Finally, some decent bowling to watch in Thailand as the World Tenpin Bowling Association Men's World Championships is scheduled for Aug. 22-30 in Bangkok, Thailand. From what I have read, many of the top professionals from around the world will be participatng including those from the United States. Take a look at this link:

http://www.bowlingdigital.com/bowling/node/23293/1

I live about 2 hours outside of Bangkok so I won't be attending all of the festivities, but I hope to be present for the 2-day men's singles competition.

Pattayadavid

If you go, look up Marco Luksa from this board. Wish him well.

Would be fun to checkout, enjoy!

BTW, Marco bowls for Slovenia

Dennis, I'll try my best to look him up. Will be be bowling in the singles comptetion along with the team competition? I will most likely only attend the 2 days of singles competition; I just wanted to see the pros play since I've never attended a pro or PBA tournament.

Pattayadavid

PS. I'm getting along better with my Lane Masters balls. Thus far, my Sure Strike seems to perform best on our house shot. If I had to do it over again, I would have drilled my Conquerer a little differently. I would have drilled it to go longer. It is presently drilled stacked leverage with the pin to the left and below my ring finger which I feel makes it rollout too early.

Some balls just aren't meant for house shots, at least not ones with low volumes of oil and even with a different drilling might not keep energy. The purpose of having the balls for different conditions is to have a ball that will react the way you need when you come across that condition and not try to force it to work on a condition its not made for.

And have fun watching the competition, many here wish it could be seen on tv in the states.

Pattayabowler, I have since purchased another L/M ball. A BigRBang. It is a little stronger than I wanted. It actually is almost as strong as my Conqueror on oil. But a little more controllable on weaker lanes.

Found the tournament's web site...

http://www.2008wmc.com/

In early good news for the US, Rhino Page and Patrick Allen are leading after the first day of the doubles event.

Thanks for the link. I can't find any information pertaining to the admission fee for viewing the events. Can anyone provide an educated guess as to what kind of fees I can expect to pay? Do you usually pay for a day pass?

Thanks,

Pattayabowler

Pattayabowler, I'm bowling at the championship. There are no fees for viewing. Just come to the Ngamwongwan shopping center, 7th floor - SF Strike Bowl.

I had the pleasure of sharing a cab with Walter Ray today. He was really nice, even though he played really bad yesterday.

I took some slow motion videos of Tommy Jones' release and hope I can take some of Chris Barnes - hopefully I don't play in the same squad as him tomorrow. I'll post the videos online for all you guys as soon as I come back home (internet is too slow in the hotel).

Oh, and pattayabowler, if you come, do find me and we'll get a drink or something - this is me: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=793167&l=564df&id=745202832 - I'm usually wearing a white-blue-green team jacket with "Slovenija" on the back or tell anyone with this kind of jacket that you are looking for Marko.

The funny thing is, in that picture it looks like Walter Ray is the one wanting his picture taken with someone famous.

Thanks Marko for the information. I'm not sure if I will make it up there before the singles matches on Thursday, but I plan to look you up when I get there. I feel that there will be a huge crowd attending the singles matches, hope I will be able to get in. Now, I've just got to figure out how to find the place (lol). Good luck in the tournament and again, thanks.

