Nothing real special. Just try and relax and think about anything but bowling. Once I get to the center shoot atleast 1 game of pool and 1 game of pinball. Those things help me relax while getting used to the atmoshere of a center I have never been to. A tournament team I was on for a few years did this. We would always go to Waffle House 3 hours before we bowled. If there wasn't a Waffle House we would go to Dennys. We would talk about football and basketbal. Never about bowling as there would be plenty of time for that during the tournament.

I agree with Wayne, if out of town get there early.You don't have to be at the center,but don't sterss out about the trip. This saturday I went on a 2 hour trip to my Michigan State tourny,but due to a blizzard it took 5 hours of stress to get there.Long story short made it in just enough time to sighn in and get ready. My average is 207 so I shot a 490 for team event.That night I had a stake dinner and a couple (realy) of beers.Next day I shot 714 doubles and 651 singles. The shot was no better or worse,but my state of mind was better. This is a game thats more mentle than we want to admint. TK

I feel that one of the mistakes that bowlers make is to only bowl in one house. You may be king of the hill there, but go to a tournament in a strange new house and the king is dead.

So my advice is to bowl league and practice in more than one house. Lane conditions and surface will vary and in the long run, you'll become a more competitive and well rounded bowler.

And by all means, listen to what the lanes are telling you. I'm sure like most of us, you would like to play down the 10 board or be able to always play the big rainbow hook. But when you go to a tournament at another location or even in your home house where the oil pattern is different that may not be possible. Just relax and be observant to your ball's reaction. And watch the other bowlers if you're not quite sure where to play.

Hello and happy new year to all bowlers.Iam peter from Sydney ,Austalia.Bowling at AMF center Dee WHY,the Balls I currently use is a Matrix Dominator By Ebonite,Have had it for 4 years and has given me some great games and a 705 series for 3 games.the other 2 balls are the Ebonite V2 vortex and the only diffent ball is Vicious by Hammer.Good scores still yet to come,By no means is my dominator out of business,just needs to be re surfaced.meanwhile I still own a Xcel by Ebonite to use while resufacing is being done.the two AMF balls are plastic and polyester and one is called the Sprite ball,used for spares.depending on the spare of course.If i need one with a bit of hook I Use the vortex.I had to drop weight of balls because of tendonitis last year.so 15 to 16lbs is out of question.Mainly bowl league as because of my local job as a Chef I dont get time off so easily.However once on holidays I Bowl more tournaments.