Tournament Bowling – USBC Bowling Conditions

The USBC National Tournament runs from 04 March – 02 July 2011 in Reno Nevada. This tournament is open to all USBC members 16 or older. The lane conditions found in the weekly leagues across the country are usually not even close to the lane conditions found at the tournament. The averages used are those earned through USBC sanctioned leagues, a minimum of 21 games. The question is this, If you build your average from your weekly league sanctioned by the USBC on the dry conditions these leagues usually have, shouldn’t the bowlers have a right to expect the same dry conditions in the National Tournanment? I believe the answer is no. The shot found at the tournamnet is legal and would be sanctioned at any league bowling house in the country. The reason weekly conditions are so dry and therefore easier to post high scores on boils down to money. If  it is difficult to throw high scores in one house in a city, bowlers will go to another house where you can roll the higher scores. It does not matter to bowling house managers and owners if the integrity of the game is being threatened. It is borne out every time a 200 plus average bowler goes to the national tournament and cannot roll 150 on average. That bowler is not able to cope with the different conditions. How different? Lets say you are a bowler and stand to left on your approach, put the ball down and roll it over the second arrow, (10 board). The ball drifts to the five board, (first arrow) and the hooks into the pocket. You do this every weeek for 34 weeks, (One league season) and carry a 200 average. When you get to the tournanment, you throw the same ball in warmups and it goes into the ditch. That is because from the 10 board out it is flooded with oil and the ball slides. You then have to move inside to find drier areas and you start to miss because you are not used to this shot and it wreaks havoc with your spare shots. Result is very low scores and a disappointed bowler. That bowler probably will not come back to the tournament because there is no place to practice that shot. Also, you need different equipment to cope with heavy oil versus the drier conditions your equipment was built for. Not only is this frustrating but very expensive. Having said all of this, the National Champion in any event should be very versatile and technically accurate bowlers. While any and all bowlers can bowl in this tournament, only the best should succeed. Those house bowlers that are good only in one house or type of shot need to learn to be versatile and bowl on many different conditions. It shows that while the weekly scores and numbers of 300 games are rising, the game is in good hands and is being kept challenging. It really means something to bowl well in the National Tournanment. As it should be.

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Bowling: The Beginning

5000 years ago (approximately), people played a game where you took a ball and tried to knock down ten sticks. This has evolved into the sport we know today as bowling. Those of us who started bowling 30 -40 years ago remember throwing rubber bowling balls down a wooden lane. The object was to knock down all ten pins in two tries. Time passes and now we have plastic, urethane and reactive resin bowling balls, specialized bowling pins and synthetic lanes. The sport has grown and we even have a professional association to allow the most skilled players to show their skill. One thing remains the same. We still try to knock down ten pins with two shots. Kids of all ages lean the game either by watching their parents, taking lessons or watching the pros on television.

Our young children start out by using two hands because physically the balls are too big and heavy for one hand. The Bowling Houses usually provide bumpers to allow small children to knock down pins. This allows kids to participate with other older family members and to enjoy the fun. As we get older and stronger we learn to play bowling by learning the rules, how to keep score and we evolve how to throw the ball as we get stronger. Older children start using house equipment. They find a ball that feels good, insert their fingers into it and learn to control it. Competition starts to pit kids against their friends. Now they start to learn the timing of a well coordinated bowling approach and delivery. Experimentation determines what type of ball they will throw, straight, hook, hard or soft. Most schools have intramural bowling programs and here is where custom fit balls come in. The coaches refine the timing and delivery and scores start to climb. Practice  practice practice is the only way to learn. In climates where you cannot be outside all year round, we take to bowling in the evenings to socialize and competition. Leagues become a part of our lives. If you really get bitten by the bug, you buy new balls every season, track scores and maybe do tournanments as your skills increase. Along the way we have fun, make great friends, travel to great places for tournaments and just enjoy the game. Beginning Bowling Tips

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League Night 16 March 2011

Last night was league night. It is supposed to be the time when all your practice is put to the test. The rest of your team is counting on you and you them. Your team is far down the list in the rankings and your team needs points. You feel good and you think the practice will pay off. Then How Come It Turns To Garbage and Nothing Works? You are hitting your marks, putting the ball where you want it but you just can not seem to score. At nights end, your team loses by less than you are off your average. I know this is hard to take. It happened to me last night. Relax, it happens. Sometimes you just try too hard. I takes a while for the good practice you have put in to pay off. When it happens, I recommend you go back to practice as soon as possible and keep at it. Sooner or later the fundamentally sound bowler will rise to the top. In a sport like bowling, it is all muscle memory and experience. In my case, it was about missing those critical shots at the end of the game. You have to be there and fail a few times before the pressure stops getting to you. Even if you have done this a long time it still takes repetition to make it all click. There are articles written addressing the mental aspects of the game. What I have described above is nothing more than someone not being mentally prepared. It takes as much or more practice to master this aspect of the game than the physical aspects. Just Go Have Fun!

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Bowling, Bowling Experiences

The sport of  Bowling. Many of us have grown up with this sport. This blog will be about what it takes to bowl. The equipment required, bowling balls, bags, shoes and accessories can be confusing. Which do I need for my game and style? The mental aspect is 90% of this game. While it may not take an olympic athlete to compete physically in this sport, the mental aspect of competition is paramount. Some people can not have fun without doing their best.  Losing is not the issue. Execution is the key. If they get beat and they have done their best, they will be very gracious losers. If however, they beat themselves, they will not be happy at all. On the other hand, those who participate just for the socializing or the fun of the game itself, great!

We will explore all aspects of bowling. The art of rolling the ball, review equipment and ask everyone for their bowling experiences, good and bad. From the beginner to the pro, all are welcome and we hope will participate.

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