2023 Nationals Thread - All Things Bowling

[n00dlejester]

Hello fellow bowling sadists! This year's tournament is already underway, with a 3200+ out the gate.

I'm going to make two threads (for the 9 of us still on these boards) to keep a sort of timeline for the tournament. This thread will be for all things bowling related – Teams, doubles, singles, practice sessions, the Journal, the BTM, the expo center, etc. If you have anything you'd like to share, let 'er rip.

And a mighty big GOOD LUCK to all of us making the schlep to lovely Reno, NV. I look forward to seeing the Stadium again.

[Note: the other thread will be all things non-bowling related https://www.ballreviews.com/usbc-tournament/2023-nationals-thread-all-other-things/. You know, the actually fun stuff ]

[milorafferty]

My group bowls Memorial Day weekend. May 27th and 28th.

Since I live a day trip away from Reno, we will head up to bowl the Bowlers Journal a couple of times before then.

[n00dlejester]

My group bowls Memorial Day weekend. May 27th and 28th.

Since I live a day trip away from Reno, we will head up to bowl the Bowlers Journal a couple of times before then.

Oh very nice! That's always good experience. The year it was in Syracuse, I was able to bowl the Journal early, and watch a Team squad. It was supremely useful - scored my best that year.

[3835]

Unfortunately my 2 teams bowed out this year. Out of our 10 guys, 3 of them decided against Reno because of the travel costs and one guy has a new job and only could bowl on weekends to minimize PTO.

We punted and used our registration money from this year to already book spots for Vegas 24.

I have never bowled at the Stadium and as a lefty I was looking forward to it. Oh well. Maybe next time.

Good luck to everyone else.

[mrwizerd]

I bowl March 27th and 28th.  After watching the USBC provided videos on Facebook and seeing the big early scores, IMO the patterns look soft again so I will be taking the same setup as last year.... Axiom at 3K, Axiom Pearl at 1K polished, and a spare ball.

[n00dlejester]

I bowl March 27th and 28th.  After watching the USBC provided videos on Facebook and seeing the big early scores, IMO the patterns look soft again so I will be taking the same setup as last year.... Axiom at 3K, Axiom Pearl at 1K polished, and a spare ball.

How's it looking so far? I've only seen one video with a dude pitching one way right and it came back AND carried, plus two better shots.

[mrwizerd]

I bowl March 27th and 28th.  After watching the USBC provided videos on Facebook and seeing the big early scores, IMO the patterns look soft again so I will be taking the same setup as last year.... Axiom at 3K, Axiom Pearl at 1K polished, and a spare ball.

How's it looking so far? I've only seen one video with a dude pitching one way right and it came back AND carried, plus two better shots.

A video was posted a day or 2 ago for a Doubles Standard team that shot well.

[DrBob806]

My group is bowling May 4th & 5th. This will be my LAST unfortunately after 19 years. The USBC fined me $50 for dropping a team, which wasn't my fault at all, guys just backed out.

The other thing, and I know it's been beaten to death, is the 2024 returns to South Point. So 4 out of 6 years will be in that place...sorry, I'm out.

Thirdly, our group enjoyed the 40 Frame Game and that's not being held in Reno either. Two years running now, something's wrong with their "relationship" with the USBC.

I'll probably miss national, but hey, I can invest that $2K for travel expenses, entry and bowl quite a few local-type events.

[milorafferty]

My group is bowling May 4th & 5th. This will be my LAST unfortunately after 19 years. The USBC fined me $50 for dropping a team, which wasn't my fault at all, guys just backed out.

The other thing, and I know it's been beaten to death, is the 2024 returns to South Point. So 4 out of 6 years will be in that place...sorry, I'm out.

Thirdly, our group enjoyed the 40 Frame Game and that's not being held in Reno either. Two years running now, something's wrong with their "relationship" with the USBC.

I'll probably miss national, but hey, I can invest that $2K for travel expenses, entry and bowl quite a few local-type events.

Is the issue with the Forty Frame game with USBC or the management of the Forty Frame game? I suspect the latter. It used to be packed and the wife of the couple who own it was onsite the entire tournament. The last couple of times, they just hired a couple of local kids who didn't give a hoot about it.

I don't think Southpoint would allow it on location so they had to host somewhere else. At the stadium, it used to be on the first floor which was nice.

