Won my 1st tournament!

[boatman37]

End of year county USBC tournament...singles. Only 34 or so entries. Only entered 2nd squad. Top 11 made it in. Format was 1 game then move right to next pair then 2nd game, etc. Shot 201, 202, 232. Opened in 9th and 10th first 2 games...ugh. 635 (726 handicap). Cutoff was 689 and I was 6th of 11. Fist round was a cut to 6. Shot 255 scratch to move on. Next round shot 203 scratch and tied for the last spot (3rd). Rolloff against a girl 1 pin higher average than me. She started with strike then spare then 8 in fill. I started with spare then 2 strikes then they said I won and no need to throw the fill ball. So 3 of us went on to the final. A good friend I bowl with and another guy I didn't know. My buddy has about a 215-220 average so I knew he was giving up handicap. Wasn't sure about the other guy but my focus was on my bowling. Buddy took the front 5 or 6 then 7-10'd. I struck in the first then opened in 2nd then threw the next 5 to take the lead. The 3rd guy wasn't doing great but I didn't know his handicap. Going into the 10th I heard someone say that I got it. Struck in q0th then 6-10 in 11th and covered it for the win. Used the Zen Soul every single shot except spare ball. Average on the day was 221.33. 6/8 on 7 pins. Went last night for 3 games and was 5/5 on 7 pins and Tuesday night I went 5/6 on 7 pins so in a groove there.

https://i.postimg.cc/c1Y8gmfY/2023-03-26-EOY-USBC-tourney.jpg (https://postimg.cc/fkzb1Y2T)

[boatman37]

https://i.postimg.cc/15rnM3C3/winner-pic.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8jszzNg2)

[J Anderson]

Congratulations Boatman! Sounds like you came through in the clutch.

[boatman37]

Thanks. I usually do something to mentally take myself out but stayed focused today

[SRB57]

Congratulations!!!! Steve

[boomer]

Congratulations boat! :)

[boatman37]

Thanks guys

[Timmyb]

Well done, sir!

[boatman37]

Thanks!

[boatman37]

Entering another tournament Sunday. 1st tournament for me since I won the one in March but this one will be more of a challenge. So far 70 have pre-registered. Handicap is 80% of 220 so that will be tough too. Add to that the fact I have been in a bad slump for weeks and I'm not getting my hopes up too much but wish me luck.

[boatman37]

Well tournament went well. 88 entries. 10 games highest series wins. Is that called a sweeper? Not sure what the format is called. Anyway, started on 37-38. Bowl 2 games then move 3 pairs and so on. Started with the Eternity Pi and did well. Used it the first 3 games and was slightly coming around the ball but then switched to the Xponent. After a game or so I started struggling so started staying behind the ball as much as I could. Game 7 switched back to the Pi staying behind the ball and started hitting good. Game 10 everyone was struggling. I saw alot of people throwing plastic the last game. There was no re-oiling in between so they were pretty burned up. I was able to salvage a 184 with an open in the 10th.
After 4 games I was 20th. Top 17 cashed. After 6 games I dropped to 32nd. After 8 games I moved up to 12th. My last set I rolled 223 and 184 and was afraid I might drop out of the money. Turns out everyone struggled more than me and I ended up 7th. Cut was +218. I was +285. I was getting 18 pins/game handicap. No idea what 1st was as they haven't posted the final standings yet but I spent $80 on entry and won $300. I spent $35 on brackets and won $25.

Game 1: 247 (8 strikes, 2 spares, 1 open)

Game 2: 192 (5 strikes, 5 spares, 1 open)

Game 3: 193 (4 strikes, 5 spares, 1 open)

Game 4: 224 (7 strikes, 2 spares, 2 opens-1 split)

Game 5: 195 (7 strikes, 4 spares, 1 open)

Game 6: 181 (4 strikes, 5 spares, 1 open)

Game 7: 224 (7 strikes: 3 spares, 1 open-1 split)

Game 8: 242 (10 strikes, 1 spare, 1 open-1 split)

Game 9: 223c (6 strikes, 5 spares, 0 opens)

Game 10: 184 (5 strikes, 3 spares, 2 opens)

Series: 2105

Average: 210.5

First ball average: 9.32

Strikes: 56% (63/111)

Spares: 74% (35/47)

Single pin spares: 80% (24/30)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

https://i.postimg.cc/SKbKMxp0/sims-x-mas-tournament-2023.jpg (https://postimg.cc/75XDvD6X)

[boatman37]

BTW-they haven't posted final results yet but after 8 games 1st place was +400

[Aslan]

Good job!

I like sweeper tournaments. One day, 10 games...moving one pair to another...it's fun. The only downside is...by games 6-10...you can really start to lose oil and your pattern. Definitely helps to have a decent arsenal so you're not lofting gutters or throwing your spare ball as your strike ball.

