| Miscellaneous | ||
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Miscellaneous Q&A [1-20] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160]
[161-180] [181-200] [201-220] Roberto March 10, 2003 St. Petersburg FL What did you do differently this year that you have not done in past years to make so many television shows and win two majors? Hi Roberto, I try to win every tournament I go to. I tend to like the tougher lane conditions which has basically been the case at the Major tournaments this year. I really didn't do anything that different than past years, but this year I bowled very well, got some good breaks and fortunately bowled well in the majors. I guess I am a little stubborn and don't want to retire just yet. Shane March 5, 2003 Hondo TX Dear Walter Ray, I was wandering what your opinion is on Pete Weber's cocky, arrogant, in your face attitude(complete opposite of his father), and is the tour encouraging this type of behavior because it looks to me, where they used to suspend a pro for this type of behavior, they are now allowing it to try to get fans to watch the weekly telacasts. It seems to me that the tour thinks people will either love him or hate him, root for him, or against him and watch the show for that reason. It is starting to make pro bowling look more like pro wrestling. I would love to hear your opinion. thanks Hi Shane, I am not a proponent of some of the moves which Pete has come up with. But the PBA is probably right in letting him and others let it all hang out. Like you mentioned, people are watching Pete because they want to root for him or against him. I would rather the PBA bowling show be more about bowling than wild antics that somebody does, but apparently more people (especially young viewers, under 35) like to see more of the dramatic actions. But, if more people watch the pros bowl, then the pros will bowl for more money. Richard February 18, 2003 Leesburg FL You remind of a bowler I admired in the past, namedly, Billy Hardwick. He was very accurate as you are and was said to be able to spilt a board. He also bowled pretty much down and in as you do much of the time. Have you seen this hall of famer yourself or seen him bowl. I'm sure you have saw films of him. I don't know that he ever joined the senior tour and wonder what happened to him. Be happy to hear from you and believing for continued success on tour and life. Thanks for your time. Richard Hi Richard, I do know Billy Hardwick. He owns a bowling center in Memphis, TN. I understand that he developed arthritis and it shortened his career. I never saw Billy bowl in person, but I do remember seeing him on TV, but that was quite a few years ago. Greg February 14, 2003 Hopkinton MA I live in New England and have just begun to bowl at the age of 39. It is significantly more technical than I ever thought. What is your opinion regarding the equipment taking over where skill should be. I am a longtime golfer and tennis player nad similar things are happening there so I realize bowling is not alone. One other question is in regard to the popularity of bowling specifically in Masssachusetts. We used to have many many bowling houses here. Now there are very few. What can the PBA do to help bring the game back in the Boston area? Some league friends and I have considered atarting to market the game in some way but it is really pretty dead. A tour stop in the Boston area I believe would be a big help. Thank you for your willingness to answer your fans! Greg Hi Greg, Equipment can definitely help a player improve, but technique is more valuable. The PBA isn't really in charge of promoting bowling, but it does through the TV shows. It really comes down to the bowling centers in the area doing the promotion in their area. We have bowled in Connecticut, but I have never bowled in Massachusetts. I am sure that if a bowling center wanted the PBA there, the PBA would love to go to Boston. Dave February 9, 2003 Chula Vista CA Hey WRW, why do they call you "dead eye"? Also what do you think about inbetween shots? Hi Dave, I got my nickname of 'Deadeye' when I was 10 at the world horseshoe championships during qualifying when I made 45 ringers out of 50 shots. Off the approach it depends on what is going on and how I am bowling. When I am struggling I am trying to figure out what I need to be doing. Other times I am kind of hanging out watching the other guys bowling around me and maybe talking with one of the guys. Larry February 4, 2003 St. Charles MO Walter Ray, do you ever throw darts? Just wondering if you could be number 1 there also? Hi Larry, I don't throw darts that much. Thanks for the compliment, but I would need a serious amount of time to be decent. Chris January 