Aslan's Scores (of the non-lady kind)

[Aslan]

Saturday Color of Money Tournament: low-medium oil synthetics

The girl from my Tuesday team wanted to do this…just a low level weekly tournament where ya have colored pins in the rack and can get different amounts of money depending on their orientation, scores, splits picked up, etc...

562 Series: 147-215-200
Was having trouble getting ball reaction early…difference between their fresh condition and the beat up condition I'm used to when practicing. Game 2 I seemed to find a line, but lost it after the front 4. Managed to salvage a decent score with improved spare shooting. Game 3 was going great through 6 but then things started breaking down and I ended up missing on a single 5-pin in the 10th somehow…so that was that.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.62 pins
Strikes: 50% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 3 doubles and 3 singles)
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (3/4)
Most common single-pin leaves: 2-pin, 5-pin, 7-pin and 10-pin (1x each).

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (6/12)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 187.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 191.00.

Not bad. A couple 200 games was competitive. Hard to win enough money to cover the $20 entry…I did pretty well and struck a lot and only won back $9.75. But a fun little event.

Most "scoring" took place AFTER the bowling (if ya know what I mean)…but technically I can't discuss that here as this is the thread SPECIFICALLY for scores of the NON-LADY kind. :eek: :eek:

[Aslan]

Sunday Midday Practice: low oil synthetics

497 Series: 151-185-161
Game 1 I had one lane figured out and the other not at all. Game 2 was one frame away from being clean. Then game 3 it was the same thing as game 1…I had that one lane figured out…not the other one.

463 Series: 191 (clean)-132-140
I love clean games, but it was 3 strikes and the rest spares. Hard work. Then Games 5 and 6, the lanes were just broken down too much. I tried to ball down to my 2 polished balls but they just weren't working. I was either too much in the middle and leaving splits or it wasn't making it back to the pocket and i was leaving washouts.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.52 pins
Strikes: 30% (2 doubles and 16 singles)
Spares: 55% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (12/17)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 46% (12/26)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 2-4-5 and 1-2-4 (3x each).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 6 games: 160.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 169.17.

Just was up early so I thought I'd get some additional practice in. Trying to figure out how low I should get. I seem to throw a good ball if I'm more upright…but with a little more speed and loft and tendency to miss right. But if I get lower I sometimes lose balance/form and pull shots left. A lesson tomorrow so hopefully I can get some helpful hints…or it'll be the opposite result where my game gets re-re-re-invented and I'm taking 2 steps back.

[Amyers]

Nice scoring at the tournament congrats. I had a bad night on Friday night in my league so I'm taking a few days off from bowling to try and get my head back on right.

[Aslan]

Nice scoring at the tournament congrats. I had a bad night on Friday night in my league so I'm taking a few days off from bowling to try and get my head back on right.

Been there (a LOT...quite often...). But, once I get close to a week without bowling...I can't take it. And nothing cures a bad night faster than a good night.

[Amyers]

Taking a few days off for me is exactly that. I have league again Tuesday so the break won't be more than Saturday-Monday. I don't know was just confused and needed to take a step back and think. I had actually been bowling a little better in leagues the last 2 outings 608 and 632 but Friday was a train wreck like I haven't seen in a while all three games in the 150's never found a line the entire night with any of my balls wasn't the lanes or anything else just me with difficulty hitting my spot and then the ball not doing what I expected when I did. So hopefully I'll get it back in check tomorrow or to quote you throw my balls in the river on the way home. :D

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: heavy oil synthetics

513 Series: 177-183-153

Game 1 I ran some strikes together but opened 3 times including in the 10th. I closed the 10th out in Game 2, but still had 3 opens. Game 3 was clean through 6, all spares through 5...then a 4-10 split followed by a 6-7-10 followed by a 1-2-7-8-9 washout...and that was that.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.44 pins
Strikes: 40% (1 turkey, 3 doubles and 4 singles)
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (3/4)
Left a single 2-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin (missed), and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 46% (7/15)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 171.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 174.67.

I'll take a 500+ series on conditions like that. Not happy about it...but at least with the oil being freshly applied the shot was at least consistent for a change. With that much oil, that seemed to go all the way out to about 55ft...and the oil line outside of 10...probably around 7-8...I had really no choice with my rev rate and speed but to play the outside line. The Bullet Train didn't look good out there...so I used the Rhythm...even though....it made it difficult to get back to the pocket consistently.

Spares on my HATE LIST:
1) 1-2-4-10
2) 1-2-8
3) 1-2-4-7
4) 2-4-5-8
5) 2-4-5

I've left these WAY too much and am getting rather tired of it.

The team was missing 3 bowlers to start so fortunately I got a sub. That was actually my first time ever using a sub. And we split on the night against a good team so I guess that's not horrible in terms of the team.

I still need to work on the new, shorter, quicker footwork. I tried it in practice and Game 1 but it wasn't working...so I put it on the shelf until practice time.

[Aslan]

Pre-League Practice: low oil synthetics

534 Series: 168-181-185
Again tried to work on my new footwork/approach before league play, but it just wasn't working out. I just used the Slingshot because the lanes were really dry and I wasn't really playing for 'score' as much as just warming up. Midway through Game 2 I switched to my old "lofting to the arrows" style just to loosen up, and I ended up running a few strikes together. Game 3 I buckled down a bit, got a little more focused, and tried to get ready for league play and the only frame I didn't get 9 or 10 with the first ball was the 3rd frame when I left the 4-10 split...but I was still happy that it looked like the approach/timing was working.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.88 pins
Strikes: 37% (1 turkey, 1 double and 7 singles)
Spares: 65% picked up

Single Pin spares: 90% (9/10)
Most common single-pin leaves: 3-pin, 5-pin, 7-pin, and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 8-pin, 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 40% (4/10)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 4-6-7 split (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/5)

Average over 3 games: 178.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 180.67.

Wednesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

507 Series: 190-161-156
Oh how the mighty have fallen!! A 671 last week...and this week I struggle just to stay above 500!! : (

Game 1; 2 opens, 2 spares, and a strike on the left lane. Struck 4/5 times on the right lane. Bowled my average so I wasn't too upset. Just couldn't figure out the left lane. Started out missing right...adjusted....started missing left.

Game 2 I missed right on the left lane and decided to move a little right and ball down....seemed to work a couple frames...then missed left..then right...still couldn't figure out the left lane. And I started missing right on the right lane as well so I was really having problems. : ( : (

Last week, game 3, ...struck the front 8 and had my first legitimate shot at my first 300 perfect game....this week I tied our leadoff bowler (who averages about 97 and throws a house ball). Again, I was almost clean on the right lane...but 3 more opens on the left lane...even balled down to the Encounter (A)...just couldn't figure it out.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.66 pins
Strikes: 31% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 5 singles)
Spares: 57% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 33% (4/12)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-5 and 2-4-5 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 169.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 172.00.

Well, I get promoted to anchor and then poo the bed immediately!! Nice.

But...I'm not as completely upset and distraught as I'd normally be:

1) I still finished over 500.
2) The old anchor that asked to switch with me because he didn't feel comfortable bowling anchor...bowled a 691 scratch series so obviously the move paid off for him.
3) It was a very fun night, bowling a very fun (and slightly drunk) team.
4) We took all 4 points and are inching back up the standings.
5) Our lead bowler bowled probably her highest series...and her little boys were there so she was happy and they were hugging her, it was kinda sweet/nice.
6) Our team bowled so well that I could "take the night off" and we still got 4 points. That gives me some wiggle room for sweeps in terms of average...might as well take the rare opportunities when I can. I'd never intentionally sandbag...but it's nice to have the pressure/load off your shoulders.

I think the biggest problem was the left lane...it was killing me all night. I just could never get a good line/ball/shot on that lane. We got moved during practice, so I never even got to practice on that pair before we started. We got moved due to one of our lanes breaking down during practice. So, my debut as anchor didn't go as planned/hoped...but we'll see how the next two weeks go.

[Aslan]

Sunday Midday Practice: low oil synthetics

The JOY of living next to a bowling alley...roll out of bed at 11AM...wander over to the lanes...wander back.

601 Series: 209-160-232
Mainly just working on footwork. Smaller steps, less pauses. The first two games felt a bit "off". I think the Bullet Train was just not a good match for those lanes...took me a couple games to move 1-4 boards left so I could use the oil line a little better. And Game 3 everything just came together. I had a 6-7 split in the 1st frame, a pocket 8-10 in the 4th...and on the second shot of the 10th left a 5-7 split that I converted...everything else was striking...mostly pocket.

569 Series: 189-214-166
Game 4 I was still doing well...but by the end forced myself to ball down to the Rhythm in the 10th...but it came in left and left the 1-3-9 which I chopped to open. Game 2 was clean through 8 until I chopped a 6-10...otherwise clean. Game 6 I lost my strike line...and opened twice. But I was really just trying to work on form and footwork...the scores don't matter that much.

565 Series: 173-187-205
Game 7 I had a few splits to contend with. Game 8 I only opened once and that was a 6-7-10 split in the 9th...but mostly spares that game. I think finally balling down to the Pearl Encounters...I had to move right a bit because they just weren't nearly as strong midlane as the first two balls. By Game 9 I had my strike line back but missed a single 7-pin in the 4th and another single 7-pin in the 10th...my only two opens.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.93 pins
Strikes: 45% (1 6-bagger, 2 4-baggers, 2 turkeys, 5 doubles and 14 singles)
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 80% (17/21)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (9x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 55% (16/29)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 4-7, 6-10, and 2-4-5 (3x each).

