So I am all set to bowl in my first real tournament this weekend. It's an ABT tourney that happens to be in my local house. I do have some questions and concerns though that I am hoping you guys can help me with before then. Ok, so I know they are bowling on a sport pattern. I have never bowled on that before. What differences should I expect with that pattern? What kind of line is usually most effective? Also, typically what is the format of these things? Is it just six games and then you take the + or - over or under 200 and they use that to seed you? Then it goes to some sort of match play assuming you qualified? And in match play, is it one game or a 4 out of 7 series like the pros? Oh, and I know they have like 5 different squad times. Does that mean you can just show up for any of those and if you qualify you come back later or the next day? Finally, I know that you eventually need shirt with your name on the back. Do they allow you to use just your last name? I apologize if any of this has already been covered but I looked through the other posts and didn't see anything specific. Also, if there is any other info that I may have left out that you would like to include, please feel free to do so. Thanks.

Sport Patterns is much more challenging and difficult then your typical Hosue Shot. Look at PBA Experience Leagues thread they talk about sports patterns and such give you some what what your be facing and also USBC Oil patterns

You May want to talk to Erin or Brian there more familar how you should play the sports pattern and format of such tournments.

When i use to bowl tournments back in junior you were assigned your squad time after they annoced who qualified. But not sure on the tournment your bowling in.

I'm not too up to speed on sport patterns. I've never bowled on one myself, but, from reading other posts about it, you probably will have roll a tighter line to start with. After that, well, who knows, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to expect a wall out there. Read your ball and make adjustments accordingly.

What ABT association are you bowling in? I'm in So. Cal. and I bowl in the ABT Orange County Branch, but I've also bowled a few Citrus Belt tournaments out in Riverside/San Bernadino County.

Anyway, most of the ABT O.C. Branch tournaments are one day, beat the board events. Basically, you show up for a squad, bowl 4 games (moving one pair to the right after each game) and try to place as high on the board as you can. You are given handicap based on your average. I think for us it's 80% of 200. Games over 200 put you on plus side, under 200 puts you on the minus side (that includes handicap). I don't think our division of ABT allows you to bowl more than two squads. As for the shot, I don't know if I'd call it a sport shot, unless they specifically say that on the advertisement for the tournament. It's usually different from house to house. In some houses, a +80 won't even get you in a cash place on the board, in others I've seen a +23 win a tournament. All depends on the shot that day in that particular house.

If there is a qualifier and semis following it's usually bowled PBA style, but only one game and the winner moves on. Then the final 5 bowl a stepladder format to determine the champion. Those are usually two day tournaments, with the squads bowled the first day and the top 10-15 seeds coming back to compete for the finals.

As far as what you can wear, usually if it's your first couple of tournaments they allow you to wear polo or bowling type shirt. After a few tournaments (at least our branch does), they require you to have a polo or shirt with your name on the back, and I think it's up to the bowler to decide if just last name or first and last. But I'm sure the ABT director can answer that question for you.

Don't think too much about the shot. It seems like you're already setting yourself up for a fall. You get 10 min of practice time, so use it wisely to figure out how the lanes are playing. In most ABT tournaments, you'll only have 4 bowlers on a pair, so the shot shouldn't change too drastically, but again it all depends on how the lanes were dressed to begin with. Just make your adjustments as necessary.

So go in there, pay your money and just bowl. There are many ways to win money in ABT, i.e. side pots, mystery pots, brackets...so don't focus on just trying to win. If you do, that's great, but if it's your first tournament, then just focus on gaining some tournament experience. In my first tournament exposure (also ABT), I had to learn not to worry about the guy next to me stringing six or seven, because it was giving me too much to think about. Just go out and do the best you can.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and hopefully the experience will push you to advance your game so that someday you can wear an ABT Champion shirt. I still don't have one, but I don't bowl ABT as much as I used to...as a matter of fact, one of my bowling resolutions is to win an ABT tourney this year.

Have fun and good luck...

Generally speaking, you're going to want to play a sport pattern relativly straight. Swinging the ball does not pay off on a sport pattern unless it's really short and that's the only way you can keep the ball on your side of the lane.

Again, generally speaking, the more boards you cross, the more you get the ball going away from the pocket, the more a mistake will hurt you.

But, if you're a right hander, the shot may open up so that you can swing the ball. It depends on who you're bowling with, and if you're moving pairs, who's bowling on those pairs in front of you.

If you're used to standing left and sending the ball right, that will probably not work because that type of a shot relys on there being very little oil outside. Sport shots have fairly even oil across the whole lane so you don't get friction outside 10. Your friction is going to come down the lane on the back end.

There's no tellin how to play the shot if you have no experience with it. So just go in with an open mind and watch where others are playing. I've found on a lot of sport shots, they take away the 2nd arrow shot. So don't get too fixed on 2nd arrow trying to make it work. You might have to go straighter up 14 or so. Or point off the gutter at 5. Watch carefully what your ball is doing on the left side of the lane (for right handers) because you will probably have to adjust your spare system to account for more backend. So lets say you normally move 6 boards for the bucket leave. You might have to only move 4 boards. Make sure you take a practise shot at the 7 pin, you'll probably have to adjust that shot too. Opposite will go for the right side. If you normally move 6 boards for the 9 pin, you might have to move 8. So when you get to practise, if you get 4 shots,make sure you shoot at a 7 pin, a 10 pin, and a couple strike shots. If you have time, shoot for the 2,8 area.

The biggest difference in the Sport shot is that the outsides are not dry like you are used to. So if you miss right, its going to stay out there, might even slide into the gutter if you are used to a big swing shot. When and if you start seeing your ball overreacting, on a house shot you go inside to find more oil. But on a Sport shot, you can find oil on the outside. So you might find yourself making opposite moves by going right when your ball starts over reacting. Your Execution errors will be magnified, along with everyone elses' too. Just get to the pocket and don't worry too much about carry. Stay out of trouble/splitting and do your best on shooting spares.

Good luck,

Erin

Thanks for your replies so far guys. Pretty helpful. Show300, it's the Bay Area ABT. www bay.abtbowling dot com. All of your ideas were helpful. I know that I will have to read my ball reaction and adjust accordingly, that is a given. But it does look like I will have to at least start out with a little more straight of a line than I am used to.

Not experienced with spaort condition bowling (would like to be) so all I have is - best of luck and have fun.

Yes, good luck, and make sure you let everyone here know how you made out. I think people who haven't bowled on a sport shot will get a lot out of hearing what you think..

The Bay Area ABT has a notorious reputation for putting out a tough shot. Everyone will be in the same boat though. So good luck

Erin