I have had some dramas with my internet availability causing me to be unable to write on here for a week or so. So i have lots to catch up on.
First things first – TOC!

This was my first TOC, i was nervous and excited at the same time and I really wanted to do well not just for myself. but time away from Kimberly and Aria means I have to not waste my time away, make it worth while leaving.
The first 8 games could not of gone any better.
214-212-299 (left a stupid 4 pin) 208-244-191-213-259 @ +240
Sitting 3rd and bowling great – a couple of bad breaks here and there but overall, i was extremely happy with my  start.
We had to come back that afternoon to bowl the 2nd lot of 8 and this is where the wheels slowly started to loosen.
+68 was all i could muster, inconsistency was my problem and missing a couple easy spares added salt to the wounds. I had now dropped to 17th, but with the top 24 making it to matchplay, i was still confident everything would be ok.

I came back the following morning and dug my heals in and grinded 210-211 in the opening 2 games. Then if the wheels had begun to loosen in the 2nd block, the wheels were now on fire, broken and ripped off the cart haha.
back to back 170’s, followed by a lucky 220, then finished off with 189-165-181.
I finished the event in 45th position – extremely upsetting, but i have now acknowledged many of my flaws and will be working hard to get rid of them.

I think the hardest thing to understand about bowling is how a slight change in lane condition (only slight) makes a huge difference on e PBA pattern.
I felt like from the first block to the last block my reaction was in the same part of the lane, but that slight change meant instead of going light for a strike it was a 2-8-10 spilt.
Thats where the best out here impress me – seeing that slight change and knowing exactly what to do when it happens.
Like i said before, back to the drawing board on a few of the flaws in my game, if anything, this has been a great lesson learnt. Wish i didnt have to learn it during the biggest event of the year, but experience is experience.

Next week im off to LA to bowl in the Dick Weber Open – I had some success there last year, so im hoping to do the same again.

be good

It was a rough start for me – losing 3 of the first 4 games. Thats horrible considering its the first for 4 wins in a best of 7.
The biggest punch in the guts was in the 5th game. Needing 9 spare Strike for the win, I proceeded with 9 spare, 8 to lose by one, give Andres that commanding lead.
I didnt freak out though and came back to win the match after Andres found the lanes to be playing tricks on him. I was lucky to make it through that round, but thats how you win tournaments, with a tough of luck!

My next match was with Sean Rash. Sean is a great matchplay bowler. He is clutch in the final frames and with the condition making guys play inside, he can curve it with the best of them.

I came out flying 2-0. Had a great look and Sean had nothing. But bowling is a game when things can change in an instant.
Sean came back and won the next 4 games straight – He bowled really well and I didnt have the same look as I had all week.
I tried to keep up, but every game had a spilt and some annoying corner pins stand to slow me down.

6th for the Earl Anthony event was my final placing – not bad after a lengthy time away from the PBA tour.

Next week though is the BIG ONE – Tournament of Champions, held in Lucky Las Vegas.

I have to bowl great to keep up with past champions and current champions in this event. But thats the plan!

Just a quick shout out to Anthony Lacaze – Tony won the Earl Anthony giving him a full time stop on tour next season. I know how much you wanted it mate and I can assure you, you deserve to be out here. Really happy for you champ!

First game on the 2nd round i came out on FIRE – 280. Everything just clicked and i was bowling great. The lanes though had changed considerably  from the day before. I was 3 arrows left to start the day, meaning come the last game, the lanes would be extremely dry.

I then stayed pretty clean from there – 222, 234, 194, 215, 200 and 232. Giving me a grand total of +424, and in 2nd position.
I got the important bye, now I just have to bowl 4 great games in both my matches and win. I know I can do it.

be good

The day started off great – 225, 300, 225 (that brings my PBA 300 tally to 3 and career tally to 40) I was using the new Storm ball called the Invasion. Its got a new core and cover and to be honest I wasnt sure how it would roll for me….after that start though, I have no doubts that I will be using this ball a bunch on tour.

I hit a little slow patch in the middle and then finished off with 254 to get me to +247 which puts me in 2nd and only 30 or so from the leader (Tommy Jones).
I have another 7 game block tomorrow night and then the field cuts – so the plan is to bowl like I did today and set myself up in a great position for the matchplay!

Will let you all know how it goes -

be good

Weighing 9lbs 14.5oz, standing 53cm tall and wearing a pair of deep
blue eyes, Aria Rose Belmonte became our first child.
She also became the first grand child to both my parents and Kimberly’s Parents and she became the first niece
to Kj’s brother and his wife and my sister and her fiance.

As first time parents, we have been thrown into the deep end and we are loving it. No matter how
loud she cries, no matter how late into the night that cry is, Kimberly and I both look at
each other and without muttering a single word know exactly what we are both
thinking – We are the luckiest people alive.

