I just finished competing in our local City Tournament (NLACUSBC).  It was interesting and another great learning experience.  I came into the tournament with a 184 book average from a short season Adult/Youth League I bowled last season.  My current high average is a 163, so I knew it was going to be interesting.

Yesterday was Team Event at Santa Clarita Lanes.  I hadn't bowled there in several years and we followed their Youth League with no re-oiling.  There were some flying backends which gave several of the bowlers a major challenge.

I came in looking at this as a test of my new perspective and attitude towards evaluating the day.  I haven't bowled any tournaments since the change and was a little concerned I'd fall back into old habits.  I didn't despite my high game of 167 and low of 142.  I kept focused on execution and felt good about the day.

My only disappointment was my spare shooting went down the tubes in the 3rd game.  I have no one to blame but myself.  I didn't eat at all before bowling and we bowled at noon, no breakfast or lunch.  By the 3rd game I was mentally fatigued and had reduced ball speed.  We talked after and the first question was what had I eaten.  When I said nothing the response well what do you expect, your body needs fuel.

Today I had a small bowl of rice with a little cheese mixed in and brought a few low calorie carb snacks for between singles and doubles.  What a difference.  I was rolling the ball just as strongly in the 6th game as in the first.  I was more consistent in my spare shooting.  I still had trouble carrying strikes.

Team Event: 168 - 151 - 142 = 461

Doubles Event: 162 - 155 - 158 = 475

Singles Event: 163 - 187 - 165 = 515

To finish the day I had league at 6PM.  We were scheduled on lanes 1 & 2.  I had a small portion of rice when I got home from City around 4PM and then got  an egg salad sandwich at the center at 6PM.  I maintained a good attitude the whole night and we had fun joking around with the other team.  I had the stamina to roll the ball well throughout the three games.  I made some bad adjustments, but was very pleased with the night.  

My "cookie" coach was on duty and came down to observe several times over the night. We talked after league.  He said the best shot he saw me roll was the first ball in the 10th frame of game 3.  I told him how appreciative of everything he has done for me and believing in my potential even when I had given up.  His reply is this was his pay off, seeing the confidence soar and the product evolving.  I shared with him comments others shared with me about the positive improvement.  He was thrilled to hear others are noticing the changes.  He is also glad to see me enjoy bowling again.  

Tonight's scores 176 - 158 - 173 = 507 with a 163 sheet average.

Thanks for reading and bowl well!

This past February I bowled another WWPB Tournament.  It was the first tournament of 2008 and again it was at Harley's Camarillo Bowl.  I was looking forward to bowling and had high expectations.  It proved to be a turning point and defining moment for me.

On my way to the tournament I listened to some Susie Minshew tapes.  Little did I know at the time how significant those tapes would be.  I arrived just over an hour before the scheduled start and prepared my equipment.  I checked tape and adjusted as needed.  I got on my shoes, got a Pepsi, and chilled.  When it was time I went to my starting pair and greeted the two ladies I would be sharing the pair with for the day.  I checked the approaches by taking some test slides and all was good.

Game 1 was nothing spectacular, but respectable 184.  It was all downhill from there.  My coach walked in sometime in game 5.  I waved an acknowledgement, but did not talk to him.  I finished the first block with a 763 for 5 games and I was devestated.  I took my equipment put it in the bag and went and put it in the car.  I got in and started the engine, feeling like it was time to leave.  There was another 5 game block to bowl in about 2 hours.  I sat and cried out of pure frustration.  After about 15 minutes I turned the engine off and just sat there.  I went for a walk around the shopping center next to the bowling center.  I went back inside to try and sit through the Open Meeting, but after about 10 minutes I had to leave. 

I went and sat on a bench outside and watched the clouds.  All this time I kept struggling with the decision to bowl or leave.  As I sat there I thought about one of the Susie Minshew tapes.  She talked about the fight or flight when bowling poorly.  She said that the decision was what would determine the type of bowler you'd be.

