Good for you for not giving up, and more importanly, believing in yourself.
That will make you, not only a better bowler, but a better competitor in the future.
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!
Tenpin, Congrats on sticking it out and to having a good finish. If a bowler has bad timing and erractic speed, makes it real hard to bowl well, but you stuck to it and was determined to work it out (Like every coach tells his players when they get hurt just walk it off.) My first year in Reno in 95, my brother and I were bowling D/S and next us were two guys that averaged 220 (they told anyone that would listen to them) The first game of Doubles they both shoot under 100, one shot a 99 they other a 97. They both put their equipment into their bags and left. I never saw such a thing, not sure how they did the night before, but after one game in Doubles they just quit.
It is not necessarily how one starts, but how they finish is what is important. The 89 in a short time will just be a story to tell others for a chuckle and for a good lesson on anything can happen and never give up.
Still a 665 is good at Nationals and might get you some money back and that can help mend things
Thanks for the story and hope it helps others.
Here Here!! Let me add my congratulations on sticking with it, making the adjustments and having the "marbles" to take that big negative and turn it around. Many bowlers today, especially those like you that average 200+ at home would have packed up and left. You should not be ashamed of the first game, but proud of the fact that you came back to shoot such a good score in singles. I don't know you or where you are from, but if it was possible I'd shake yoru hand right now for showing everyone what it means to be a bowler and showing those who would pack up and leave what it means to have heart, courage and testicular fortitude. Good Show!!
This is just an add on to the theme of this thread. This past year at the US open one of the guys who bowls in my Thursday nite league came out of the box 4 opens 5 bagger open - 182. Then he proceeded to bowl 84 and 90 back to back. I gave him kudos for not withdrawing and bowling all of the qualifying
Just as an aside to what seems to be the major topic of this thread - not the score- but the attitude to not give up, we had one of the guys who bowls in my leaggue bowl in the US Open this year. He starts his first game with 4 opens a 5 bagger and then another open for 182. He then comes back with an 84 and a 90 back to back. I gave him credit for not withdrawing after the first round of qualifying. He ended up over 600 minus for the event. He said he wouldn't withdraw because of the integrity of the game.
Gobo
VROCK:Tenpin, Congrats on sticking it out and to having a good finish. If a bowler has bad timing and erractic speed, makes it real hard to bowl well, but you stuck to it and was determined to work it out (Like every coach tells his players when they get hurt just walk it off.) My first year in Reno in 95, my brother and I were bowling D/S and next us were two guys that averaged 220 (they told anyone that would listen to them) The first game of Doubles they both shoot under 100, one shot a 99 they other a 97. They both put their equipment into their bags and left. I never saw such a thing, not sure how they did the night before, but after one game in Doubles they just quit. It is not necessarily how one starts, but how they finish is what is important. The 89 in a short time will just be a story to tell others for a chuckle and for a good lesson on anything can happen and never give up. Still a 665 is good at Nationals and might get you some money back and that can help mend things Thanks for the story and hope it helps others.
nice. those are some people i'd want on my team.
but seriously, though...tenpin, i really appreciate your sharing your story, and i love that it has such a great ending. you deserve it. it's not often that karma acts so quickly in such a positive manner :)
you are far, far from the only one who's ever gone to nationals with a 200 average and bowled a sub-100 game. in fact, some people do it every year. this may have been my first experience at nationals, but i've been listening to stories about nationals since the year i started bowling (2003-2004).
also--much, much kudos to Gary in the Ebonite booth who wouldn't sell you a ball. it's nice to see that there are still people in this world who believe in more than the almighty dollar.
I'm with you, Guin -- I hope someone shows this to Gary so that he sees that the original poster's appreciation is being shown worldwide.
And for the record, I can't claim any scores under 100 (at least not at Nationals), but I will admit I started doubles last year with a 111 (buhbye brackets).
Mike
I got you topped.... sorta.
Two years ago in Corpus Christi, I opened team even with a 137. Can you say bye bye to Super Brackets along with everything else? Thanks to a couple awesome teammates who kept our team afloat, I managed a small comeback and never gave up. Doubles event I started with a 190 something and finished with a 691 in doubles (partner shot 600) and then tanked again in singles with a sub 550 set.
It doesn't matter how bad you do..... just stick it out. You never know what may happen.
That was me this year, Gopher.
After a 637 team start (playing pretty much up 8 board), I came into D/S with the same mindset. At 1730, my heads weren't fried, but they may as well have been, but I knew I couldn't free-wheel it either. I changed balls and went WAY inside after going 180-166. The third game went 4-bagger, open, 4-bagger, open for 230. The companion doubles team I was with (some guys I didn't know from Jersey) kept telling me how "resilient" I was, basically alluding to the fact that I wasn't giving up. The only thing I was missing with that kind of line was carry. I, as a lefty, left five 8-pins in singles.
All in all, the only thing I might have done differently would have been to buy a Maxim for spares while I was there (since I mistakenly packed my Scout urethane that I couldn't flatten out and it cost me a handful of spares).
I've been doing some research vis-a-vis Super Brackets and I like my chances if my draws work right.
Although I've never rolled a certified game as low as 89 -- or even 100, for that matter -- I'd much rather be able to say I was able to roll an 89 in the nationals than not being able to bowl at all (after 31 consecutive appearances in the prestigious event).
MightyFish: Although I've never rolled a certified game as low as 89 -- or even 100, for that matter -- I'd much rather be able to say I was able to roll an 89 in the nationals than not being able to bowl at all (after 31 consecutive appearances in the prestigious event).
some of us have actually had certified AVERAGES lower than 100. it doesn't make you any less of a bowler; it just shows you how much work you have ahead of you :)
i'm just sayin'.
I too had a my first sub-100 game (95) for the lowest series I've bowled in 8 trips to the nationals (394). about a week before leaving, I went home from work sick. after about 3 days, I went to the doctor and he gave me 2 medications, each of which had the same side effect that I was already suffering from - to put it politely - frequent and sudden urges to vist a rest room! this lasted during our drive from MN to NM, and all the while we were there and all the way back.
so in my defense, I must say that when one refers to a "clean" game - my total concentration was on finishing with clean underwear!!
one didn't dare cough, or I thought I was going to pass gas - not going to be gas !! and to add insult to injury, during the doubles and singles event, we bowled on lanes 1 and 2. I couldn't last for 6 games and had to visit the rest room inbetween doubles and singles. the restrooms were located outside of lane 48 - and down the hallway, at least the length of the lanes!!
everywhere we went while we were down there, I would go to the bathroom before leaving the hotel, and usually as soon as we arrived at what ever site we went to, and then again before leaving and again when we arrived back at the hotel. I was soon all pooped-out for the day (Pun intended!!). I took a lot of naps inbetween trips.
it was a fun trip - but I do think I could have had more fun, had I not been worried about where is the nearest restroom.
Paul Christensen
Osakis MN
Paul:
That trip had to suck. Sorry that anyone has to go through that, let alone on a vacation.
Wow! Paul that downright sucs! I don't have any excuses. i just flat out tanked. Total lack of concentration. Plus a big old dose of humility! I've gotton alot of positive feedback which eases the pain. Hopefully next year I will be more focused. I may try the PBA experience this summer.