Splits: 14% (1/7)

Average over 9 games: 192.78.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 197.78.

During the 232 game...and for much of the practice...I just felt like everything was finally "coming together". Maybe I finally had proper timing or something. But it almost felt like I couldn't miss the pocket. Now to get this translated into league play on Tuesday and Wednesday...that's gonna be the challenge.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

551 Series: 159-192-200

Game 1 I just felt like it was going horrible. In truth, I only opened on a bad shot in the 3rd through 8 frames…before letting my teammates talk me into trying a Storm wrist brace…which when suddenly tried out leads to some very bad throws…so I opened in the 9th messing around with that brace. But still…it probably would have been a 161-169 game…not that great.

Game 2 I started out with a chopped 2-4-5-7 but then was clean the rest of the way. But it still felt 'bad'.

Game 3…I struck more…but I had some of the worst strikes I've ever seen…just watching it hit brooklyn or horribly light…yet 3-5 pins kinda just barely fall over…just horrible.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.58 pins
Strikes: 36% (1 turkey, 1 double and 7 singles)
Spares: 75% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (8/8)
Left a single 4-pin, 5-pin, 7-pin (twice), 9-pin (twice), and 10-pin (twice).

Multiple Pin spares: 58% (7/12)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a (12 different leaves!!).

Splits: n/a

Average over 3 games: 183.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

WOW. Those stats tell a couple stories, don't they?

1) It wasn't as bad as I thought…a strike rate of 36% isn't that bad in that house.
2) My spare shooting was exceptional…most of the time I'm between 28-59% on spares…tonight I was 75%. And one of those was due to trying out a wrist brace.
3) My spare shooting was so good, at least in part, to leaving more single-pins and not leaving a split.
4) Perfect example of how valuable spare shooting can be. I had a very poor ball reaction tonight…playing the 6-10 boards. It was essentially a straight shot…I couldn't get any movement…virtually undetectable break point…not at 15-16mph. My release was inconsistent…horrible axis tilt on at least half the shots.
5) This kinda settles the "luck in bowling" debate. I mean, if you saw the kind of strikes I got tonight…light hit after light hit…pins slowly falling and tilting over…pins falling way, way late…it was embarrassing.

I think it was disappointing because I had such a good practice over the weekend…thought that might carry over. And there were approach issues…one side slippery and the other sticky. And thumb fit…the thumb was loose in the hole of both the strike and spare ball…one of the missed spares was the spare ball slipping off my hand. But, I was too afraid to add tape…worried it would stick.

And the team only got 1 point. Against a horrible team. We only spotted em 80 pins of handicap per game…but they just all bowled well in the first two games…nothing we could do. We better win that damn towel because this season has been miserable and I want a prize.

[Amyers]

Wow this looks so much like my night last night that its basically a twin. I think you had more strikes than I did but I did have some splits. I only missed one spare other than a split in 4 games and converted 2 of the splits but the high game was 189. One of these days I'm going to find a solution.

[Aslan]

Wow this looks so much like my night last night that its basically a twin. I think you had more strikes than I did but I did have some splits. I only missed one spare other than a split in 4 games and converted 2 of the splits but the high game was 189. One of these days I'm going to find a solution.

I know. Guys that strike a lot...they have NO IDEA how LONG a night of bowling is when you have to convert that many spares. No wonder my knee is barely holding itself together...I have to bowl twice as often to simply roll a 192 as the others do.

[Amyers]

Your exactly right. I was worn out after those four games. The only line I could find that would consistently stay right of the head pin was to play extremely deep and maximize the amount I was hooking the ball between throwing twice as many shots and having to try and get as much on it as possible it wore me down. Weird situation last night anything played right of the third arrow was missing high. Over or inside of the third I had to catch it all to get it to come back to the pocket strong enough. These lanes are just plain weird. the last game was a championship roll off I qualified second bowled on a different set ended up ten boards right on that set over where I had been on the previous lanes. Finished second 179-188 Clean except for a split in the first :mad:

[Mike White]

I know. Guys that strike a lot...they have NO IDEA how LONG a night of bowling is when you have to convert that many spares. No wonder my knee is barely holding itself together...I have to bowl twice as often to simply roll a 192 as the others do.

The way you release the ball, there should be little to no stress on your body.

You don't reach a point where you need leverage.

If you're tired after a night of bowling, it's mentally tired from worrying about things that you should be able to ignore.

Spare shooting it mostly memorization, and hitting a target.

If you effectively use your practice time, you know where to stand to put the ball in every spare region, and have built up confidence in your ability to execute the shot.


I suspect that while you practice a lot, it's not effectively used time.

Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent.

Practicing the wrong motions will make them bad habits.

[Aslan]

If you're tired after a night of bowling, it's mentally tired from worrying about things that you should be able to ignore..

It's FAR more MENTALLY tired...than physical.

But, and I think YOU can appreciate this...I was having approach issues. The right lane was slippery...and I'm just now getting "sort of" comfortable sliding rather than planting...but that was TOO much. I nearly fell like 3 times. On the left lane...opposite problem...just before the line...STICK...heel comes down...torques the hell out of my knee. And I've been trying to get lower and have more of a knee bend...but I have a questionable knee...so the more shots I take...the more abuse that knee takes.

You're right...physically I'm not tired or sore...but mentally I'm exhausted...and my knee gets sore. And the more you bowl on a bad knee...and the more abuse it takes...the shorter your bowling career will be. The PBA50 is mostly a graveyard of some of the greatest bowlers in history that just can't get that knee bend anymore.

But MENTALLY...ughh. When you strike...you think ya got things figured out...you relax...wait your turn...have a beverage...maybe a mozzarella stick or two...play some cards...laugh, etc... But when you don't strike....then you gotta figure out your spare shot...execute your spare shot...then go back to the table and try to figure out what the heck ya did wrong NOT to strike...bad shot? missed target? bad release? approach issues? thumb fit? are the lanes breaking down? Do I need to make a ball change? Am I playing the proper line? Am I hurting my team? It's just a mental barrage when you don't strike versus relaxation when you do. THATs the exhaustion I feel.

My practices as of late are focusing on footwork, form, and focus. The "3 Fs". I keep track of the score...I get a lot of spare shooting practice in during the practice...but I'm usually focused on something specific that I'm working on. Last Sunday I spent the 1st 3 games focusing just on my first two steps. Then the next 3 games I added "form" to the footwork...and focused primarily just on my form and balance at the line. Then in the last 3 games...I tried to focus mostly on hand position at the release point. Some people see my score tracking and think I'm just out there practicing by trying to score my highest series or something...not usually. I'm usually trying to perfect something that came up in the last lesson. Things that I may not be ready to use on league night...because I need more practice.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

Pre-League Practice: n/a (didn't keep score...just 3 games of warm up)

550 Series: 168-170-212
551 on Tuesday and 550 on Wednesday. I'm a model of crappy consistency!!

Game 1 wasn't "bad"...I opened on a 2-10 split in the 4th and missed a single 10-pin in the 6th...otherwise clean. Same story in Game 2...missed a 5-7 split in the 1st frame and then opened on a single 6-pin miss in the 5th. My first ball average was stronger in Game 2, but then I opened in the 10th on a 2-5-7 split. Game 3 I got another 5-7 split in the 1st frame...but converted it (causing applause from the spectators). After that I struck 5 times over 6 frames...but missed another single 6-pin in the 5th to break them up...and could only manage a 212.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.97 pins
Strikes: 37% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 5 singles)
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 6-pin (4x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 4-pin, 7-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 5-7 split (2x).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 3 games: 183.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 194.67.

A very similar night (and similar series) to last night. I felt horrible the whole night...I just couldn't get any axis tilt or axis rotation on the ball. I made one shot in frame 3 of Game 2 that I felt was "on"...everything else was garbage. I struck more, but most of em were ridiculous garbage strikes.

Thumb fit was an issue again. I went through 3 different IT inserts trying to get the right fit and didn't finally find it until the 3rd game. I even resorted to thumb tape (the kind you put ON your thumb itself) trying to get a snug fit but ensure my thumb comes out. Of the 3 single-pin spares I missed tonight...two were thumb issues. One I dropped the ball because it was too loose...the other it stuck on my hand and lofted halfway down the lane.

It's amazing how so much of our perception is relative to our expectations. On Tuesdays I'm the 3rd best bowler on the team...I just go out there and try to compete. But on Wednesdays...I'm the anchor...probably overall the best bowler...but I can't compete with our thumbless bowling youngster when he starts running strikes together. But I "feel" the pressure...even though all 3 games we weren't even close to winning (they had two high average subs and last night destroyed the season high with over 3400 pins total (+ handicap)...I still "feel" like I should be at least one of the top 2 bowlers out there between the 2 teams. And last night I wasn't. The 3 subs (1 on our team) all bested me as did the thumbless bowling teammate (but barely), as did another guy on their team. I beat the old guy and the women...which isn't a great thing (nor a great thing to have on your headstone).