9, 2003 Nottingham PA Dear Mr. Walter Ray Williams, Hi my name is Chris Bakey and I hold a 175 adv. on a traveling high school team also in a Saturday league. The home center that I bowl at has many different coaches and I also bowl in a league their on Saturdays. In that league four coaches and they seem to be in two groups, two of them want me to keep to the basics "which is what I am doing now" and the other two want me to totally change my game to a big hook, which I tried with out much success. The unsuccessful part was that my wrist would begin to hurt after only one game with the big hook method. The problem is with the Saturday league is that our whole league sands across 10 lanes so each week almost we have a different coach that tells us different way of bowling. I was wondering if there is a polite way to tell a coach that there are too many coaches with to many different views and teaching techniques that they are confusing you or contradicting one of the other coaches' suggestions. Chris Hi Chris, You are correct that sometimes different coaches will give conflicting and confusing advice. I would pick out one of the coaches and talk to that person about being your coach. They should be able to help you talk to the other coaches about being coached by just one person. Good luck. JOE Thursday, December 19, 2002 N.Y. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME IF I ORDER ITEM#02-01 DEAD EYE DIEHARDS MEMBERSHIP TO BE SHIPED TO ME OVERNIGHT OR TWO DAY DELIVERY. THANKS JOE Sorry we cannot answer your question as your email address is giving us a fatal error as 'user unknown'. Please send email direct to info@walterray.com or phone 888-640-7713 Chris December 16, 2002 Kennebunk ME How did you get involved in the 1998 computer game Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling? How were you selected along with the other 9 or so other featured pros? I feel #36 this week. Good luck. Thanks Again for participating in the Empire State Open Pro-Am. It was a pleasure bowling with you in the youth squad. Sincerely, Chris George Hi Chris, I and the others involved with this game were on the Brunswick staff at the time. I gave it a good effort, but came up short in my T o C bid. Maybe next tournament. Fred December 16, 2002 Staten Island NY I guess this is more of a comment, rather than a question. I was at the TOC this past weekend at Mohegan Sun, and just wanted to say thanks to Walter Ray for taking the time out to sign my autograph book, and taking a picture with me. I have been to many sporting events where athletes wont even as much as look at you in the eye, nonetheless sign an autographs and take pictures. Thanks again..... Hi Fred, You are very welcome. I am glad that you had a good time at the Tournament of Champions! If people are having a good time at our events, then we are doing (at least part of) our job. As you apparently noticed, professional bowlers are some of the most approachable professional athletes around. When we are not in competition, most of the pros are very willing to interact with the fans. I believe this is one aspect of our sport that makes it special! Dao December 13, 2002 Midlothian IL Walter, I finally got around to watch the Empire State Open, and i'm sorry to see that you were distracted by a fan. I was just curious if you were fined for swearing on TV. Just wondering...I know sometimes it slips, and we get ahead of ourselves. You are, however, a great bowler, if not the best...When you coming to chicago? Happy Bowling. Hi Dao, As of this time I haven't been fined for swearing at the Empire State Open. I believe that even though it may have not been 100% appropriate, I had some justification in my utterance. I am not proud that I had my little display, but I was very upset at what happened. We just had a tournament in Chicago a month and a half ago, so that it will probably be almost a year before we are there again. Harvey December 12, 2002 Brewton AL Walter Ray I saw you get a flashbulb in the eye from an unthinking fan and I could see that you were rattled.I emailed the pba about it and think there should be provisions made for situations like that even though I know they are rare. What are your thoughts? Hello Harvey, The "flash incident" was indeed unfortunate. There used to be a rule allowing a player to have a shot over if there was a "visual distraction in front of them". However, that rule has been abolished and there is no provision for a visual distraction interference "do over" now. The only situation that a player could get a shot over is if there is "physical interference". So, I guess I would have been better off it the guy hit me with the camera! I, personally, don't feel that there