Bakers doubles?

[boatman37]

Never bowled in one but my center has a tournament in a few weeks and wife mentioned about entering it with me. I know we would have no chance at winning. I have a 191 book average from last year and hers was 112. Handicap is 80% based on 220. My question is, and this may be a local question, but she is not bowling in a league this year but does have a USBC book average from last year but is no longer a current USBC member. Is she still eligible? It is sanctioned if that matters. I will call them to verify but figured I'd ask here.

[bowl1820]

Never bowled in one but my center has a tournament in a few weeks and wife mentioned about entering it with me. I know we would have no chance at winning. I have a 191 book average from last year and hers was 112. Handicap is 80% based on 220. My question is, and this may be a local question, but she is not bowling in a league this year but does have a USBC book average from last year but is no longer a current USBC member. Is she still eligible? It is sanctioned if that matters. I will call them to verify but figured I'd ask here.

If it is a Certified/Sanctioned tournament, She would need to have a Current USBC card. She should be able to get one at the tournament, It doesn't have to be through a league.

As for entering average, it would depend on what the tournament rules are.

[J Anderson]

Never bowled in one but my center has a tournament in a few weeks and wife mentioned about entering it with me. I know we would have no chance at winning. I have a 191 book average from last year and hers was 112. Handicap is 80% based on 220. My question is, and this may be a local question, but she is not bowling in a league this year but does have a USBC book average from last year but is no longer a current USBC member. Is she still eligible? It is sanctioned if that matters. I will call them to verify but figured I'd ask here.

In Baker format two or more people bowl a single game. In doubles you would probably have your wife start and bowl the odd numbered frames, you would bowl the evens and finish. The events I’ve been involved with have all been scratch.

[classygranny]

If it is a Certified/Sanctioned tournament, She would need to have a Current USBC card. She should be able to get one at the tournament, It doesn't have to be through a league.

As for entering average, it would depend on what the tournament rules are.

You can do the USBC certification online at bowl.com - this would make checking in at the tournament much easier. Just be sure to have your receipt on your phone or paper copy. Good luck and keep us updated if you bowl. I'm curious how the handicap would work.

[boatman37]

It says handicap is based off your combined average 'average'...lol. So mine at 191 and hers at 112 gives us about a 150 average. 220-150 *.8 would be about 56 pins handicap

[boatman37]

So just got back from the tournament. Knew going in it would be an uphill battle with us having lower averages and an 80% handicap but it was fun. My book average was 191 and my wifes was 111 so 151 combined and we were getting 55 pins handicap. I was figuring we'd need 170-175 scratch to make the cut. The format was we started out on lane 2 an bowled the whole first game on 2. 2nd game we bowled the whole game on lane 1. Then we moved to lane 4, then 3, then 6, then 5. 10 games total to qualify. I knew it would be tough scoring cause of the lack of stringing strikes but figured if we made the most of each frame individually we might be ok. There were 36 teams. I started out with the Uppercut out at the 6-7 board. The first 2 or 3 games I struck almost every time up except the 10th. Seemed to struggle in the 10th every game. Probably the end of game 3 I lost my line. Moved in to the 2nd arrow and did ok but after a few frames started leaving corner pins and getting too much deflection (ball dropping off closer to the 8 pin). Switched balls to the Black Widow Gold and back to the outside and it was reading way too early and crossing over the headpin. Switched to the Igniter and got back in the groove but with only 5 frames per game it took me 2 or 3 games to figure it out. Wife was hitting the pocket most of the day but leaving splits like crazy. A straight ball at 8 lbs will do that.

Our scores (scratch):
1) 137
2) 155
3) 136
4) 141
5) 162
6) 116
7) 98
8) 149
9) 146
10) 176

We finished -34. The top 7 teams made the cut, which was +175. We averaged about 141/game and finished 29th of 36. Happy with that given the competition. I did see 1 PBA member there. He isn't one you see on tour but he won the last tourney I was in and I knew then he had a PBA card. Lots of bowlers there I had never seen before that were pretty good. Wife had fun and enjoyed it. After the 8th game we were 34th so moved up 5 spots the last 2 games.

BTW-6 of the 7 teams that made the cut had averages over 220 so no handicap for them. The other team had a 205 average and 13 of the top 20 had over a 220 average. Only 10 of the 36 had an average below 200 and we had the lowest average of the 36. Ours was 151, there was a 154 and a 164 but after that it jumped to 185. Can't complain. We beat 1 team that had a 220 average. In fact, the teams we beat had averages of 185, 220, 214, 199, 200, 213 and 188.

What I did learn was my 7 pin shooting wasn't good early on but later I slowed my 7 pin shots down and think I made all of them after that. I also was very accurate today with my shot placement, even at the 2nd arrow where I feel I start losing accuracy the further I get inside. I was comfortable in there but just left too many 7's and 10's. Maybe less surface to retain a little energy?

[J Anderson]

Glad both you and your wife enjoyed it.

People, especially kids, see the pros throw20 to 25 mph at corner pins and think that’s what you have to do. Yeah the speed helps keep the ball from hooking but for most people trying to throw the ball with more speed decreases their accuracy.

[boatman37]

Wow. Just looked over the top scores. 1st was 2337 (233.7 average), 2nd was 2312, 3rd was 2282, 4th was 2243, 5th was 2185, 6th was 2176 and 7th was 2175. These were all scratch except the 2243 as all others had over 220 average. First was a 233 average over 10 games.No idea who they were. In fact I only knew 3 of the top 7 teams. The other 4 I hadn't heard their names before so no idea who they were or where they were from. Haven't heard yet who won it. Guys in our league were 2nd and 5th (bowled summer leagues with 3rd place team).