Once again thank you to all that replied to this post. Sorry for not responding back sooner, I've been taking some big step's in my life with my relationship with my g/f, well now fiance.
I have read each and every response to this post and I agree with the majority of what has been said. It is true that I have said "I'm not good enough to compete". Some of you have already given me a way to deal with that part and I have already went that route which is why I know I don't have what it take's at the current time. Whose to say that I can't enter a regional as a non-member anyway?
To get the card wasn't to impress anyone though I know of a few who would be jealous, the reason why I thought about getting my card was to get it just because. That is not a real reason to get it, that is just like throwing away momey because I wouldn't do much with that card honestly so because of this fact I will not get the card. I can get the same kind of experience entering a regional as a non-member.
What I plan on doing next summer is joining a PBAX leauge. $10 a night for 3 game's with free practice afterward's until closing. 15 week's long, run 1 pattern for 3 week's then change to another. I have bowled this leauge 2 year's now but took a break from it last summer. There is also a PBAx 9-pin sweeper that run's 10 week's long in another house on friday night's. That one is 4 game's long, entry fee of $25 a night all money disbursed same night. The pattern is chosen by that night's winner for the next week. I am already bowling in a house that is rather hard as it is, very old wooden lane's that need replacing or synthetic's installed, with an oil machine that barely work's. Wood lane's with light oil at best equal's very interesting condition's. I started out that leauge with a 110 average, I have since brought it up to a 155 ave since the start of the year. It is a big challenge, friend of mine tried to bowl there last weekend and left the night with a completely different mind set of his game.
BTW, to the person who said if I had to ask on a public forum if I should get my card, that should be my clue right there. Well I posted my thought's on this forum for a couple reason's. I know there are some very good bowler's on this forum who still post, most of them responded with very good advice and I appreciate that. I also posted this on this forum because I thought it was a very original idea and thought it would bring some very good entertainment for other's who might be thinking about the same thing.
Final side note:
Last week I entered a 4 game 9-pin sweeper event. $50 entry fee, scratch bowler's only. Best 3 of 4 game's used for scoring. I thought this was a way to test the water's because the pattern was a sport shot version of the Viper pattern. Practice showed no sign's of life in my game, little to no hook from my equipment. I found the best line for me to be up 3 board with soft speed normal release. I was watching other guy's hook it from a deep inside line. I tried this line during practice and found it to be a very good 10 pin spare shot, not quite the reaction I was expecting. There was a mix of line's being played on the pair I was on. 4 guy's were playing a simliar line I was, most had about the same kind of style and ball rev's as I do. I'm not going to bore you with the full detail's of every game, I will just list the line I was mainling playing and score's.
Game 1: 172 playing up 3rd board, ball break point at 3rd board (morich awesome finish)
Game 2: 189 playing 5th board break point at 4th baord (morich awesome finish)
Moved 1 pair right, found out this pair of lane's were totally different.
Game 3: 215 playing 15th board break point at 8th board (troad pearl)
Game 4: 243 playing 15th board break point at 10th board (troad pearl)
Humbling experince but still not a regional feel, I was able to find a line but not fast enough. Confidence level was very low for the 1st half of the set once I was able to biuld up confidence I was okay. Something I need to work on.
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Mike Zadler
"When in doubt, Pull out" - Rob Stone
Below, my stats from previous seasons:
http://members.bowl.com/SearchUSBC/ViewMember.aspx?prefix=552&suffix=12886