should be a visual distraction rule. I don't know of any other sport that has one. It was just a bad break. In any case, this was not the worst thing to ever happen to me and I am over it. I will just have to try to make it back to the TV show again and hopefully win! Dave December 10, 2002 Brook Park OH Hello Paige and Walter Ray, As one of your biggest fans I was appalled at the fan who decided it was time to take a flash picture just as you were about to deliver the ball. I'm deeply sorry that this incident may have cost you a chance for another title. It also seems as if something caught your eye previously when bowling on the same lane. Same person?? I remember Bob Learn Jr. had called for fan interference and received another chance, that was also in an arena setting. So why no interference now? This flash incident was more blatant. As Randy Pedersen said during the telecast it was stupid. The PBA needs to adopt some sort of ruling when something such as this occurs. I sincerely wish that it did not happen. Continued good luck in the future! Best of luck in this weeks upcoming tournament! A fan of yours, Dave Hi Dave, I was distracted by the 'boom' camera that ESPN uses on the arena finals. They tell us they won't move it when it is front of us, but it almost always does. It didn't help that the right lane did hook a bit more for a split in the 2nd frame also. The PBA did used to have a visual distraction rule, but I feel that we shouldn't have one. No other sport that I know of has one. I obviously didn't like what happened, but I don't think that it would be right of me to get the shot over. What if the distraction didn't cause me to throw a split? In the old rule a noise would not be considered for a "do over shot", so is that fair? They do make announcements about no flash pictures and cell phones, but not every body listens. It was an unfortunate thing that happened and I hope it would never happen again to any player, but there will always be some sort of distractions. Richard December 10, 2002 Tallahassee, FL Last week a fan snapped a pic right in your swing and created a split and probably the match for you. I thought there was an interference rule. Am I wrong? really enjoy your bowling and continued good fortune in the future. The PBA did used to have a visual distraction rule, but I feel that we shouldn't have one. No other sport that I know of has one. I obviously didn't like what happened, but I don't think that it would be right of me to get the shot over. What if the distraction didn't cause me to throw a split? In the old rule a noise would not be considered for a "do over shot", so is that fair? They do make announcements about no flash pictures and cell phones, but not every body listens. It was an unfortunate thing that happened and I hope it would never happen again to any player, but there will always be some sort of distractions. Patrick December 9, 2002 Greenville NC Hi Walter Ray, Just finished watching the 12/8/02 telecast (Empire State Open, I believe) and I have to say I was shocked by the ill-timed photography by the "fan" during your semifinal against Chris Barnes. I'm curious as to if the PBA (or ABC or whatever sanctioning is responsible) has any rules regarding interference of this sort? In any case, nice job of keeping your cool- in your place, many other competitors...for some reason the name "Weber" is running through my mind...would have thrown an over-the-top temper tantrum and made an ugly situation even worse. Congrats on your excellent season thus far and best of luck to you for the remaining stops. Hope to see you in Burlington, NC for the Tar Heel Open in February. Patrick Black Patrick, The PBA did used to have a visual distraction rule, but I feel that we shouldn't have one. No other sport that I know of has one. I obviously didn't like what happened, but I don't think that it would be right of me to get the shot over. What if the distraction didn't cause me to throw a split? In the old rule a noise would not be considered for a "do over shot", so is that fair? They do make announcements about no flash pictures and cell phones, but not every body listens. It was an unfortunate thing that happened and I hope it would never happen again to any player, but there will always be some sort of distractions. Dennis December 8, 2002 Ossineke MI Dear Walter Ray: My name is Dennis A. Brown II. I live in Ossineke, MI. I interviewed you back at the Greater Detroit Open back in 1995. You may remember saying "hello" to my grandmother who lives in Louisville, KY. She's a REAL BIG fan of you. I would like to address something that happened at the recent Empire State Open. A fan used a flash camera while you were making your approach. I