Slap goes to Reno!

[slap]

After month's of anticipation I'm off to Reno. Well it's still T-minus 12 hours to departure time but close enough! I'll be bowling in the tnba national tournament. I'm entered in four events;

Thursday is mixed teams at Coconut Bowl
Friday is singles/doubles at the National Stadium
Saturday is teams at the National Stadium.


It was difficult deciding what to bring but I feel good about my selections. I would have preferred to bring 8 balls four such a major tournament but it's unrealistic to fly with that many balls. I might consider using bowling ball express next time. In the roller totes, (yes the skycaps are going to hate me.)

1. Black Widow Bite
2. Awesome Finish
3. Arcon
4. Twisted Fury
5. Blue Vibe
6. Trusty Blue Dot
(7. My drill sheet just in case I need to have some drilled up on site. TRUE BALL HOG STYLE.)

Overall I'm pretty excited and ready to go! I've been throwing ball well lately but more importantly my mental game is really improving. I plan to rely on it this week. I have no idea of the lane conditions so I'll be ready for anything. I'm going to use my normal tournament strategy, play as straight as the pattern will allow me to, hit the pocket on every shot and convert easy spares.

I'll try to post when I can!

[bluerrpilot]

Good luck...The leftties wack the snot out of the stadium. Best to use smooth even reacting stuff from as far outside as you can and youll tear'em up.

what are you going for anyway ?

[Street Racer]

(7. My drill sheet just in case I need to have some drilled up on site. TRUE BALL HOG STYLE.)



LOL!, i just stuck a copy of them on my laptop, cause i take my laptop everywhere for tournaments

but good luck man, bowl well...

[BubbaRay]

Good luck slap. Please let us know how you did. Make us Hammerheads proud.

[TenPinSniper]

Here is something I have heard a couple of time... from different people. Your drill spec sheet is handy, but always give them a ball as well to reference, I always use the one with the best feel.

Good Luck, kick some butt's and "slap"em around. ;)

Just relax, breathe, focus on the shot at hand... what's done is done. It's never over until you have bowled your last game.

Are you take the camcorder?

[wroe312az]

Good Luck!!!

when your at the stadium take a look in the Pro Shop. they have a single lane in the back which is sweet. wish i had one at home!!! i could watch the baby and practice at the same time...

[Nor Cal Bowler]

They should be using a shark like pattern at the stadium. Thats how it was when i was there a couple weeks ago.
Coconut bowl is suppose to be a pretty cool place to bowl. Ive only seen pics when the league Im in for the summer went there for their winter sweeper. Hopefully we will do our summer sweepers either at coconut bowl or the stadium.

[slap]

I'm back from Reno!

I bowled okay, scored like crap but I had a blast. More information and pictures tomorrow. I need to get myself back on east coast time!

[slap]

Slap's Reno Review

Wednesday-travel day. Highlight-watching a baggage handler bounce one of my three ball totes off a conveyor belt and onto the tarmac. Classic. Highlight #2, having the flight attendant announce during the airplane saftey speech that there will be no bowling allowed down the aisle of the plane.

Thursday-Mixed Teams. I threw the ball pretty good but I couldn't carry a strike. Four pins, six pins, eights, nines, sevens...you name it I left it. I knew entry angle was the cause but I just couldn't make the right adjustment. I threw mainly my blue vibe, arcon and twisted fury. The backends hooked a lot so I stuck with my most controllable balls all weekend.

Friday- Singles/Doubles. NO BOWLING! There was a mix up with the squad times. Let's just say I showed up at 1 pm for an 11 am squad. Let's fast forward two beers and a few curse words later. I found in the 4 pm squad that need a sub.

Friday- Mixed Teams #2. I'm bowling with some great folks from Indiana. I start out with my Blue Vibe again and I'm still leaving nine counts but I manage to string a few strikes together. I finish game three with my twisted fury.

Saturday Men's Teams. This was my worst set of the week. I'm not sure if I was trying too hard or what but everything was off. I had a very hard time controlling my ball in the backend. I started with the Blue Vibe, switched to the arcon and finally the twisted. My Bite and Finish stayed in my bag most of the weekend.

Saturday bonus- During practice for the men's teams, I see a familiar face on my pair throwing an emerald vibe. Then see this gentleman chatting with two other familiar faces, Mr Hickland Sr and Mr Hickland Jr from Ebonite R&D. Who was it you ask? Only Hammerhead in chief, Mr Ussery. (and before my PM inbox fills up, I didn't ask for or receive any unpublished information :))

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/th_balls075.jpg (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/balls075.jpg)

[slap]

A few more pics...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/balls005.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/balls070.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/balls057.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/balls056.jpg

[slap]

2 more...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/slap1914/reno/balls053.jpg

[TenPinSniper]

What did you think of the New Vibe?

Sounds like you had a good time overall.

[slap]

I was impressed with it. Although it's supposed to be more angular than the cherry, to my eyes the reaction shape is between the blue and cherry. I can tell you one things, it's a very pretty ball!

(Perhaps if Jeff U reads this post, perhaps he will comment on the layout and/or surface of the ball.)

I did have a blast. It's fun to be around BOWLERS and I really mean BOWLERS. The camaraderie was awesome! This experience has also inspired me to practice harder to get better. There were some people at this tourny who could roll the ball.

[BradM]

Awesome story slap! Them chin hairs are getting long. :D

[bigsexyhammer]

Awesome story slap! Them chin hairs are getting long. :D

DUDE!!!

What's up man!

[idlehourlegend]

Awesome story slap! Them chin hairs are getting long. :D

:eek: ............Welcome Back Man!

[BradM]

Sorry fellas, haven't had the chance to be on the net much. Busy busy busy. Police Academy finally starts July 28th after a looooong freaking wait.

[TenPinSniper]

Congrats on the Academy...

How have things been?

[Rowdy]

No bowling on the plane??? What kind of crop dusting airline where you on???

[slap]

No bowling on the plane??? What kind of crop dusting airline where you on???

That plane must have burned a lot of extra fuel getting to crusing altitude. 75% of the passengers were bowlers traveling with out gear. The baggage claim looked like a huge ball return.