Still struggling with the new footwork...but the main difficulty remains the inconsistent release. Without the wrist brace...my wrist naturally bends backwards...and most shots I don't seem to be getting the hand through the ball properly. Sometimes I'm off to the right...very little axis tilt...sometimes I'm coming over-the-top...and then once a game or so...perfect release with great axis tilt. Same thing with a "relaxed swing". When I truly have a relaxed swing...it seems like I'm getting very little hand into the shot. But if I "try" too hard and un-relax the swing...bad results that way as well.

I'm gonna try to practice a bit tonight....lesson on Monday. I should have Arsenal #2 up and ready to go by next week's league play...but we'll see. I'm afraid given the specs of the new arsenal...I really need a better release or this could be bad. The Bullet Train is a very strong ball...if I can't get it to move with authority into the pocket, I fear I won't be able to get any of the new balls to turn either since they are all (overall) weaker than the bullet train. I hate to buy a brace and go back to that...I just feel it's a crutch and I'll never develop a good release if I keep relying on it. And maybe moving to 15lbs will help...I've heard you get a bit more revs as you move down in weight...maybe that'll also allow me to get through/under/around the ball better. Who knows.

[Mike White]

It's FAR more MENTALLY tired...than physical.

But, and I think YOU can appreciate this...I was having approach issues. The right lane was slippery...and I'm just now getting "sort of" comfortable sliding rather than planting...but that was TOO much. I nearly fell like 3 times. On the left lane...opposite problem...just before the line...STICK...heel comes down...torques the hell out of my knee. And I've been trying to get lower and have more of a knee bend...but I have a questionable knee...so the more shots I take...the more abuse that knee takes.

You're right...physically I'm not tired or sore...but mentally I'm exhausted...and my knee gets sore. And the more you bowl on a bad knee...and the more abuse it takes...the shorter your bowling career will be. The PBA50 is mostly a graveyard of some of the greatest bowlers in history that just can't get that knee bend anymore.

But MENTALLY...ughh. When you strike...you think ya got things figured out...you relax...wait your turn...have a beverage...maybe a mozzarella stick or two...play some cards...laugh, etc... But when you don't strike....then you gotta figure out your spare shot...execute your spare shot...then go back to the table and try to figure out what the heck ya did wrong NOT to strike...bad shot? missed target? bad release? approach issues? thumb fit? are the lanes breaking down? Do I need to make a ball change? Am I playing the proper line? Am I hurting my team? It's just a mental barrage when you don't strike versus relaxation when you do. THATs the exhaustion I feel.


Ok so how do those guys who strike a lot, get to the point where they strike a lot?

Pure luck?

A large part of it is the fact that they get a lot of help from the lanes.

But that help is like road signs. All the help in the world isn't going to do any good if you don't read them.

Your release determines if your ball can "read the road signs".

[Aslan]

Thursday Practice: low oil synthetics

I got there pre-leagues but that just meant the lanes hadn't been oiled in forever. And the pair was completely different. Right lane sorta normal, left lane I was playing about 10 boards left and had balled down to my 5th weakest ball by the end of Game 6.

499 Series: 183-166-150
Mainly focusing on footwork. Game 1 I spent the entire game trying to move left on the left lane and right on the right lane due to the extreme differences in conditions. Game 2 I was pretty solid on the right lane, but had to ball down to the pearls early on and then started to miss right due to the gap in my arsenal. Game 3 I had some issues with splits.

526 Series: 202-160-164
Game 4 I only had one open frame; chopping the 10 off a 6-10 leave in the 3rd. Game 5 I had to finally ball down on the right lane and was all the way down to the Slingshot on the left lane. Game 6 I was down to the Encounters on the right lane but had some single-pin spare shooting difficulty.

536 Series: 182-182-172
Almost my first triplicate, but opened in the 10th of Game 9. Game 7 I was trying to get more axis tilt. Game 8 it seemed like the release had improved but spare shooting wasn't great. By the last game I was down to the Slingshot on both lanes and did okay…but had a 4-6-7 split in the 7th and then missed a single 7-pin in the 10th.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.89 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 4-bagger, 2 turkeys, 3 doubles and 22 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

Single Pin spares: 76% (20/26)
Most common single-pin leaves: 7-pin (7x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 46% (15/32)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2-4 (4x).

Splits: 12% (1/8)

Average over 9 games: 173.44.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 180.89.

The footwork is coming more naturally, but my balance and form was off. I think I got the release improved by the end, but it's still a huge work in progress to try and develop a release with good revs and very little muscling or effort.

[Aslan]

Saturday Color of Money Tournament: medium oil synthetics

Small weekly colored-pin tournament.

567 Series: 147-204-216
Look familiar? Two weeks ago in this tournament I shot a 562 series (147-215-200). Same mistake/experience…fresh conditions a bit wider than practice conditions…so was having trouble getting ball reaction early. Game 2 I finally found a decent line, but was having trouble with carry. Game 3 the conditions had changed enough that I was starting to miss left and move left…but really it was some lucky left-side strikes that moved the score higher.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.45 pins
Strikes: 39% (1 turkey, 4 doubles and 2 singles)
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (6/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 5-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 53% (7/13)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2-8 (3x).

Splits: n/a

Average over 3 games: 189.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Not a great night. Not horrible, but meh.

[mc_runner]

Nice recovery after the rough first game, nice spare pickups. You win anything in the tournament?

[Aslan]

Nice recovery after the rough first game, nice spare pickups. You win anything in the tournament?

No...not really. You pay $20...the first time I won $13.75. Last time I won like $3.75. You get around $1 for a strike with a colored head-pin...so even if you lucked into a colored head-pin every frame...at 35% strike rate...that's only about $10. Spare shooting only gets you about $0.25 IF there is a colored pin in the remaining pins...so if EVERY leave had colored pins...68% pick-up rate...that's another $5. So to really come out ahead...you need to either pick up splits ($ based on difficulty) or have your ticket number drawn and then you spin a prize wheel.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

First game with the new arsenal.

612 Series: 204 (clean)-174-234 (clean)

Game 1 was clean. I was struggling a bit with timing and ball speed consistency...but I'll take clean any day. Game 2 was more of the same, but I opened on a single 7-pin miss in the 6th and then left a weird split in the 9th (a 4-6-7-9 I think) that I couldn't convert...so 2 opens kinda killed me. Game 3 I was pounding the pocket pretty good...left a couple 10-pins...but really only made one "bad" shot and that was just a little too much speed resulting in a 2-4-5 in the 8th which I converted. Struck out in the 10th to complete my highest sanctioned series ever at this house (over 4 seasons).

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.00 pins
Strikes: 47% (2 turkeys, 3 doubles and 4 singles)
Spares: 88% picked up

Single Pin spares: 90% (9/10)
Most common single-pin leaves: 4-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 5-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 204.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 207.33.

The previous arsenal has been retired:
Game Count/Statistics/Comments:
Hammer Rhythm: 429+ Games, 167 average, 33% strike rate, High Game: 300 (non-sanctioned).
Probably my favorite of the 5 different strike balls I've thrown. Not a lot of 'snap'...but the smoothest and most predictable reaction by far.

Brunswick Slingshot: 171+ Games. 167 average, 34% strike rate, High Game: 243 (non-sanctioned).
Originally purchased to be my spare ball...easily the most under-rated ball I've ever thrown. I paid $57 for the ball (w/shipping) and it had more backend 'snap' than any other ball I've used. But, it wasn't ENOUGH movement nor 'snap' to consistently carry 10-pins and was practically useless on long patterns.

Columbia Encounter(s): Games: 151+(N)/134+(A), Average: 167(A)/162(N), 30-31% strike rate, High Games: 252(A)/234(N) (both non-sanctioned).
I bought two of the same balls to do an experiment on the effects of drilling on identical balls. The experiment did not bear fruit and the result were two balls that I could never really figure out. The more aggressively drilled and surfaced Encounter (A) seemed to lack the 'bite' because of it's Pearl cover....but was surfaced so much...that it had no energy downlane. The less aggressively drilled, polished ball performed a lot like the Slingshot...but that was disappointing given it 'should' perform much better given the Slingshot is an entry level ball and the Encounter was pro-performance. I must say, this is the worst ball I've ever thrown. But, in their defense...I probably could have had more luck had I not intentionally tried to make them opposites of one another...AND...they were victim to a large gap in my arsenal....so once I balled down to the Encounter....I usually had to spend at LEAST a couple frames to completely re-adjust my line(s) since the difference from the solid cover Rhythm and Pearl Encounter was too large a gap.

900Global Bullet Train: 251+ Games, 173 average, 36% strike rate, High Game: 247 (x2) (both sanctioned).
This was originally bought as a Hybrid cover replacement to my retired Storm Frantic, to be a ball down option to either the Rhythm or the Encounters...but the S79 cover was just way stronger than the Frantic's R2S and the Bullet Train became the 1st ball out of my bag on fresh conditions. It performed well, as the statistics show, but never really up to my expectations. I think I "over-surfaced" it trying to make up for my lack of rpms. By the end, it had a 500 abralon finish and I just don't think it had much energy by the time it reached the pins.

