PBA players "shape up" for challenging World Series of Bowling schedule

Professional Bowlers Association players have learned an important lesson after the first two years of PBA World Series of Bowling competition: you'd better get in shape.

Beginning Friday, Nov. 4, and spanning a 16-day period ending on Sunday, Nov. 20, the third annual PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center in Las Vegas will put 240 PBA and international players through a demanding schedule that will test everyone's physical and mental abilities.

Above and beyond practice sessions and special events, World Series players could bowl as many as 106 games over a span of 12 days, starting with Bayer Viper Open qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 5, and extending through Pepsi PBA Exempt Players Championship eliminator rounds on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Those who qualify for any of the 14 television shows that will be contested Nov. 17 through 20 will add to their "games bowled" totals.

By way of comparison, a typical American league bowler will bowl 96 games at a pace of three games a week over the course of a 32-week league season.

How are PBA World Series of Bowling competitors getting themselves ready for the grind? Some players are pretty conventional in their training program, others are on the unconventional side. Here's a random sampling:

Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., is an avid deer hunter: "All of September and October, I spend four to five days a week in the woods hanging tree stands and walking a mile or more to and from my stands with all my gear. That, plus practicing five days a week, is pretty good exercise."

"This summer I did a variety of things to get in shape for the World Series," said Chris Loschetter (left) of Avon, Ohio. "I took on a weekly yoga class to gain strength and flexibility, increased the length of my runs to gain endurance and I focused on weight training to make playing in front of the ball return easier on my body."

"I have been working with a trainer to try to get in better shape," said Bill O'Neill (right), Southampton, Pa. "It's been tough to get where I want to be physically because of all the travel I have been doing, but I am in a better place than I was a year ago."

"Being a lawyer doesn't leave a ton of time to do much else, but I try to bowl as often as possible and I also try to get out on the tennis court or in the ocean to body-board as often as possible," said defending Chameleon Open champion Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif.

"I have been kick boxing and working out with a personal trainer," said 2011 USBC Masters champion Tom Hess (left), Urbandale, Iowa.

Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., works out in a gym three to four times a week, and he bowls four leagues a week and tournaments on weekends.

For second-year exempt players Ryan Ciminelli (right) of Cheektowaga, N.Y., it's a daily regimen of "sit-ups, push-ups, and tricep dips."

For first-year exempt player Johnathan Bower of Middletown, Pa., conditioning involves "bowling every tournament I can find."

For 34-time PBA Tour title winner and Hall of Famer Norm Duke (left), Clermont, Fla., staying in good physical condition is a non-stop routine. "I have my regular workout regimen which keeps me in great shape," the 5-foot-6, 128-pounder said. "At age 47 I have to keep in shape to compete with the young guns. Although there is no substitute for youth, we can prolong the inevitable for some years if we keep ourselves strong and in good shape all of the time."

Bowling fans can follow all of the WSOB competition leading up to the television finals on pba.com's Xtra Frame. The PBA's exclusive video streaming service will provide more than 100 hours of live coverage of action on the lanes and commentary behind the scenes.

For special daily ($3.99), World Series ($29.99) and yearly ($64.99) subscriptions, click here.