Okay, it appears there are a lot of "accomplished" bowlers that frequent this site (accomplished = 200+ average).  My question is simply this....

If given the opportunity, do you feel your game is good enough to become Pro?  If yes, what is/are the reason(s) you aren't? (besides money)

I honestly didn't appreciate the quality of bowlers until I traveled and bowled in different tournaments many years ago.  I was one of those bowlers who frequented lanes and leagues within the boroughs of NYC but rarely did I venture out.  I wasn't near a 200+ average (not that now.. LOL) but I was awestruck by the level of competition when I decided to participate in tournaments.

So what say you?  How would you rate yourself?

Vernon
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"If you want SQUARE work, you DON'T CUT CORNERS!!!"....

Currently no I am not ready. There is one thing stopping me which is transtion. I have a real hard time moving quickly. However one goal I have this year is if it isn't working move quick.
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Bowl To Win!!!

Bowling is simply fun for me.  Making it my main job would destroy that.  Not that I could ever compete against these guys anyhow.

I've been so fortunate, bowled all over the world, have had the opportunity to watch the best go at it.  When you screwup as often as I do, you get to stand around and watch the real guys a lot.

One of the most memorable tournaments was a 2d place finish by one of our posters on here, Brenton Davy.  He lost to Tim Mack BUT I believe he won $100,000 for shooting the only 300 earlier in the tournament.  Best bowling under pressure I have ever seen.  The last 3 shots were perfect!  I know, had I been in that situation, there isn't any way I could have pulled it off.

Now the wife & I just use out vacations to hit different tournaments and meet as many bowlers as possible.


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~~~SrK - Have balls, will travel

1st law of combat, "Bullets always have the right of way"

Do I have a game good enough to turn pro? Well, yes I could have gotten my card.

Then why haven’t I:

1)   I’ve never been really good enough to win enough money to make a living at it nor to come close to covering expenses at a regional level bowling against the pros.
2)   I was smart enough and had enough common sense during my teens and early twenties to realize number one was true so I got a college education and developed a career where I’m better off financially than 99% of the guys who chased the bowling tour.
3)   I got married and had kids pretty young and had those financial responsibilities as well.
4)   I’ve been fortunate enough to have bowled with and against a lot of bowlers who have made it on tour and many who have tried the tour. While I can be competitive against them at times in the long haul on many different conditions they would dominate me.

I really feel I have had the best of both worlds. I have been able to make my self financially secure, raise a great family, and all along I’ve been able to compete against some of the top bowlers in the world on a weekly basis. Among these are Gordon Vadakin (Wichita State Bowling Coach), Mark Lewis (USA Olympian bowler), Mark Jensen (ABC hall of fame), Rick Steelsmith, Justin Hromek, Chris Barnes, Patrick Healy, Nathan Bohr, Sean Rash, and a bevy of other top collegiate players.

I average 220 on my house but its not the same on a Pro Pattern. My dream is to go pro and be successful for a long time out there but right now I am not ready and here is why

I don't have many big tournaments under my belt..like super hoinke...higher rollers...stuff like that

Its too expensive.

I'm mentally not ready to go out there....bowling the big tournament will get me mentally ready for that.