Well, I have returned from my 20th visit to the USBC Nationals tournament. Man what a time it was. I average 205 at home and consider myself a house bowler. I was pretty confident going into team event Sunday night. After a winter season that changed my delivery and had me scoring better. Spares were becoming more efficient. Strikes were plentiful, I had a great season. Then it happened! I shoot an 89 in the first game of team. WOW!!!! talk about being slammed. I was embarrassed to say the least.All kind of emotins ran though my head. I did manage 150's to finish with another slam of 387!!! I have been bowling for 36 years and cannot remember bowling that low in competition. Ready to toss my equipment right down route "66", I gathered myself and pouted all the way back to Double Tree. When I awoke the next morning I was determined to purchase a new ball. I walked over to the convention center to browse the pro shops. There was not many open at 8:00 AM in the morning. I met a man named Gary who I proceeded to explain my eventful evening. After a long discussion , he said he couldn't sell me a ball, as I had all the equipment I needed. I knew deep down it wasn't the balls but was looking for a way out. I left the booth and proceeded to the Roto Grip Challenge. I had decided to suck it up and work at the two game challenge to find my tempo, spped and accuracy. I didn't care what my score was. I only wanted the nasy taste of an 89 game and 387 series out of my mouth. When finished I felt good that I bowled it. I went on the lanes for 11:30 D&S. I still struggled in doubles but was working towards continues improvement. Finally I started singles and it all came together. 665 in singles and some redemption! I don't know why I wrote this but felt it was something I needed to deal with. Never give up out there. Nationals can be brutal! I hate humility, but it loves me. Thanks USBC for all your humility!! Thanks Gary you were a big help!
I can sympatize with your struggles. Way to hang in there for a great finish. At what booth did you meet Gary?
He could of taken advantage of the situation but choose to show his intregrity. I think someone should let his boss know.
He was at the Ebonite booth. I like honest people, and yes he could have taken advantage. He simply helped a fellow bowler that was mortally wounded from a unrealistic situation.
I like your attitude! You didn't just give up - you sought help and fought back and made a giant improvement. Way to go!
BTW, it happens to bowlers of all levels. Bret Faulkner, who was on our team that won the team in Vegas in 1986 and now is on our No. 2 team, shot a 480-something series in doubles in Toledo in 1991. I suggested a ball change toward the end of doubles and it worked perfect and he shot 819 in singles. And that is only the second highest spread between series in tournament history!
Tenpin, I understand what you are saying. Last year in Reno was my first USBC Open. I have a 200+ on th ehouse china and my only goal heading into Reno was to not embarass myself. Man first game out of the box at the 8:30 team event I shoot 137!!! Man that did the trick. I bounced back with a 190 something and like a 205. The damage was done. I then punished myself and self medicated until 6:30am. Decideded it could not be much worse. Bowled D/S at 2:30 or so and come out with a 279 first game. If nothing else the Open can bring you down to earth. Going this year with bigger goals, hopefully I can reach some of them.
Congrats on sticking with it! It is alot easier to just pack it in and give up. Great bowling in Singles.
Tenpin4983
After reading your post I think the greatest accomplishment you made regarding your bowling is that you have the "STONES" to tell everyone you shot an 89. Lots of people who post will say I didn't bowl very well but not list their series. I applaud you for doing so and for sticking with it.
Gobo
And I thought I was the only one to obtain golf scores on the lanes and bowling scores on the links...Way to turn it around Tenpin4983. If you don't mind my asking, what ball/surface were you using in the team event?
gobo: Tenpin4983 After reading your post I think the greatest accomplishment you made regarding your bowling is that you have the "STONES" to tell everyone you shot an 89. Lots of people who post will say I didn't bowl very well but not list their series. I applaud you for doing so and for sticking with it. Gobo
Being a 220 average house bowler, feeling this will be a good year at Nationals.... Start 473 team, 490 Doubles, and finish with a 594.... How terrible and embarassing... actually felt like the threw the ball well! Just no carry (or the wrong stuff flying about)
Thanks!
I tried everything I brought in team. Brunswick Monster, Wizard, Storm Flash Flood and Hammer Real Deal. All were medium finish. They were not polished or sanded. I played deep, middle and outside. I had 5 splits and a lot of funky leaves. I took out the 3 pin leaving the 1 and the 6 three times. My machanics and speed were all screwed up that night. Before I knew it BAM!!! 89.
I ended up playing straight up with the Flash Flood and the Wizard in singles. I had to SLOW way down to give the ball time to react. This was reinforced my the nice man from the Ebonite booth.
Hey, congrats on sticking with it and making such a big improvement - great singles score! I had a similar experience, except I did not bowl as bad in team, and not as well in singles. I started out in team 511. I was intimidated by how much oil there was on the lanes. Right away I felt like I had to make near perfect shots every time. I let the condition get into my head and it totally messed up my timing. Like you, however, I was bound and determined to improve the next day. As the shot broke down, I bowled better and better. I went 545 in doubles and 596 in singles, my last game was my best (227) and I managed to bowl two clean games out of the nine.
This doesn't sound like much, but like you I am mostly a house bowler average in the two-teens. I have bowled in PBA experience leagues the last two summers (averaging high 180's) but other than that have very little experience on difficult lane conditions. Additionally, I am going for my doctorate right now at night, so I hadn't bowled league since last summer and got in only a couple practice sessions before the tournament. So, given all this, I was actually happy with the way I bowled, although my scores are nothing to write home about. I will probably cash in singles, and that's not bad, all things considered.
I would like to thank Dwagzout for his response to my requests for information in these forums. I thought it was a definite advantage throwing a Pearl Widow in doubles and singles. I did not have to play as far inside.
Sometimes we have to take consolation in winning the battles, if not the war. Heart and desire count for a lot, and can overcome a good deal. Imagine how we could bowl if we actually knew what we were doing!!
To me the one element that is disappearing in the league bowler is heart. Most bowlers would have completely given up instead of keep trying. I commend your efforts. I wish all bowlers would be able to do this instead of give up and complain.
Kudos to your efforts. Also you do have some Kuhunas to admit bowling an 89.
Thanks SD and every one.
The way I see it, the damage is done. I can't go back and do it again. I tried to take a negative and turn it into a positive. The guys at the golf course were rolling on the floor when I told them. Hopefully this will make me a better bowler. I would like to shoot 700 in the nationals someday. Thanks Again
tenpin, don't feel too bad...Last yerar in Reno I shot 123 my first game of team event..I had 900 bucks in brackets so that was up in smoke...But I stuck with it and managed to pull out 600 in team and got most of my bracket money back in doubles and singles and finished with 1920 all events. It just goes to show you that if you stick it out no matter how bad it looks you might be able to turn it around.
pinslayer: tenpin, don't feel too bad...Last yerar in Reno I shot 123 my first game of team event..I had 900 bucks in brackets so that was up in smoke...But I stuck with it and managed to pull out 600 in team and got most of my bracket money back in doubles and singles and finished with 1920 all events. It just goes to show you that if you stick it out no matter how bad it looks you might be able to turn it around.
Shooting a 123 game and still getting a 600 and a 1920 in AE is pretty damn good. My first time at Nationals I shot a 126 my first game. Amazingly I got through 2 brackets and ended up winning one of them. I will echo the statement that if you stick with it, you never know what will happen.
