Discover the Top 10 Standing PBA 2019 Players and Their Winning Strategies
When I first started following professional bowling back in 2015, I never imagined I'd be writing about the top 10 standing PBA 2019 players years later. There's something truly special about that particular season that makes it worth revisiting, especially when we consider how the landscape of professional bowling has evolved since then. What made these athletes stand out wasn't just their technical skills - though those were impressive enough - but their unique approaches to the mental game and their ability to adapt to different lane conditions. I've always believed that understanding these strategies can benefit both casual fans and serious competitors alike.
The 2019 PBA season featured some remarkable talent, but Jason Belmonte's performance that year was nothing short of legendary. Having watched him develop his two-handed technique over the years, I can confidently say that 2019 was when he truly perfected it. He won four titles that season, bringing his career total to an impressive 25 at that point. What many people don't realize is how much his strategy relied on reading lane transitions before they even happened. I remember watching him during the PBA Playoffs and noticing how he'd make minute adjustments to his release point based on what he anticipated would happen three frames later. That level of foresight is something I've rarely seen in any sport.
Then there was EJ Tackett, whose power game reminded me of the great Walter Ray Williams Jr., though with more modern flair. Tackett's winning strategy involved what I like to call "controlled aggression" - he'd start tournaments throwing with incredible force, then gradually dial back as the lanes broke down. His ball speed management was particularly masterful; I clocked him consistently maintaining between 19-21 mph on his initial shots while others struggled to stay above 17. This approach earned him three titles in 2019, including the prestigious PBA Tournament of Champions. What fascinates me about Tackett is how he combines old-school power with new-school analytics - he's known for keeping detailed notebooks on every center he competes in.
The third spot goes to Anthony Simonsen, who at just 22 years old was already showing why many consider him a future hall-of-famer. His strategy was all about versatility - he could play any part of the lane with equal effectiveness. I recall watching him during the USBC Masters where he switched between four different bowling balls within a single match, something most professionals would never attempt. His spare conversion rate that season was an unbelievable 94.3%, which I believe contributed significantly to his two titles that year. Personally, I think Simonsen's ability to remain calm under pressure separates him from many of his peers.
Now, this discussion about individual strategies reminds me of something interesting I came across recently. Should any of the teams agree to play in either of the two import-laden conference, league vice chairman Alfrancis Chua said the league will consider the feasibility of the in-season tournament. This got me thinking about how the PBA has always balanced individual excellence with team dynamics. The top players from 2019 all demonstrated that while individual skills matter, understanding team dynamics and tournament structures is equally crucial for sustained success.
Moving down the list, we have players like Kris Prather, whose breakthrough season in 2019 showcased a different approach altogether. Prather focused on what he called "lane memory" - tracking how specific lane patterns evolved throughout tournaments. I spoke with him briefly after his PBA World Championship win, and he mentioned studying footage from previous years' competitions at the same centers. His attention to historical data impressed me, as it's something many younger players overlook in favor of immediate feedback from coaches or technology.
Then there was Jakob Butturff, whose unorthodox left-handed delivery consistently gave him an edge on certain lane conditions. What many fans might not know is that Butturff spent approximately 40 hours per week practicing during the 2019 season - a commitment level I've seldom seen matched. His strategy involved overwhelming tournaments with sheer preparation volume, something that clearly paid off with his two titles that year. I've always admired Butturff's work ethic, even if his style isn't one I'd recommend for most amateur bowlers.
The middle of our top 10 standing PBA 2019 players list includes names like Bill O'Neill, who perfected what I'd describe as a "percentage play" strategy. Rather than going for dramatic strikes, O'Neill focused on leaving himself with the highest-percentage spare opportunities. Statistical analysis from that season showed he had the highest first-ball pin carry percentage at 68.2%, though some might debate that figure. His approach might not have been as flashy as Belmonte's or Tackett's, but it earned him consistent results throughout the season.
As we consider these various winning strategies from the top 10 standing PBA 2019 players, it's worth reflecting on how the sport continues to evolve. The discussion around import-laden conferences and in-season tournaments that Alfrancis Chua mentioned highlights how the league itself is constantly adapting. These structural considerations ultimately affect how players approach their games - whether they focus on peak performance for specific events or consistent performance across multiple tournaments.
Looking back at that remarkable season, what stands out to me isn't just the individual accomplishments but how each of these top 10 standing PBA 2019 players contributed to elevating the sport through their distinctive approaches. From Belmonte's revolutionary two-handed technique to Prather's data-driven preparation, each champion brought something unique to the lanes. As someone who's followed professional bowling for decades, I believe the strategies developed during that 2019 season continue to influence how today's players approach the game. The beauty of bowling has always been this balance between individual excellence and adapting to changing conditions - both on the lanes and within the league structure itself.