I'm back from Vegas....All I can say is....WOW!

It was a great trip. I didn't win anything, didn't gamble any, and never left my hotel....but, it was great!  I bowled in some of the tournaments, and wow!....I can't believe how hard it was. I bowled like someone who has never bowled before..LOL. It was horrible. But, there is plenty of good news.

For starters, being in Las Vegas is kewl!!!! It's a fun place. Friday morning, I got to meet Wes Malott and Randy Pedersen. There was an hour seminar with them and a bowling psychiatrist...oops..I forgot his name... It was a class on mental game and knowing the equipment. There was also another Storm/Roto Grip Rep there. Some people signed up to be there, but after the class, they left. It was just me and the pros! It was great. They demostrated different shots on house pattern -vs- sport pattern. Then, I got to get my gear and get up there with them. Words can't describe it. It was 2 hours I'll never forget!! One on one coaching with Wes Malott. How awesome is that!!!??? How often do fans get to bowl with thier idols??!! He showed me a lot about the game and my equipment. I took notes..... Now, I have so much to work on, I'll be practicing what he showed me for a long time....Or, until I get it right!  ;-P

After the class and coaching and calming down, I re-entered the tour for another run. My first game was 273! Must have learned something. LOL. My next game was 198...Still in the "plus". But, my last game....ewwww...141. Took quite a bit off of my points. Finishing with +74. The final cut Saturday night was +87. Damn!!! I threw away my chance to make it......  After the last game, that psychiatrist dude was still there. He was actually watching my bowling. I went over to thank him for the seminar and he immediatley started analysing me...huh??..He noticed that my "mental game" changed toward the end and that's what my problem was/is. I lost my focus. I don't know if it was because I knew my score was on the board or if I just got distracted. But, it was obvious to him from across the room that I lost my focus and fell apart. So, with that, I learned a lot more that day.

Slowly, I'm learning how to adjust mentally and physically for different enviroments. That's, to me, what tournament bowling is all about. Making the right adjustments when needed and spotting that adjustments need to be made when the situation changes. I am starting to notice that in different houses, I bowl different. Not just cuz of the shot, but, because of the different enviroments and surroundings. If I can master the surroundings, I can win any tournament!

Thanks again to the Pros and Storm Staff for all of the help and eye opening experience!

 PS. Pics and video from Vegas coming soon. Be on the lookout for those interested.

I'm a little late with this post.....but, due to work and bowling, kind of eating up all of my spare time.

On Sunday, 7/13, I managed to win the ABT again. That's my 2nd Master's Title. It was a 'Beat the Board' style tournament. Highest series wins. (3 games) My scratch series was 776. That's a new record for me. My first game was a 300. WOW! ....that's 2.... My second game, I started with the first 2 frames open, then strike, then open, then spare, strike, spare,.....some other lousy combination for a finish of 202. Not bad, considering what I started with...Once again, I was all shook up over that 300 game..LOL. And for my 3rd game, I rolled the front nine. WOW. I'm thinking, "Man, I'm going to get another 300..." In the tenth, I sped up the ball slightly, cuz my last shot was high, and I over powered the pocket and rang the 10 pin. "DAMN!" Too much speed....LOL. Then, I guttered, hehehehehe... "I hate 10 pins!!!"...for a finish of 267. How does that happen??? It was a good time though. Everyone was cheering for me, but, I let them down in the 10th. Little did I know how close to a 800 series I was. That's what everyone was rooting for me. LOL. They didn't give me a hard time about it, so, I don't care....

All in all, it was another great day at the lanes. Times like these, are the reason I continue to bowl in tournaments. I love it.

This past weekend was a blast. I kinda felt like a pro bowler..LOL. It started on Thurs. I bowled in 5 tournaments, practically back to back. It was a long weekend of bowling. It was great, but then again, a little frustrating at times. Have you ever walked into a house, knowing the shot, knowing exactly what to do, but can't seem to do it???? That's kinda how I felt. I was missing left, missing right, coming out of the ball wrong....so on..... Out of all 5 tournaments, I placed last....LOL. I can't believe it.

Every shot they had out, I had bowled on before. I knew what ball, when and where to put it. My body just seemed to not do it. I'm sure anyone reading this has experienced this at one time or another.  When it comes to  sport shots, I'm under-exp. I need more entries for more practice. But, 2 of the tournaments I was in were HOUSE SHOTS! Go figure. House shots that I bowl in league on. But for some odd reason, I couldn't seem to make the appropiate adjustments from one tournament to the other......Is it possible that I just participated in too many at one time???.....(shrug)....Must be how the pros feel sometimes.

Anyhow, Sunday night was my best shooting. I lost the 3rd match, but, the rest of my games were satisfactory. All but one of my scores were over 200. And the one that was under 200, wasn't the one that I lost with. I lost after bowling a 204.

I hope everyone had a blast for this past 4th of July.

I don't want to sound like I'm bragging. I use this site and "blogs" to post my progress with my dream. I just don't want anyone to think I'm bragging or have a super huge ego or anything....

With that said, this is the update.

Summer goals. Bowl a 300. Keep a 200 average in league. Make the "masters" in the ABT. Win a "Tri-State" title/shirt in the ABT. Make everyone sick of seeing my name on the board every week in the ABT....                         

All of the above, I have accomplished....It's really been a short summer...LOL. I need some more goals to carry me the next two months. I have some in mind...I'll post before the week is out...

Friday, June 27th, I bowled in a "Beat the Board" in ABT. After handicap, (28 per game), 3 games, I finished with 818. Also landed another 300 game pot. WOW! I never would have expected to win a 300 pot my first time in the Masters division. So, I got 1st place, my first Master's shirt, high game pot, high series pot, 300 pot, and 2 brackets. Keep in mind, my first time joining the ABT was Feb. 11th, 2008. I didn't even know what it was til then. Click this link, if interested in seeing my name/pic. in the ABT.     http://phl.abtbowling.com/index.php  It shows the latest tournaments and winners.

I'm really starting to believe that I can make my dream become reality. As of now, bowling is better than any part time job I could dream of having. My full time job is okay, but not enough to carry my bills...Even though my wife works full time, we still struggle. But, thanks to the sport of bowling , some friends getting me interested in it and the "man upstairs",  things are starting to look up. It's like, whatever we're short on, I can go bowl in a tournament, and bring it home. It's great!!! Somebody must be looking out for me up there. I'm thankful everyday that I'm able to give my best. I always try to wish others well and support the ones close and far from me.

To everyone, thanks for reading. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me on this. Also, feel free to drop me a line about your progress and hopes of doing what you do.