I bowled in Corpus too and we didn't have a break. I guess that it depends on how fast the lane you are moving to bowls.

The one rule that I don't like is the no applying powder to your finger holes. Before every shot, I take my rosin bag and tap my fingers and thumb, then wipe the ball off. At Nationals, that is a no-no. My first Nationals was at Reno in 2001 and I did it once before I got yelled at. If it was a USBC rule, then I would understand. But it isn't.

As for the conditions, most players throw the ball deep inside (4th to 5th arrow). Although at Corpus, I saw a guy going straight up 8 board with a vis-a-ball and didn't have a series below 700. The main thing is consistency. Like Erin said, have a spare ball and get very used to it. I normally only use mine for 6 and 10 pins. This year I am using it for almost every single pin spares. I can't tell you how many 9 pins I missed last year. I would get it a touch wide and it wouldn't finish or I would tug it a bit and zip right past it.

The main thing is have fun and don't get disappointed if you shoot bad. I have seen some really good bowlers go there and look like they just picked up bowling that day. Enjoy the experience.

I guess some tournment have certian rules. Never heard the No Rosin rule. Shouldnt be illegal even some of the pro's use rosin.

The no-rosin rule is there for the same reason the no food or drink rule is; because some bowlers are just plain sloppy. Same goes for the no easy slide rule. How many times have you ever seen someone apply rosin to their ball or easy slide to their feet and leave a dust cloud or not wipe off the residual? I've seen it quite a few times and actually had to tell a couple of people to wipe off the extra as a courtesy to the other bowlers bowling on that pair.

And as far as the no food or drink rule goes, I did not mention that there were special circumstances. My wife is a diabetic and she's allowed to eat during competition. They're not going to disallow any food to everyone else they'd have a lawsuit on their hands. But unless you have a medical condition that requires you to eat food or drink something other water during competition, you're stuck with water and nothing else. Again, I understand the basis for it, but I don't agree with it which is why I won't bowl in that tournament.

GP, last year at Corpus Christi, I found that I would dive through the head with a particle ball, leaving many 6-10's. On about half, I picked the 6 off. There was a tail on the back end. I still don't use a spare ball.
I too bowled with a 350 series on one side and a 750 series on the other side of me. I cashed in doubles and singles though. My first tourney in 25 years, and a payout. I was happy. Although, I gave most of it back in the brackets.

Bowling in the stadium is an interesting experience. I have bowled there several times (tournaments and sweeper nights for some of my leagues).

I can tell you that the shot could be anything from flooded to super dry. I remember once that I had to point from the corner to the head pin and another time when I had to stand 35 and throw out 22 to keep the ball on the right side of the lane.

You should come prepared for anything. It is an awesome experience and everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime.

Mike

I've been reading the posts as I plan to bowl in Reno this year. I'm not even concerned with the shot...not going to beat myself up about that before I even step into the place. Two practice balls is also not an issue, so long as you have a benchmark starting position and ball. Normally, I take my Fired Up and stand 20, hit 10 and take it out to around 5 to get a feel for any lanes...again, no problem with that. The eating thing, not an issue...much like Erin, I don't eat when I bowl. I normally don't do anything to change the feel my hand, fingers, etc. I ensure that I eat before bowling and at the very least take an energy bar or protein bar with me and that usually gets me by.

What I do see as being a potential problem is the rule regarding the application of rosin on your fingers. I use a dry towel on my shoes, which I don't even allow near my rosin bag, then I pat my rosin bag and touch my fingers on it before I insert them into the ball. Not only is this my pre-shot routine, but it also ensures that my hands are dry, because my hands tend to sweat a little.

I can understand not wanting rosin/EZ slide all over the lanes, approaches, etc, but there's a big difference in someone using EZ slide on their shoe and someone patting a rosin bag in an effort to keep their hands dry. That should be more of a discretionary rule, and if someone is seen using EZ slide for their shoe, etc., then it should be dealt with accordingly.

Just my opinion...

You'll just have to change your preshot routine and not use the rosin on the ball. They allow rosin, but you have to keep it back in the seating area and away from the ball return. So, apply it to your hand before heading up to bowl, that's all. I'm sure it is because they had too many issues with rosin all over the approaches from guys patting their ball and then wiping. The tournament doesn't have time for dealing with approach cleaning problems (although I've still had my share of approach sticking over the years before SSTs).

The shot is never the same and can change quite a bit as you bowl. It is fresh for the first S/D squad in the morning and then fresh again for both Team squads. Besides that, the other S/D squads get leftover shots. Sometimes there is no telling what you'll have out there, it depends a lot on what the bowlers ahead of your squad were doing.

It is difficult bowling for the most part. If you can find a shot with a couple boards of area and hit the pocket consistently, you are in good shape. Try to stay with it, maybe adjusting slightly in if the line you're playing begins to breakdown. Like others have said, deep inside tends to do better than outside... however, outside can produce! I have scored well playing straight up 5 a couple of times, including my all-time best - a 1904 All Events score in 1998 in Reno.

If you get in brackets, you will need to make spares to make money. There aren't too many bowlers out there stringing strikes. The difference between winning and losing in the brackets is often because of too many missed spares.

Don't get discouraged if you struggle out there. It happens to many... no, it happens to most. I've seen 200+ house bowlers reduced to rubble at the Nationals. I've advanced in brackets with games in the 150-160 range quite often. Keep plugging away and trying.

It's an experience I never grow tired of. Year #13 coming up on Mar 3 & 4 for me. Can't wait. Good luck!!

I love going to the Nationals. I normally don't bowl every well but I have fun. I have shot some decent games but like BeachBuzzard said, spares are the killer. The oil patterns basically make you throw straight at almost all spares. One of the best pots out there is the 30 clean pot cause it is really hard to go 30 clean. I consider myself a pretty good bowler and I have broken 600 only a couple of times in the 4 times I have been (Reno twice, Knoxville, and Corpus). When you go, don't get upset if you bowl bad. It happens. I bowl with people who make me look like a kid who just picked up a ball yesterday and they struggle. Just enjoy the experience and have fun.

I went for the first time two years ago, but it wasn't the first time I bowled on a competitive pattern.... Blind squirrel found a nut and Stayed there! In singles I went 206, 259, 266. Got a very nice paycheck! :)coupled with a 572 in team, and a 578 in doubles (I missed a few spares in those events)I ended up with 1879 for all events. Not to shabby for my first outing. Also told my doubles partner to be quiet during the team event so I could concentrate. He would not stop yapping during the team and doubles! "why am I bowling bad, why isn't my ball hooking and yours is, etc etc"


And I have a new spare ball all ready for reno, and that puppy is being carried on the plane with me.

I've never needed my spare ball at Nationals. The right side spares are so straight I use my strike ball (it ain't gunna hook away) even for 10 pins. And the left side runs away, so i just give it a couple more boards. Though I bring it, basically as a security blanket.

Erin