asimovian
04-07-2019, 05:59 PM
Bowled singles and doubles this morning in my local association's annual open tournament. It's been about 15 years or so since I've participated in a tournament of any kind, and I'm coming to the end of my first season of bowling league since the 2012/2013 winter season. I really had no idea what to expect, and mostly, I was just hoping to not be completely lost.
Probably the biggest lesson for me today was that there is a WORLD of difference between me casually practicing six to 10 games by myself in my regular league's house, and bowling six games in a tournament setting. With the waiting between turns, the lane occasionally breaking down, my level of focus on my own shots, and trying to pay attention to what was going on with everyone else's shots, the entire block felt like an eternity. I felt completely wiped out leaving the center. Gave me a new appreciation for the professionals I've watched bowl two eight-game blocks of qualifying in a single day. I think that would just about kill me.
It was also really interesting for me to have to figure out how to play more inside than I'm used to. I don't have excessive hand, and in my normal league, I'm usually standing around 12 and aiming around 8 at the arrows, and I don't usually end up needing to move more than two or three boards (eyes and feet) over the course of a three-game set. Today, I was able to start in essentially the same place, but by the sixth game, my feet were at 28 and I was aiming at 18. Not an area of the lane I EVER play.
I struggled at various points with transition, but I mostly made good choices both with ball changes and with where I played the lanes. I'm carrying a 199 average for this tournament, and I shot 226-208-188-238-180-222. Unfortunately, the timing for my two low games killed me in brackets. But I'm pretty pleased overall with showing up and not embarrassing myself out there.
We bowl team event next Sunday, and I'm hoping I can put another 600+ on the board. And I find that I'm looking forward to bowling more tournaments in the future.
Probably the biggest lesson for me today was that there is a WORLD of difference between me casually practicing six to 10 games by myself in my regular league's house, and bowling six games in a tournament setting. With the waiting between turns, the lane occasionally breaking down, my level of focus on my own shots, and trying to pay attention to what was going on with everyone else's shots, the entire block felt like an eternity. I felt completely wiped out leaving the center. Gave me a new appreciation for the professionals I've watched bowl two eight-game blocks of qualifying in a single day. I think that would just about kill me.
It was also really interesting for me to have to figure out how to play more inside than I'm used to. I don't have excessive hand, and in my normal league, I'm usually standing around 12 and aiming around 8 at the arrows, and I don't usually end up needing to move more than two or three boards (eyes and feet) over the course of a three-game set. Today, I was able to start in essentially the same place, but by the sixth game, my feet were at 28 and I was aiming at 18. Not an area of the lane I EVER play.
I struggled at various points with transition, but I mostly made good choices both with ball changes and with where I played the lanes. I'm carrying a 199 average for this tournament, and I shot 226-208-188-238-180-222. Unfortunately, the timing for my two low games killed me in brackets. But I'm pretty pleased overall with showing up and not embarrassing myself out there.
We bowl team event next Sunday, and I'm hoping I can put another 600+ on the board. And I find that I'm looking forward to bowling more tournaments in the future.