Pattayabowler

Infernocal,

I finally saw the light yesterday. You know, I bought these new balls while vacationing back in the states and brought them back to Thailand with me. Two of my balls, the Legends Conquerer and Black Pearl are both particle load balls. I have yet to have much success with either of these balls at the house where I normally bowl. I thought it was just me, having read rave reviews on the web. The house that I normally use is AMF equiped. I've always felt that they were very stingy with oil, but after yesterday my suspicions have been confirmed.
I decided to visit a different house in another town 35 minutes away for the first time yesterday. This is a small house, only 16 lanes, but is a Brunswick house instead of AMF. As usual, I started with my Conquerer and behold, I got the kind of movement that I had expected to get with this ball from the onset. The ball was only good for one game then it stopped moving and I had to put it away. I then switched to the Black Pearl, but it wasn't much better. The Black Pearl had a strong backend hook, but it displayed too much over/under making it difficult to control. I think it would have rolled well had I started with it instead of the Conquerer. I think that the Conquerer had already pushed too much oil out of the Track. I tried moving more inside; that's when I experience varying over/under reactions. Finally, I switched to my Lane Masters Sure Strike and wow; this ball had a strong, but controlled hook allowing me to roll a 190, 201 and 222, good scores for me. The difference from what I have been used to is that this house put down enough oil to allow my balls to retain their energy, even the Conquerer. I always thought I had a big problem with making revs, but after bowling at this house, I feel much more confident concerning my stroke.
Bottom line, I saw the light. No matter how hard and how many times I try, I'm not going to make my balls do something that aren't compatible with the lane conditions. I paid a lot of money for my particle loaded balls and want to roll them, but now I am convinced, if the conditions aren't right, leave them in the bag or go search for a different house that offers the right conditions for these balls. For my house shot, even the Sure Stike is a little too strong for the lack of oil conditions. My best ball for this house was actually my Brunswick Punisher (reactive pearl), but it now has a crack running 360 degrees around the ball. Any way, I just wanted to tell you that your point hit home. I had seen it before, but never experienced it so vastly as I did yesterday. After my outting yesterday, it will remain in my thoughts.

Pattayabowler

Wow, you mean your dilemma was as simple as matching the ball to lane condition? I always said, the Conqueror loves oil. That is why I had mine drilled the way I did, and play through the center oil with it. It goes where others can't. And, on a heavy oil shot, it outhooks the Cell. It was my best ball on PBA patterns. Never gave a thought to your lane condition as a problem. I know we've talked. But, that never entered my mind.

Wow, you mean your dilemma was as simple as matching the ball to lane condition? I always said, the Conqueror loves oil. That is why I had mine drilled the way I did, and play through the center oil with it. It goes where others can't. And, on a heavy oil shot, it outhooks the Cell. It was my best ball on PBA patterns. Never gave a thought to your lane condition as a problem. I know we've talked. But, that never entered my mind.

I'm glad to see you got a chance to actually experience the difference if reaction by matching the ball and condition. I know its hard to own a ball and rarely be able to use it and want to use it. Most of us have been there. I've had many balls I've rarely thrown because I just couldn't find a condition they worked on.

Dennis,

The Conquerer is my first really heavy oil ball so I didn't know exactly what to expect. I think that one of the hardest things for us newby's to read is lane condition. I asked around at my bowling house and got many conflicting opinions as to the oil condition on the lanes. What's odd, after I would roll my Conquerer I would look for the oil rings, but could hardly, if not at all, see the rings, but when I roll my Black Pearl, it is covered with oil rings, easily seen due to it's black coverstock, but so is my Sure Strike and my Maxim spare ball to a certain extent. I just assumed that the lanes were well oiled. When I bowled at the new house several days ago, my Conquerer came back from the ball return with oil similar, but not quite as much as my other balls. The main thing I noticed between the two houses is that I am capable of generating much higher revs with the Conquerer and able to avoid the early rollout I get at my normal house resulting in a much sharper turn at the break point. I bowled at the same center yesterday, but the Conquerer was not quite so effective; I think that the lanes may have been broken down a little by previous bowlers as I arrived at a later time. I tried to roll my Sure Strike first, but there was too much oil resulting in a little too much skid and late break. After one game with the Conquerer, I went back to the Sure Strike and it performed well for the rest of the session. I guess the Conquerer worked well to push or absorb the excess oil, opening up my line for the Sure Strike.

Pattayadavid

Different people read the conditions differently. What might be light oil to me could be like heavy to you and medium to Dennis. There are some guidelines that some of the magazines follow when they do their reviews. The volume of oil isn't the only thing to take into consideration, there is also the length of the pattern that needs to be factored in when choosing the ball to use. There is also the surface of the lanes. The oil rings you see on the ball just let you know you crossed oil not the amount of it.

Even if you know the volume and length, the only true way to know what ball you need to use is to try each ball from several lines.

The trial and error use of balls could cause you lost frames in leagues. That's why you have to know your balls and what they can do under different conditions. One thing to note is that most people talk about changing lane conditions, and don't take into account the bowler. A straight bowler will see things completely different than one with 400 revs. Knowing what you do is most important.

I know that my Conqueror searches out oil and performs best on it. It is, however, sensitive to carrydown. That's when I switch to my Terminator which crosses oil spread with ease.

