I am moving to Vass, North Carolina in a month. I was wondering if I should stay youth or move up. I am not sure how the competition is there. So if some youth bowlers could let me know that would be great. Also which bowling center I should bowl at. I have the option to bowl on post also. So many questions but no answers...

Since my last blog I had been struggling severely to make a 500 series every week. I went to two junior gold qualifier tournaments shooting embarrassing 400 series. Also in leagues I was keeping an average of 175 and 169. The highest average I had was in traveling league and that was only a 180. I actually was nervous that my yearbook average was going to be lowered this year. It was only a 179 and I was looking forward to raising it to at least a 190 but it seemed so left field. I could not figure out what was wrong and I was becoming frustrated. I turned to an old coach and he helped me to realize my ball speed was extremely fast and it was preventing my ball from getting to the pocket. This made sense to me right off the bat since at the two tournaments I would adjust all the way to the right but yet I was still not driving in to the pocket. Anyway since then I have been working on my speed getting it down to 14-15 mph instead of 18-19 mph (yes it was that fast?!?!) Getting down to basics was not a bad idea either. I am having to remember to "shake hands" when I throw my ball also. I couldn't believe after almost 5 years of bowling I was being told something I worked on when I first started. But I guess all of us should remember the little things to help us stay on top of our game. I tried to have a wrist guard but it seems like the new "quick fix" for youth bowlers down here and I'm definitely not a crowd follower. Plus practice makes perfect so why just go buy a wrist guard and hope the staying behind the ball problem is solved? uhh enough about that. I have developed a new release and I feel it is going to work well with me. I have been shooting over my average for two weeks now. I finally got over the 600 series hurdle yesterday so I am ready to start getting back in to tournaments and competing. Practice and coaching has helped me so much in the past month!

In the meantime, three exciting tournaments are coming right around the corner. I have San Antonio Youth City Tournament. I am confident in my team and doubles partner so I expect the tournament to go really well. Next State Pepsi Tournment. I qualifed for my 1st scratch spot this year and I pumped about it. This tournament has a junior gold qualifer in it. I am hoping to earn my spot this way. So I am going to have to put up a good fight and bowl well. In the same weekend we have the Austin Youth Leaders Tournament. This will be the second year I bowl this. Last year I came in second for getting junior gold and in the tournament itself I was in the top ten and did well. So much bowling going on in March! Hope I can keep the confidence up and just bowl awesome! Oh yeah and have fun. Duh.