Tip of the Month: Use the Line in the Mind

In bowling, visualization and positive imagery are powerful mental game techniques. These concepts program the mind and set the tone for your next delivery. This technique is called the “line in your mind.”

For more information on coaching tips, see the tips page index.

To locate a USBC-certified coach in your area, visit the USBC Coaching section of bowl.com and click on the "Find A Coach" feature or call (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3169.

The Difference

USBC Sport Bowling Corner

Sport Bowling Update - Bowlers across the country are getting a good idea of what it’s like to be Tommy Jones, Norm Duke and Patrick Allen.

As PBA Experience leagues get rolling since USBC first offered the program on Jan. 1, USBC Sport Bowling members are realizing how exciting and challenging it is to compete on the exact lane oil patterns as Jones, Duke, Allen and the rest of the Denny’s PBA Tour stars. Read more

Sport Bowling Spotlight - Ever since Ashly Galante took up the sport of bowling, she has had one goal. She saw herself one day competing in international events while wearing the red, white and blue for USBC Team USA.

In January, Galante traveled to Reno, Nev., for the 2007 USBC Team USA Trials. It was her fourth time at the tournament, and she was trying to break through and make the team after finishing 13th last year. Read more

High Performance Bowling - Team USA member and Sport Bowling coordinator Derek Eoff discusses how to prepare for Sport Bowling tournaments. Read more

Visit the Sport Bowling section of bowl.com or call (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3177 for more information.

Experience it!

Bowling Experiences Like No Other

In a couple days, the 2007 USBC Open Championships will begin in Reno, Nev., and it will be business as usual for the tournament as more than 80,000 bowlers make their way to the National Bowling Stadium from Feb. 17 until July 1.

But Sunday, Feb. 11, it was all fun and games as USBC hosted Bowlfest, a celebration of bowling and the USBC Open Championships, which was an entertaining way to re-introduce the upcoming tournament to the community that will host it for a record eighth time.

The 2007 Open Championships officially will run for 135 consecutive days, concluding on July 1. The tournament is open to all USBC Adult members, who may still enter until March 30.

The 2007 USBC Women’s Championships will make its first visit to Charlotte, N.C., April 12 - July 1.

With entries continuing to come in at a steady pace, the deadline for entering the tournament has been extended until March 30. More than 8,500 teams already have signed up for the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.

Enter a USBC/Storm Mixed Team Challenge Event Near You

Add a little spice to your league bowling season by competing in one of the sport's most unique grassroots competitions — the USBC/Storm Mixed Team Challenge.

From February through May, 14 one-day events are scheduled throughout the country. The four-player handicap team format enables bowlers of all skill levels an opportunity to compete.

Tournament schedule, rules and entry information

The one-day events consist of three games of traditional bowling followed by 10 games of Baker competition, where team members alternate frames to combine for one score.

The Mixed Team Challenge uses a 90 percent handicap of 900 (combined average for four players). All teams must have at least one woman player with any combination of men and women allowed.

Each Mixed Team Challenge event includes a $4,500 prize fund (based on 30 entries). A minimum of one in six teams cash in each event.

To enhance your tournament experience, Mixed Team Challenge events feature handicap brackets and other side events as well as special prizes and equipment giveaways. Entry fee is $240 per team ($60 per bowler).

For more details, call (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3415.

Elite Women’s Bowling

History … tradition … prestige
The USBC Queens and USBC Senior Queens are don’t-miss events for women bowlers.

High average USBC women members are encouraged to compete in the richest and most prestigious event in women’s bowling, the USBC Queens presented by Tri-Properties. USBC women members age 50 or over are invited to take part in the USBC Senior Queens sponsored by Storm. Both events are being held in conjunction with the USBC Women’s Championships from April 28 to May 2 in the Queen City of Charlotte, N.C.  

• Queens Entry Form
• Senior Queens Entry Form

Queens bowlers compete for a share of $200,000, with $30,000 going to the winner. The top 100 places, including ties, will receive USBC Queens prize money.

To accommodate a larger field, the Senior Queens prize fund will pay to 50 places and the final match play cut will be to 32 instead of 16. A Super Senior prize fund will enable the top three bowlers 60 years and older, who do not make the top 50, to cash for $200 each.

For more information call (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3173.

Don’t Miss Out: USBC Youth Open Championships

There are plenty of spots left to compete in the inaugural USBC Youth Open Championships. Encourage any youth bowlers you know to get a team of four together and enter in the team event. Doubles and singles events also are available. Check out the “Find a Bowler/Team” message board on bowl.com to help them team up with others and be a part of history. This is an excellent opportunity to compete against others in the same skill level for the chance to win scholarship dollars and be named a national champion. Each participant will receive a free gift for participating in the inaugural USBC Youth Open Championships.

For additional information contact the USBC Youth Open Championships.

Claim Your Share of $375,000 at the PBA’s 64th U.S. Open!

The Professional Bowlers Association is proud to present the 64th U.S. Open. Returning to Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey, this tournament features the largest field of competitors on the Denny’s PBA Tour. Reigning PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones is the defending champion, and this event marks your best opportunity to take on Jones and the other Denny’s PBA Tour stars.

Don’t delay -- bowlers must register by Feb. 20 . All bowlers with a verifiable 190 league average for a minimum of 21 games in any of the past five USBC-certified league seasons are eligible. Download and fill out the entry form and mail or fax it back along with your payment of $500. All entries are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you can’t bowl in the event, tickets may be purchased on the Web . Also, the PBA has created a special line of merchandise for the 64th U.S. Open, go to pbastore.com to get your limited-edition gear.

Listening to Members

Member comments always are welcome at USBC and to really understand bowlers’ thoughts, the Customer Insight team frequently sends out survey invitations to random samples of USBC members. So who receives a survey invitation? Members are chosen randomly from the membership file. A response of 1,000 randomly chosen members reflects the overall population of more than two million members. If 30 percent of the survey respondents pick an answer to a survey question, you can be “sure” that if the question had been asked of the entire membership, between 27 and 33 percent would have picked that same answer.

Recently, 22,000 members were invited to complete a study that asked respondents what they think of certain benefits, how often benefits are used and what changes should be made. More than 2,000 members responded. The results will help shape the future of USBC products and programs. There also are two other surveys in progress, one targeted to league officers and one regarding members’ opinions about Sport Bowling.

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