[boatman37]

Winner was +398. I was +285 and 7th. Winner had a 188 average but rolled 2148 scratch (2398 handicap). I rolled 2150 scratch 2285 handicap. 17th was the last cash spot and was 2218. Only 4 of the 17 had a handicap, the other 13 were 220+ average. 1st, 7th (me), 16th and 17th had handicaps.
It was fun

[boomer]

wait - you missed a 5 pin in a tournament? I HATE it when I do that! LOL

Good bowling - grind out when you think you're not doing well, and HIT it HARD when you find the groove. Nice job!

[boatman37]

yeah. looked great. turned to walk away at the last second and the ball veered in front of the 5 and just missed it. i was pretty shocked...lol

[boatman37]

Another tournament today. This one at a different house that I had never been to. Old wooden lanes. 16 lanes. Heads and mids were fine but the backend hooked hard. Tried the Pi and Xponent in warmups and went with the Xponent. Pi was overhooking. Problem was I had no miss room but stuck with it cause I was at least close to the pocket on most shots What probably made things worse was that I had a good first game so saw no reason to make any changes. The format was bowl 1 game then move 2 pairs. Started having issues after that but was being stubborn. Tried the Helios for one shot near end of game 1 2nd set (4th game). Used the Xponent all 3 games in the first squad for a 570. This was a 40/40 and entered with my son (150 average). Ended with a 1346 and was 11th of about 30 after the 1st squad. Decided to enter the 2nd squad too figuring I wouldn't do any worse...wrong....lol. Top 16 made it and I knew there would be some ringers showing up for 2nd squad. I was right...lol. 2nd set I threw the Xponent first game and 1/2 of 2d game before deciding to try the Pi even though that ball is much earlier than the Xponent. Wish I had switched sooner. Ball was great. Finished game 2 at 195. Game 3 was 223. We had 1332 so 14 pins lower than 1st set. It was a record entry so since the turnout was so good they decided to pay out to 22nd. Well we were 22nd..lol. Got $100 back and won a little in brackets so still lost money today but not too bad.

https://i.postimg.cc/qMSX7WKD/USBC-40-40.jpg (https://postimg.cc/QHgW440c)

[Aslan]

Good job!

Wood lanes can be tricky if you're not used to playing them.

[boatman37]

Funny thing is I had never played on synthetic until my return in 2018. When I left in 2002 my center was 1/2 wood and 1/2 synthetic but my league bowled on the wooden half. And was throwing urethane back then

[Hammer]

Nice success story so congrats on your accomplishment.

[Just_Steve]

Congratulations! Great job.

[boatman37]

Where at in Southwest PA? I'm in the Beaver Valley Association (bowl in Beaver Falls)

[boatman37]

No-tap tomorrow. 4 man teams. 70% of 220 so lower averages are gonna have a hard time. Last time I entered this one I bowled 564. Yep..564 in a no tap...lol.

[boatman37]

Well thought I did decent but apparently not. 268, 222, 221. 711 scratch (no tap). thought that was decent but turns out our whole team had to average 800 with handicap to get near first. Winner had 3242 (4 man teams). So 811 each with handicap to win it. I had 759 with handicap (handicap was 16). For individuals they paid out to 10th I believe. Either way, the last paying spot was about 780 so I was still out of that.
I got in 4 brackets and only made it into the finals on 1 of them which means I got beat on 3 with a 711 then lost the 4th so won $10 back of my 25 I paid.
They have another April 21st. I signed up but only cause one guy on the team wants to do it, otherwise I'm just throwing money away. I was high man on our team and was still not good enough.

[Ryster]

Used to have a blast with no tap tournaments. I bowled in one back in November, and decided it would be my last one. The top 10 were well over 800, and the winner was an 880 after handicap. There were several bowlers that reentered 2x and 3x that didn't end up cashing. Must have been exceedingly frustrating for them.

There was another no tap a few weeks ago, and the minimum to cash was an 815 after handicap. Again, more than 10 bowlers had 800+ after handicap was added in.

Like you said, it's just throwing money away. One non strike in each game and you are out. Way too much pressure for something that is intended to be fun. I'm all for a challenge, but not when it isn't also fun.

[boatman37]

Agreed. One open per game and you have no chance. Watched scores next to us and 3 of the 4 struck into the 7th. Not sure where they finished but they didn't cash cause I know the one guy on that team. Pretty discouraging. I thought I'd have a better chance at no-tap but like you said, 2 non strikes per game eliminates you

[Ryster]

Years ago i bowled in a no tap where three bowlers ended up with a 900. There was then a roll off to determine the final seeding for the stepladder finals. Crazy!

[boatman37]

Well the tournament that started this thread is back again. Won this one last year. It's our USBC association end of season tournament. Last year it was at my local center where I bowl league. This year it's at a center that I bowled the association Sr's tournament 2 years ago. I qualified 2nd but got knocked out in the first round.
It's also the center Steve Kosela bowled his 900 2 years ago. His Helios is in a display case on the counter there. He will probably be in this tournament. Last time I talked to him he wasn't bowling league this year, only subbing, due to health reasons but he has done a few tournaments this year.

