While I did not win the tournament, I ended up in second place under some very tough conditions. I credit my mental attitude for helping me get as far as I did because I never really got lined up at anytime and my three bowling balls really only performed so-so throughout the day.

In fact, if you look at just about any competitive sport, the best players are the ones who can overcome the different conditions placed before them. They've learned how to choose the right equipment and make adjustments for any obstacle placed in their way.

Well, they weren't corny enough for me so I had to make up some of my own so that I'd get the bowlers listening and groaning. More importantly, once they caught on that I was making some kind of a bad joke, they listened to the other general announcements that I was making.

How many times have people come to you and said things like, "I practiced here last week and shot 250;" "During the practice, I was throwing nothing but strikes;" or "The last time I bowled here, I really scored well." Actually, how may times have you felt that way?

During league play, you will see many teams compete within themselves by playing a version of poker. For every strike or spare, cards are drawn from a central deck and at the end of the game, the best poker hand wins.

I actually started to write an article about bowling lane oil many months ago; but, I was looking for a solid definition and description. Guess what? I didn't find one. Believe me when I say that I tried. No definitive answers, I'm afraid.

One of the things I advise people to do is to imagine everything that could go wrong when they are bowling in competition and write them down on a list. Then, over the course of several practice sessions, pretend that each of those "things-that-could-go-wrong," actually did.

I'd like to give some tips to those of you who will continue to use bowling balls and rental shoes provided by the center that you patronize. Whatever your reasons are, no explanations are needed because I realize "that's just the way it is."

Most bowling centers have settled on a certain way they set their lane dressing machines and will not vary from it. The variances in conditions from lane-to-lane, from one side of the house to the other, and from one time of day to the next, are caused by many factors that people tend to overlook.

It is when multiple pins or splits are left that many beginner bowlers tend to have problems deciding where to aim and throw for the spare combination. Here, then are the general guidelines that will make it easy for you line up quicker and have more confidence with which to pick up your spares.