As to last night's performance, I was worried the Le. Revolver would be far weaker than the Bullet Train....and that my line would need a complete re-adjustment. I was hoping the additional revs of moving to 15lbs would counter it...but at the end of the day the Le. Revolver is about 2.5 boards weaker than the Bullet Train. The original plan was to use the Le. Revolver as a ball down option to the Dark Encounter (c300)...but the coach believed Brunswick balls to be a bit sooner to hook than Columbia...so they swapped spots in the order. I was able to play nearly the same line all night...just outside the 2nd arrow. I had 3 mixed drinks....so I was worried I might get a little "too loose"...but it wasn't a factor.

I left a couple 8-pins...and that worries me since I don't leave those very often. It makes me think I may be seeing the "deflection" negative of dropping to 15lbs. I'm getting good energy and revs down lane...but I gotta think that my 16lb balls would carry those 8-pins.

As to the drilling, I don't really understand that stuff in detail and I'm sure a picture would be better...but in general it's drilled with the pin down, about midway between the 2 fingers, just below the two fingers. The other "mark" (CG?? on a symmetric core ball) is above and a little off to the right of the thumb hole. This may be the first ball I've ever thrown with the pin below the finger holes.

Hopefully the strong performance wasn't a byproduct of the ball being 'new'. I hate to thing that in a couple weeks the ball is suddenly going to lose it's potency. But...if I can ever get my apartment unpacked and unpack my ball dehydrator....I might be able to at least combat that a bit.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Nice bowling.

[NYMIKE]

Awesome spare making!

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

594 Series: 199-211-184

Was kinda high for Game 1. Didn't come down as fast as I thought I would. But, once I got through practice I felt better. I anticipated a 2.5 board difference in the line with the new arsenal but ended up moving too far inside the oil line Only had one open frame and that was a 1-2-4-10 washout in the 5th.

Game 2 was clean except for a missed single 7-pin in the 2nd frame.

Game 3 I got off to a rough start with another missed single 7-pin and then a chopped 9-10 split. But frames 3 through 10 were clean.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.06 pins
Strikes: 44% (3 turkeys, 1 double, and 4 singles)
Spares: 77% picked up

Single Pin spares: 81% (9/11)
Most common single-pin leave: 7-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 3-10 split (2x).

Splits: 66% (2/3)

Average over 3 games: 198.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 205.00.

Didn't 'feel' great; but the stats seem to paint a decent picture. Kinda upset about the missed 7-pins. I think I must have squared up my shoulders at the line. But, man….this new ball has quite a bit of pop down lane. I wouldn't figure a solid cover would be able to retain that energy but it might also be an increased rev rate at 15lbs…not sure right now.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

498 Series: 147-174-177

I struck on almost every shot in practice…but it didn't feel quite right. Game 1; 3 chopped make-able spares and a split…harder to score high when you're not striking…especially when the spare shooting goes into the toilet. Game 2 I just was firing the ball too fast…complete lack of speed control. By Game 3 I had balled down to the Dark Encounter and it was the first time throwing it. It wasn't a terrible game, missed a 6-pin in the 4th and then opened in the 10th on a 6-9-10.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.55 pins
Strikes: 29% (2 doubles and 5 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 2-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 7-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (6/12)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 and 2-4-5 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 166.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 173.33.

Release poor. Speed control non-existent. And on top of that the spare shooting was horrible. I thought my series in the < 500 range were behind me…guess not. :mad:

[Amyers]

We all have one of those flame out games every now and then. You've been bowling well and the other two games were ok so take it easy.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: shorter pattern/medium oil synthetics

589 Series: 150-217-222

First shot of game 1, I stick on the approach and fall over the foul line. I reset the pins and struck to give me a - /. But, for the rest of the game I was unable to really get near the foul line.

Game 2 I was starting to get over the fall/incident and had the front 5, but then lost my strike line and chopped a 1-3-6-8-10 in the 10th…so that kinda ruined that game after a promising start.

Game 3 I found my strike line again and had the front 4, then two bad shots led to two open frames…but I strung a few more strikes together and ended up finishing okay.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.68 pins
Strikes: 45% (1 5-bagger, 1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, and 2 singles)
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 7-pin (2x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 40% (4/10)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a (all 10 were different spare leaves

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 196.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 199.33.

Mentally, I struggle recovering from falling over the line, falling in general, ball sticking on my thumb, or sliding past the foul buzzer (when it's actually turned on which is rarely). I was striking well in practice….seemed like I had a good line to the pocket…then I walked over to the desk to grab a league sheet, came back, and first shot I ended up in the push-up position laying on the lane.

And here's what makes this story MORE horrible….as I inspected my shoe…there was a brown glob, as if I stepped in chocolate or something, so I started trying to get it off the shoe with my finger and towel and then a teammate lent me their brush…so I got it off the shoe…but realized…it "stunk"! After a few seconds I realized…"This is dog ***t!" Yup. Some hillbilly dum*a** tracked either horse or dog POO into the alley and just happened to step in it. So obviously, multiple hand washings were then involved. So when someone sticks and you ask them what happened and they say, "I stuck on some shi*"….I LITERALLY stuck on some **** (poo)!!

Due to the stick, I couldn't get comfortable at the line. Unbalanced…unbalanced…unbalanced. The lanes are easier on Wednesday than at the other house on Tuesday…so the shots don't have to be 'elite' in order to get the job done…but just not a great night overall. I try to pace the best player on the other team…and I only finished a pin behind him scratch…but he had awful luck and bad breaks where as I benefited more than once for some questionable hits.

I need to practice tonight…try to keep working on my form/balance at the line…keep working on FOCUS, specifically not LOSING focus, and I still need to work on my release to get me some axis rotation.

The Lethal Revolver drilled pin down…with OOB finish….has been great thus far. I've never had a ball with this much "snap" on the back end. Many shots look like they're missing right….and at the last second it makes what seems like a 45 degree dart to the pocket. Very unexpected from a solid cover, symmetric core, mid-level ball. It also probably has to do with a slightly increased rev rate switching from 16lbs to 15lbs…but still…I was worried about this arsenal because it's overall weaker than my last one…so it's exciting to see the first ball out of the bag actually behave the way I've been wanting my bowling balls to perform.

[Amyers]

Almost 600 with a bad first game nice recovery. Glad to hear the new arsenal is working out for you. I've been wondering what you've thought of the new balls.

[mc_runner]

You might be getting a little more hand into the ball? If it's making a late snap you might have some side roll going in there... And rev rates overall can and do change over time. Either way, nice bowling and nice recovery after that rough start.

[Aslan]

You might be getting a little more hand into the ball? If it's making a late snap you might have some side roll going in there... And rev rates overall can and do change over time. Either way, nice bowling and nice recovery after that rough start.
Yes. Despite focusing much of my recent effort over the past 9 months on my stance and approach...I've been working on my release recently and my axis rotation is improving. I also think it has something to do with the drilling (see dirty ball thread for a picture). It's (Lethal Revolver) the only ball I've ever thrown drilled pin down (below the finger holes).


Almost 600 with a bad first game nice recovery. Glad to hear the new arsenal is working out for you. I've been wondering what you've thought of the new balls.

Lethal Revolver has been surprisingly strong the way it's drilled (see above). It certainly is exceeding what I thought I'd get out of it.

The Dark Encounter has been a disappointment. Much like the Encounter I used to throw...it just doesn't have any snap on the backend...almost just a straight ball with a tiny move to the pocket. I mean, I was getting better backend reaction from my old Slingshot than I get from this ball. I'm tempted to add a 1500 surface to it...but I really want to stay away from surfacing if I can after over-doing it on the last arsenal.

The Asylum I just threw for the first time last night (scores coming tonight or this weekend). It's certainly weaker than the first two, but actually has a nice bite at the end. I wouldn't trust it on fresh conditions...but it seems to be a very nice option for when the lanes really start drying up. Much better than the Encounters were; that's for sure. A picture of my layout is in the ball winners thread.

The Loaded Revolver is still at the pro shop. The guy was in a hurry and really busy and drilled the span wrong.

Definitely not impressed with the ball drilling. I like the advice and the drill layouts seem to be better than they were on my old arsenal, but the drilling itself seems sloppy. At least two of the balls, the finger inserts aren't really flush with the ball...just sloppy stuff like that. I mean, listen, it was a bad night...he was super busy...then I dropped 4 balls in his lap at one time...not to mention he was in the league that was playing that night and a couple people bowling in that league were also waiting for their stuff. And it wasn't cheap. $60/ball for 4 balls = $240. I got it for $220 because he screwed up the Loaded Revolver. And that's not outrageous...most places it runs around $50/ball...and I had them all drilled for the VISE IT inserts and add in two finger inserts...it's not outrageous.

[Aslan]

Thursday Practice: low oil synthetics

First practice with the new equipment. Warm-up Game: 199.
Was kinda all over the place early as I tried to find a line with the new equipment.

457 Series: 167-159-131
Mainly focusing on form. After the first two games, I had to ball down to the Dark Encounter. The lanes were just too beat up around 2nd-3rd arrow. Then, the transition to the Dark Encounter didn't go well because it's much weaker than I had presumed…a big drop from the Lethal Revolver.

434 Series: 124-156-154
During this set I just focused on my target, accuracy…very little form or hand work. The first game I had 4 splits. This was a harder ball to use. It didn't seem to have much bite on the backend. I moved right and got it to work for a little bit, but then it started diving left and by the end of the 2nd game I was back too far left…which for me is my left foot on 30-35 and my target left of 20. By the end of Game 3 it was time to ball down to the Asylum.

