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Author Topic: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?  (Read 2497 times)

HamPster

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Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« on: February 01, 2011, 12:52:38 AM »
My wife made a comment the other day that she thinks I should start bowling regionals.  I'm not of the same mind.  We bowl on cake conditions week in and week out and couldn't get a winter PBA league going in this town because it would never support it.  Every year I go to nationals and am ecstatic if I shoot 600 for just one set.  I only bowl two leagues a week, don't pay attention in one, and haven't practiced for years.  I do have a lot of knowledge however, I have a pretty good instinct for homing in on where the shot is at and how transition will affect it, I usually make good decisions on how to adjust, (and yes, I actually adjust, I don't just go grab an "adjustment" out of my bag) and can read ball reaction very well.  I don't think that translates into being a successful regional player.  Now I'm sure no one just goes out and wins their first tournament, but I don't want to be one of these guys with the inflated heads that goes out and embarasses myself.  I don't think bowling regionals wins you any points with the pros or impresses anyone, I'm sure some people get made into running jokes whether they are bowling because they think they're good or because they want to become good, I'm sure it all looks the same.  There are several people from my town who think they're good and have thoroughly embarassed themselves at regionals, and as such, my town has developed a certain negative reputation for producing massive egos with no talent.  I almost feel like I would have extra obstacles to overcome, especially within the region.  Plus I don't exactly have the money to throw around on entry fees unless I feel like I'm going to get something back. 

 

Now on the positive side, my wife has a 6th sense for things like this.  I may not see the possibility, but if she says to go for something, it usually works out very well.  Without getting into the details, whether or not she knows anything about what she's telling me to do or not to do, she's got a pretty good track record.  I believe my game is built more for tougher conditions, but I still have to hit the shot, and I have no way to practice that.  What advice or experience would any of you have to offer?  I do very well on PBA experience leagues, but we only have them during the summer, and otherwise I would have to specially request for a pattern to be put down for me to practice on, and having two jobs doesn't exactly lend me much practice time whatever the case.  I do believe I would be good at it once I was able to get started, but therein lies the biggest problem. 


That's just like, your opinion, man.

 

Bigmike

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2011, 09:26:17 AM »
I'd say give it a shot a couple of times as a non-member to see what you think.

 

I did this and then ended up joining when I made match-play in my 4th one ever. I always told myself if I was good enough to make finals, then I will join and at least bowl half the stops. I did this for 2 1/2 years until my first child was born.

 

The quality of the field, a tougher condition, and the required focus are a challenge that I enjoy. It seemed like I got paired with an exempt player almost everytime that I bowled. If I was lagging behind the number late in the block, I would try to watch what the exempt player crossing with me was doing so well. It is unbelivable how well these guys can focus and repeat shots, to the point of almost being unfair.


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CPA

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2011, 09:38:39 AM »
I would try a tournament or two.  You can enter a tournament as a non-member.  The tournaments are very well run and most of the guys are great.  They will be helpful and give some advice, during the practice session or after qualifying, if you ask them. 

 

I have bowled 4 regionals this year.  Two standard (as a senior) and two senior.  The key is to be realistic with yourself and build on each tournament.


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David Lee Yskes

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2011, 10:36:55 AM »
Bowling Regionals are not all that bad.....   they will show you just how good you are or are Not.....   but you have to go into them with a very open mind, and cant expect things to just happen. 

 

But they are a good experience...      And honestly you never know what could happen, some guys do excell when they are faced with a tougher lane condition...  


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Mike Austin

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2011, 10:37:43 AM »
Hampster,

 

You are already ahead of the game.  You said it yourself, you don't want to go in and make yourself look bad because you have an inflated head...  You know what your are up against.  You know our region has some of the best players top to bottom.  If you can afford it financially, then I say do it.  Pete runs a tight ship in the SW Region, always well run, on time, etc..  Bowl a couple and see how you do.  If you KNOW you are going to bowl 4-8 a year or more, then joining the PBA would be more worth it, to save money on the entry fees.  Your location is not bad travel wise, you have a number of MW tournaments close too. 

 

Who gives a rats butt what some toes think about you bowling?  You bowl because you want to, because you want to test yourself against challenging lane conditions with top competition.  If you do well, then YOU know that you have done well, and that's all that matters!!!  It's a great feeling.  Oh, and you have your wife BEHIND you on this.  That is huge, a lot can be said good about your wife as a wife and woman!!  Believe me, I know, what it's like to try and bowl NOT having the support of my wife, hell I was her pro in a pro-am, that's how we met, and I kinda needed the money, and she beat me down about bowling in the first place.  I've never met her, and I like your wife!!  Tournament bowling is tough enough as it is, having her support is awesome!

 

Finally, depending on which tournament(s) you bowl, you might even see me making a come back this year!  That's worth .04 cents and Sprite right there!!  Good luck to you, whatever you decide.


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CHawk15

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2011, 11:59:06 AM »
I think you should bowl a couple and see how you like it.  I live in the West Region and usually bowl 1-2 regionals a year.  The 2 biggest things for me were to just worry about what I was doing and to get the lane courtesy correct.  You'll never know if you don't try, right ??



