15 Questions I ask Walter Ray on 4-1-99 And his answers!

1. Although you have the 3rd highest average on tour and have cashed in 6 of 7 events in 99 (after the winter swing) you have not made a telecast as of yet. What do you attribute this to?

W.R.:I had a couple of near misses this year.19th at the first tournament when 18 made the cut.6th the next week.A 26th in TN. And making the finals in the highest scoring tournament ever, helped my average even though I finished 21st.

2. Do you think this is the best field of PBA players you have toured with since entering the PBA?

W.R.:This is definitely a great group of bowlers on the tour, but I think it has pretty much always been that way. 

3.When I was in Chattanooga TN. You missed the top 24 by 8 pins (Which was disappointing to me and even more you, I'm sure.) But Steve Jaros shot the 13th televised 300 but has not been aired yet! If it is not aired, do you think it hurts the chances of the PBA returning to TN. next year?

W.R.:As you probably know by now, the Chattanooga show will be televised on ESPN in April (7th I think, check the PBA website) I am sure that the hosts were disappointed in the show not being aired, but it shouldn't hurt the chances of returning there.

4.I know its a goal to be the only player in history to be 4 time PBA player of the year 4 years in a row. Is it also a goal to pass the great Earl Anthony for most titles in a career? What's your opinion on both?

W.R.: I would like to be PBA player of the year 4 years in a row, but it isn't my main goal of the year.  I would also like to have more titles than Earl Anthony.  My goal right now is to make some top 24's and top 4's to get on TV so that I have a chance of winning. I kind of doubt that I will win more titles than Earl, but even if I were able to do that he did it in 14 years on tour and this is my 17th year, so it wouldn't really compare.

5. Im getting all this e-mail saying how much they enjoy my site of you. Its nice to know you have inspired a lot of bowlers.Do you consider yourself a role model?

W.R:I guess every body is somewhat of a role model, but I think that people should find something that they enjoy and try to enjoy life.I have been very fortunate.

6. You are the best! But when you entered the PBA as a rookie you were just another bowler.(face in the crowd.) What advice would you give for someone wanting to go on tour? What should he/she average to consider doing so, and what should they expect once they get there?

W.R.:The PBA has a 200 average rule requirement.To consider going on tour you should be the best bowler in your city, unless you live where one of the top 30 tour players live.  Because if you can't beat the local players you sure aren't going to beat the best in the world.Averages are relative to where you bowl. A 205 average at one house could be better than 235 at another. It is a learning process.Very few bowlers make more money than they spend in their first full year. If you can you will probably be one of the best.  But several bowlers who have been very successful weren't very successful their first full year on tour.

7.I have a theory which may be even funny to you, but if its not true it was truly amazing timing! When you joined the Brunswick staff, the balls they offered were not that great of a selection. About the time you joined, they came out with the "Zones." Did they make this ball (for you) and show it to yourself to get you to join the Brunswick staff?

W.R: Brunswick did not make the 'Zones' just for me.Brunswick has the best R&D in the bowling business and they want to sell lots of bowling balls.I felt that they had a lot for me and I hope that they feel as though I have a lot for them.  My contract with Brunswick goes until at least 2000 and hopefully longer.

8.What is the 3 best balls in your opinion for each of the conditions? A. Bone dry. B. Medium oil  C. Heavy oil.  D.Heavy oil with little back ends ?

W.R.: The thing with bowling balls is that they are all different (some very similar), and it depends on how each person throws the ball.What works for me, doesn't necessarily work for someone else on that same condition, So with that in mind:
A. Urethane (weak) or plastic
B. Strong urethane or reactive
C. Sanded reactive or proactive
D. Sanded reactive or proactive with a drilling to give a strong finish.

9. David Carcagente from Palm Coast, Fla ask: Who has been your toughest opponent on television?

W.R.: Anybody who throws a lot of strikes (or more than me).

10. Staying With David's question. When it comes down to crunch time in match play to make the finals, what bowler (if any) do you dread facing to make a telecast?

W.R.: They are all capable of bowling great games and bowling poor games (as am I).

11. How much money does it take to tour almost every stop and break even while touring?

W.R.: You can figure about $1,000 a week. But that doesn't leave any to live on while off the tour.

12. Everyone talks about Bob Learn Being Mr. 300, and he has earned that label.(and might I add he is a heck of a nice guy as I talked with him for about an hour in Tennessee.)But most people don't realize you have 51 perfect games on tour, far above #2, and are just a few sanctioned 300's behind Learn's total. You got the nickname "Deadeye" as they mention every telecast, but fail to mention your 300 total as they do with Mr.Learn.Do you think you will end your career with the most 300's ever?

W.R.: My number of sanctioned ABC 300's is about 10. Maybe more. I don't apply for the sanctioning of my games while in PBA competition. I don't bowl in leagues. So I don't think that I will ever be close to Bob's total. But like you mention, I think I have the most in the PBA even though some of those are from regional competition. And I consider the PBA the best gauge.

13. .You here it everywhere...Stay behind the ball. Over and over! But I noticed all of the PBA players do not stay directly behind the ball. All come over it some! Why do they keep preaching this if it's not true?

W.R.: I think you are seeing something else. The pros come up through the ball. A lot of amateurs think that they can spin the ball to get it to hook. Spinning the ball is what a few of the pros do, Butch Soper, Roger Bowker, and Tom Baker. And these guys are very good. But most (over 80%) of the pros rotate the ball from the bottom of the ball instead of up the side.

14.Do you know going into a tournament (after a game or two) if you are going to do really well?

W.R.: Sometimes I do feel like I am going to do really well after a couple of games. Especially if I have been bowling well, but in several of those tournaments I have missed the top 24 cuts.You need to stay focused and not just think you can cruise into a top finish.

15. In your opinion, who has the best bowling style on tour? If you were going to tell a bowler watch X and try to duplicate him for his form, who would it be?

W.R.: I think that David Ozio, Parker Bohn, and Brian Voss have great styles.

Walter Ray..