Source
r/Bowling•
ProjectVT

I don't think I ever saw a mega thread post this year, so for all of you that went to Nationals in Reno this year how did it go for you?

Scores

I had a lot of fun, as far as my bowling I was a bit up and down and made some mistakes in ball choices/changes during my sets, I started out team set with a 190 but I switched balls too early and never got back on track so my team set was pretty mediocre.

I started doubles with the wrong ball so my first game in doubles was complete garbage, I shot like 130. I made a good ball switch after game one and came back with two 225+ games in game 2 and 3 (thank you Code Black) to finish doubles off strong. They posted the final standings/low to cash and my partner and I cashed in doubles (we finished around 700th). Singles was pretty uneventful, no big games but no low ones either.

I felt the patterns were pretty playable this year compared to other years I've gone and if I had made better decisions with ball choices I feel my scores could have been much better than they were. I was very happy with my spare shooting so that goes on the positive side of things. I didn't do any side events this year, I absolutely loved the National Bowling Stadium it was my first time there.

Let me know how things went for you all.

Posted Aug 4, 2023, 6:23 PM UTC

112
MafiaHistorianNYC•

Well it was in Reno, so the fun is limited to bowling only.

1
tursillo201140-300’s, 35-800’s HS-869•

We found a nice golf course and pizza place but both of those were nowhere near downtown Reno lol

1
MafiaHistorianNYC•

I don’t play golf, but yeah I would imagine that is literally the one thing there is to do in the desert lol.

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

Yeah, I get you it certainly isn't Vegas that is for sure lol We stayed in Lake Tahoe for a couple days while we were out there, which I thought was really nice.

1
ronnie-james-dior•

Area around the river is actually pretty nice, just outside of downtown.

1
munsen488Cranker•

We went back in April. Team was rough because we have a few people in our group who won't buy into working together to break down the lanes and just go try to get themselves lined up. I started off ok but the lanes were a mess by the third game and ended up with a 550, team only shot 2500. It's frustrating because while we're never going to compete to win it, I know the people on that team are good enough to shoot at least 2800 and cash if they'd just work together.

Doubles I had a great look and was one spare away from a clean set. Whiffed a 10-pin in the 10th frame of the third game but still managed a 650 and over 1200 for a decent cash. Singles it fell apart and I made a poor decision to try to stay in the same place as I was in for doubles and play with my hand to keep the ball from overlooking rather than moving deep like I should've. Even with that I managed to battle out a 570 but missed the cash by one mark. Worst part is I missed three single pins that set.

Overall it was my second best All Events ever so I'm happy about that but I know I left a lot out there. I'm rebuilding my bag this year with that tournament in mind and I'm going to be pushing my group all year to buy into team play, especially in the team event.

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

I'm glad it went pretty well for you and congrats on the cashing! I went in April as well, I totally get you on the team event frustration, if not everyone is on the same page with that it can go haywire pretty quickly. I feel like every year I've gone I have left quite a bit out there also, it's one of the cool and annoying things about nationals is now we have to wait a year before we can go again lol

1
Ok-Pen8696•

I rolled a 78

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

It can be rough out there, was this your first time bowling nationals?

1
Ok-Pen8696•

Just playing I bowled on my first league and it just ended, I have an avg of 113 sadly

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

Ah ok, well not bad we all started out with averages like that when we first started bowling so keep at it!

1
81644Lefty 1H :lefty1h:•

Inside top 150 for AE. Inside top 175 for doubles. 550 ish for singles. Zip for team, we sucked

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

Wow great bowling, top 150 is amazing. What was your AE set?

1
81644Lefty 1H :lefty1h:•
  1. My best set yet. Split twice in 10th during team. Cost me 60 pins easily. Tip: bring balls that roll good for you back home. Plan on practicing when you get there. Go to the Hammer booth before and after practice. Ask for Dan Smith. He had been doing this a long time. He got me into the correct ball surface and gave us some idea of lane play. It worked well for me this year. Although I did execute well for a change.
1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

Thanks for the info regarding the Hammer booth and Dan, and yeah that is good advice about balls that work for you back home. I definitely need to do that next year as opposed to going with 'what normally works at nationals for everyone'. Congrats again on the cash!

1
Key_Garbage5586•

Started out game 1 of team with a few spares, found the line and hit the last 5 for a 218, tore a muscle in my forearm the second frame of game 2. Limped it to a 170 150, withdrew from day 2.

Had a great fuckin line though. Smashed those five shots.

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

Oh damn, sorry to hear that happened. I hope it isn't severe enough that you need to have surgery and can just rest/do PT for recovery.

1
SSuperAnt_Official•

Watched family bowl, we drove across the whole country! It was really fun, found a great go-karting place and had a blast. Also went mini golfing which was great. Ate at some nice restaurants and definitely enjoyed ourselves.

1
ProjectVTOP223/300/830•

That sounds fun, I have put some thought into doing the road trip thing and making a week+ trip out of it, but I always chicken out haha. I'm in FL and in 2025 it's in Louisiana so might do it that year.

1
SSuperAnt_Official•

I don’t blame you! It’s quite the trip there and back. Definitely enjoyable if you take your time and see the sights

1