Prepping for tournaments

[JCasey1992]

Hi all,

I bowled in my first tournament a while ago and was nowhere near prepared for it. How do you guys get ready for tournaments and do you have any suggestions for me?

Thanks,
Casey

[jaydee]

In what way did you feel unprepared? Equipment related? Skill related? Nerves? Didn't meet dress code? Please be more specific.

[billf]

I bring all my equipment. The night before I go to the alley and get acquainted with the place. Find the restroom, pro shop, etc and bowl a couple of games. That gives me a feeling for the approach and doesn't let the bigger houses feel so darn huge (which makes the lanes seem smaller). I show up to the tournament early and try to see if they will tell us anything about the pattern. If not, I watch bowlers to see where they are playing to score well. Then I go outside and select what equipment I want to bring in with me. I usually bring in six balls including my plastic spare ball. Then I get a something to drink, sit down, relax and have fun.

[eugene02]

I bring all my equipment. The night before I go to the alley and get acquainted with the place. Find the restroom, pro shop, etc and bowl a couple of games. That gives me a feeling for the approach and doesn't let the bigger houses feel so darn huge (which makes the lanes seem smaller). I show up to the tournament early and try to see if they will tell us anything about the pattern. If not, I watch bowlers to see where they are playing to score well. Then I go outside and select what equipment I want to bring in with me. I usually bring in six balls including my plastic spare ball. Then I get a something to drink, sit down, relax and have fun.

wow up to 6 balls! dam! i only have 2 now.. getting the 3rd one is already a difficult task!

[billf]

I bring 6 inside. I travel with 13. When I lose it's because someone else out bowled me, not because they had better equipment of I didn't have available what was needed to match up to the lane condition.

[eugene02]

I bring 6 inside. I travel with 13. When I lose it's because someone else out bowled me, not because they had better equipment of I didn't have available what was needed to match up to the lane condition.

thats just so many dude! am jealous!!

[martin]

thats just so many dude! am jealous!!

same here.. lol.. i only have 3 balls.. Brunswick Anaconda (bought it new.. about US$200), a yellow stormy spare ball (bought a used one, about US$40) and a reactive ball that i don't even know the name.. lol.. (a used ball also.. $52)

btw, my tournament prep is just finding my strike line and practicing the 10-pin and 7-pin spares..

[eugene02]

Bought my lane 1 maxxx curve in Singapore for $243.4619 USD
Columbia 300 White Dot Black Berry for $94.2433 USD
Dexter SST8 Shoes for $212.0474 USD
Brunswick 2 ball roller for $117.8041 USD

converted them into USD thru yahoo currency converter..

[jaydee]

I bring 6 inside. I travel with 13. When I lose it's because someone else out bowled me, not because they had better equipment of I didn't have available what was needed to match up to the lane condition.

I usually bring 5 with me. Any more than that, I'll think too much about which ball to use and what line to throw, not be able to execute.

[martinezsam2495]

wow up to 6 balls! dam! i only have 2 now.. getting the 3rd one is already a difficult task!
I know, I only have one and I thought that was enough, haha

[eugene02]

well i've upgraded to 3 now.. Heee :)

[martin]

i also have 3 (4 if you consider a cracked one i have at home.. lol).. btw, how do u prepare for your tournaments eugene? ever taken part in any?

[eugene02]

well if my competition is on a sunday, i'll play on the friday and cool on the saturday..

[TheSheibs]

I bring 6 inside. I travel with 13. When I lose it's because someone else out bowled me, not because they had better equipment of I didn't have available what was needed to match up to the lane condition.

13 balls?!?! Why so many? I think 6 is a lot to carry around. Maybe explain why you have so many in a separate thread???

Anyway, I don't think I'm to the point of doing tournaments. Maybe in a couple years I'll be to that point. I do bowl on one league and I usually get there early enough to bowl three games, then watch them finish oiling the lanes. It's a 60 lane center and takes them a long time to oil the lanes. Then I chat with the other league members and try to watch people bowling on the lanes. Being left handed I think the only thing that would help prepare me better is knowing the pattern. But since I tend to use the outside and am a lefty I don't have to worry about other people throwing on the same side as me.

[martin]

well if my competition is on a sunday, i'll play on the friday and cool on the saturday..

what if it's on a weekday?

[martinezsam2495]

I say you keep practicing, cause there is no better teacher than Mr. Practice himself.

[martin]

for me i keep practicing and rest for a day before the tournament..

[DR3AMxCATCHER]

I'm a little late to this thread, but better late than never.

I usually bowl on the lanes the night before during No-Tap, usually the oil pattern in the same throughout the weekend this way I can make adjustments of where I'm going to be starting (most likely) the next day.
I only have 3 balls so I have them all ready, even though I really only trust throwing one. Take a seat where I feel no one will bother me too much and just bowl and try to enjoy it as much as I can. Also, paying attention to the other bowlers and seeing how their ball reacts to the lanes in the middle and outside.

[Tampabaybob]

When I used to bowl the regional PBA circuit I would always have a trunk full of ball. Now in my golden years, I carry 4 balls have 2 others at home and have learned to make adjustments to my game ie; hand position, speed, and break points and I deal with it. Sometimes too many balls in ones arsenal will get very confusing and if you didn't bowl well, then theres the thought that you brought the wrong balls. Get 3 or 4 that will give you a different look on different patterns, learn how they react and practice with them. I know guys that have to buy the latest ball coming out, and then turn around and sell them for 1/2 of what they paid a month later.

As far as how to prepare for tournaments, try to go to the center you'll be bowling in and get some practice in. Every house is different even from the smell of the place to the lighting, and the acoustics. I've shot in 13 or 14 USBC (ABC) Nationals all over the country and I can tell you, every experience was different. While bowling in the Nationals is something I think everyone should try to do at least once, it is an experience you will never forget. Go, relax, and throw your best possible shots. Learn as you're bowling for the next tournament.

Bob