479 Series: 154-168-157
In this series I focused primarily on release…and I actually started feeling like my fingers were finally coming through the ball…giving me decent axis rotation, I moved back outside because this was my first time using the Asylum since I got it drilled last week. It's the first ball I won on bowlingboards.com (about a year or so ago). In the first game, I came in right and opened on a 1-2-4-7 but was clean the rest of the way until the 10th when I chopped a 1-2. But not many strikes. In the second game I was doing well…just missed a couple single 4-pins and then a single 5-pin in the 10th. But for the second straight game…the Asylum seemed to have a nice track to the pocket…but hit weak. Game 3 was more of the same.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.35 pins
Strikes: 28% (5 doubles and 20 singles)
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (17/24)
Most common single-pin leaves: 4-pin and 6-pin (5x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 43% (21/48)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2 (5x).

Splits: 11% (1/9)

Average over 10 games: 156.90.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 164.50.

When I was warming up and focusing on form, focus, and release…I did rather well. And I'm happy that I finally seem to be getting a more "through-the-ball" release. Obviously the scores weren't that great…but it's practice so, thats okay.

Still impressed in the L. Revolver and was impressed with the way the Asylum moved in dry conditions. But I was a bit disappointed that the Asylum just didn't seem to strike much…even on pocket shots. And the D. Encounter was very unimpressive.

Thumb fit hasn't been an issue since switching to an arsenal where all but the spare ball are VISE IT drilled. But now footing has become more of an issue as I've started to slide a little.

[Amyers]

Aslan you stated it yourself. You are bowling on low oil synthetics neither the Dark Encounter or the Asylum are designed to be used on those conditions.

[Aslan]

Aslan you stated it yourself. You are bowling on low oil synthetics neither the Dark Encounter or the Asylum are designed to be used on those conditions.

On heavier conditions, I can't see either ball being of any use. I never really believed RotoGrip's claims about a HP3 ball being a good option on medium to heavy oil. And at this point I don't think Columbia makes any good options for heavier conditions. Thus far, I'm just not seeing it. Don't get me wrong, I like the Asylum and it has a nice movement and feel to it...and I've only practiced with it once....but either it's a strong ball like a Hyper Cell....but just burns out way too fast on beat up conditions (thus hitting light and not striking) OR...it just doesn't have the power/movement unless things are very dry.

I think the Asylum will end up being a useful ball down option...not sure if the D. Encounter will be very useful at all unfortunately. I'm far more disappointed in the D. Encounter than the Asylum. I figured with a PerfectScore of < 200 that the Asylum wouldn't be a hook monster...but figured it'd be a better ball than the Encounter was for drier/beat up lane conditions...and that's okay. I'm more disappointed in the D. Encounter because it 'should' be stronger than it is....and it's in the crucial #2 spot in my line-up...so it should see a fair amount of use...especially with the Le. Revolver being so much stronger than I anticipated.

Oh well. It's still early. Still lots of time needed to practice and see whats what.

[Amyers]

Everyone's different in what and how things work for them. I can't imagine using anything stronger than mine other than maybe sport shots. You have more speed and less revs than I do so I'm sure that's part of it. My pro shop operator has one too though and doesn't use it a whole lot because it's too strong for him even after changing the surface to 4k. Glad to hear the loaded revolver is working for you if you had a miss I figured that would be it. I think the solid asymmetrical balls just burn up too fast unless you have serious revs. Probably the problem with the d encounter. Good luck

[RobLV1]

An observation: Lately, most of the time that I hear bowlers talking about "heavy oil," it's because the lanes are so dry in the area that they're trying to play, that the ball goes straight as it burns up. So how do you tell when there really is "heavy oil"? You can't go by the amount of oil on the ball, because that's due primarily to the amount of oil on the first twenty feet of the lane. What you need to look for is a tell-tale wiggle down the lane that indicates a heavier than usual volume of oil. With the cost of oil today, and the proprietor's desire to allow bowlers to see their balls hook whether or not they know how to hook them, "heavy oil" is a real rarity today. IMHO.

[Aslan]

An observation: Lately, most of the time that I hear bowlers talking about "heavy oil," it's because the lanes are so dry in the area that they're trying to play, that the ball goes straight as it burns up. So how do you tell when there really is "heavy oil"? You can't go by the amount of oil on the ball, because that's due primarily to the amount of oil on the first twenty feet of the lane. What you need to look for is a tell-tale wiggle down the lane that indicates a heavier than usual volume of oil. With the cost of oil today, and the proprietor's desire to allow bowlers to see their balls hook whether or not they know how to hook them, "heavy oil" is a real rarity today. IMHO.

That is something I'm slowly trying to learn. It's very difficult to see the ball enter the hook phase...and can sometimes be even harder to see it enter the roll phase...unless you're watching it in slow motion. I bet there are lots of people that have a bunch of revs and a ball meant to go long and snap...and they don't even ever get to the roll phase until the ball hits the pocket. And I doubt they even know that.

I'm able to see the hook to roll phase on low speed players. Like, we have a lady on Wednesday that throws a Tropical Breeze at about 6-9mph. You can usually see that ball, up the outside (2nd arrow) as it starts to hook...then straightens out. But in contrast...the old Encounter Project videos I made...even at 14mph...it was very hard to see where that ball started to hook...and it seemed like almost immediately after hooking it went into the roll phase.

My hypothesis is that I'm seeing a great deal more backend with the Lethal Revolver, not only because it's Brunswick, but because it's drilled with the pin beneath the fingers rather than above. Every other ball I've thrown, the pin is above the fingers or above and off to the side. From what I understand (and I could be off base), a pin higher up shortens the time between hook and roll. It may be why I've never seen a pronounced hook phase...because with the pin above...the ball is immediately going from skid to roll...with only a minor hook phase. And maybe playing more of an outside line (drier area) exasperbates that problem.

For my own reference...when I use the term heavy versus medium/moderate versus low in terms of oil...I sometimes also add long versus short...but in general:

Long/Heavy Oil: This would be a longer pattern...maybe upper 30s/low 40s in terms of feet. It could also be a pattern that is significantly wider than a THS.

For example, on Tuesdays, WHEN they actually oil pre-league (I guess enough people whined that they are back to doing it), the pattern is noticeably longer...I'd guess 42ft. It also, even more importantly, is about 3 boards wider than a THS. So anything inside of 10...it's not going to move...the oil volume is significant. There is also oil to the outside of 10...but it's a lighter volume. The difficulty in playing this pattern is that because the pattern is wider and longer...IF they don't oil/clean pre-league...that oil gets pushed around and gets pushed into the breakpoint...so you end up with no breakpoint. And in modern bowling, that's a problem.

Low oil/shorter pattern: Generally, if I'm forced inside of the 12-board...because 2nd arrow is going Brooklyn...with my speed (15-17mph)...then I call it a "low oil" pattern. It may be just that it's shorter...but in general THS shots aren't drastically shorter. And it's usually easy to see the difference because a shorter pattern will be much harder to play (for me) than a THS that just has a lower oil volume or a THS that is more narrow.

Example: On Wednesdays and when I get my lessons....both are THS...but in both cases my 2nd arrow shot with my most aggressive ball is likely going to go through nose. I'm going to have move in to say the 12-15 board area to delay the hook phase a little.

Medium Oil is generally a THS where my most aggressive ball moves up the 11-board...rides the oil line...breaks near the tracers...hits the pocket. It doesn't skid past the breakpoint and leave the 2-4-5 or 1-2-4...but it also stays right of the headpin.

It would be nice to actually know for sure...and I've asked both houses I play leagues at to give me a print out...but that's like asking the waitress on a date...I just get back a sorta blank yet also terrified stare of confusion.

[Aslan]

Glad to hear the loaded revolver is working for you if you had a miss I figured that would be it.

Lethal...not loaded.

The Lo. Revolver is still in the pro shop getting re-drilled because he messed it up.

The Lethal (Le.) Revolver is the one I've been using as the first ball out of the bag recently and have really liked what I've seen thus far.

I'm not sure how the cores are involved...if at all. Every assymetric core ball I've thrown seems to have no real noticeable bite at the end...yet seems to be very erratic in terms of what it does shot to shot. It just seems like they're too sensitive to even minor variations in speed. And you may be right...it may require a more advanced release to throw that equipment...I don't know. It may also be that the Columbia Encounter series (my only assymetric experiences) is just not that great a series. That's possible. I saw guys back in the day throwing the Wicked Encounter with some degree of success...but not the predecessors.

I also was a bit torn on the Revolvers. They seem almost a "mid-level" ball...so I wasn't sure if I'd get pro type of performance out of them...and I still don't think the Loaded Revolver will give me much...it's just more of a "nuclear option" for when things are so beat up or dried up that I got not shot right of 20. But the way I look at it...it's a perfect replacement for the Slingshot...and that's all it needs to be.

Figuring out and trying to get some performance out of the Dark Encounter is going to be key to my success between now and next summer. I can't have a #2 ball in my line-up that is absolutely horrible. I was able to deal with the Encounters because they were the #3 option and rarely got used on league night. But that won't be the case for the D. Encounter. I need to be able to confidently throw it on shorter/drier patterns and I need it as a ball down option. I'm not saying I can't just skip it and go to the Asylum...but if that was the plan...I might have had the Asylum drilled a little more aggressively than I did.

