Bowling One-On-One with Justin Knowles: Four-Time PBA Regional Champion
Competition within professional bowling across the nation and world is as strong today as it’s ever been. The PBA Central region is no different as the talent level that competes in this region can be extraordinary at any given event. Justin Knowles competes regularly in this region and it has only helped his game overall. He is one of the most passionate, dedicated and talented lefties on the PBA tour today. I had the opportunity to catch up with Justin and asked him about his bowling journey.
I understand that your passion and inspiration for the game began early. Talk about your first exposure to bowling and how it became a passion of yours.
“My first exposure came from going to watch my family bowl league and moonlight bowling. I always wanted to bowl as much as I could, and I remember even then begging every day to go bowling or watch someone bowl. From the start I knew that my future would include bowling. There wasn’t a moment that went by that I wasn’t thinking about it, practicing with plastic bottles and a softball, watching it etc. it was an obsession early.”
You’re a four-time PBA Regional Champion. You won two titles in 2019: the PBA Sturgis/Storm Central/Midwest Open’ in Sturgis, MI. and the PBA EZ Bowl Central Open. Last year in 2023, you won two more regional titles: in July, you won the PBA Mike Eaton Sr. Memorial Central/Midwest Open and in October you won the PBA Jax-60 Central Open.
You headed into this new year with momentum, ranked #29 on the PBA Tour. You made your presence felt last month in January in the first PBA tournament of the year; the 2024 PBA Players Championship (Major). You took 10th place overall, a very impressive showing in a huge event to start the season.
Talk about how your game has steadily improved over recent years to now. You’ve been hot and seem to have an extra confidence and motivation about you. The results certainly prove that. What’s driving Justin Knowles to be the best he can be?
“My game really took a step in 2017 when I won the Bradley Open and the Detroit Masters within a month. Those were my first big wins and really gave me the boost and confidence to know I could win consistently if I put the work in and dedicated myself. Since then and especially right after the Covid shutdowns, I’ve gone even harder in my preparation/ practice/focus. It’s been a steady climb in my game until last year when I really gave it my all (what I thought was my all) the summer before going out full time on the PBA Tour. I put a lot together and had a lot of success last year from that preparation. This summer I allowed myself some time off, then came back and went harder than ever before in the gym, on my nutrition, practice, and overall preparedness. There are a lot of things left to accomplish on the tour, and that’s a big driving force to the extra work this year.”
The US Open just wrapped up last week in Indianapolis, IN. Over 100 players took a shot at the grueling 4 pattern challenge, and you grinded all the way through to the match play rounds. You came up just short of the step ladder finals but finished a solid 20th place in an extremely talented pool. This was another very strong performance by you. How would you summarize your efforts and results and the tournament overall?
“The US Open is always the toughest, longest, most exhausting event of the year. It requires you to be your best physically and mentally. I am very satisfied for how I performed this past week in each aspect. You learn a lot from the days where you have nothing, ball reaction wise, so I stayed in tune mentally and learned as much as I could!”
Congratulations on being drafted into the PBA League in December 2023. Captain Jason Couch of the Motown Muscle picked you up in the third round. Reviewing the roster and your new teammates, along with yourself you have EJ Tackett, Anthony Simonsen, Sam Cooley, Jason Sterner and Zac Tackett. Is this even fair? Of course, you still have to show up and play the games.
So far two rounds are in with twelve more to go. PBA League play over this past weekend didn’t pan out as you and the Motown Muscle team had hoped as you dropped your match against the Waco Wonders. It was a tall order as four members of your team had just wrapped up 50-60 grueling games at the US Open just days before, not to mention wrestling with completely different patterns.
It’s still early and you obviously have an incredible team. It’s going to be an exciting season ahead. How excited are you to join the Motown Muscle and participate in your first PBA League season?
“It’s an honor! Jason is an idol of mine and to be teammates with these guys and learn from them is something I won’t take for granted. I can’t say it’s not special bowling with the Top 2 bowlers on the planet. This being the first season of the expanded PBA Elite League, it was extra special to be chosen and felt great to have the trust of these guys week in and week out on tour. We really want to make a splash and get Motown its first Elias Cup!”
“The PBA League hasn’t started the way we had hoped so far and unfortunately, we lost our first two matches so far, but we’re hungry! This past Sunday’s TV show was no exception. The pattern from Wichita obviously played very different for us all with the different machine, oil, exhaustion from the US Open, etc. – a combo of different factors and just some poor shot making. We’re looking forward to getting back at it this week!”
The competition on the national and regional tours just keeps getting more competitive each year. Talk about the level competition overall and what it’s like to compete against the best in the world. Also, are there bowlers, past and or present that you might especially admire and look up to?
“We are blessed (and cursed) to be in one of, if not the most talented region in the country. Regionals have never been easy to win here. On any given weekend you have to beat guys like Dombrowski, Fach, Tackett, McCune, Anderson, Snodgrass etc. it’s endless. Plus, the new talent that’s always coming out. If you can win in the central, you can bowl. The national tour is no different. Tons of guys with similar skill sets/motivations/determination, and more and more keep coming from the amateur ranks and college. It forces you to be your best every week.”
“For the guys I looked up to, I was always partial to the lefties. Patrick Allen, Jason Couch, PB3, Mike Scroggings, and Ricky Ward were some of my favorites.”
Do you have any particular goals that you’ve set for yourself for the 2024 season?
“I’d be lying if I said the goal in 2024 isn’t to win a PBA title. Lots of smaller goals too of course, but that trumps all.”
Bowling competitively at the professional level requires a lot of time and effort to stay on top of your game, but when you do have some free time, what are some of your personal hobbies and interests?
“When I’m not bowling, my wife, son and I love to travel. Whether it’s up north in Michigan, Florida, or any random adventure. I picked up fishing this summer and really enjoy that as well. Working out, going on walks with the dogs, museums and Zoos are all things I enjoy outside of bowling.”
Bowling is as exciting worldwide as it has been in a long time and bowlers from all ages and levels are soaking up the knowledge to help improve their game. What tips or advice might you give to bowlers working to improve their game?
“I get asked a ton what I did to get better. It really is as simple as practice and seek out others who have accomplished similar things as you wish to accomplish and surround yourself with those people. Seeing a coach is something I always recommend, and my coach Andy Schnebelt has been extremely vital in my growth as a bowler. Watch YouTube, watch league bowlers, watch anything bowling. Pay attention to what those that are doing well are doing and ask yourself if you’re doing those things.”
Thank you Justin, for taking time out of your busy schedule right now to share your bowling journey. Your love for the game is inspirational and your success speaks to your talent, efforts and dedication. You’re exciting to watch compete, always battling and in the mix of it. Best of luck to you the rest of the way on tour and in the PBA League.
“Thank you for having me! I always enjoy sharing my own story in the hopes it might motivate even one person to pick up bowling and take it seriously. Bowling has given me more than I could’ve ever asked for, and it has more to offer than people realize. In my eyes it’s the perfect sport. Always evolving and will never be mastered by anyone. The best sport in the world!”
*Images courtesy of FS1, PBA, USBC and Justin Knowles
