Bowling Highlights Column 2-4-11

USBC Tourney Deadlines Extended

Tournament season is right around the corner, and it's not too late to be part of the action at the 2011 United States Bowling Congress Women's and Open Championships.
The entry deadline for the USBC Women's Championships has been extended to March 1, while USBC Open Championships competitors now will have until March 4 to submit their entries.
The 2011 Open Championships will be the first to kick off this year as it begins its 122-day run March 4. Bowlers from all 50 states and several foreign countries will converge on the one-of-a-kind, 78-lane National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., before the tournament concludes on July 3.
More than 12,000 five-player teams already are headed for "The Biggest Little City in the World," but there's still plenty of room available for bowlers interested in trying to earn a share of the $5 million prize fund.
This year, the Women's Championships will return to New York state for the first time since 1996 and settle into Syracuse's Oncenter Complex, where 48 specially-constructed lanes and custom-built, state-of-the-art scoreboards will await more than 30,000 bowlers. The event gets underway April 7 and will run for 88 days, also concluding on July 3.
The Women's Championships received a successful makeover in 2010 and now features three average-based divisions that use a 100-percent handicap format. Between the new look of the venue and the new format, the Women's Championships is a can't-miss opportunity for women of all ages and skill levels.
"We take great pride in our championship events, and we don't want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to compete on bowling's biggest stages," said Brian Lewis, USBC Managing Director of Tournaments. "Entries for both the Open and Women's Championships have been steady as the original deadlines approached, so we want to give undecided bowlers and captains a little more time to get their teams together and join us."
For bowlers looking for extra opportunities to cash in on the championship lanes, there's always a variety of side events and jackpots available on-site, including traditional brackets, strike jackpots and side pots.
> There are still prime spots available for 2011. For more information, visit BOWL.com/tournaments or call the tournament entries department at 800-514-2695.

The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This weeks ti is for all bowlers regardless of your level and it has to do with understanding the correct body position needed to execute a bowling shot and being able to duplicate it.
Full coverage of this tip is available at http://bght.blogspot.com
If you were to stand straight on the approach, facing the pins, letting the ball hang on your hand, you could not swing the ball straight without hitting your hip with the ball.
This is impossible to do without swinging the ball around your hip because the ball is too big. This "roundhouse swing" is not able to be duplicated shot after shot.
Therefore, you might be in a position to be able to swing the ball toward your desired target without any obstacles.
The tip: Get your head as far to the right (or left if left handed) and tilt your bowling shoulder slightly downward. Contrary to what some of your bowlers might tell you, you must drop your shoulder toward the floor in order to avoid the "roundhouse swing". At the same time, slightly open your hips and shoulder and you will be able to swing your arm straight toward the target time and time again. Due to different physiologist, the exact position may vary slightly from person to person, but that correctly positioned, you can use gravity to control the tempo of your swing.
Note: If you were to shoot a game of pool, or go to a range and shoot a bow or rifle, note the position your head would have to be in to be effective in these activities. Also, next time you watch Pro Bowling on TV, make note of the bowler's body positions.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is an Advisor along with being involved with Special Events with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by telephone at 435-720-7939 or via email at mikel@stormbowling.com

PBA NEWS

In his fourth season competing on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour, Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., broke through to win his first title last Sunday afternoon in the PBA One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial at Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl in Dublin, Calif. He defeated Patrick Allen 237-215.
Full coverage of this story is available at http://bght.blogspot.com


This column is written by Ed Townsend, a public relations consultant to the amateur and professional sport of bowling and to several bowling writers associations. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league and tournament scores and information, Ed can be reached by phone at 845-439-8177, via email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For an expanded version of this column please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com This column is also available on Facebook.

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