Kimberly and I spent a few nights in the maternity ward at Orange Base. The midwives and doctors
there have been nothing but brilliant. Special thanks must go to doctor Katrina Green who delivered Aria with
perfect precision and care. Katrina, from the deepest part of our hearts – Thank you for our gift!
So this is what being apart of the ‘daddy’s club’ feels like – best club in the world, can’t wait to be a multiple member.

As for bowling news – I leave in ONLY a few days to compete in the 2nd half of the PBA season. To keep my
place on tour I must stay within the top 40 in points and like I have said before the PBA waits for no one.

Oh and to answer a question I have been asked quite often lately – “Will Aria be a 2
handed bowler too” Ill see how she swings a Tennis racquet first hahaha

be good

This weeks winner comes from a country I love more than any other…. AUSTRALIA.
Congrats Zac Krebbekx from South Australia.

If you want to win a signed autograph card (like the one below) just email me at belmo@jasonbelmonte.com a question, any question. If it’s what i consider the best question of the week, YOU WIN!

Below is the conversation between Zac and I.

QUESTION:

Hi Jason, 


FIrst of all, congratulations on all your success over the past few years.
It is obvious you have worked very hard and proves that you should never give up,
no matter what someone tells you! 


So onto my question.
Everyone talks about your unique two-handed style but I never hear any questions about
the mindset of a professional bowler,such as yourself.
When you are on the lanes, do you (or ever have) found tenpin bowling to be a stress
reliever?  Where you can just go out and concentrate on doing the best that you can and
block out the hurdles of everyday life (especially for someone of your caliber and media attention). 
I hope to hear from you and good luck in the future along with the addition to your family.

Cheers

Zac Krebbekx

ANSWER:

Hey mate,
 
 First off - great question. I think that many people may also have been
 wondering the same thing.
 So before I answer your question Ill need one thing.....
 Your home address - Congrats mate, you are the winner of the 'question of
 the week'. I will be sending you a signed autograph card asap.
 
 Ok now my answer.
 
 The mind set for each athlete will almost always be different. For me, i
 try and 'switch on' when im on the approach and then switch to 'stand by
 mode' when in the players area.
 Im always thinking, about the shot at hand, but i try to relax my head
 when im not preparing for my shot. Does that make sense?
 
 The other thing I think is really important is patience. I am not a
 patient person by nature, but in bowling, is imperative that you have
 some.
 
 A bowling game to me is not a JUST a score - its 10 individual frames. If
 i can bowl 10 great shots, then my score (most of the time) will take care
 of itself.
 Now if your game doesnt have 10 great shots, its important to remember
 that 1 game wont get you to the title match (I mean we normally play
 multiple games in qualifying and each one counts) but 1 bad game can take
 you out of contention. So EVERY pin is important. I cant tell you how many
 times I have missed a final 4 or a cut by less then a few pins.
 So no matter how bad that game seems to be going - make sure you get every
 pin you can during that game.
 
 Now blocking out 'outside' influences (like media or hurdles of everyday
 life) is not easy, but for me what I try and do concentrate at the job at
 hand.
 Putting my mind to making great individual shots (for me) blurs out those
 hurdles. Most of the time haha.

Is Bowling a stress reliever? Well for me, its my job, and like most other jobs in the world
its the main cause of stress in my life haha.
Bowling for a living is a dream come true, but like all jobs, we have our good days and our bad days. 
 
I hope Zac that this answers your questions and thanks again for writing!

Your mate
 
Jb

We have the 2nd winner of the ‘Question of the week”.
This weeks winner hails from sunny Spain.

Below is his question and my answer…. also at the bottom of the page is the card that I have signed and sent to him.

Thanks everyone for the loads of questions – keep them coming, your could be next weeks winner.

QUESTION:

Hi Belmo!
 First of all, congrats for your new web page, I'm looking forward to see
 what kind of stuff will be on sale in your store! Well, I'm sending you
 this
 e-mail to see if you can answer this question that came up to me when I
 started watching PBA bowling (and win your signed card also, LOL)...

 Do you have fun bowling? Don't get me wrong. Of course you have. What I
 mean
 is that if apart from tournaments, training, clinics and so on..how often
 do
 you bowl just for fun with friends, your wife,etc without caring about
 your
 score, movements and those things? I think that it should be very tough to
 quadrate all your liabilities and have time for yourself.

 Well, I hope I get some answer! Hope to hear from you soon!

 All the best
 Javier Merelles

ANSWER:

Hey Javier,

Mate thanks heaps for this questions, I dont often get asked this so it was fun to answer.

I really dont get to just bowl for fun. I often see young guys come into
the bowl in my home town and they look like they are just having a
absolute blast.... They usually only score about 78 but they are having so
much fun.
Its something I miss about bowling. Once you get to the professional
level, its hard to bowl a game of 78 and muck around.
I feel like my mates are always expecting me to shoot 300 haha, so i try
and knock over as many pins as I can to show them that Im worthy to be
called a pro haha

Kimberly used to bowl with me in league but since she is 8 months
pregnant, those days may be over haha

So to answer your question - for me, i never really bowl just to mess
around with friends. When i bowl with my mates, im still trying to make
sure that I beat them all, otherwise ill never hear the end of it if a mate
beat me haha

Cheers for the question

Your mate

Jason Belmonte

William is bowling for his 2nd and his first MAJOR – The World Championships. Billy has been in great form the last few years and its gerat to see that his hard work and great form are paying off.