I know neither ball absorbs oil like others I have had.

My Conqueror gave me my highest game over the Summer on the PBA Shark pattern, and the highest series on another night.

I'm talking about before scoring starts. What a ball does on any given day on different surfaces and conditions varies. Even if you know how one ball reacts in relation to others on various conditions does not necessarily translate into making the right decision for that day.

Like you said the bowler needs to be taken into consideration. There have been times when things just didn't seem the same from previous outings. Sometimes its just the way I feel, or how the release feels, or the speed of the approach. These difference can affect the way a ball reacts on that day and a different ball that might be thought of as weaker might react more and hit better.

Just a quick update...

Rhino Page and Patrick Allen wound up winning the gold in the doubles event. The Korean trio of Choi Bok-Eum, Choi Ki-Bong, and Kim Tae-Young won the gold medal in the trios event, but both American trios took home bronze medals in the event. Alejandro Cruz of Mexico is the All-Events leader after trios, but Rhino Page is right on his heels in second. Patrick Allen and Tommy Jones are also in the top 16 after trios, the significance of that being that the top 16 in All-Events qualify for the Masters event at the end of the competition.

What you didn't say is that in the All Events, Tommy Jones is 16th, Bill Hofman is 42nd, Chris Barnes is 43rd and Walter Ray Williams is 50th.

Actually, the americans have a really hard time here. They are where they are only because of their spare game, but other than that, they're hardly getting strikes. Except for some games, when the string a 6 or 7 strikes together.

What I found interesting was that they were playing the long pattern up 5th board - all of them, even Tommy Jones. Everybody else was playing an inside-out line out to 8 or 9th board.

They were completely lost... they were laughing because they just couldn't understand what was happening...

On the short pattern, they are all playing with urethane balls, Walter was playing with his spare ball on the first day, but then went to something else yesterday. He told me he had two games without a single double on the first day.

Which should show you how important the spare game is, even at the Elite level.

Actually, the places have changed. They're now (after Doubles (6 games on short oil), Trios (3 games on short oil and 3 games on long oil),and 3 games on long oil in the team event):-

Patrick Allen is in 4th place,
Rhino Page is in 7th,
Tommy Jones in 18th,
Bill Hoffman in 30th,
Walter Ray Williams in 46th and
Chris Barnes in 53rd

Rumour has it that Rhino has picked up a back injury. We should hope not for him for the coming season but, in the immediate, he's supposed to bowl in the Team USA tomorrow for 3 games on the short oil pattern.

That rumor would actually make sense, Jock, as Page was left off of the American team and placed on a "make up" team with Mahamid Abed Ellatif (ISR), Tuchchakorn Senabodee (THA), Mark Buffa (CAN), and Hareb Sultan al Mansoori (UAE) for the team event so that he would still have a score in that event for All-Events.

OK, according to this article on the PBA's site, Rhino Page will bowl with the rest of Team USA in tomorrow's second block of the team event, while Walter Ray Williams Jr. will pace for his All-Events score (like Rhino did today).

The Americans had a great second block on the short pattern (didn't see many games under 220) and qualified second in the team event. They won their semifinal match against Norway and will face the top-seeded Korean team later for the gold medal.

Updating the All-Events, Choi Bok-Eum of Korea is the leader after the team event (only qualifying scores count in All-Events), with Rhino Page only 5 pins behind him in second place. Patrick Allen is 4th, Tommy Jones is 17th (2 pins out of the top 16), Bill Hoffman is 25th, Chris Barnes is 42nd, and Walter Ray Williams Jr. is 52nd.

The best second block was in fact the championship record for a five man team series (bowled by Korea) of 3561 (237.4 ave).

There was also the championship record for a five man team game (bowled by France) of 1245 (249 Ave). Shame about the other games, France!

Team USA managed a 3409 (which is still a 227 Ave) with a 760 series from Rhino Page (256, 247, 257).

Hey, Richie, if only qualifying scores count for the all events, why did they bother to bowl make up teams?

I thought these make up teams were there in order that everyone had the same number of games for the all events.

Jock, I think he meant that semifinals and finals won't count, because that would skew the number of games bowled by those players.

