I decided to bowl and
experience my very first SCRATCH SINGLES Tournament at the WC Cleveland Scratch Tournament Saturday ...and didn’t bowl too good, but there were many others with 220, 225+ averages that bowled worse than me.
I must admit, whoa - that it is kinda hard... competing against some of the VERY BEST Amateur bowlers in the USA. I MEAN, I saw many of the same guys that I have been in amazement about their bowling ability… people like this guy
Fero Williams… who is bowling in this same tournament a few lanes over… and
his 2007-2008 Winter USBC Book average for the winter was 252, and he’s bowled over 70 “800 Series’ " in just the last 4 years … go look it up at bowl.com). And now I am thinking…
“wtf am I doing here?” LOL. LMAO!!!!

Oh well… Anyway, at least I was still on the “plus-side” after the first 6 games;
220, 213, 201, 179, 189, 214, but I totally didn't know where to throw the ball in the last 2 games...167 and 169 – including a gutter ball for my 10th frame fill shot...lol
"But hey, I saw MANY, MANY, MANY 225+ avg. bowlers struggling too.
When the
lanes are changing… getting dryer and dryer after every game, and you are actually moving to a new pair of lanes EVERY game... it REALLY takes some great shooting, good concentration …along with the experience and knowledge of knowing what to do...and
when to do it.
I have a NEW RESPECT for "real" bowlers now... especially at this level of competition. On the 2nd day before the final, I watched Greg Black, Jr roll a 785 for three games to try and qualify for the finals... and he still only ended up in 7th (i think).

...And if these bowlers are this good, I actually don’t have the imagination to even conceive just how good bowlers like Chris Barnes, Wes Mallott, Walter Ray Williams and Tommy Jones really are.
Sheeeesh ... this aint nothing like bowling 3 games in league ... trust me! I totally have a NEW RESPECT for guys like Joe German, Isom, Greg Black Jr. and others who truly are some of the best...and have worked on their game to REALLY compete at this level.
For me? lol... I will try again next year... when I develop better spare-making. Until then, I will practice, and get better with time... Like they say; "you get out of it - what you put into it!" (Work) :)
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