[Amyers]

Lethal...not loaded.

The Lo. Revolver is still in the pro shop getting re-drilled because he messed it up.

The Lethal (Le.) Revolver is the one I've been using as the first ball out of the bag recently and have really liked what I've seen thus far.

I'm not sure how the cores are involved...if at all. Every assymetric core ball I've thrown seems to have no real noticeable bite at the end...yet seems to be very erratic in terms of what it does shot to shot. It just seems like they're too sensitive to even minor variations in speed. And you may be right...it may require a more advanced release to throw that equipment...I don't know. It may also be that the Columbia Encounter series (my only assymetric experiences) is just not that great a series. That's possible. I saw guys back in the day throwing the Wicked Encounter with some degree of success...but not the predecessors.

I also was a bit torn on the Revolvers. They seem almost a "mid-level" ball...so I wasn't sure if I'd get pro type of performance out of them...and I still don't think the Loaded Revolver will give me much...it's just more of a "nuclear option" for when things are so beat up or dried up that I got not shot right of 20. But the way I look at it...it's a perfect replacement for the Slingshot...and that's all it needs to be.

Figuring out and trying to get some performance out of the Dark Encounter is going to be key to my success between now and next summer. I can't have a #2 ball in my line-up that is absolutely horrible. I was able to deal with the Encounters because they were the #3 option and rarely got used on league night. But that won't be the case for the D. Encounter. I need to be able to confidently throw it on shorter/drier patterns and I need it as a ball down option. I'm not saying I can't just skip it and go to the Asylum...but if that was the plan...I might have had the Asylum drilled a little more aggressively than I did.

Man if you think the Dark Encounter should be a step down from the Lethal Revolver me and you have two drastically different ideas on ball progression.

[Aslan]

Man if you think the Dark Encounter should be a step down from the Lethal Revolver me and you have two drastically different ideas on ball progression.

I didn't think it would be based on the specs...but they're both solid covers. The differential is about the same. I just figured the lethal revolver would go slightly longer due to it's higher RG.

However, when putting the arsenal together prior to drilling...the coach seemed to think that just the fact that it's a Brunswick versus a Columbia that the Brunswick would hook sooner so should be ahead of the Dark Encounter in terms of progression. Given that the specs are so close...I didn't have a problem with that.

[Amyers]

I didn't think it would be based on the specs...but they're both solid covers. The differential is about the same. I just figured the lethal revolver would go slightly longer due to it's higher RG.

However, when putting the arsenal together prior to drilling...the coach seemed to think that just the fact that it's a Brunswick versus a Columbia that the Brunswick would hook sooner so should be ahead of the Dark Encounter in terms of progression. Given that the specs are so close...I didn't have a problem with that.

I will say I've never seen the Lethal in action so I could be wrong but combine the higher Rg of the Lethal with the propel x cover which is more of a medium oil cover vs the asymmetrical heavy oil cover and lower Rg of the Dark Encounter it's easily the stronger of the two balls. Not even close. I have seen the Loaded sanded and it should be about the same as the Lethal.

I would suggest giving the DE a try playing more of an inside line in the oil on fresh conditions (I know not your strong suit) and see how it performs.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: low oil synthetics

503 Series: 159-173-171
(Last Week = 498 Series: 147-174-177)

We had to play a blank team this week so they stuck us on the lanes closest to the entrance. I also didn't time my "medicinal pot use" well and ended up being slightly high at the start of Game 1. This led to a rather interesting development...my ball speed was low. And, it was so low...that the balls were hooking the entire lane. I tried all 3 balls...and would have went to the loaded revolver if I actually had it in the bag...but I didn't. So I used the Asylum for all 3 games.

Game 1 I missed TWO single 10-pins (including one in the 10th) and missed a 6-9. Kinda hard to score well when you can't make corner-pin spares. : (

Game 2 I started to feel my speed come back...so I started moving RIGHT rather than left to make up for my speed creeping back up. Only had two open frams...both single 7-pins...including one in the 10th!! : ( : (

Game 3 I had back-to-back 8-10 splits on the left lane. Then a turkey. Then a missed 6-pin...then a 6-7 split in the 10th for my third straight open frame in the 10th!!! : ( : ( : (

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.90 pins
Strikes: 36% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 6 singles)
Spares: 47% picked up

Single Pin spares: 37% (3/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin (3x).
Only left the 5-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 167.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 186.00.

I gotta NOT smoke before bowling. Every time I've tried it...thinking it would relax me or that it would wear off before bowling started...I've ended up hurting myself score-wise. That's an easy fix.

Speed control seems to be the key going forward. As I watched the ball hook the lane...thrown about as slow as I can throw it...it occurred to me that I have more hook than I thought. And watching as I missed right over and over again...as that speed slowly entered back in...it was apparent that I might be able to consistently own that pocket...if I could just keep my speed at a consistent level.

Next practice will be at LEAST 50% single-pin corner spares. That was absolutely ridiculous...I missed EVERY corner-pin spare. 100% on 5-pins though!! YIPPEE!!

15lbs is giving me more control and better movement. I think I'm getting a little better pin action as well. But a glaring weakness appears to be deflection. I'm leaving FAR more single 8-pins and 8-10 splits than I ever have using 16lb equipment.

Won the poker hand twice though...just the $3 one at our table. Last week I lost all 3 games...so I guess I can be happy about something.

[Aslan]

I will say I've never seen the Lethal in action so I could be wrong but combine the higher Rg of the Lethal with the propel x cover which is more of a medium oil cover vs the asymmetrical heavy oil cover and lower Rg of the Dark Encounter it's easily the stronger of the two balls. Not even close. I have seen the Loaded sanded and it should be about the same as the Lethal.

I would suggest giving the DE a try playing more of an inside line in the oil on fresh conditions (I know not your strong suit) and see how it performs.

I hate to say it...but it "might" just be that Columbia has weaker covers than other ball manufacturers. I don't like to believe that the balls really make much of a difference...but thus far both my Columbia balls have been huge disappointments.

You're right, the DE SHOULD be the most powerful ball. It's a pro level ball (2 years ago), it has an assymetric, stronger core, and has a fairly low RG...not to mention it has a solid cover. But...like it's sister the Encounter....it just doesn't seem to have that "bite" that you see with Storm, Rotogrip, or Brunswick. The Bullet Train and Hammer were "in between"...but both Columbia balls I tried...and even the newer LX15 and HX15 that I tried at the demo...they just didn't have that "bite" to them that I would expect from a newer technology ball.

I'm just really weary about EBI at this point. I've tried Hammers, Track, Columbia...never tried an Ebonite yet...and they just don't have that "sticky" cover that seems to grab the lanes. I could be wrong...the DE definitely moved when I was throwing it outside at lower speeds...but it was almost a reluctant move. It was as if the balls were alive and had personalities...the DE seemed to have a personality of, "Oh....okay <sigh>....I guess I'll hook...if I HAVE TO! : (" And that's not what I'm seeing from Brunswick, Storm, or Rotogrip.

Maybe it's just in my head. Maybe it's more due to how poorly my skill set is. I don't pretend to know for sure. I'm just saying...the EBI stuff I've thrown just doesn't seem to have "it" compared to the other brands I've thrown.

[Amyers]

I've never thrown any Colombia equipment and most of what I see of it is older stuff. So maybe your correct but I think if there stuff is that underperforming they woul have been out of business long ago. The one ebi product I have is the arson low flare and it hooks plenty for a ball that I bought to play lower oil conditions with.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: shorter pattern/heavy oil in the middle/dry outside

529 Series: 168-183-178

Had trouble with the oil pattern tonight. I was trying to play around 13 but I think the pattern went out a bit further, maybe to 10.5. I shoulda started outside, but I was being stubborn trying to play that inside line and it cost me the first two games.

Game 1 I struck 4 out of 5 times on right lane…looked like the ball was going right up the oil line at about 14. But on the left lane…seemed like the oil pattern was wider…maybe to just inside 10. I ended up finally switching to the Dark Encounter on that lane and playing it around 11…but that wasn't a great line either. And, I missed a singe 2-pin. TWICE! : (

Game 2 I was using the Dark Encounter on the left lane and the Lethal Revolver on the right lane…switching the IT inserts from ball to ball between turns (which was kinda annoying). I chopped a 3-6 in the first frame, but was otherwise clean including picking up a 3-6-7-10 split in the 9th.

Game 3 I left another 3-6-7-10 split, this time in the first frame, and this time I couldn't convert it. Then I got robbed on a pocket stone 9 in the 5th that I usually will pick up…but the lanes were too dry on the outside so my strike ball hooked just left of it. I was otherwise clean…but only struck twice. : (

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.67 pins
Strikes: 30% (2 doubles and 6 singles)
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 72% (8/11)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin, 4-pin, and 7-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (7/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-4-5, 1-2-8, and 3-6-7-10 split (2x each).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 176.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 184.33.

I used to try different lines in practice…but sort of stopped because I was just running out of time in practice trying 3 lines and 2-3 balls on each line. But tonight I really needed to abandon my 13-board game and go out to the 9-board…but I was too stubborn. And by the time I went out there…it was the 3rd game and getting beat up.

And the spare shooting was weird…I made all my corner pins but missed 100% of my middle pins (2 and 9)…that doesn't happen very often…maybe 1-2 times a year. Thursday practice is still going to focus on corner pin spares though. It was too "off" Tuesday and that worries me. I don't strike enough to be a bad spare shooter.

