Bowling One-On-One with Jay Ysip: Believe In Yourself
Sometimes you don’t find the sport of bowling, sometimes it finds you. And when you have a competitive nature about you, there’s nothing like defeat that can serve as an inspiration and motivation to expand your knowledge and improve your game. Jay Ysip is the ultimate athlete and competitor. He’s also a humble man and a team player who enjoys lifting up those around him for the greater good of the team. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Jay lets his actions do most of his talking. I had the pleasure of catching up with Jay and I asked him about his bowling journey.
I understand that you bowled a little bit as a youngster, but nothing really came of it. You once took a bowling class and for just showing up to bowl you received an A grade for the class. You didn’t think much of it until you were challenged to join a league for the first time as an adult with your boss and co-workers. That’s when you developed a love for the game. Share how your personal relationship with bowling began and what led to the great passion you have for the game today.
“I got into bowling as an adult and by accident. My boss, Jeff Baker, asked me to join a company bowling league where we bowled other guys from work. I guess he knew I was a decent athlete and that I was competitive. So, I bowled in the league, and I think I averaged about 160.”
“What triggered my passion was my competitive nature, I wanted to get better. I hated the fact my boss would kick my butt and he thought he was really good. I mean he was OK, but I just wanted to become a better bowler, so I started joining other leagues. In my first full year, I bowled in four leagues and as a result I got better, quicker.”
Today, you’re well known as one of the most talented and competitive bowlers in the area. Talk about your continued development and progression as an adult bowler and how you brought your game to the high level it’s at today. Also, who are some bowlers you look up to and who perhaps helped you in some way or another throughout your bowling journey.
“As I started bowling more leagues, I spent more time at the bowling alley at Diablo lanes in Concord CA. I bowled more leagues and practiced a lot. I made friends with a lot of great bowlers that became mentors to me and helped me become a stronger and better bowler. Folks like Sue Sage who worked the counter at Diablo. She would take the time and watch and tell me about my technique of how I threw the ball. Also, Randy Hammond, was another mentor that was a great bowler who I met in the Tues men’s league. He threw 300 games both left and right-handed. He took me under his wing and gave me advice on the mental part and thought process of the game.”
“Jack Wong was another great bowler I bowled with and who helped me figured out game adjustments during match play. Roy Castro also helped me with the confidence part of my game and decision making in competitive bowling. He taught me I could beat anyone if I put mind to it. And Jim Lee, is the guy that reminded me that bowling brings people together and is about friendship as well.”
“Also, my current teammates Allen Ables, Kurt Reisinger and Daryl Temple who push me to become a better bowler and teammate. We push each other for greatness because we want to beat each other. And to my scratch teammates Leo Dulay and Dan Rilveria who for 17 years we’ve been to battle together. I truly appreciate those guys. Also to my Nationals teammates Michael McKay, Darren Bolstad, Don Russell and Mel Tepora who taught me besides bowling high sores at Nationals, it’s more about the bowling experience with friends every year.”
“There are more people that have helped me become the bowler I am today, and I appreciate them all for what they did for me.”
You have four 300 sanctioned games and several others as well. I saw on social media recently that you received your USBC 800 series ring, your first. Congrats! You must be proud. Share some details about these special accomplishments and how they unfolded.
“I shot my first 300 game on May 24th, 2007 at Diablo Lanes in Concord CA. It was my first year of bowling in league. It happened on a night when the power went out during league. Half the teams decide to leave before the power came back on. My team and the team we bowled against decided to finish out the third game. I ended up shooting 300 and it was mostly an empty house.”
“My first 800 series happened on Tuesday March 19th, 2024 at Clayton Valley Bowl. My series that night was 279 -246-279 for an 804 series. It happened on lanes 37-38 on the dreaded ‘high end’ of the house. The high end is known for low scoring and is the hardest part of the house. Very few 300 games have been shot on the high end and according to Clayton Valley Bowl manager Eric Hattrup, there aren’t any known 800 series in the high end until I shot mine.”
As you look ahead, what might be some of your personal goals and aspirations that you have in the sport of bowling?
“My goal always is to be the best bowler I can ever be. To always improve my game, and to always score as high as I can. In my mindset, I always can be the best on the lanes. In terms of my bowling skills, we always want to improve whether it’s how to adjust to certain oil patterns, speeding up or slowing down my shot or making sure I stay low and balanced on my shot. I thought I would have been happy just shooting a 300 game, but it made me hungrier to want to shoot another one. I told myself if I ever shot an 800 series I would retire from bowling but that isn’t the case, it just increased my hunger and desire to continue my love for the game of bowling.”
Outside of bowling, you have a long history and passion for sports in general, but especially for basketball. As a player and a coach, you’ve had a huge impact on the sport and still do today for both kids and adults. Talk about your passion for the sport of basketball and what it means to you.
“I have been an athlete all my life. I played all sports throughout my youth and adult life. My love has always been for basketball. I was a point guard, a ‘pass first’ type of player that likes to get other guys involved in the game. If I had to knock down big shots when the team needed it, that was me. I was a little guy that was quick and could shoot, with a lot of heart and desire and knowledge of the game.”
“I played all my life and as an adult I became a basketball coach. I started my coaching career coaching at a local recreation center where I coached kids ages 5 – 17 years old, both boys and girls. I worked my way to coaching high school basketball at a division five high school in Oakland, CA., named Head-Royce High School. There, I was the freshmen head coach. Then I became JV head coach, and then became an assistant to the men’s varsity team for 20 years. It was the greatest experience being a part of some great state championships. We taught the kids to play hard, play as a team and to never give up.”
“I’m currently still involved in coaching and I’m the director of youth and adult sports at the stealth sports center in Concord, CA. I’m the founder of an adult basketball league called the ‘Turn Back the Clock Basketball League’, which gives guys 40+ years old a chance to play in a well-organized league, have fun and enjoy the game.”
“Beside basketball, I love playing golf. Golf and bowling were supposed to be my retirement sports after basketball.”
The interest and dedication in the sport of bowling is just booming across the globe. What advice or tips might you give to bowlers out there working to improve their game?
“My advice to bowlers that are starting out is believe in yourself, believe in your game and know you can be a great bowler by practicing and putting effort into your game. It’s OK to get good advice from bowlers that have good knowledge of the game.”
Thank you Jay, for sharing your bowling journey and your great love and passion for sports in general. It’s people like you who inspire those around you to be better at what they do, both youth and adults. I have great appreciation for your passion to succeed and high standards and I’m thankful to capture and share your great journey. I wish you the best of luck ahead with all your future competitions and endeavors.
“Thank you Tim for giving me the opportunity to speak and talk about my experiences and bowling journey.”
