It has been a few events since we last spoke to Verity and after a fantastic 5th in the TV finals of the Pepsi PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open we were grateful for a quick interview with our country’s top female bowler.
So close again and losing to friends yet again. Overall though, happy with the week?
I am very happy with my performance at the last event, the month break we had in between events allowed me to really do some thinking and refresh a little. Both the Luci and this past event were very successful in my mind, I shot 300 at both events which is something I have not done a whole lot throughout my bowling career. I felt like I executed my shots very well and I achieved a goal that I set for myself at the beginning of the tour; that being that I want to walk away from every event happy with how I committed to my shots. Of course, there are aspects of this past weekend that I would improve upon, but I believe that should always be the case. If you are always satisfied then how will you ever improve?
A nice 800 in qualifying also must have given you a nice boost going into the finals?
It definitely did, I actually think that is my first 800! My morning block wasn’t up to par and I knew I had to get striking in order to give myself any chance. I went into those second eight games with a different game plan, after what I saw from the morning and it paid off. I felt very comfortable bowling and I took advantage of that.
Going back to Daria and Diana, this will happen a lot given that all three of you are amazing players, three players from Webber in the last five again shone through. If you had to be honest, which of the pair do you have the best record against in competition?
I haven’t really competed 1 on 1 with each of them a whole lot. I played against Daria on TV at the Greater Detroit Open and at the Tour Championships last year, winning once. I played against Diana at the Tour Championships and this past weekend and I have lost both times. But I do not doubt that we will be in the same situation again.
The training continues, what do you take from this event now into the next one?
That I just have to continue to be me. Play my own game and trust myself. That really paid off this past weekend. It is really easy to get caught up in what people tell you to do. I found myself surrounded by a wealth of knowledge, yet not knowing who to listen too. I just need to listen to me. I got to where I am today by playing my game and I think that is something very important to remember. It took me a couple of events where I tried to be somebody I am not, to really realise what I was doing wrong.
Is it fair to say it has taken some time to fully adjust to the staff equipment and confidence is now coming from time with the range of balls you have?
I felt very comfortable with the arsenal I took to the first couple of events, but of course it’s difficult when you don’t know what you are going to be bowling on. I found myself needing different balls/layouts, but that is why it is such an advantage that we can drill on the truck. In the end, I think it comes down to really learning the differences between your bowling balls and feeling comfortable changing from one to the other, which also means that you need to trust yourself.
Which balls are doing the real damage on the lanes at the moment?
The Hammer Rhodman Pearl, has been dominating not just the ladies tour but also the men’s. It has been pretty much guaranteed that we are going to use it each week! I have had a lot of success with the Ebonite Real One and Hammer Fierce Phobia.
Finally Verity, how are you finding season 2 on the PWBA compared to this time last year?
It is really hard to compare. I would say I am enjoying it more, I have a better understanding of what to expect. The travelling is easier because of that. Last year I also had the worry of having to apply for a visa at the end of the tour and my performance on the tour was going to affect how easy it would be to get that visa, I don’t have to worry about that at all this year. If you look at results, this time last year I had made two shows, two second place finishes. Up until this point this year, I have two shows, one second place finish and one fifth.