Thursday Practice:

Spare shooting practice: Low Ball
Goal 60 pins or less
Gutter = + 10 pins

Game 1: 80
Game 2: 70
Game 3: 96

By Game 3 I think I figured out it was a balance issue. Once I started making sure to get the balance arm out there….the spare shooting seemed to improve. The Game 3 score is the worst, but thats due to 3 gutters = 30 pins.

The sad thing is….even playing low ball and not striking once…I think I still beat 2 of the 3 guys bowling next to me. :eek:

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: 40ft flat THS pattern

483 Series: 145-165-173
(Last 2 Weeks = 147-174-177-159-173-171)

So lets see....over 3 weeks:

Game 1: 147, 159, 145. (Average = 150, SD = 7.57 pins)
Game 2: 174, 173, 165. (Average = 171, SD =4.9 pins)
Game 3: 177, 171, 173. (Average = 174, SD = 3.1 pins)

Current League Average = 171.

I find this mathematically interesting. Granted, it's a small sample size, especially to run a standard deviation (SD)...but 3 weeks...and Game 3 was 177, 171, 173...all 3 weeks Game 1 was about 21 pins below my league average while all Game 2s and 3s...only once did I come short of my average. It's bordering on statistical significance.

Game 1...well, lets just say I kicked by 4-ball roller bag....so frustration levels were high. I started out missing right...and missed 3 multi-pin spares in the first 5 frames. I recovered in the 2nd half of the game...but opened in the 10th on a chopped 3-10 baby split. It seemed like speed was an issue early on...but then I moved right to try and go straighter at the pocket...and then started missing left for the rest of Game 1. : (

Game 2 I started out with a turkey...but missed a single 6-pin...then missed a 4-7...converted a 5-7 (ironically)...but chopped a 1-3-6 in the 9th and then opened in the 10th with another horribly timed split...this time the Big 4. : ( : (

Game 3 I struck 4 out of 5 times on the left lane after balling down to the Dark Encounter...but didn't strike on the right lane until the 10th. But...spare shooting is still "off" for some reason...missed a 7-pin and a 4-pin. The 6th frame was the only frame I didn't get 9+ pins with the first ball...leaving a 4-6-10 split...so my game was feeling better...just too little too late.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.58 pins
Strikes: 32% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 5 singles)
Spares: 47% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 7-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 5-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 38% (5/13)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-4-8 (2x).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 3 games: 161.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.67.

We took 3 out of 4 points...so it wasn't a total loss. And I had more than a handful to several shots that in all honesty looked absolutely perfect. I don't have the repeatable form of our anchor nor the speed/precision combo of our 4th bowler...BUT...when I can add a good release to my speed and accuracy...I end up getting a ball that looks like a semi-pro threw it. Perfect axis tilt and rotation....and the speed to really get a good deal of power. I mean, some of my shots were actually TOO GOOD...because the pins scattered like a flock of pigeons...and on a few shots I'd get pins bouncing all over the place...yet somehow not hit the 7-pin. On one shot, I sent a messenger flying towards the 7-pin...but it bounced off the lane and over the top of the 7-pin.

The difference I'm seeing is two-fold...good and bad.

On the BAD side...I'm seeing a trend that early on I'm "trying too hard". I'm throwing too hard, too fast....my feet are fast...and I'm just tense. As the night goes on...especially if I start to find my groove....I start to slow down...I start to relax...I let the ball do the work. I have to find a way to get those early series jitters out of my way before it actually counts.

On the GOOD side...and I WILL provide some video evidence when I remember to bring my camera with me...but during Game 3 I really started relaxing and focusing on my release more...and man...it was working. For a guy that has always been rev challenged...who throws the ball faster than most others I bowl with/against...it feels kinda good to hear the other team say things like, "Man...that ball hooked like mad!" I think most of my problem early on was just not having my fingers in the proper position to actually make the ball move sideways. I'd throw with a broken wrist and push my fingers through the ball...but it would be a straight ball...minor flare at the end. Now I've found a way to stay behind the ball...but get that ideal axis tilt...and combine that with 1lb lighter equipment...I'm now having TROUBLE playing outside of 7...where I used to LOVE to play...because even at 17mph...with 15lb equipment and me finally developing some semblance of a "release"...it's just too dry out there and I can't stay right.

So I'm starting to see the fruits of my labors. I'm starting to see that I can actually throw the ball properly and get good revs...and good axis tilt and axis rotation. As many, many coaches (including Rob) have plainly stated....I "don't need more speed". The speed is good. The trick was always how to get enough axis tilt and rotation...and enough rpms...to get the ball to move laterally down lane when the ball is travelling 15-17mph. And it was always frustrating...because most of the higher scoring players...none of them threw as hard as I do...so I'd see their bowling balls move laterally...and it would frustrate me. I figured eventually I'd have to learn to throw slower...and I didn't want to do that. If the pros throw 19-21mph...and can get the ball back to the pocket...then I should be able to throw weaker balls (technology-wise) and find a way to get to the pocket at 16mph. And now I'm starting to see it. For those that have followed my videos...I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised when you see some of the aspects of my game that have really turned a corner.

But...yeah, 483...NOT happy about that. As much as I try not to be "typical"....like any other bowler I HATE when I score badly....progress or not. :mad:

[Aslan]

Also, I finally got some information on the pattern for this (harder) Tuesday league. The pro shop operator calls it a "40ft flat house pattern".

I doubt it's truly FLAT...like the US Open pattern...but I think it is fairly flat at least through the heads. And 40ft...that's fairly long....and that makes sense based on what I've seen in terms of ball reaction.

Why a house would put down such a hard pattern...I don't know. It's kinda a shame...because it's a nice center, and I like the people...but it's rather tiring to go out there and average 12-15 pins (or more) lower than at other houses. The pro shop operator said it's a good thing because players that bowl there, can go to handicap tournaments and do well...because their averages are deflated. But, see, to me that's not really "fair". This is the kinda thing the USBC needs to do a better job of regulating (but never will). It's not fair to a 190 average player that shows up at a tournament on a THS...and bowls against a person who rolls league on some crazy hard pattern and has 12-15 pins of handicap "gifted" to him.

Still no "pattern sheet" though. Houses supposedly are supposed to have something like that...but both centers I've asked for it...both say they'll ask this guy or that guy...and I have yet to get anything back.

[Mike White]

Also, I finally got some information on the pattern for this (harder) Tuesday league. The pro shop operator calls it a "40ft flat house pattern".

I doubt it's truly FLAT...like the US Open pattern...but I think it is fairly flat at least through the heads. And 40ft...that's fairly long....and that makes sense based on what I've seen in terms of ball reaction.

Why a house would put down such a hard pattern...I don't know. It's kinda a shame...because it's a nice center, and I like the people...but it's rather tiring to go out there and average 12-15 pins (or more) lower than at other houses. The pro shop operator said it's a good thing because players that bowl there, can go to handicap tournaments and do well...because their averages are deflated. But, see, to me that's not really "fair". This is the kinda thing the USBC needs to do a better job of regulating (but never will). It's not fair to a 190 average player that shows up at a tournament on a THS...and bowls against a person who rolls league on some crazy hard pattern and has 12-15 pins of handicap "gifted" to him.

Still no "pattern sheet" though. Houses supposedly are supposed to have something like that...but both centers I've asked for it...both say they'll ask this guy or that guy...and I have yet to get anything back.

By flat, he probably means that the only loads are something like 10 to 10, not like a christmas tree where you have loads like 8 to 8, 10 to 10, 12 to 12, 14 to 14 at different distances down the lane.

[Aslan]

By flat, he probably means that the only loads are something like 10 to 10, not like a christmas tree where you have loads like 8 to 8, 10 to 10, 12 to 12, 14 to 14 at different distances down the lane.

Yeah…but I don't think they'd put down a true 40ft flat pattern. Seems like they could save more money on oil by using a standard pattern than by not re-oiling before leagues for 1/2 the year.

A flat pattern DOES explain a LOT of things though. All season I noticed 3 things:

1) The pattern was longer than typical. You could see it if you had to throw straight up the middle…the ball wouldn't seem to encounter friction until very far down the lane.

2) The right side, after they stopped re-oiling before league play…seemed like there was no breakpoint…as if house bowlers throwing plastic balls all day had pushed oil into the breakpoint.

3) Other houses, the patterns seem to go from 27 to 13…at least at the base (of the Christmas tree). At THIS house…it seemed like the pattern at the base was about 5 boards wider like 32 to 8.

4) There was little miss room right…maybe 2 boards…and even 2 boards you'd hit light 90% of the time. Which 'could' have been the result of throwing the ball in the oil…unless you're playing 1-7…and playing 1-7…your ball would burn out…then thats another reason it could hit light.

I mean, I respect the challenge…but here's the thing: If you're gonna put a harder pattern down…for whatever reason…then you have to re-apply pre-league. Because the flatter the pattern…the longer the pattern…the more oil carries down during open bowling…ESPECIALLY FOR RIGHTIES…and you end up with patterns where the entire right side of the lane has random oil volumes.

[Mike White]

Yeah…but I don't think they'd put down a true 40ft flat pattern. Seems like they could save more money on oil by using a standard pattern than by not re-oiling before leagues for 1/2 the year.