[boatman37]

Good day today. 2nd time at this center and bowled good both times. 65 unique entries across 2 squads. 32 in the first and 54 in the 2nd. Scores were low in the first squad. Last time I was there I started out up 10 but struggled. Used the Zen Soul and 2nd game moved out to the 5 board. Everyone struggled that day too and I finished with two 240s and after 1st squad I was 1st. Sat out 2nd squad and got bumped to 2nd but got beat first round.
Today I started with the Eternity Pi (similar to the ZS) and up 5 right from the start. Did try moving in a little but no hook there. Ended up throwing the Pi every frame for 8 games. 1st squad I wasn't great but better than most others. Threw 613 scratch with 702 handicap (handicap was 90% of 230). I was 2nd after 1st squad but I won the 50/50 and the mystery doubles and made it into the money on 1 bracket so was up $127. Entry with brackets was $60/squad so figured 2nd squad was a freebie so signed up. Threw 673 scratch and 762 handicap to qualify 3rd overall out of 62. 1st round threw 213 for 242 handicap. Cutoff was 224 so made it by. 2nd round left 3 10 pins in a row but missed the 3rd one. Also missed a 3-5-6 for 2 opens and a 190 with 219 handicap. Cutoff was 225 so I was out. Won $45 on brackets for 2nd squad too then cashed for $100 so came home about $150 richer than I went there with...lol.
Spare shooting wasn't great again. Missed 2 6 pins. Left the 3-9 once and 3-9-10 once. I hit the 3 the same angle I normally would but both times my Pi deflected off the 3 and left the 9 (9-10 on the other one). So that was weird. Made 4/5 7 pins so that was good. Left a few splits too.
Oh yeah...dumped 1 in the gutter too. I kept coming in light so moved left but I was already targeting the 4-5 board and got it out just a little too far.

https://i.postimg.cc/d1YSn2fX/2024-BV_eoy_singles.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GBXQmydJ)

[Aslan]

Ya won the hard way. Consistent above-average performances...with a nice 255 thrown in. Nice work!

[boatman37]

Thanks. Timing and release felt really good. I think alot of my issues lately have been those 2 things. I tried to focus on every shot so maybe I just need to pay closer attention tomorrow night.

[boatman37]

Entered another no tap yesterday. Done with those. Just not fun for me. 4 man teams but a few teams are stacked and the winners average 800 each with handicap. I feel I bowled pretty well and was only at 699 with handicap. Sure I could have done a little better but feel it would be highly unlikely for me to ever see an 800 with handicap let alone all 4 of us hitting 800. Our team was about 400 below the winners score and 200 below cashing. That's 50 pins/person just to cash. We finished 13th of 24 teams. I had 265, 151 and 235. That 151 our whole team struggled that game.

[Aslan]

I don't see the point in no-tap tournaments. They tend to benefit bowlers that don't have huge hooks and not much speed. Thats the opposite of me.

And, they've really taken off recently because proprietors have realized no-tap tournaments take far less time...which leaves more time to rent the lanes for open bowling. Just like many tournaments (BVL, City, etc...) where they have gotten rid of actual tournaments and replaced them with "virtual" tournaments. It's too bad. Onsite tournaments can be a lot of fun.

California's way of doing the BVL was great...each USBC hosting a tournament and sending qualifiers to the state BVL tournament. I even won once...was invited to represent that USBC in the state BVL...I think it was in Sacramento or northern California...can't remember. I ended up being unable to go, however, because the date overlapped with the league's sweep week in Vegas. :( PLUS, that was the "A Division"...which really wasn't a division I felt I could be competitive in. I ended up in that division because of something having to do with my sport average being converted into a standard average that was high enough to qualify for "A" division...plus, they didn't have too many "A" division entries in the Citrus Belt USBC. I finished 2nd in the Orange County BVL for Division "B", but each local association only sends one person to states. It would have been a tough choice between sweeps in Vegas or representing the OC in the "B" division at the state tourney.

[Ryster]

No-tap tournaments are massive around here. They fill up/sell out quickly and bowlers frequently re-enter in another squad if they don't like their first score. People like them because it makes them feel like they have a chance to get extra strikes in each game. Plus they usually get handicap on top of it. Handicap no-taps just make me laugh.

The problem is that scores get really high...830+ to finish in the top 5. Then you get PBA players participating and scores can easily be 880+.

Personally, I don't waste my time and money anymore on no-taps. They were fun when I was younger, but not fun anymore now that I'm older.

[boatman37]

Yeah the last 2 no taps the winning team had just over 3200 so each member needs 800 with handicap. I bowled decent and only had 699. I think I was highest on our team. You can really only have 2 bad shots per series to compete. Either way, they just aren't fun for me.