Tournament time!

[slap]

Believe it or not this will be my first tournament on a 4 person team.
The really fun part is it's being held in CT in my hometown. I have found memories of this bowling center. Whenever there was a snow day and school was canceled, they would have flat fee unlimited bowling. My friends and I would go shovel a few driveways, make a few bucks then hit the bowling center all day!

Also this will be the first time my mom will get to see me bowl in a tournament. Both my parents were avid league bowlers so they passed the bowling bug on to me. Heck I was probably born with it!

Let's break this down...tournament in MY city...at MY old center with MY MOM cheering me on??? Do you think I'm pumped? I'm ready to roll right now and it's only Wednesday!...LOL

In the bag... 5+1

This is a tough one to plan for. It's an AMF house with synthetic lanes. I have no idea on the shot. AMF house shots tend to be higher scoring block patterns but this is a long format tournament so perhaps there will be a higher volume of oil?

I see two scenarios...1. I'm the only lefty on the pair so I'll need create my own shot (ie aggresive, arcing equipment) or 2. there are several lefties and the shot will break down quickly (ie skid/snap, big backend equipment.) Experience tells to to plan for both.

What would you bring?

WMB particle @ 320 Heavy to flood- arc motion
AR1 particle pearl @ 500 Heavy to flood- arc motion
NM solid @ 2000 Heavy- angular

AR2 particle pearl @ compound Medium-Heavy- angular
BW solid @ 2000 Medium-Medium Heavy - angular

AFi solid @ compound Medium - angular
BWP pearl@ 800p Medium - skid/ snap

Toxic pearl@ 4000 matte Medium- Medium Light - skid snap
BV pearl @ 4000p Medium Light- Light- arc

My top two options...

Evenly balanced

WMB
AR2
BW
BWP
BV


Less coverage for heavy

AR1
BW
BWP
AFi
BV

[Thepainscoming]

I would personally go
WMB
BW
AR2
AFI
BV

[Tinkerbell]

Looks like you got it figured out. I think your just nervous as well as pumped. especialy since your mom will be there. But hey don't sweat that one. She will be very proud no matter what. Anyway good luck and let us know how you do. I think you can win the whole thing. :D

[BubbaRay]

Slap, Good luck in the upcomming tournament. One thing and I think you are level headed person, do not try to impress anyone not even MOM. Just go out and be yourself and let your score show how good you are. Your Mom will be impreesed with your performance no matter what. Go into this torunament well rested and with the attitude you can win it. Don't be affraid / nervous / and most of all don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Be yourself.

On another note, I would bring the
NM
BWS
BWP
Toxic
BV and the
AFi solid

[slap]

Yep, I know my gear pretty well but I like to get opinions. Someone might think of something I overlooked.

[blistershurt]

I'd bring: AR2, NM, BWP, BV, Toxic
I left out the WMB because if there isnt an absolute flood you might get a roll out sooner than with a ball that goes longer. Other than that the AR2 looks to be the go to ball for most anything

[TenPinSniper]

I was think the NM too... but you know what work for you best.

Just relax and remember to have lots of fun. Don't lose focus, 1 frame at a time.

Good Luck.

[Street Racer]

good luck man!

[blistershurt]

Dont blow it on the second block like I did at my last tourny lol

[Thepainscoming]

I didnt choose to take the BWP because the AFi wouldnt be as speed sensitive with the same carry. The bwp is pretty easy to throw past the break point or so ive heard.

[slap]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm feeling pretty good with my physical game. I've been throwing the ball well over the last two weeks or so. The thing I need to worry about is my mental game. I tend to over think sometimes and that causes me to lose focus.

As of right now I'm leaning towards the following.

WMB, AR2, BW, AFi, BV

My reasoning is the WMB and BV will cover the extremes. Chances are I won't use either.

That leaves me with the 3 middle balls (pp, solid, polished solid) to cover medium-heavy to medium-light. All three are versatile balls that I can play different lines with, dicated by the length of the pattern.

The BW will be my benchmark with the AR above it for more midlane hook and a smoother backend reaction, and the AFi below it for less midlane, more length and a larger backend reaction.

[BubbaRay]

Good luck Slap. we're rooting for you. Don't think about anything but making good shots. Relax and focus slap. Think positive. remember that post I made about thinking good and bad?

here's a reminder........


