Colonial Williamsburg Tourneys

[grayfin68]

Has anyone here bowled in any tourneys down there or plan to? They are having a bunch of 4 man team handicap tourneys in March and April. I'm seriously considering getting a team together and going to at least one or two. They're on the weekends and entry fees are $72 total per person.

[Tunat]

haven't bowled there sense '02 but be prepared...if you bowl early shift the lanes were wet...the bite be needed but by the end of the 2nd game you had best be moving on to BWP or even the Toxic as the lanes break down fast. If you bowling the later sessions, I'd start with nothing stronger then the Toxic and that might be too much be prepared to throw a dry lane ball. Now, this not current info but I bowled there for several years and after the first time, I learned to keep it weak. All I can say is have fun and plan on moving left fast (right hand bowler) and dropping in aggression with the ball...key to playing there was moving left and getting the ball out on the lane, a nice 3 ft flip out on the lane seemed to score better for me then anything...I'm more of a stroker style, but I was playing 15 boards left with a nice swing on the ball, I remember leaving 10 pins..(must have plastic ball to cover)...scored well enough to cash the last couple of trips.....but lets just say its a different shot.

[grayfin68]

haven't bowled there sense '02 but be prepared...if you bowl early shift the lanes were wet...the bite be needed but by the end of the 2nd game you had best be moving on to BWP or even the Toxic as the lanes break down fast. If you bowling the later sessions, I'd start with nothing stronger then the Toxic and that might be too much be prepared to throw a dry lane ball. Now, this not current info but I bowled there for several years and after the first time, I learned to keep it weak. All I can say is have fun and plan on moving left fast (right hand bowler) and dropping in aggression with the ball...key to playing there was moving left and getting the ball out on the lane, a nice 3 ft flip out on the lane seemed to score better for me then anything...I'm more of a stroker style, but I was playing 15 boards left with a nice swing on the ball, I remember leaving 10 pins..(must have plastic ball to cover)...scored well enough to cash the last couple of trips.....but lets just say its a different shot.

Thanks for the info Tunat. I know people from up here that bowl down there and are going already. They told me that they usually put down a THS. I'm looking forward to it as it will be my first tournament experience in over a decade. I have plenty of gear in my arsenal and should be able to adjust. I can swing the ball when I have to so it shouldn't be a problem.

[grayfin68]

OK, we're leaving tomorrow after work to Colonial Williamsburg. It turns out that it's one tournament that is played on the weekends for over a month. I've already talked to guys at our lanes that went down and bowled.

All reports I've heard is that they put down plenty of oil and you need to stay outside at the start and work from there. The pro I know told me 5 board and out. Not my favorite line, but I'll have to deal with it.

On day two, I'm on second shift so hopefully the lanes will be broke down enough to play around 10. We'll see. It's my first traveling tournament so wish me luck! I'll be back to report the scores good or bad.

[slap]

Good luck Grayfin! Bowl well...

I'm traveling this weekend too, off to Vermont Saturday morning for the Green Mountain Open. Hopefully we'll both come back with a extra few dollars or at least a good story to share.

[grayfin68]

Good luck Grayfin! Bowl well...

I'm traveling this weekend too, off to Vermont Saturday morning for the Green Mountain Open. Hopefully we'll both come back with a extra few dollars or at least a good story to share.

Thanks slap. Knockem' down in Vermont and don't eat too much Ben and Jerry's while you're up that way. :D

[slap]

Thanks slap. Knockem' down in Vermont and don't eat too much Ben and Jerry's while you're up that way. :D

Ben and Jerry's won't be a problem, now the tasty beer brewed up there might be another story :)

[BubbaRay]

Good luck grayfin and slap in your tourney's. Hoipe both of you do very well

[slap]

thanks Bubba. As much as I enjoy league bowling, it's tournaments that I really enjoy.

[Cobberz]

i wish i could get to vt for a tourny.......nothing would be better than to get out in vt and bowl, and maybe drink some great beer......but bowling would be great

[grayfin68]

OK, got back from Williamsburg last night and first of all, I had a lot of fun and learned that tournament bowling is a totally different animal than league bowling.

I was overall below my average and don't remember all my scores but I had two clunker games. Seems like everyone was bowling below their average though. It was a tough pattern.

On day one, in doubles, I did OK and cashed in three of six brackets. In singles, I was horrible.

In team play on day two, I had one good game that should have been better with a 213 but one of my clunkers came in game three.

So, for brackets, day two evened out day one and I broke even.

The pattern was short and heavy at first but it transitioned very fast. It was the same surface as I play on at home but the oil was a totally different story. All of my balls were over/under. I just couldn't find a consistent shot. I tried outside, I tried inside, I changed speeds. Nothing worked.

It was the type of pattern that changed fast and required more accuracy than I had in me. Anyway, I learned that I better learn how to be more consistent on hitting my mark because at least I would have had better consistency.