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 ]

[n00dlejester]

Just got back from bowling out there.

Settee area is brutal for team, the furniture makes it really tight and a real pain for practice time for team event, and with how slow the racks are you are climbing over each over trying to get your practice shots in. That said there's a ton of space behind the seating and it's fine when you aren't pushing to practice.

Team event plays similar to last year, won't be surprised if 3500 hits this year, pattern felt similar to last year, start outside a bit and then move in faster than you think you'll need to, last game is wide open with cleaner shell balls in the middle of the lane. I found myself not moving, or only 2 and 1's when 5 and 2's were needed, definitely feels like fire oil used again.

Doubles and Singles is much harder this year, it's get able, but it's one of those medium-shorter patterns where there is an illusion of the gutter playing but it doesn't really, so developing a hook spot and moving in to it is how McNeil and Vermilya's groups attacked it and scored well. Balls that lock up and go forward downlane in Doubles and Singles are really needed on the fresh, pattern feels very flat. It'll breakdown pretty quick and develop, and by end of singles it'll be playing from pretty in for most people.

I bowled like a toe, behind the moves, way too many splits and missed a few makables so had a very forgettable 1703 all events. Found my Primal Shock fine on fresh, Black Venom really good in Doubles and Singles when they started to break down a bit, and both in team and doubles singles found myself in a Ripcord Launch because it was hard to get anything with any surface to the breakpoint with how fast the patterns broke down.

Bowlers Journal lanes hook a million, and gutter is in play a bit there, pros with urethane are probably going to crush it.

Great update, themagician. I've heard similar anecdotes about the patterns - a medium team pattern and one of those false short patterns for S/D. 1700+ ain't bad on the tough stuff!

[mike300]

Thanks for the update.

Interesting the Journal lanes hooked as much as they did. Does the lower end of the Stadium hook more no matter what?

This brings up another question.. they didn't swap out the lanes during the remodel, did they?

BL.

Talked to Jeff Richgels about it and best info we have says before the 2016 OC was last time lanes were replaced.

And there is a talk that the low end hooks more as a general characteristic of the stadium.

I'm not sure if this is still the case but originally, the center of the stadium was the "high spot" so lanes on the low side tended to hook more for righties and be easier than the high side.  Lefties always had the nut at the stadium.

[milorafferty]

If anyone is interested, you can see the tendencies of your assigned lanes using the topography reports.

https://bowl.com/getmedia/654b6821-8f62-4755-b713-05abd0f76e95/nbs_topography17-78.pdf

[n00dlejester]

If anyone is interested, you can see the tendencies of your assigned lanes using the topography reports.

https://bowl.com/getmedia/654b6821-8f62-4755-b713-05abd0f76e95/nbs_topography17-78.pdf

Good stuff! TY for this, the topography looks much better than South Point

[n00dlejester]

Anybody have any insights into balls that perform well out there?

[milorafferty]

Anybody have any insights into balls that perform well out there?

I'm going to bowl the BJI this weekend, so I should have an idea of Doubles and Singles. People I have talked to that already went have all said Team is pretty much the same as last year.

[n00dlejester]

Anybody have any insights into balls that perform well out there?

I'm going to bowl the BJI this weekend, so I should have an idea of Doubles and Singles. People I have talked to that already went have all said Team is pretty much the same as last year.

Sounds good, milo -- bowl well!!

[soonerdallas]

Milo when are your squad times? I’m getting in Sunday hoping to bowl the bj that day. We bowl events Monday and Tuesday.

[milorafferty]

Milo when are your squad times? I’m getting in Sunday hoping to bowl the bj that day. We bowl events Monday and Tuesday.

We are bowling the BJ only this weekend. 12:30 and 2:30 squads. I live a "day trip" away from Reno, so we be heading back home after bowling. We don't bowl the Open until May 27th and 28th.

If you want to bowl the BJ, especially on a weekend, you might want to register on bowl.com as the premium times can fill up with walk-ins.

[SVstar34]

Know a big group that went this past weekend with some good bowlers.

They had a high 600/low 700 look for the BJ and in team on the low end.(17-30) D/S was a whole different story for them, significantly tougher. They were in the 50s for D/S.

There were a couple that got to 1900+ for AE, one is a senior who plays pretty straight as well. The other is pretty good at trapping the ball in, which did the best in singles

[timw]

I enjoy reading the posts. However, what does “trapping the ball in“ mean?

[n00dlejester]

Milo when are your squad times? I’m getting in Sunday hoping to bowl the bj that day. We bowl events Monday and Tuesday.

We are bowling the BJ only this weekend. 12:30 and 2:30 squads. I live a "day trip" away from Reno, so we be heading back home after bowling. We don't bowl the Open until May 27th and 28th.

If you want to bowl the BJ, especially on a weekend, you might want to register on bowl.com as the premium times can fill up with walk-ins.

Hey Milo, how'd the BJI go?

[billdozer]

I'm there now, bowling Monday and Tuesday.

Punched a fresh IQ tour solid, and a fresh renevant.

I'll have some insight if anyone wants it.

[svengali]

Bowled last week, twas a grind for sure. Blue Tank and Paragon were a good 1-2 punch for me. Had a good look G1 with the Blue Tank playing direct up 8, then could not carry in game 2. G3 went to Paragon, moved 4&2 right (as a lefty) and that was the right move. As a team we shot 2880, hoping to cash (in regular division) but I'm not sure that will be good enough.

D/S was a grind. Relied mostly on spare shooting and we posted an 1163. Felt like I had no strike pocket at all and just tried to keep it in play, basically between 8&10. Paragon was too responsive off the spot so had to mostly use the Tank. Hoping our score is good enough to cash with how brutal that pattern was. My doubles partner especially had a brutal teams & singles but squeaked out 600s in the doubles and in the BJ.

Singles was kind of the same story. Interestingly enough my roommate for the week and I were both 358 after 2 in singles. He bowled 208, I squeaked out a 236. Those 28 pins are the difference in being 846th right now in singles as opposed to 1584th. What I did the last game of singles is got a little bit inside of 2nd arrow and used the Paragon. Had to really be soft with the speed but not too soft. I found a 5 bagger and a clean game to finish off the tournament. I'm going to be pissed if it's 600+ to cash in singles again.

[n00dlejester]

I'm there now, bowling Monday and Tuesday.

Punched a fresh IQ tour solid, and a fresh renevant.

I'll have some insight if anyone wants it.

Bowl well, Billdozer! Give 'em hell