For those of you who are thinking about bowling in a PBA Regional event in the future, I want to share my experience from my first PBA event in Newport News, VA this past weekend and offer a few tips:

First, show up early.  There is a line at the check-in table if you don't.  Also, you get some good time to meet/chat with some of the regional pros and pick their brains about bowling in general.

Before you ever go to one of these tournaments, practice...a lot.  Practice in blocks of 10 or 12 games so you can be ready for the 8 game format they have on Saturday.  If you stuggle with picking up spares, learn to do it better.  Invest in plastic coverstock and learn to throw straight.  I can't begin to tell you how many people this weekend were struggling with sub-par scores mainly because their spare shooting was not where it needed to be.

Also in practice, honestly assess whether you really hit your marks consistently.  If you cannot hit both marks with the same speed and rev-rate each time you throw the ball, be prepared for some interesting leaves.  Above all on PBA conditions, keep the ball in play and leave makeable spares.  Your overall pinfall total will thank you.  Keep your cool after bad shots.  It does you no good to get aggravated after a bad frame because the usual result is another bad frame or two.  Stay focused and realize that it is an 8 game block.  One bad frame can be made up by two good frames later.

Know your lane etiquette.  Failure to know it can create animosity, which is never good while bowling at that level.

Above all, have fun and learn something from the experience.  Even if you don't cash, you can still leave the tournament with a game plan that will better prepare you for the next tournament.  This weekend, I left with the following plan of action:
* practice converting right-center spares (I'm a lefty), specifically the 9, 5-9, 3-5 and 3-6.  
* work on varieties of angles, including playing 5th and 6th arrow.
* remember that stepping off the approach and reassessing your next shot is perfectly acceptable.  I missed a key spare because I wasn't sure of my placement on the approach.  Instead of thinking about making a quality shot, I was debating my position on the lane.  I will, in the future, pull back from making a shot I am not ready for.

If anybody plans on being in Norfolk, VA on December 19,20, or 21, let me know.  Maybe we can connect and have a drink.
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Nut

If you wonder if you're good enough, then you're not good enough.