Last issue we talked about what the requirements are to obtain a professional card and what your expenses run on an average week.This week I will cover our tour format and what a typical week on tour is like.
Friday and/or Saturdays are travel days. Sunday is the official start of the tournament and we usually have practice from 8am to 10am and pro/ams start at 10:30am. We are usually required to bowl only one shift of pro/ams but sometimes two are required.
On Sunday the lanes are oiled by the PWBA lane man and the lane condition that we are supposed to compete on for that week is laid out for practice session. During practice is when you decide if you are going to drill more equipment for tomorrow's competition. There are ball reps that work for the different ball manufacturers circulating among the practicing players during practice that will usually help you map out equipment for that week.
Monday is the first day of competition and the entire field will bowl 6 games in the morning and return that evening to bowl 6 more games. On Tuesday the total field bowls 6 more games and the field is cut to the top 24 bowlers who advance to match play after 18 games of qualifying.
There are a total of 32 bowlers who cash for the week. On Tuesday nite the top 24 bowl a round robin of 8 games and on Wednesday morning 8 games of match play and that evening 8 final games of match play. In match play there is a 30 pin bonus for beating your opponent (15 pins for a tie) that is added to your cumulative total that goes all the way back to qualifying score.
On Wednesday nite after 42 games have been bowled the top 5 bowlers make the ESPN2 TV telecast. On Thursday the TV show is taped at 7:00pm but the top five are required to get there at 5:00pm (2 hours ahead). Sometimes the top seeded player must wait over three hours before she bowls the title match.
Throughout the week players are constantly drilling equipment trying to adjust to the lane conditions in order to cash or move up in match play. The intensity level and commitment that it takes to make a living on tour is tremendous. There is so much money invested each week that 2 or 3 weeks of not cashing could amount to a $3000 defecit. A player must have a very tough skin to deal with the ups and downs of tour life. The most successful players are the ones who can learn to master and harness their own God-given talents and change with the times.
If you have any bowling-related questions or have a problem with your game and could use some advice from a professional bowler, Mrs. Daniels can be contacted one or two ways. Snail mail: Cheryl Daniels, P. O. Box 250014, West Bloomfield, MI 48325. Email address: Cheryl_Daniels@msn.com. Also, please visit Mrs. Daniels' website: www.my.freeway.net/`Shebe.
