First Real Tournament - No Tap

[Greenday]

This weekend I'm doing my first no tap tournament. Knock down only nine pins? It's a strike. 85% handicap based on USBC average (220 average if you don't have one). I've got a 177 average so I figure that'll help. You bowl three games, four bowlers with highest series go into a playoff series.

Any suggestions on what to do? I'm suffering right now from destroying my hand this week. Monday I tore a small piece of skin on the inside base of my thumb. Tore some skin from my ring finger today just below the nail to the side. And I also got cheese from a pizza fresh out of the oven on the back of my bowling hand.

My coach told me to bowl two games to warm up on Saturday. He said to go with what's been working for me and we'll continue to work on other stuff later so it won't throw me off during the tournament.

[75lockwood]

Geeze, you seem to be torturing your hand, for the tournament, just relax and have fun with it and don't kill your hand to bad before then lol

Good luck! I'm sure you will do great

[bjeffe1234]

I agree. Just relax. Focus on your mark and the other basics so that you can hit the pocket. I don't know if it's too late to get a bowling glove. It would cover/protect most of those injuries.

[Greenday]

I agree. Just relax. Focus on your mark and the other basics so that you can hit the pocket. I don't know if it's too late to get a bowling glove. It would cover/protect most of those injuries.

I have one for my thumb actually. I'm trying to get away from it though since my thumb shouldn't be ripping. We ovaled my thumb hole out and that's eliminated one of my chafing areas. But the lip is still rough so that's hurting the base of my thumb. When I get my ball drilled right, it should eliminate the problem. Not much I can do for my ring finger. Just going to throw new skin on it and pray.

[Davec13]

Just hit the pocket and hope you get good pin action if you miss. Every 9 pin I've bowled in I either strike or hit 8, and spares don't win 9 pin. The scores are also going to throw you off a bit, you could bowl a high 700 series and easily be in the bottom of the pack.

It also sounds like you need to take care of your hands a bit more.

[billf]

Have fun, enjoy the experience and don't have any expectations. Like a lot of things in life, this too will be a learning experience.

[Doghouse Reilly]

No tap s are great fun, good luck and have fun.

[Greenday]

I decided not to bowl today so I wouldn't aggravate anything. It's three games tomorrow with a possible two extra games. I don't want to make it worse. The way it is now, I feel I should be okay to bowl tomorrow as long as I throw new skin on it.

Also, we are getting lunch with the tournament. Good deal.

[billf]

Shoot, if I coach for a soda you can only imagine what I do for food!
That's cool that it includes lunch. Good luck and have a blast! Don't think 9-pin or you will hit less. Think like any other time you bowl.

[Greenday]

I came in sixth place out of about forty people. Bowled a 196, a 215, and a 264. I'm really upset about that 264. I had six strikes to start, but then in the seventh I had double wood. One pin wobbled but refused to fall. Then I striked out the rest of the game. Should have been a 300. If I did get that 300, I would have been in third and in the playoffs.

The oiled the lanes right before we started. It was nice. But the oil broke down super fast on me. The third game, everyone moved to the third arrow so I had the second arrow all to myself and was crushing it.