I decided to stay and fight.  My first game of the block was a 220 something.  It was followed by a 140 and 150 something.  The final games were in the 220s for a 970 5 game total.  I am glad I did stay, the drive home was much better than it would have been.  Rather than beat myself up, I reflected on what happened, the thoughts and strategies used for both blocks.

When I got home, I emailed my coach and started with an apology for not having talked to him.  I also shared my reflections on the tournament and the change.  He told me he could tell by my body language I was not bowling well.  He also said he had not seen me on the bench until he drove past.  His thought was that I hang in there and not give up.  He also shared he gained more respect for me having returned for the second block.

I completed my 4th Petersen Classic Thursday, it was a blast. It didn't start out very well. I had a lot on my mind I couldn't block out and it took a toll on my first 3 games. I wasn't being aggressive on the lanes or paying attention to what my ball was doing 141 (Lanes 7-8)- 116 (lanes 9-10) - 103 (Lanes 11-12).

During the first break, I went outside and put on my ipod to just relax and refocus. It worked, those were three of my lowest scores for the tournament.

After the break I was rolling the ball much better. I was also paying better attention to what was happening and adjusting. I was not tentative on my adjustments and went 202 (Lanes 13 - 14) - 141 (Lanes 15 - 16) - 120 (Lanes 1 - 2). The 202 was my first Petersen 200+ game and it included 4 in a row, another first for me at the Pete.

Now I know the scores on 15 - 16 and 1 - 2 were low, but on 15 - 16 I was not getting to the head pin. I tried inside and outside, then I went to the first dot and pointed it to the pocket. So with the first 4 frames of fishing and coming up short, the 141 was not bad. On 1 the 2 pin was off spot in towards the headpin and the 9 was closer to the 10 than should be. On 2, the 3 pin was spotted closer to the headpin and it looked like both the 8 and 9 were spotted right.

Also for those of you not familiar with the Petersen Classic, there are no arrows or dots on the lanes for targeting.  Banners with the pictures, names and scores of highs for the pair hang about 4 feet beyond the fould line and are about 4 - 5 feet off the lane.  Poles are placed between each pair and the wall is right up against the gutter caps on 1 and 16.  In addition the racks contain off spot pins, no rer-acks unless there are not 10 pins standing, and there are mixed weight pins in the racks.  Oil conditions vary from pair to pair and lane to lane in the pair.  No practice or warm-ups, the first ball rolled is for score.  You are allowed 2 balls which are weighed, marked with your starting lane, tossed into a shopping cart and not seen again until you enter the "Golden Doors" and arrive at your lane.  The only thing you can take through the Golden Doors is a small accessory bag and the ladies can bring in their purse.  All bowling bags are kept outside the area or in the lounge/check in room.

Another break and the last 2 games. During the break, I just relaxed.  I knew I had an 800 something after 6. I wanted to shoot no less than 1100, so my goal was nothing under 150. I met my goal with 153 on 3 - 4 and 159 on 5 - 6 for an 1135.

My 159 tied for the 8th game Mystery Pot and got me $10. My 202 was high scratch and hdcp for the pair so I got another $60. Last year I only got $20 back, so it was a better outting. If I had my head in the right place, I would have done better the first 3 and overall.  Considering the start, I was pleased with the 1135 series.

Next year I've got to fly in with a full day to chill. I am sure that didn't help much.  I had 4 goals for the Pete this year and I met 3 out of 4.  One was to not shoot any sub 100 games, I met the goal.  Two was to improve my high game, I met that with the 202 game.  Three was to average in the upper 140 to lower 150 range, I didn't meet that one, but did average 141 so it wasn't bad. My fourth goal was to have fun, and I did.

As the sign by the door says "This was positively and definitely the next to last time I bowl the Pete!"  In the words of our Govenor "I'll be back!"

I coached my Juniors Saturday morning. I went out to leave and some idiot had parked less than a foot from the drivers side door. I went in and they paged, but no one responded. The GM came out, squeezed into my car and backed it out. What customer service!

So at about 11:30AM, I was off to what was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour drive to San Diego. As I sad supposed to be. All seems to be good, 54 miles to go at 1:30PM. Then the freeway became a parking lot. I pulled into the parking lot of Kearney Mesa Bowl at about 3PM. I cught the last game and a half of the first squad. It looked like it was going to be a playable shot, though the lefties were having to project the ball left and have it come back to the pocket, not my comfort shot.