Bowl_Freak

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2011, 12:13:17 PM »
Hey. I have bowled two regionals and cashed in both. And i have yet to bowl 600+ at nationals. I am always between 570-590. Regionals are a whole different animal then nationals. I like regionals better than nationals cause there are better bowlers and they make you better believe it or not..


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BrunsWolf

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2011, 12:26:31 PM »
HamPster,

 

GO FOR IT!

 

Bowling regionals is one of the greatest bowling experience I've had. I started when i was 18 and was excited that I finished in the top half of the field. The next year in the same regional, I made match play and finished 12th and I've continued to bowl more around college. It's not so much about bowling well as it is about learning skills for next time. The competitiveness of the tournaments get you focused like no other, and this focus and learned skills you will be able to take with you anywhere, even if its just to league. If you can average 200 in a PBAX league then you owe it to yourself to see exactly where your game is. Yes the pros throw tons of strikes on seemingly impossible conditions, but if you are about 95% with your spares, I guarantee that you will at least be close to the cut line (unless maybe on cheetah).

 

If I could suggest one regional for you to bowl, come to the one in Lowell, AR on May 13-15th (scheduled to be on Chameleon). Last year they treated all the entrants like kings and the center is really really nice as well. I'll be there for sure (since its only a 4 hr drive for me) and it'd be nice to meet up with a fellow BR.com'er. But yes, I think you should trust the wifey and just bowl. Not quite sure where in KS you're from, but the Lowell/Rogers/Springdale area is a nice place if you and the wife wanted a little getaway for the weekend in addition to you bowling(thats what me and the girlfriend always do when I go to tournaments, and it also helps you to relax and get your mind off bowling). That area has good deals if you name your price on Priceline. I've gotten rooms for $60 plenty of times there at 3star hotels.

 

Trust me when I say that you owe it to yourself, your game, and apparently your wife to at least test the waters.

 

Just PM me if you have anymore questions. I'd be more than happy to help


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DON DRAPER

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2011, 12:52:38 PM »
If you are serious about bowling( and it sounds like you are )then you owe it to yourself to bowl several PBA Regional tournaments. These are a great way to see where your game is and to compete at a much higher level of competition.  I have several suggestions which you may find useful:
 
1) Invest in a plastic ball and practice shooting spares for several weeks before the tournament. You will be shooting MANY more spares than you are used to. Use your plastic ball to shoot at EVERY spare except those that involve double wood.
 
2) Tune out the other competitors and their negative thoughts/talk/body language. Ask Mike Austin about this one-----he'll have many stories about this. Many of these guys will do anything to mess with you.
 
3)Practice as much as you can at home for several weeks before the tournament. If you can't find a house that will put down the regional patterns just remember the general area of the lane that a particular pattern usually dictates. For example, when I used to practice for the Cheetah Pattern I would place white athletic tape on the lane as a guideline. I put a strip on the 1 board and the 4th board at the arrows and also strips on the 1 board and the 4th board at about 38'., which is the breakpoint for this pattern.
 
4)Bring an arsenal of bowling balls with a variety of surfaces . Make sure you have balls that are very dull( say 360 Abralon ), balls that are smoothsanded( 2,000 Abralon, etc. ), and balls that are highly polished ( 2,000 Abralon and polished, etc. ).
 
 
Enjoy yourself and good luck !



HamPster

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2011, 12:59:55 PM »
Thanks everybody, I really appreciate the encouragement.  Maybe I do need the higher level of competition and challenge.  It's hard for me to concentrate and pay attention at league, mainly in the mixed league I bowl with the wife, my average is ten pins higher in our scratch mens league at the same house on the same shot, and even then the shot offers no challenge.  It's really hard to get in the zone for league, and maybe that's part of why I don't think I'm ready, I could be looking at this the wrong way too. I'm from Topeka, KS . . and bowling just sucks here.  If somebody doesn't shoot 300 every game, there's something wrong with the lanes, or their ball, or the guy that drilled the ball, or the humidity, or the pin spots (although I think they might have a case on that one) or the lane guy or something.  I'll have to see what I can do . . thanks!


That's just like, your opinion, man.

chatnboy

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2011, 01:12:19 PM »

yes i agree with the other fellows and i would say...GO FOR IT!!!and let us know how you do!!!i have always let people know in my home state of delaware if you even think you got game.....go to the regionals and prove it!!!



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MrPerfect

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Re: Info/experience bowling PBA regionals?
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2011, 01:31:40 PM »
Someone once told me to bowl regionals, because basically it's just a high quality travel league. If you look at it like that, and don't let the "tournament" aspect of it stress you out, I promise you'll do just fine. At a lot of the tournaments if you can convert your spares you will always be around the number, and then it's just about finding the ball that will give you that extra double a game.

 

For me, I absolutely love the grind of a Regional. That feeling of knowing that you are bowling really well, but you aren't quite matched up and you need to "will" something from within you to make a move into the number. A fantastic experiene that everyone should do at least once.