was watching it unfold on ESPN. I think that there should be a rule that fans should NOT be allowed to bring in flash cameras into the televised finals. Do you agree with me on that? Sincerly, Dennis A. Brown II Ossineke, MI Hi Dennis, I kind of agree with you, but if you attended a TV show, wouldn't you want to be able to take pictures assuming that you had the flash off? It's a very difficult call to make…and we just do the best we can with the situations we are in. Don December 5, 2002 Mason OH I just recently got a chance to view the film "Pin Gods". First what was your thoughts on the film and where have the bowlers in that thing gone... Vespi, the two rookies etc... any news on them. Also i noticed you hav not relly chnged you game that much in all those years. All in all is the straighter game you play the most advantageous thing you have over the mega hook guys that show up every once in a while. keep it up Don Hi Don, I believe that Bob Vespi is selling cars down in south FL. Sony Pavelchek (sp?) didn't bowl any tour events after that one year and I haven't heard anything about him. I believe that Tony Rosamilia still bowls, but it has been a year or two since I have seen him. I do throw the ball quite a bit straighter than most of the guys out here. I think that my accuracy helps me stay competitive. But I do try to hook the ball more than I did a few years ago even though it isn't very much. Renee November 14, 2002 Altoona PA My husband has been having some problems with consistency whenever it comes to replicating shots consistently. he is a cranker and throws a very nice hooking ball but has problems with getting a consistent reaction on the lanes. is there any advice that you can give to us it would be really appreciated. he has been having a problem with average also. he bowls in 3 leagues and was told that he has to have over a 200 average to receive his amateaur pro card. is this correct. i was under the impression that he had to have a 200 average in only 2 leagues to receive this card. your answers would be greatly appreciated. Renee Noye Hi Renee, Bowlers who 'crank' the ball tend to have a bit more problem controlling their trajectory, but can take advantage of certain lane conditions. It takes practice to learn to control that. He might want to try some balls which don't hook very much like a urethane or even a plastic ball especially on certain lane conditions which hook to much for him. I don't know of any amateur pro card, but the PBA has a 200 average minimum requirement for 2 years in league. That doesn't mean all of your leagues, but at least 1 a year. Unfortunately if you want to be competitive in PBA tournaments you might want to have a 220-240 league average depending on how 'easy' your local bowling center is. Good luck to him. Paul October 18, 2002 Rockford MI Hi Walter Ray, I'm going to be coaching at my kids school this year and I've done a lot of bowling over the years but I have never done any where they use the Peterson point system and Baker games. Could you explain how it works? More so the Baker games, we will be bowling 2 normal games and 2 baker games. Thanks for help. Hi Paul, I am not positive, but I think that the Peterson point system is where they will add about 50 pins to the grand total of pins if you win the match. I am not sure how you would bowl 2 normal games and 2 baker games with the Peterson system. The Baker system is normally for 5 person teams. Player 1 bowls in the 1st and 6th frame, player 2 bowls in the 2nd and 7th frame, player 3 bowls in the 3rd and 8th frame, player 4 bowls in the 4th and 9th frame, and player 5 bowls in the 5th and 10th frames. I hope this helps & good luck. Steve October 14, 2002 Brooklyn NY I had this discussion with a pro shop owner, pretty good bowler. If you left three or four stoned nines and won, would you make an adjustment the next game on tv? He said you would. I disagreed. I believe you were just unlucky. He believes, due to the entry angle. If you would adjust, why? Thanx. Hi Steve, If I left 3 or 4 solid 9's in one game I probably wouldn't win the game. But if I did leave a bunch of 9's I probably wouldn't move if the rest of the shots were good pocket strikes. A solid 9 is a very good shot in my opinion even if it is a pinch high of where I am really trying to hit the pocket. I would be more likely to make an adjustment if I was leaving a 4 pin, a weak 10, or even getting a lot of light strikes. It depends on where the other shots were hitting the pins, how much error room I felt I had and how well I felt the shots were that I made as to if and how much of a move I would make. Miscellaneous Q&A [1-20] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] | ||