the pressures of tournament play. “There aren’t many chances for
women to bowl out there,” Asbaty said. “That’s why I bowl with the men. I’m sure some people think I’m crazy for bowling the U.S. Open and Tournament of Cham- pions, but I’ll never pass up op- portunities like those because they make me a better player. “I have pretty realistic expecta-
tions when I bowl those events. I know I can cash, and I know some- thing crazy can happen and I can
from the International Training and Research Center in Arlington. And if the euphoria could be
traced to several off-the-lanes fac- tors, Asbaty’s success in the 2012 Queens could be traced to several very specifi c keys on the lanes. In the weeks leading up to the
Queens, Belmonte, one of Asbaty’s closest friends and business part- ner, noticed an oddity in her ap- proach while viewing tape. Asbaty had switched to a four-step ap- proach near the end of 2011, but
“I have pretty realistic expectations when I bowl those events. I know I can cash, and I know something crazy can happen and I can fi nish closer to the top.”
fi nish closer to the top. I know I have that ability. But I use the op- portunities as stepping stones. Every experience is a stepping stone for the next experience. “I drilled some balls at TOC
that really came into play at the Queens. If I hadn’t bowled the TOC I wouldn’t have had those tools and wouldn’t have been as sharp at the Queens.” Asbaty was plenty sharp at
the Queens, spending the entire week at AMF Euless Lanes in Eu- less, Texas, near the top of the 131-woman fi eld, and qualifying third for the live ESPN broadcast
was stepping forward with her fi rst step instead of crossing over in front of her left foot to clear her hips for a straighter swing. “That’s a common technique,”
Asbaty noted. “By crossing over and clearing your hip out of the way, your swing comes straight through and doesn’t have to go around your body. Once I started paying attention to the fi rst step it immediately allowed for a re- ally loose, controlled swing.” “I’ve always known that’s what
you’re supposed to do,” said Asbaty, somewhat astonished by Belmonte’s revelation. “I just never realized I
REAPING THE REWARDS The residual benefi ts of winning a major title on national television started pouring in almost immediately for Queens champ Diandra Asbaty. Just days after winning the Queens title, Asbaty, who lives in Chicago, presented the offi cial game ball before the Chicago Bulls regular season fi - nale against the Cleve- land Cavaliers at the United Center. Two days later, Asbaty was on the pitcher’s mound at U.S. Cel- lular Field to throw out the ceremonial fi rst pitch at the Chicago White Sox game.
Completing a sports trifecta of sorts, Asbaty will also serve as a special guest at former Chicago Bear Jerry Azumah’s annual Sig- nature Event Fundraiser for the ASAP Foundation at Lucky Strikes Lanes in Chicago, May 16.
15 USBOWLER MAY 2012
TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS
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