Author Topic: How to become a PBA tour player? (Read 5172 times)

rx7lover86 · « **on:** August 17, 2005, 02:27:03 AM »

Although I'd have a long way to go to compete with the pros, I don't think it's completely ridiculous to think that someday I could. But I don't quite understand how one gets to be a pro. I hear that some people at the houses around town are on the PBA but what does that mean exactly? How does one get to be a pro, and once you are pro what does that consist of? And what does exemption status mean? How does an average joe like me get to a televised event?

Gene J Kanak · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:33:18 AM »

rx7lover86,

Well, there is a long road that needs to be traveled to get to the big Tour. Most of the guys from around your town are probably regional PBA players. The regional tour is something of the minor leagues of the PBA. There are a ton of top-flight bowlers out there, but most of them do not make bowling their true living. Tournaments are run Fri-Sun, with practice and pro-ams on Friday, qualifying Saturday and semis and finals on Sunday. The average prize comes out to around $2500-3000 for the winner. To become a regional pro, you need only to have averaged 200 or better for something like 90 games, or 190 or better in a sanctioned sport leaguge.

The PBA Tour (national) is a different ballgame. The current format reserves spots for only a select number of exempt bowlers. In order to qualify for this, you need to either finish first in the season point standing in one of the regions or win a spot by winning a tournament or placing well at Tour trials. These tournaments have longer formats and pay off quite a bit more. It also, obviously, takes remarkable skill to be able to compete out there. The men out there are truly the best of the best.

I think that sums up most of what you wanted to know. All of this info can be found at www.pba.com Good luck to you.
--------------------
I can't bowl 300, but I can bench 345 : )

I provide the muscle for the Fellowship of the Saws

Ragnar · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:38:06 AM »

Or via special flying Merkin.
--------------------
"Go f*ck yourself! I'm sick of @#$holes like you blaming the world's problems on us." (Yet another of Jabroni's well thought out, articulate posts.)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." (Groucho Marx)

DP3 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:41:11 AM »

quote:
quote:
How does an average joe like me get to a televised event?

Car, Taxi, Bus, Train, hitchhike, or walk.
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...Priceless
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-DP3
Respect the Game

shelley · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:45:13 AM »

Getting your PBA card isn't "hard". See http://www.pba.com/membership/default.asp?ID=3679. Basically, meet the average requirements. You don't have to be a national touring pro to be in the PBA. You don't even have to be all that special.

Exempt status means that you are automatically seeded into the round of 64 every week (used to be match play, now it's a 14-game qualifying block for the round of 32). You are guaranteed a paycheck every week ($2K, I think for 64th place) for the 16 standard events. You don't have to bowl in the pre-tournament qualifiers (9 games, open to anyone that pays the entry fee, I think). Of those that bowl PTQs, only four or five make it to the round of 64 (usually about 1 in 10 to 1 in 20).

You can bowl in regional tournaments as well as a PBA member.

To get to the TV show, you have to bowl 9 games of PTQs, make that cut. Then bowl 14 games in the round of 64. Make the top 32. Then beat three people in best-of-7 match play (rounds of 32, 16, and

. You will make the show.

In non-standard events (majors), it's different. The Masters and US Open have different, non-PBA entry requirements (they are open to amateurs, who win them on occasion). They're long-format tournaments, maybe 50+ games. The World Championship is also a different, longer format, but I think it's only open to PBA members. The Tournament of Champions is invitational.

SH

rx7lover86 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:48:41 PM »

Where can I find more information about regional tournaments and how to enter?

KDawg77 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:50:55 PM »

Quote

Or via special flying Merkin.
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I'd hate to see the size of the customer that needed THAT merkin.
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I say! This calls for a sexy party!

Edited on 8/17/2005 1:43 PM

Ragnar · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:57:29 PM »

quote:
Quote
Or via special flying Merkin.
--------------------

I'd hate to see the size of the customer that needed THAT merkin.

TBU
--------------------
"Go f*ck yourself! I'm sick of @#$holes like you blaming the world's problems on us." (Yet another of Jabroni's well thought out, articulate posts.)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." (Groucho Marx)

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:08:45 PM »

Easiest way to get to a televised event.

Check name of bowling center.

Enter in mapquest.

Drive car to center.

Purchase ticket.

Enter.

Hold up silly placards.

Watch.

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS Oh to bowl...good luck! Move in with MOM!

shelley · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:20:09 PM »

quote:
Where can I find more information about regional tournaments and how to enter?

Go to pba.com. Click on "Regional Tour". Click on your region. There is information about entering.

You should know that the regional patterns are different from the national tour patterns. Your center can lay out national tour patterns for you to bowl on. That may give you an idea of how well you might bowl on them. They can't (legally) lay down the regional patterns as they're copyrighted by the PBA.

SH

rx7lover86 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:30:11 PM »

Thanks for all that helped... I'm not sure what to say about the rest of you. Is it smartass day today or something?

RSalas · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:42:29 PM »

quote:
Is it smartass day today or something?

It's *always* smartass day around here.

--------------------
...formerly "The Curse of Dusty," and "PoÃ¶ter BoÃ¶f" before that...

a_ak57 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:45:12 PM »

STR, Lefty was saying that because there isn't big money to be made on tour if you aren't winning a lot. And you'd have to give up any full time jobs to bowl on the tour. So you'd have to either be absolutely sure you'll win at least 1 tourney a year, or you'll have to move in with your parents. I think I remember a stat someone brought up that said the average pro makes around 33,000 a year. If you have a family to support, that's really not that much at all.
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- Andy

Edited on 8/17/2005 2:38 PM

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:46:49 PM »

Not blaming you!

If I wanted to bowl on tour I'd move in with my Mom too!

Just so you know...I'm not the President of the United States though I could imagine some of my friends on ballreviews would like to elect me!!! Heeeehehehehehhahaahahhaha!

I have complained that the great tour of the past allowed the talented local bowler to go down and enter. If he had it ...he'd know. Earl Anthony a grocery manager and married with kids went down and came in 9th or 6 th in an event and started travelling. Today it might be years of coming in 11th in qualifying before a bowler ever makes it to the tour. Or years of travelling the low paying regional circuit. (I call it the Move in with Mom tour).

Not to be mean but that is how bad today's entrant system is.

And will a lefty ever qualify again from outside? If not good riddance then they only have to oil one side of the lanes!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS Went to a league payout meeting yesterday. Former tour player said just pay top half!! Everyone groaned. They asked if he wanted to be on commitee..he said no. Because that was his suggestion. Only the top half and there won't be any votes for it!

shelley · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:10:34 PM »

quote:
Or years of travelling the low paying regional circuit.

It's cheaper to bowl regionals, though. Also, the formats are significantly shorter and the tournaments run Friday-Sunday, making it significantly easier for more people to bowl them and still hold down a regular job. One long weekend per month will get you more than half a dozen tournaments you can enter.

You also don't need to bowl ALL of the tournaments for it to be worthwhile since there are sinificantly more of them (I think the national tour should go to at least 20 regular stops plus majors).

SH

Author Topic: How to become a PBA tour player? (Read 5172 times)

rx7lover86

How to become a PBA tour player?

Gene J Kanak

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

Ragnar

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

DP3

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

shelley

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

rx7lover86

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

KDawg77

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

Ragnar

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

LuckyLefty

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

shelley

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

rx7lover86

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

RSalas

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

a_ak57

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

LuckyLefty

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?

shelley

Re: How to become a PBA tour player?