So the idea is that you will have a good feel for how each ball will react? Do you mean 6 game series or 3 game series?Originally Posted by jimlc2001
Preparing for the Vegas Veteran's Tournament
In August, I will be competing in the Veteran's 3-day tournament (Team, doubles, singles). What does everyone do the week before for preparation? My plan is bowling 6 games for 4 straight days (Mon-Thurs), focusing on 1 ball for an entire series. I usually bowl 2 leagues a week, plus 10 games on Sunday, so I don't think this will be too strenuous. My 8-ball arsenal is below.
Heavy -- NeXXus, Virtual Gravity, and Ulti-Max Pearl
Med Heavy -- Cell and Cell Pearl
Med -- Versa-Max and Karma Pearl
Light -- Motiv Recon Pearl
Spare -- OTB
So the idea is that you will have a good feel for how each ball will react? Do you mean 6 game series or 3 game series?
John
It's more for my body to bowl 4 days straight. As for the equipment, I know pretty well how each ball reacts, but I would like to practice a different line each game, 3 lines total, in case the line I prefer is not working.
My plan
Monday
Nexxus: Game 1, straight up (Left toe on 20, release 12, hit arrows 10, break 7). Game 2, medium hook (Toe 25, 17, 13, 6). Game 3 deep hook (Toe 30, 22, 15, 5).
Virt Grav: Game 4, straight up. Game 5, medium hook. Game 6 deep hook.
Repeat Tuesday-Thursday with different balls.
The goal will be hitting my marks and controlling speed; not focused on score. I'm betting that Vegas will have a longer shot with more oil than Monterey Lanes, so I really want to practice the straight up shot with my heavy equipment. Also, if anyone knows how Vegas lanes break down, that would be helpful.
Sounds like a good plan. Wish I could help with some intel on the lanes, but the closest I've been to Vegas is watching C.S.I.
John
Thanks John. I've been to Vegas before, for military purposes. This is truly my first major tournament and I just want to have a respectable showing.
Update. I just received my Cell back from the shop with an interchangeable thumb, and I am not thrilled with the feel. The ball was purchased from another bowler with similar span and thumb angle. I think the span was 1/16 longer. Unfortunately the slight differences are noticeable, to the point my friends comment about me releasing too early. It looks like I might have to get a similar style ball to fill the gap between my Virtual Gravity and Versa Max
Bowling - it's easy when you understand all the physics beneath the surface.
High game - 300
High league game - 290 x3
High series - 802
Good routine keep it up. Good luck on the tournament, may you bring us back good news!
Cheers! ~Sam
Update on my practices. Yesterday was terrible, way too dry to even try the down and in shot, so I just practiced the big hook and split conversions (out of necessity). For tonight, I asked the manager to lay down the house's winter oil pattern. It is much longer and heavier, but still very playable. I would call it a med-heavy to heavy house shot, 40-41 feet in length. Needless to say tonight's fun league was surprised.
Wow! This pattern works great for my style. I bowled with one of our best house bowlers (240+) and was keeping up with him. I shot the down and in style with every ball in my arsenal. This was mainly to reacquaint myself with bowling near the gutter. Everything from my Nexxus to Motiv Recon was finding the pocket. Naturally, the Nexxus had the biggest hook. Foot 21, release 14-15, arrows 11-13, break, 3-5. The Motiv was really down and in. Foot 17, release 10-11, arrow 7-8, break 4-6.
Towards the end of practice I played a game. Throw one ball for a strike, then pick up a different ball and guess what adjustments were needed to strike with the second ball. I was about 50% correct. The challenge for me was in the execution, especially going from the hook to a down and in shot. I always yanked the first down and in shot. Tomorrow should be another good practice before league night on Thursday.
Bowling - it's easy when you understand all the physics beneath the surface.
High game - 300
High league game - 290 x3
High series - 802
That's sort of what I like to do if I'm getting bored with practice. I will switch balls after every throw, using every ball that I have brought to the lanes. I'm always surprised to get more than a double. Almost as surprising as being able to pick up the 10 with my most aggressive ball.
John
Made it to Vegas! Scoped the alley and might throw a game tonight. Tomorrow they have 1 hour of free practice for the players. Should be fun.
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