I have not heard where the BTM will be, but you can bet that Rick and his wife will be somewhere in town. Probably at Coconut bowl in Sparks.

[SVstar34]

I have not heard where the BTM will be, but you can bet that Rick and his wife will be somewhere in town. Probably at Coconut bowl in Sparks.

Yep, they are there

[DrBob806]

My group is bowling May 4th & 5th. This will be my LAST unfortunately after 19 years. The USBC fined me $50 for dropping a team, which wasn't my fault at all, guys just backed out.

The other thing, and I know it's been beaten to death, is the 2024 returns to South Point. So 4 out of 6 years will be in that place...sorry, I'm out.

Thirdly, our group enjoyed the 40 Frame Game and that's not being held in Reno either. Two years running now, something's wrong with their "relationship" with the USBC.

I'll probably miss national, but hey, I can invest that $2K for travel expenses, entry and bowl quite a few local-type events.

Is the issue with the Forty Frame game with USBC or the management of the Forty Frame game? I suspect the latter. It used to be packed and the wife of the couple who own it was onsite the entire tournament. The last couple of times, they just hired a couple of local kids who didn't give a hoot about it.

I don't think Southpoint would allow it on location so they had to host somewhere else. At the stadium, it used to be on the first floor which was nice.

I have not heard where the BTM will be, but you can bet that Rick and his wife will be somewhere in town. Probably at Coconut bowl in Sparks.

https://40framegame.com/ffg-usa-lasvegas-nevada/

Sounds like a little of both perhaps.

And yes, the last time it was held in Las Vegas (The Orleans, I think) it wasn't very well organized at all.

We liked it because after bowling the USBC Open, it seemed like you had a phone book of margin after needing to hit a 50 cent piece lol.

[milorafferty]

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

Bowlers Journal is still there of course, probably because of Storms involvement.

BTM is a shell if its former self and there was a second tournament called the 123 which I don't think exists anymore.

With at many bowlers in one place, it seems that the local alleys would take advantage of it.

[DrBob806]

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

 

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

Bowlers Journal is still there of course, probably because of Storms involvement.

BTM is a shell if its former self and there was a second tournament called the 123 which I don't think exists anymore.

With at many bowlers in one place, it seems that the local alleys would take advantage of it.

Right...I liked it when the 40 FG was at High Sierra Lanes in Reno. Then they moved it to the downstairs at the stadium. I wonder if this "relationship" that went sour has to do with money sharing with the USBC.

[milorafferty]

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

 

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

Bowlers Journal is still there of course, probably because of Storms involvement.

BTM is a shell if its former self and there was a second tournament called the 123 which I don't think exists anymore.

With at many bowlers in one place, it seems that the local alleys would take advantage of it.

Right...I liked it when the 40 FG was at High Sierra Lanes in Reno. Then they moved it to the downstairs at the stadium. I wonder if this "relationship" that went sour has to do with money sharing with the USBC.

High Sierra only has 24 lanes and they have leagues, so it may not be feasible for them. There used to be a house on Keystone, but it's closed now. The next closest bowling alley is in Sparks and most bowler probably aren't willing to go that far. Somehow Rick makes it work for the BTM though.

[bradl]

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

 

It's too bad they won't have the Forty Framer. We keep losing tournaments that used to be available at or near the USBC Open Championships.

Bowlers Journal is still there of course, probably because of Storms involvement.

BTM is a shell if its former self and there was a second tournament called the 123 which I don't think exists anymore.

With at many bowlers in one place, it seems that the local alleys would take advantage of it.

Right...I liked it when the 40 FG was at High Sierra Lanes in Reno. Then they moved it to the downstairs at the stadium. I wonder if this "relationship" that went sour has to do with money sharing with the USBC.

High Sierra only has 24 lanes and they have leagues, so it may not be feasible for them. There used to be a house on Keystone, but it's closed now. The next closest bowling alley is in Sparks and most bowler probably aren't willing to go that far. Somehow Rick makes it work for the BTM though.

With Reno being Reno and most people taking taxis or rideshares to the hotel/casinos, it puts a lot of other places that could hold it out of reach, or out of cheap/inexpensive reach.

Good example: Grand Sierra could hold it as it isn't too far from the Stadium, and closer than both High Sierra and Coconut Bowl.. But also, while it is further out, Gold Dust West could hold it, but that's a 20-30something minute drive down to Carson City.

BL.