Exactly...knockout round scores don't count in All-Events. As far as the team event, each national team sends 6 bowlers, but since only 5 of them can bowl in the team event at a time, the bowler left off of each national team's team is allowed to pace on a "make-up" team so that they have a full 6 games in the team event for All-Events.

http://www.2008wmc.com/results/wmc08-res.htm#TeamFinals

This just in...Team USA (Bill Hoffman, Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones, Patrick Allen, and Rhino Page) defeated Korea (Choi Bok-Eum, Hong Hae-Sol, Choi Ki-Bong, Jang [censored]-Chul, and Kim Tae-Young) for the team gold medal by way of a 9th and 10th frame roll-off. Page rattled off strike-strike-9 in the 10th frame, forcing Kim to strike out for the gold, but a stubborn 10 pin in the 12th frame for Kim forced the extra frames. Kim started the roll-off with a strike against Page's 9-spare. Page then had another strike-strike-9 for 49 to force Kim to strike in his 10th frame. Kim failed to do so again, though, giving Team USA the gold.

WTG USA!

I see that Walter Ray Williams is sitting second in the singles after the first squad, but there are still four squads to go!

This is really an excellent showing by team USA.

I can't wait for the All events/Masters!

Yeah, I was at the tournament today and it was great to see Walter Ray Williams Jr. playing up to his capability. He was rolling along great through the first game (238), but slipped up in the second, but came back stong in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th games; (235, 237,255) respectively, but then he ran into a brick wall, opening both the first two frames in the sixth game with back to back 4-7/6-10 spilits. He played well after that, but had difficulty stringing stikes due to a lingering 10-pin. I could tell that he wasn't a happy camper. At one point, he slammed his ball down on the ball return rack. At the conclusion of his final game, he immediately exited the center. He still finished out the game with a 190. True, Walter Ray Williams Jr. did finish in second place in the 1st squad atanding, but was only behind by 1 pin.

I didn't get a chance to watch all of the second squad games before having to leave. Bill Hoffman and Rhino Page were playing in the second squad. I did get a chance to chat with Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones, who were watching the action from the bleachers. They weren't scheduled to bowl today; instead will start tomorrow morning.

This was the first time ever for me attending a professional bowlers tournament and I really enjoyed it. I will be going back on Saturday for the final day Master's matches. Only the top 16 players will compete in the Master's and I hope to see a lot of American participation.

Pattayadavid

Marko,

I was at the tournament today (Thursday) for the 1st day of singles events. I looked for you, but couldn't find you anywhere. Anyway, I won't be there tomorrow, but plan to attend the Master's competition and closing ceremonies on Saturday. I'll be looking for you, if nothing else to say "Hi" from Dennis and the guys on the forum.

Pattayadavid

Marko,

I was at the tournament today (Thursday) for the 1st day of singles events. I looked for you, but couldn't find you anywhere. Anyway, I won't be there tomorrow, but plan to attend the Master's competition and closing ceremonies on Saturday. I'll be looking for you, if nothing else to say "Hi" from Dennis and the guys on the forum.

Pattayadavid

Brief update that wasn't already covered...Rhino Page leads the All-Events after the first day of singles, but Choi Bok-Eum, the All-Events leader after the team event, will bowl his singles tomorrow.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. has won the gold in the singles competiton beating Kai Gunther of Germany 213 - 198 in a single game final. I'm looking forward to attending the Masters Competition Finals tomorrow. Four Americans are among the final 16 competitors led by Rhino Page, Tommy Jones, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and getting the final (#16) spot on the roster, Patrick Allen.

Pattayadavid

The All-Events medalists:

Gold: Choi Bok-Eum (KOR)
Silver: Rhino Page (USA)
Bronze: Tore Torgersen (NOR)

Another notable who will be competing in tomorrow's Masters Elimination Finals: Jason Belmonte (AUS)

http://www.2008wmc.com/results/2008/wmc08-5.asp has the full All-Events standings.

Posting again to force the new page for those of you using the default setting of 10 posts/page...my last post started a new page for those w/ that setting, which doesn't show.

hello all..just wanted to know if these events are going to be televised or broadcasted on tv or the web?...i love watching bowling events on tv especially on espn classic or fsn...i like watching the american players but i'd also like to see how other foreign players bowl as well...i see some foreign players on youtube but not enough...if someone can hook me up, i'd appreciate it