Ever go to a PBA tournament to watch?

[scottymoney]

So my birthday 30th is just a couple weeks away and I finally was told what my mystery trip is going to be.

My wife is taking me to PBA Winter Swing in Detroit at the end of January. I was excited to hear this but I want to hear from anyone who has actually been to a tournament before about what the do's and dont's are as well as things I should look to do.

We are going for the weekend and will see the shows Saturday and Sunday as well as try and bowl at Thunderbowl on Monday morning before we head home.

Anyone have any PBA tournament experiences?

[J Anderson]

I took my dad to see a PBA finals in 1998. Qualifying had taken place in Milford CT, and the finals were at Sacred Heart University. Our seats were about halfway up, looking down on the approaches, in my opinion a great place to watch the matches from.

I remember that Walter Ray Williams won the tournament. I don't remember which other bowlers made the finals. None of them were star players of that era like Aulby, Bohn, or Voss. The most memorable event was a mistake by whoever was in charge of the big screen monitor. At one point as Walter Ray was about throw his ball, they put up a shot of Dick Weber, who was seated behind the approach on the screen and everyone who didn't have a good view of the approach started to applaud. Weber was visibly upset to have been the cause of a distraction for one of the competitors. Williams was his usual unflappable self, and just reset himself and threw a quality shot.

In hindsight, I wish I had gone over to watch some of the qualifying, and had gotten Dick Weber's autograph.

[got_a_300]

Yes I have been to and bowled in quite a few PBA tournaments
back in the late 1980's and 1990's. I guess the main thing not
to do is distract the bowler while he/she is bowling by asking
for their autograph or for any bowling advice.

I guess the main thing to do is offer to help them move any of
their equipment during qualifying from lane to lane if they will
let you and offer to help them out anyway that you can.

If you want their autograph or any bowling advice wait until they
are done bowling their set then ask them. If you are staying for
the TV finals do not make any background noise while they are on
the approach especially if PDW is in the finals or PDW will know who
you are and gripe at you. LOL!!!!!

[scottymoney]

I believe some of what we will be seeing is the PBA League matches. Which I will have to wait to sneeze until PDW is in his approach!

Not sure we will see much of qualifying but I am not much of a talking guy as it is. So I wouldn't be one to go up to the pros and actually try to talk to them.

[Perrin]

I don't think I would try to get any autographs or aything but it would definitely be fun to go and watch the qualifying rounds and etc.

I like to watch the lines that guys throw and the differing bll reactions dependant on missing by as little as 1 board.

Not to mention the reaction of all the different bowling balls.

[MisterSinister]

I always wanted to go to one. I remember seeing the trucks outside of AMF West Babylon every single year. The last time was 2010, now they don't come around anymore.

[JerseyJim]

I was at the Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open in 1996 when they had an arena final in the Rutgers Athletic Center. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I even met PDW behind the stands. His off the lane persona is far different from his on lane persona. He's a funny guy. Walter Ray Williams beat Steve Jaros in the final. I even saw Mark Roth there.

[MisterSinister]

I even met PDW behind the stands. His off the lane persona is far different from his on lane persona. He's a funny guy.

I've heard that from a friend who used to hang around the tour. PDW is a big wrestling fan, so what we see on TV is much more of a character he based on wrestlers. Not sure if that's the "sport" we should be modeling ourselves after.

[billf]

I believe some of what we will be seeing is the PBA League matches. Which I will have to wait to sneeze until PDW is in his approach!

Not sure we will see much of qualifying but I am not much of a talking guy as it is. So I wouldn't be one to go up to the pros and actually try to talk to them.

PBA league matches? I'm confused seeing as the PBA isn't a league.............

[chrono00]

I've heard that from a friend who used to hang around the tour. PDW is a big wrestling fan, so what we see on TV is much more of a character he based on wrestlers. Not sure if that's the "sport" we should be modeling ourselves after.

Not that surprising considering his crotch chop celebrations and using triple h's music for strikes

And it's not that bad to model after that a little. 90% of wrestling is all about showmanship and entertainment. Couldn't hurt bowling