Negative Thought........I need a 200 game

Positive Thought.......Take it one frame at a time, stay in the present
------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought ...Oh no, I hate that corner pin spare!

Replace with Positive Thought...... I've practised this, it's a simple spare: pick my mark, hit the target and let the ball do the work .
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Negative Thjought...........That's the second time I missed the same spare.

Positive Thought..............Ok, the miss is over and I can't change it, but I know how much to adjust to make it the next time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought.........This lane is terrible.

Positive Thought.........The conditions are the same for my opponent
I can play any lane in the world
The harder the better, let my opponent worry about it
Quitters never win, winners never quit!
----------------------------------------------------------

Get the idea? So always remember these two phrases,,,,,,

1.........Winners see what they want to happen, losers see what they want to avoid
2.........A winner goes through a problem, a loser goes round and never past it

[Rowdy]

Ah,just show up and roll! Stop thinkin',your hurtin' the team. That's what my old baseball coach would come out and holler at me after I shook the catcher off for the fourth time. But there is some truth in there. Just let it go and roll. Have fun. Score big. Win valuable parting gifts. If all else fails,hook up with wimmen of loose morals in bar. See if she has a sister.

[slap]

Rowdy you're crazy

[Rowdy]

I know,but I'm loveable. Have fun at your tournament.

[Street Racer]

Good luck Slap. we're rooting for you. Don't think about anything but making good shots. Relax and focus slap. Think positive. remember that post I made about thinking good and bad?

here's a reminder........


Negative Thought........I need a 200 game

Positive Thought.......Take it one frame at a time, stay in the present
------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought ...Oh no, I hate that corner pin spare!

Replace with Positive Thought...... I've practised this, it's a simple spare: pick my mark, hit the target and let the ball do the work .
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Negative Thjought...........That's the second time I missed the same spare.

Positive Thought..............Ok, the miss is over and I can't change it, but I know how much to adjust to make it the next time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought.........This lane is terrible.

Positive Thought.........The conditions are the same for my opponent
I can play any lane in the world
The harder the better, let my opponent worry about it
Quitters never win, winners never quit!
----------------------------------------------------------

Get the idea? So always remember these two phrases,,,,,,

1.........Winners see what they want to happen, losers see what they want to avoid
2.........A winner goes through a problem, a loser goes round and never past it


thats pretty good!

i'm going to read it again... just before i go to my next tourny...

sticky thread about that maybe?

[slap]

Well here are the results,

Game 1
XX9/9/9/7/ 63 9/8/XXX = 197
Game 2
9/XX 8(s)1 9/XXXX9/X =225
Game 3
XX9/7/X 72 8- 8/ 7(s)2 9- =157

Series 579 avg 193

Field Report...
The pattern was longer, maybe 40 feet or so. It was heavy in the middle with a gradual taper to the outside. Not as tight as a sport spot but not an easy THS either. It was very playable for anyone with an inside game or tons of hand. There was at least one honor score thrown. (299)

I started warm ups with my BW and decided to start with a heavier piece. Practice was very short so only had time to try one other ball so I chose the WMB.

Game 1 and Game 2
Started with the WMB and it was pretty aggressive, after leaving three 9 counts I made a switch to the Revs looking for more length and better carry. For some reason this ball didn't feel good off my hand, that's the 6 and 7 count. Went back to the WMB moved inside a few boards with more speed and it worked well.

Game 3
Started off well but after a couple 7 counts I made the switch to the AFinish. This was the worst choice I made all day and it ruined the series. At this point I was 4 or 5 boards inside my game 1 position so I knew that I burned a track with the dull particle. My intention was to use the Finish to bounce off that track. Good idea, but wrong ball choice. In hindsight I should have gone back to the Revs or the BW. The Finish went too long for the breakpoint I needed to use. Frustration also set in for a while and I missed a couple easy spares.

Overall
I'm happy with my day, I made pretty good choices. I was half a game away from an excellent day but things happen. I entered 5 brackets and took 2nd in 4 so I made some pocket change.

[BubbaRay]

nice bowling slap. The day wasn't a bust for you . You made some good changes when it called for them . After a couple 7 counts in the third game like you said you switched again,> was it the conditiion that called for the switch or was it just a bad break. SOmetimes the lane transitions fool us and that's why we switch. You did well my friend and keep up the good bowling.