Doubles tournament today

[boatman37]

So today was our centers 40/40 tournament. One member had to be over 40 and one under 40 (I was the over 40...lol). Pattern was our normal THS we always play on. Handicap was 80% of 220. My book average for the tournament was 188 (25 handicap) and teammates was 179 (32 handicap). You bowl 1 game on a pair then move 1 pair down for the next game, etc. There were 2 qualifying rounds and they re-oiled between qualifiers. Game 1 I bowled 181 and teammate rolled 204 (started off good but left a 7-9 in 6th frame then 4-7-10 next frame). 2nd game I rolled 193 and teammate rolled 215. 3rd game I rolled 225 and he rolled 153. He is a one hand no thumber and struggles bad when the lanes start to burn. With handicap we rolled 1342. Top 4 were locked in and cutoff was 1450ish for that. I did win $50 on brackets. Spent $20 on them.

Entered 2nd round of qualifying and got stuck on a pair that everyone had struggled on. I rolled 168 and teammate rolled 167. Next game I rolled 216 and teammate rolled 201. 3rd game I rolled 203 but teammate rolled 134. We had 1260 that round so we didn't make it. Didn't win any brackets this time around but spent another $20 on them.

While I did miss some easy spares that I shouldn't have I am happy overall. I have only had 2 200's in the past 6 weeks and only 2 of my 6 games today were below my average so it's a step in the right direction. I like the fact that I finished pretty strong too. My series were 599 and 587. Those were my best since March 2nd.

Used the T-Zone for every spare except middle pins like 2 and 5. I left a bunch of 4's and 6's today. Heard the PSO say that him and his teammate rolled a 579 one set. One had a 300 and the other a 279 scratch. Also heard him say there were a bunch of 300's today too. Winners were a pair that I heard were from Ohio. Never saw them before or never saw the team they beat. Just looked them up and they are from the Akron area. They were both very good and smooth. One has a 244 average and the other about 230.

Probably done with tournaments this year. Have 3 or 4 weeks of league left and I am sitting out summer league and will probably have my hernia surgery this summer. Will try to do more tournaments next winter.

Series 1:

Game 1: 181 (4 strikes, 5 spares, 2 opens-2 splits)

Game 2: 193 (6 strikes, 1 spare, 3 opens)

Game 3: 225 (7 strikes, 3 spares, 1 open)

Series: 599

First ball average: 9.38

Strikes: 53% (17/32)

Spares: 60% (9/15)

Single pin spares: 63% (7/11)

Splits: 0% (0/2)



Series 2:

Game 1: 168 (4 strikes, 2 spares, 4 opens)

Game 2: 216 (7 strikes, 3 spares, 1 open)

Game 3: 203 (4 strikes, 5 spares, 1 open)

Series: 587

First ball average: 9.12

Strikes: 45% (15/33)

Spares: 62% (10/16)

Single pin spares: 75% (6/8)

Splits: 0% (0/0)

[boatman37]

So figured out we needed to average about 640 scratch each to make the field. Pretty tough when our current averages are 190 and 185...lol. Yeah if I had went clean in games 2 and 3 of the first set I would have hit that 640 but teammate rolled 572 scratch. Don't have his stats or numbers in front of me so not sure how likely it would have been for him to have hit the 640. 2nd set would have been tough. We needed another 200 pins that set.

[Ryster]

Winners were a pair that I heard were from Ohio. Never saw them before or never saw the team they beat. Just looked them up and they are from the Akron area. They were both very good and smooth. One has a 244 average and the other about 230.

This is becoming very common where I bowl as well. Bowlers coming in from other regions and associations to bowl in local house tournaments. I guess it is great for participation, but it is definitely frustrating to the local bowlers. The thing that bothers me the most is when regional PBA/PWBA bowlers show up to beat up on local bowlers in a THS tournament. I just find that totally unnecessary and kind of tacky, especially if it is a no-tap tournament.

[J Anderson]

This is becoming very common where I bowl as well. Bowlers coming in from other regions and associations to bowl in local house tournaments. I guess it is great for participation, but it is definitely frustrating to the local bowlers. The thing that bothers me the most is when regional PBA/PWBA bowlers show up to beat up on local bowlers in a THS tournament. I just find that totally unnecessary and kind of tacky, especially if it is a no-tap tournament.

I can’t imagine a PBA bowler just showing up to enter a no tap tournament. I could see one or more famous players being invited by the organizers as a way to get more of a crowd for a charity event.

I’ve been seeing more NY & NJ plates in the parking lot at Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield CT. I think this is because there are more restrictions on the alleys in NY or at least NYC.

When I’ve bowled in the local or state USBC tourneys, there have been rules limiting teams to having only one PBA member. In NEBA tournaments I think the only restrictions are one PBA members who have won on tour. Not sure on the exact rule, but there was some talk about making it stricter at the annual meeting. I think most of the amateurs enjoy having the possibility that, not only might they get to cross with Anthony Pepe or Jonathan Van Hees during qualifying, but might bet a chance to face one of them in match play.

[boatman37]

Just did a search and one of the winners is a PBA member. not sure about the other. I had never heard of either one of them though.

[Ryster]

I can’t imagine a PBA bowler just showing up to enter a no tap tournament. I could see one or more famous players being invited by the organizers as a way to get more of a crowd for a charity event.

I’ve been seeing more NY & NJ plates in the parking lot at Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield CT. I think this is because there are more restrictions on the alleys in NY or at least NYC.

When I’ve bowled in the local or state USBC tourneys, there have been rules limiting teams to having only one PBA member. In NEBA tournaments I think the only restrictions are one PBA members who have won on tour. Not sure on the exact rule, but there was some talk about making it stricter at the annual meeting. I think most of the amateurs enjoy having the possibility that, not only might they get to cross with Anthony Pepe or Jonathan Van Hees during qualifying, but might bet a chance to face one of them in match play.

I was in a local, THS no-tap doubles tournament a couple of years ago. A PBA regional guy (also on staff with a ball company) entered. He and his partner shot 1799 after 3 games...that's right... a 900 and an 899. They obviously won the tournament. Haven't been back to that tournament since.

[J Anderson]

Just did a search and one of the winners is a PBA member. not sure about the other. I had never heard of either one of them though.

The qualifications for joining the PBA are relatively low. Average 200 or better in a regular league, average 190 or better in a sport league, or cash as a guest in a PBA regional. I think it used to be you had to cash twice if you couldn’t make it in on your average. Approximately one tenth of our junior bowlers could qualify right now.

[Ryster]

The qualifications for joining the PBA are relatively low. Average 200 or better in a regular league, average 190 or better in a sport league, or cash as a guest in a PBA regional. I think it used to be you had to cash twice if you couldn’t make it in on your average. Approximately one tenth of our junior bowlers could qualify right now.

The PBA really has relaxed the qualifications. Years ago, to join the PBA, you also had to have references as well as a letter of recommendation from a respected member of the community. It was an actual accomplishment to be in the PBA. Now you just pay $15/mo for a standard membership or $28/mo for the full membership. Being able to afford the entry fees for the tournaments is a whole different story! Typically the bowlers joining the PBA are very highly skilled. My average is currently 216 this season after 87 games but I know better than to remotely think I can compete with the PBA bowlers. Those bowlers are just next level.

I have bowled several Pro-Ams with touring PBA players, and while it is definitely an experience I wouldn't necessarily call it "fun".