Biggest Disappointments in Bowling

Have you ever felt disappointed bowling? I sure have. Here are some of the biggest disappointents I have encountered, or may encounter in the future. Let me know what you think about my list.

Biggest Disappointments in Bowling

PBA Surfside Beach Open 2010

This past weekend, I had my gas pedal down driving southeast to Surfside Beach, SC for the PBA bowling tournament. Of course I had many aspirations of this trip being the first time I cashed, but 125 of the 128 bowlers there had other ideas (yes that means I almost finished in last place). However, the experience was still one that I will never forget.

For starters, it was quite a stacked field. With bowlers such as Tom Baker, Ritchie Allen, Tommy Jones, Brian Kretzer, and Jason Couch there, it was going to be tough. In fact, at one point, I think I counted around 10 bowlers that were, or had been at one time, exempt on Tour. Also, there were around 20 flags hanging above the pin decks. It was quite a star-studded cast, and I had a tough time fighting through my nerves and inner-demons. The 109 and 119 did not help either.

In the end, though, I had a great time with a bunch of great people, and cannot wait until next year.

Finishing Second Place in a Scratch Tournament

This past weekend I bowled in a scratch tournament held at one of my local bowling alleys. The format was simple. We bowled 4 games on the house shot, and at the end of the day, high pin count won. After three games I had a pretty comfortable lead of around 35 pins and bowled a 214 game to end my block. I thought this was enough, until another bowler struck out from the fifth game on to shoot a 256 and beat me by a mere 3 pins. However, I am still excited about this accomplishment and felt like I bowled really well. This gave me confidence to possibly spend a little more money and bowl in more local tournaments. After all, how else will you get better if you do not prove to yourself that you can perform in pressure situations. Local tournaments are a great way to gain valuable experience, especially if you want to one day cash in a PBA tournament.

PBA Tour Television Schedule For 2010-2011 Season

It has finally arrived! The long awaited televsion scheedule for the PBA Tour Season has been posted. It is going to be an exciting year and I cannot wait for the action to start on November 28th. DIrectly from the PBA website, here is the full schedule for the whole season:

2010-11 LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(All times are Eastern)
Sunday, Nov. 28 – Brunswick Pro Bowling PBA Cheetah Championship, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 5 – PBA Viper Championship, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 12 – PBA Chameleon Championship, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19 – PBA Scorpion Championship, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 26 – PBA Shark Championship, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 9 – PBA’s U.S.A. vs. The World, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 14 – PBA World Championship Stepladder Round One, ESPN2, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 15 – PBA World Championship Stepladder Round Two, ESPN2, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 16 – PBA World Championship Stepladder Finals, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 22 – PBA Tournament of Champions, ABC, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 30 – One A Day Men's Earl Anthony Memorial, ESPN2, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 6 – Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, ESPN, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 13 – USBC Masters, ESPN, 3 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25 – 68th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open Match Play Round One, ESPN2, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 26 – 68th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open Match Play Position Round, ESPN2, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 27 – 68th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open Stepladder Finals, ESPN, 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 – GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 27 – Dick Weber PBA Playoffs Knockout Round One, ESPN, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 3 – Dick Weber PBA Playoffs Knockout Round Two, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 10 – Dick Weber PBA Playoffs Knockout Round Three, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 17 – Dick Weber PBA Playoffs Championship Round, ESPN, 1 p.m.

Bowling a 297: Good or Bad?

Last week during bowling league, I struggled through my first game. I could not carry when I threw it good, and I was not throwing it good very often. I finished with a 172, wondering if this was just going to be another night getting me closer to playing golf once a week. Then, all of a sudden it came together. I threw the first two strikes and joked with my doubles partner for that match that we should shoot 600. Well the next thing I know, we both had the first 6! He missed in the 7th frame, but I continued on, the closer I got the more nervous I felt. I have not shot a 300 in serveral years, and by the time I reached the 12th ball, that bolwing ball felt very heavy. I stepped up to the approach, and my mind was clear, until I realized a sdistinct noise....silence. The entire bowling center got quiet, not one other person on the approach bowling, and not one person making a sound. All you could hear was the sound my footsteps made as I stepped closer to the foul line. Then, with my mind filled with doubt, I pulled it so bad, I missed the headpin altogether, leaving the 1-3-6 there laughing at my face, as well as some of the other league bowlers. A 297, which is the third highest game you can bowl and still be disappointed. However, most people will tell you a 297 is a great game. Of course it is, but how would you feel if you were a pitcher on the 27th batter in a perfect game and he bunted and reached on first with a single. Feel free to leave comments. My opinion is that it was a little bit of a dissappointment, but it sure has gotten me excited about tonight!

P. S. - The ball I threw was my Hammer Razyr.