Question??? Kinda Long!!!

[#1_HawgZilla_Owner]

I started bowling when I was 8 years old and stopped when I was 10 because we were moving. During those few years I avg about a 150-160, which is pretty good for a 10 year old kid. I threw like a 10lb ball, dont remember what it was though and I never used bumpers. I have about 15 trophies and plaques for my accomplishments, including a trophy from a tournament I entered in when I was 10 and had to travel to another state to compete in. Just this past May I started bowling again and I was using 2 old balls that I got from a bowling alley and the Goodwill store for $10 and $2, they are a Columbia 300 Dark Shadow and Ebonite Gyro Pro. I avg 182 this past summer and had a high game of 258. I think I really have a gift with bowling, I believe if I would have moved and still been bowling from then til now, I would be great and possibly a Pro. I got that alot when I was younger, by all the older guys who seen me bowl. Now that I have the Hawg Zilla and see the potential of these newer balls compared to that of what I used in the Summer, I think I can get my avg up to around 220 or so, and really do something great this Winter. My question is, with a 220 avg, would that be good enough to compete in tournaments and have a good chance of winning, or do I need to have a higher avg. I was checking around my local area, at different league standings just to see what some of the high avg's are, and 220-235 seems to be the best I seen. Which those avg's are real good, but if they were that good, wouldnt some of these guys be competing in tournaments, or are the tournaments oil patterns much harder and gonna make for only around a 200-210 avg for the ones that have a 220-235? I know Sport Bowling and the PBA Tour have different and harder oil patterns than that of just basic league bowling, but there arent any Sport Bowling leagues around this area, I mean NONE, within a few hundred miles. Would it be something to try and convince my local Bowling Organization to try and work and making around here, or is there no chance? Sorry for the long post, I just have alot of questions since I'm just getting back into bowling.

[Lenny360]

http://www.pba.com/resources/oilpatterns/laneconditions.asp?ID=15

Take a look at the patterns here. You should be able to notice at your local center how you can throw in a lot of different places and the ball will still hit the pocket.

As for convincing your local organization, you'll need to convince them there's enough demand around for it. There's no sense for them going through all the trouble if no one's going to fill the spots.

[big blue]

Out of all the tourney bowlers I know all average between 200 and 230. There was a frien that averaged 245 a while ago tried to go pro and got ate up. I actually know another friend who went pro and found himself out of his league and came back with a total lack of confidence in himself. For tournaments anywhere around 200 should be fine to go pro you better average 220 on the PBA shots not this typical house shot.

[MiSs HoT pAnTs]

How many different centres do you bowl in? I bowl 3 different centre 3 night a week and i have a large variations of avgs. I bowl a 198 at one a 181 at another and a 174 at the other. I have been bowling since i was 6 and i have been bowling for 12 yrs with a one yr break in there. I have bowled for my state for 5 consecutive years and entered and won many tournaments. This doesnt mean I am professional material or that i have a god given talent for the sport. If you think that you have the "goods" to make it in the pro circuit in the future I suggest you start slow and look around for tournaments to enter where you are bowling with the average person before taking on a experienced bowler. The more experiene you have the better. You MUST get yourself known in the smaller tournaments before making a run for the pro circuit. Find yourself a certified coach. Practice in as many centres as possible. Try to bowl at least 2 leagues a week whether they are big leagues or not because experience is most important. If you think you have what it takes never doubt yourself and always push towards what you want for yourself. I hope the best for you and Let us know how you go.