I hate tournaments

[ghoul31]

I just discovered this great bowling deal at an alley across town. You get a lane from 9am to 12pm Sunday for $16. That a great deal
But when I went there they said there is no open bowling on sunday mornings for the next month because of a State Tournament.

The alley has 64 lanes, 32 on each side. And there was like 7 lanes on each side not being used.
So I said what about all those unused lanes?
And they said they weren't allowed to use them

Its stupid to let all those lanes go to waste.
I guess they don't want the scummy open bowlers bothering the high class tournament people.

[backlasher]

Sometimes the lanes will be used later or the tournament reserved all the lanes and they aren't really "open".

[75lockwood]

I just discovered this great bowling deal at an alley across town. You get a lane from 9am to 12pm Sunday for $16. That a great deal
But when I went there they said there is no open bowling on sunday mornings for the next month because of a State Tournament.

The alley has 64 lanes, 32 on each side. And there was like 7 lanes on each side not being used.
So I said what about all those unused lanes?
And they said they weren't allowed to used them

Its stupid to let all those lanes go to waste.
I guess they don't want the scummy open bowlers bothering the high class tournament people.

To play Devil's advocate, it makes some sense, if you were bowling in a tournament in a key match that could win you $10,000, and you must strike to win, and all of a sudden a 6 year old comes running up beside you and slams the ball onto the lane causing you to loose focus for a split second and pull the ball through the nose. you would be pretty ticked correct?

The tournament would have been rented the entire ally when they agreed to hold it there (which makes the center a lot of money)

[billf]

For large tournaments, such as a State tournament, the entire center is rented so technically the lanes aren't "open".
Even if they were the last thing I want as a tournament bowler is to have to walk through spilled food and/or drink, lack of lane courtesy, questions to improve that person's game or the worst, suggestions to improve my game. There is a time and place for all those things amd while I'm bowling for money isn't the time or place.
Now the above doesn't apply to all open bowlers but at the same time it's against the law for an establishment to pick and choose who they would let use those open lanes. That's how the policy of renting an entire center came to be.
It's really no different than not letting open bowlers on the lanes adjacent to a league while they are competing.

[billf]

BTW, I love tournaments. Pays for all my gear and fees for leagues for the year.

[bowl1820]

Also for large tournaments.

The tournament may of had them reserve those lanes in case of possible break downs, last minute entries, shifting lanes during the tournament.

Instead having sourgrape's about it, look at as a possible opportunity.

Go down during the team and doubles events and try to sub.

It happens a bowler can't make it, the team is short or somebody's doubles partner is not there and the spot is payed for already. I've done it a few times.

It's good tournament experience.

[ghoul31]

Go down during the team and doubles events and try to sub.

I just started bowling recently. I'm not good enough yet to be in a tournament.

I'm just trying to find some deals so I can get better without spending a fortune.

[e-tank]

BTW, I love tournaments. Pays for all my gear and fees for leagues for the year.

just out of curiosity, i saw you post a couple days ago about how your average was 224 in a tourney. Would you say having an average that high is normal to pull out a win? im aware every tourney is different and have different skilled people but im just talking on a normal basis.

[greycat]

just out of curiosity, i saw you post a couple days ago about how your average was 224 in a tourney. Would you say having an average that high is normal to pull out a win? im aware every tourney is different and have different skilled people but im just talking on a normal basis.

That's a loaded question because you don't know if handicap is used the lane conditions or format. The last few tourneys I've bowled the best average didn't win and they were scratch events. The reason was due to format top 8 do brackets so the best average doesn't always win. Average only matter when handicap is involved if you are in a scratch event best that day cashes. Consistency matters hit you mark, make every spare, know your best ball layouts for lane conditions. If you count every strike as a good throw you will be destroyed in any event with capable bowlers on any pattern. You will be amazed when a great bowler locks into their line and makes rows of X's when you are squirting balls everywhere (3 board misses is all it takes).

As for state the score to win varies depending on the venue(s). In my state this year the scores will be well over 800 in singles and doubles close to the current record 1575 because the location and what bowlers live in my state. Team maybe over 3700 and all-events 2300. For me I've only thrown 700+ in that house 2 times this year but I'm proud of the guys I setup for team and doubles.

[Hammer]

I can understand not wanting to have open bowlers bowling during a tournament. They are bowling for money and don't want the distraction of an open bowler running up there to make a shot when someone in the tournament needs a strike in the 10th frame to win.
Hence the reason for no lanes open for open bowlers. I can understand that.