Oh, nervous because I am about to leave for a tournament start (Nord-West Tour in Duisburg, Germany, with the big national amateur boys and girls from premier league, national team etc.). But that's not what gets me shaky. It is the fact that - for the first time in 2 years - I will try a tournament start without a wrist support.

I made this decision just 1 week ago (dumb, yes), but I was fed up withz the wrist brace. Additionally, I was able to practice on the tournament lanes and oil pattern with the new "setup", and except for some shaky spares (esp. 10 pin) I did not see any loss in reaction or exactness, if there is any . The hand/wrist seems to cope with this "new" situation well.

Uh, start is in about 2 hours. Better pack my bag...
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Whew, back from "work" - and a very good result so far. A very satisfying net 1169 (through 6 games, pattern was a 5.2 to 1 ratio, 38' long - not slippery but surely not much room to make errors or swing the ball ), and with some handicap bonus through my official league average it looks as if it could even be enough to make it with a gross 1259 into the TOP 32!!!

So far, only thing to be worried about are 10 pins without the wrist support. I missed 2, but so far I cannot complain

Looks as if I am in the finals tomorrow

Yahoo!!!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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I cannot believe it - currently (tournament still going, last qualification round) the overall 22nd place among 163 starters so far. What a success, and the right decision to go ahead without the wrist brace, stay confident and just "play well". Never expected to end up this high in the ranking - my "objective" had been top 100, but this is almost shocking!

If someone did some voodoo rites for me - they worked!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?

Congrats Dizzy !!!
Nice Shooting.

Jim
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Don't sweat the petty things, Pet the sweaty things!!!!

End result of qualification rounds is 30th overall place - still enough to skip 2 final rounds and start directly in the elimination rounds!

Let's see if I can make some noise again
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Back again - ended up on overall 51st place. Lost in the eliminator rounds with a 387 vs. 407, but I must say against the better player.
First game was crap - I was uber-careful, played too straight ahead and went Brooklyn too often. Then I had some bad luck with spares (or is it lack of talent): twice the 6-10, in a row, and picking the 6 in teh fisrt and then the 10 in the next frame. Then add a 4-6-7-10 split for 3 open frames ina row, and that was it, more or less. Second game I became much more relaxed and somehow confident, beating my opponent, but it was already too late.

Well, neverthless a every positive experience, and the confidence that I do not need the wrist support anymore (Hurray). Even went home with some money that covers all expenses, so it was a good weekend

If you are interedted, you might check the tournament website www.nord-west-tour.de (German only, and final results will be published in 3 hours or so, final roundsa re still going on).

Thanks for looking and your support!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?