2013 Petersen Classic

[Jason]

Anyone planning on bowling in this Tournament? Am looking forward to it this year and plan to be more prepared. Did it last year for the first time and had a ton of fun but was certainly tough. All I won was high game for my squad with a 220 something. Does anyone have info or stories of other crazy tournaments like the Petersen?

[billf]

How about a link? It's only a six hour drive so it may be worth it.

[Jason]

Yes, Here is a link to the Petersen website. It still shows last years info and hasn't been updated yet for 2013 but should be within the next couple months.

Billf, I highly recommend it just for the fun of it.


http://www.thepetersen.com/

[billf]

Looks cool. I'm going to give this one some serious thought. I noticed the rules say you can only use two balls. Any hints on what kind of pattern or if it's fairly dry?

[Jason]

That's the kicker... each lane is something different. and there not oiled to any specifications. One lane could be near bone dry and you'd have trouble keeping a plastic ball from hooking to much. and then others would have so much oil that your strongest hooking ball goes as straight as an arrow. Most everyone brings a middle of the road strike ball and a plastic ball and when they say don't bother trying to play a particular shot they aren't kidding. Most folks run it straight up the middle at the head pin and hope for the best. It's a riot! The first 16 lanes of the house are walled up and only 2 doors in and out. after every squad everyone is sent out and the lane patterns are changed up. Then there's a large board hanging down from the ceiling running across all lanes that block your view somewhat. After releasing the ball you'd have to kind of squat down to see where the ball is going. Also there are no approach markers or lane markers and pins in the rack are often misplaced. (re racks not allowed)

A look inside the Petersen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkQHFiK8G9I

Here is a gentleman that shows how he runs it right up the middle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFOk8VxFEfg

[billf]

What if pin(s) fall when it racks them? I won't play straight up the middle so Iwould just have to find my line really fast. No dots, no arrows, can't see the pins, that's all fine by me.

[Mike White]

What if pin(s) fall when it racks them? I won't play straight up the middle so Iwould just have to find my line really fast. No dots, no arrows, can't see the pins, that's all fine by me.

The Petersen Classic isn't about quality bowling, it's about mentally surviving.
The lack of dots and arrows are the least of the problems.
The pins aren't all the same weight so you could easily leave almost anything on a good hit.
Oil patterns that intentionally make no sense.
If you happen to have a good game going despite all of that, the pinsetter will "mysteriously" break down causing a delay.

[Probowlerjg]

I look forward to going in mid July. I have heard that you can only check in two balls, might have to take one of my Lord Field balls and of course my spare ball. This will be the first time I bowl this tournament.

James Graham
Lord Field Amateur II Staff
www.lorfield.com
“Changing Bowling, One Bowler At A Time”.

[I suck at bowling]

This sounds extremely horribly awesome!

Though, as a youth bowler I can't do it, lol.

[RoccoRock]

It sound like a lot of fun. It's like bowling version of the "Tough Mudder" or "Warrior Dash." I may have to talk the wife into a road trip for this. I think my ability to hook it big time with two hands, and play pretty straight with one hand may play very well at a insane tourney like this. I probably wouldn't bring a spare ball, just throw my spares with my wrist flat, and go end over end with a low end reactive ball.