bowls in the tournament should be making their first shots on the tournament lanes when they bowl their first event!  The way I understand it, some of the people who were testing the shot(s) this week are going to be bowling in the tournament. (If not, I retract what I say here.) THAT is an advantage I would love to have.

A lot of folks made a stink about the lane man bowling in the tournament a few years ago but that is a meaningless thing, IMHO, as I told Bowlers Journal then. So long as the pattern is publicly posted so anyone can try it somewhere (other than the USBC tournament lanes) the lane man bowling in the event is no big deal. HOWEVER, being able to actually bowl on the shot on the tournament lanes IS a huge advantage, whether you're the lane man or Joe Bowler.  

If they need to test the patterns, it should be PBA Exempy players (who are ineligible for the USBC tournament), or high school kids or anyone else who will NOT be bowling the tournament! 

 

 

Riggs,

I have only been posting for a few years and you're right.  You can probably pull the forum topics from the last four years and have exactly the same topics posted.  It's amazing.  I always look to see where the big controversy will be each year.  I remember the stink about the lane guy bowling that you talk about from a few years ago.  I honestly can't remember whether the posting of the lane condition was in practice at that time or if it occurred as a result of the ruckus.   And of course last year, the stink about the winning team being able to change lanes and bowl unopposed.

You may have already unwittingly started the one for this year.  I agree with you, if your thoughts are accurate, about the fairness of letting people bowl the sweepers that will be bowling in the tournament unless the shot is dramatically changed from sweeper to main event.  Frankly, I think that is not fair. 

I also happen to agree with Gertron about people posting their information about balls used, how they lined up, etc.  They don't do a whole lot for me because I have no idea which posters throw the ball the same way I do.  And, no offense to Pat Patterson or Deb because I believe they are sincere, but, you never know who is giving you honest information and who is lying out in the weeds.  One of our local bowlers happened to be out there last weekend, not bowling but watching what was going on and he had a totally different opinion of where the shot was and who was being successful. The best solution is your past history of going to nationals and relying on your instincts after you get there.  Preconceived notions will get you into trouble.   As an example, for the last 17 years, I've gone in late May or June.  This year I am on the opening squad and expect the lanes to play different just because they will not have the same number of games on them that they had when we went in the past.

We fly to Albuquerque tomorrow morning.  I am looking forward to seeing the opening cermonies and events.  We bowl on 41 and 42 for the opening squad.  Gertron, stop by and say Hi.  Good luck to all.

 

Here is a question to all you seasoned Open bowlers. Is this the norm that they allow people to bowl in sweepers before the open so they can decide on what oil pattern to lay out? I guess in a way I can see how this could be an advantage but how many of these people that bowl the sweepers actually won the event?

Riggs - I know, I should have never brought up the topic because it is old and beaten to death! :) I too wondered when I saw the posts from these two people who got to bowl on the lanes before opening night. Seems a little out of line if you ask me because they clearly indicated that they will be bowling the tournament later on. Sorry to resurrect a 'dead horse'. Of course, it never fails that someone will start a thread about 'when will the lane chart be ready?' It never helps us so we don't care!

 Turkeyboy - see you Saturday night. Hope that someone from our group or your group gets to be Joe Bowler!

Doesnt matter if someone won! They could have finished dead last ... they have an idea of what lanes might hook more then another, especially with brand new lanes, the characteristics STAND OUT and other factors besides just bowling on the pattern that might be! There is a reason that when the Masters was held at the Stadiums where the ABC's were that if you wanted to bowl the Masters AND the ABCs you had to bowl your 9 games (Team, D&Ss) before you participated in the Masters. BECAUSE IT IS A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE TO HAVE BOWLED ON ANY OF THE LANES PRIOR TO YOUR Nationals competition! I know a couple of my teammates are going to go out and bowl the Masters next year for that reason....