Mike is competing for his first singles title. Mike bowled unbelievable at the Pepsi Red White and Blue event held this week. Mike averaged nearly 250 for 48 games and came home on fire to make it.

To both my mates Good Luck boys and I cant wait for the phone call that you won.

If anyone would like to leave them a message I will be sure to forward them on in an email or you can write to Mike @ http://www.faganbowling.com/contact.html and to Billy @ http://billoneill.bowlspace.com/

Either way the message will get to them

Cheers everyone

Last weekend I bowled in Australia’s biggest event. I ended up coming 3rd but over all I felt like for 90% of the event I was in horrible form.
I had picked up a ball twice in 6 weeks before bowling that event. Thinking talent was enough to win. It wasn’t.

It got me thinking, how important is practice. I began to look back at the practice I have done in the past and the form I was in during that practice period.
Every event I had won or every event I felt like I was bowling great in, I was doing some kind of practice prior to those events. EVERY SINGLE ONE.
Now its nothing new – practice makes perfect – but sometimes we forget that form is a funny thing that can go away very easily.
When we are in form, we think it will last forever and sometimes we forget the hard work it took to put you in that form. Its a weird feeling, one moment you feel unbeatable, the next you like your brain has turned off the bowling light inside.
Lucky for me, I’m a harder worker and im no quitter.
Since that event I have been practicing everyday, working on the little things that have made me feel like im ‘out of form’.
Going back to basics is the key for me. On top of all this im playing a bunch more sport, like squash, tennis, walking the golf course and touch football to help strengthen my physical fitness.

Another reason or incentive to get back to where i want to be (form related) is because soon i have to bowl back on tour. If I bowl like I did in the event last weekend, I will get run over by 50 other guys…. Then they would probably put the reverse lights on and run over me again just for fun haha.
That is something I WILL NOT LET HAPPEN!

So this got me thinking – how do you practice? What do you do when your out of form and want to get it back?
Leave a comment and maybe your ‘ideas’ may help a fellow reader….

be good

Orange is about 4 hours drive, so Kimberly and I left the morning of, and arrived into Canberra an hour before I started.

The format:
12 games qualifying, then cut to the top 16. Then it would be a round robin, 15 game final, with 20 pins for a win.
The lane condition was brutal. Any miss left was high and and miss right was missing the head pin.
I did think this benefitted me more, so I wasnt to worried.
What did worry me was the fact that I had to borrow a few balls for the event. I left most of my gear in the USA and I had to borrow 2 balls from one of my best mates from town, Jason Brown.
Not to worry though, I was still positive I could do well.

First 6 games were ok, I was a little over the card and felt like I was getting used to the balls and the pattern. The scoring pace was extremely low, and apart from a couple of left handers who had massive sets, I thought if I could get to about 50 or 60 over for the day I would be placed somewhere near the top of the pack.

The last 6 games of qualifying were horrible. I fell to 30 under and with a game to go, I shot 168.
-62 for the day, the worst I have ever bowled. The lanes were very tough, but there is no excuse for missing easy spares and i may of missed close to 60 pins worth. Normally I am a great spare shooter, but for some reason, i was rushing all my spares and was getting frustrated very quickly.

I slipped my way into the cut in 14th by a couple of pins and now had the huge task in running down the leaders, but with 15 games left and 20 pins for a win, anything could happen.

The next morning I knew that winning my matches was very important, the bonus 20 pins was extremely important if I was to catch the leaders.
0-4…… Not the start i was hoping for.  I slipped to 15th and now winning seemed out of the question.
George Frilingos, took his Virtual Gravity, he wrist guard  and his sand paper up the outside part of the lane, and did what all good lefties do, bowl straight haha
George ended up running away with it and he was the deserved winner on this occasion.
That meant the remaining podium spots were still up for grabs.
I moved well deep, lofting the  left gutter and found some oil. I made a run and was climbing the ladder.
236 win
236 win
228 win
279 win
Plus a few extra 210 plus games with wins.
With the scoring pace still so slow, I moved from 15th to 5th and with a game to go shot 194 with a win and moved into 3rd. Only 4 pins from 2nd.
After being more than 200 away from 2nd, I was very happy with my result and to lose to 2 lefties, well that makes me the best right hander there haha

I was happy in the end with 3rd, but if im going to be one of the best in the world, I will need to bowl more than 2 times in 6 weeks if I am to prove it.
After this awful display of bowling for 95% of the event, it has made me realise that talent can only get you so far, HARD WORK gets you to the top.
Im home now for a month – that month will be spent training hard on and off the lanes and at the same time spending as much time with my little baby girl (when ever she plans to enter this world) as possible.

As soon as I am a daddy I will let you all know….

Till then

be good

jason