I talked briefly with my coach and went to check into my hotel. I changed, grabbed a salad, took a walk and returned to the center to prepare my equipment and check in. For some reason I got a sinking feeling that I should not be doing this. I don't know why. I've bowled with a lot of these women in the WWPB tournaments, but I couldn't shake it. I did't say anything to my coach, in hindsight, maybe I should have.

Game 1 I am off. I didn't get a line to the pocket and spare shooting was horrible. After the game Juan came up and told me I was not moving the ball on the first step, my timing was very late, and I was helping the ball.

Game 2 I focus on moving the ball with the first step. Things are slightly better, but not much. All Juan told me was to let the ball roll. After 2 I'm minus 128 with 4 more games.

Game 3 I feel like I am rolling the ball better, but still can't convert spares. Another disgusting 120 game,. I now have such a hole dug, I'm not getting out -199.

Game 4 I feel nothing, just empty. I keep focused on target and timing and shoot 195. My best game of the tournament and finally a respectable game, but -204 isn't going to be made up.

Game 5 not horrible, but also not good 169. After this game Juan came and talked to me saying I was rolling the ball well. He knew I was not dong well mentally. I told himit was all I could do to hold it together. He asked how many more games, I told him 1. He said just have fun with it. I have to say this, but the fun was gone a long time ago. Any how I finished with a 170 and 935 for 6. An embarassing outing that left me feeling I should stop trying to compete at this level.

My coach and I talked briefly after it was all over. He said it looked like I was rolling the ball well, the swing plane looked good and the ball was coming off the hand well. He doesn't know what the problm was and neither do I. Some how we have to figure it out or I just need to give up high level competition.

 

As a part of the WWPB Tournament, there is a ProAm.  Santa Calrita had a full house of amatures for an Adult/Youth ProAM.  They charged $25 entry fee and for that they each got a door prize worth a minimum of $25, a bowling pin and a red sharpie for us to sign their pins. 

We had to arrive back at the center by 5:30PM.  I got there at 5 and checked in to find I was bowling the Pro Am as a Pro.  I thought totally cool!  I went and talked with my coach who was playing with some video of his release.  He even switched it to left handed.  As we were talking a lady came up behind me.  Juan motioned.  I thought she wanted to talk to him until she handed me her pin and asked for me to sign.  I almost said "I'm not a pro"  when it dawned on me I AM one of them.  It was so cool.  Before the night was over I had to have signed about 50 pins and 24 certificates.

At about 6:20 we were called to the squad room and given instructions.  We were then introduced and presented with a basket of Lady Di cookies and brownies.  How totally awesome.  Laura Lee Daniel was starting on lanes 7-8 and I started on 9-10. She was so cute.  When she saw me she asked if I was on 9-10, when I said yes she said cool and game me a high five.

On the lanes it was signing pins and certificates, bowling and having a great time with the amatures/entrants.  It was no tap which made it more fun.  I can't express the feeling of bowling as some one special.  Just an amazing experience and very freeing.  It was so easy to talk and socialize with complete strangers.

To begin the event all the pros had to get our ball, go on the approach and on the count of three roll our ball.  Anyone who got a strike stayed up.  No strike and we were done.  We were bowling for a large basket of cookies for the pair of lanes.  I got a 6 count.  Of course the first ball of practice, I struck.  The bowlers gave me a hard time on that one, but it was all in fun.

We, the pros moved a pair after each game.  My scores 251.  Then on 11 - 12 a 181 (the pair I struggled with 7 pins on in the tournament for my 180 game) I made a ball change after talking to Juan.  The ball was hooking almost at the arrows.  I went to the Black Widow and was able to get the ball down the lane.  I of course thanked Juan.  A 205 with a 3-6-7-10 in the 10th frame on lanes 13 - 14. 

Everyone had a great time and I can't wait for next year.  I plan to bowl the tourney and ProAm.  Tom and Creig put on an amazing event.