A flat pattern DOES explain a LOT of things though. All season I noticed 3 things:

1) The pattern was longer than typical. You could see it if you had to throw straight up the middle…the ball wouldn't seem to encounter friction until very far down the lane.

2) The right side, after they stopped re-oiling before league play…seemed like there was no breakpoint…as if house bowlers throwing plastic balls all day had pushed oil into the breakpoint.

3) Other houses, the patterns seem to go from 27 to 13…at least at the base (of the Christmas tree). At THIS house…it seemed like the pattern at the base was about 5 boards wider like 32 to 8.

4) There was little miss room right…maybe 2 boards…and even 2 boards you'd hit light 90% of the time. Which 'could' have been the result of throwing the ball in the oil…unless you're playing 1-7…and playing 1-7…your ball would burn out…then thats another reason it could hit light.

I mean, I respect the challenge…but here's the thing: If you're gonna put a harder pattern down…for whatever reason…then you have to re-apply pre-league. Because the flatter the pattern…the longer the pattern…the more oil carries down during open bowling…ESPECIALLY FOR RIGHTIES…and you end up with patterns where the entire right side of the lane has random oil volumes.



Don't think of it as a harder pattern, only a different pattern.

At Arlington we usually have a 10 to 10, 40 foot pattern.

Most people who are used to it, start the ball a little left of 10, and let it swing out a bit outside of 10, where it encounters friction, so it follows the edge of the oil down to 40 feet, then hopefully makes a move towards the pocket.

When we go to Laughlin, they oil 6 to 6, about 42 feet.

Most of the people try to play the lane exactly the same as if it were 10 to 10, and when they let it swing out, it doesn't stop going out at about 10 board, it doesn't stop until it's a bit outside of 6.

At the end of the oil, the move the ball makes while similar in magnitude, ends up wide of the pocket, because it started from a point wider, and a couple of feet closer to the pins.

I took the time before we started bowling, to look at the lanes to see where there was oil, and I walked down the side walkway, to get an idea of how long the oil was.

With that information, I tightened up my line from 15 at the arrows, out to 5 at 40 feet (at Arlington), to about 10 at the arrows, out to 3 at 42 feet.

By reducing the launch angle, I get more back end reaction to compensate for the oil being wider, and longer.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low-oil synthetics

Pre-League Practice:

551 Series: 180-198 (clean)-173

Thought maybe if I got some warm-up games in, maybe I'd settle down before league play.

Game 1 I just worked on balance as I was trying to get used to my other pair of shoes. I had trouble sliding in the brown pair on Tuesday so I put on the white Dexters which slide a lot more. Was almost a clean game but got a 4-6 split in the 2nd and missed a single 7-pin in the 3rd.

Game 2 I was trying to work on focus…keeping my eyes on the target until the ball is delivered…just let the body do whatever muscle memory dictated.

Game 3 I was working on my release. I was tempted to work the inside of the ball…but figured I'd save that for when I had more time.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.82 pins
Strikes: 38% (3 doubles, and 7 singles)
Spares: 73% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 81% (9/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-5 (2x).

Splits: 66% (2/3)

Average over 3 games: 183.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 195.00.

League Night: low-oil synthetics

542 Series: 162-190-190
Ughhh! If the first game jitters wouldn't have bitten me AGAIN…I may have had a shot at a triplicate…and a 190 triplicate would be pretty sweet.

Game 1 I struggled with spares. A missed 7-pin in the 7th, a missed 10-pin in the 8th, and a chopped 5-9 9th…kinda ruined what started out as a pretty solid spare shooting game.

Game 2 I was a chopped 6-9-10 in the 3rd away from a clean 200+ game.

Game 3 I made a terrible, pulled shot in the 5th and couldn't convert. And then in the 10th I missed a single 8-pin costing me another potential 200-game. But, we had the game in hand so even though I didn't intentionally miss it (by about 1/2 inch), I wasn't that broken up about it.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.94 pins
Strikes: 34% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 6 singles)
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 78% (11/14)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (6x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 6-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (3/6)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a.

Splits: n/a

Average over 3 games: 180.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 191.33.

Had trouble with balance and speed control. My new approach generates a little more speed and with the Dexters being more able to slide…it's a combination I need to get used to. My spare game sorta came back…and I was worried about that…but I just couldn't get the carry tonight. SIX single 10-pins tonight and two 7-pins…just a lot of shots that looked solid and hit pocket…but didn't strike.

But…we took all 4 points against the BYE team so 4 points is 4 points.

[Aslan]

Sunday Practice: 200-179-175-184

Was too lazy and slept in and missed church…so I got a little practice in instead.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.67 pins
Strikes: 44% (1 turkey, 4 doubles, and 9 singles)
Spares: 65% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (4/4)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x).
Only left a 6-pin and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (11/19)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-4-5 (3x).

Splits: 16% (1/6)

Average over 3 games: 184.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Each game was similar. In Game 1 I had one open frame and in the last 3 I had 2 open frames. Spare shooting was good…100% single-pin, and I didn't chop a non-split until the 3rd game.

Was working on a couple minor things. Trying to keep my elbow straight until just before the release…not bending it too early. Also was working on being a little less systematic for multi-pin spares. Statistically it didn't work very well…but if you adjust for the amount of splits…it actually worked okay.

After about a game and a half I started trying a more outside line. Early on I was playing just outside of 15…but it seemed very 'straight' and just was too temperamental. Not enough room to miss. So I moved just a little right with my feet but moved my target out to like the 7-8 board. And that actually started working. But, then in games 3 and 4 I balled down to the Dark Encounter and still did "okay"…just didn't seem to have as powerful a move to the pocket as the Le. Revolver.

I don't like the feeling of being stuck at this score plateau (179-173-184). Trick at this point is to further refine some of the imperative items like stance, footwork, timing, release, and ball speed. I have a decent sized list of things to refine…and I worry if I try to find that next 'step-change' at this point I might revert to old habits regarding the basics. BUT…I think next week I'm gonna get in contact with M. Baker and finally cross that off my goal list for the season.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: 40ft flat THS pattern

559 Series: 147-215-197
So lets see....over 4 weeks, Game 1: 147, 159, 145, 147. (Average = 150, SD = 6.4 pins)

Game 1...4-6 split in the 2nd, 4-10 split in the 5th, slid barely by a single 5-pin in the 7th, and chopped the 1-2-4 in the 9th.

Game 2 I started out with a 4-bagger...but missed a single 10-pin in the 5th and after that...kinda lost my strike line but still stayed clean the rest of the way.

Game 3 I balled down to the Asylum and was doing well until a 1-2-10 washout in the 6th followed by a missed single 6-pin in the 7th...my only two opens.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.09 pins
Strikes: 44% (1 4-bagger, 1turkey, 1 double, and 6 singles)
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 42% (3/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a (1x each).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 186.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 196.67.

Not sure why I keep laying a royal flatulent egg in game 1 each week. But my guess is balance. Now that I've started to learn how to slide, my ability to stay balanced is slightly more tricky. Now I don't just worry about falling off the shot or planting over the foul line...now I also have to worry about sticking or sliding too far or slipping.

Other than that, was just working on/struggling with footwork and ball speed consistency. Any little increase in speed and I'd hit light and leave a 5-pin or 7-pin or 10-pin or I'd leave worse...like a 1-2 or 1-2-4...or even WORSE a 1-2-10. But if I adjust because of the miss...and then either get more hand on the shot or throw it a little slower...I'd leave a 6-pin or get the maximum penalty of a 4-6 or 4-10.

A good night personally...and I was really hoping to perform well since we were playing an experienced team...but the team as a whole lost 3 out of 4. I used the Dark Encounter for Games 1 and 2 as the lanes seemed just a tad too dry for the Le. Revolver. And rather than switch balls from the D. Encounter to the Asylum during the end of Game 2...I just waited to make a switch until Game 3 started. Definitely not getting the angle, power, and carry with the D. Encounter and Asylum that I seem to get with the Le. Revolver. Maybe drilling matters more than I previously thought (that's my only pin down ball) or maybe Brunswick truly does make better balls. Not sure.

[NYMIKE]

Good numbers man, in a league setting seems like often my best game is my first game, not sure why.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low-oil synthetics

575 Series: 219-180-176

Game 1 I struggled with a new pair of shoes I was wearing. More slick than I thought they'd be so I missed a stinkin single 2-pin in the first frame…both the first shot and second shot I slipped and lost my balance. The rest of the game was clean as I paced their anchor. He's a 0 handicap bowler and since we're both anchors…I actually do better if I try to compete with the other guy. And in the first game, I paced him the whole way…but he was 6 pins ahead and I went X X 9 and he struck out to beat me by 7 pins.

Game 2 was two spares, a missed single 7-pin, two more spares, a missed single 10-pin, two more spares…then I actually struck a couple times…but hard to hit 200 if I miss a spare every third frame and don't strike till the 9th frame.

All of the last half of Game 2 I was using the Le. Revolver on the left lane and the D. Encounter on the right lane…which is annoying because I have to keep taking my VISE thumb insert out between frames. Well, shot 1 of Game 3 I strike brooklyn. I made my move and looked at my next shot in frame 3 and KNEW I couldn't make that turn. Once I looked down at my notes and saw that I'd be left of center and targeting greater than 15…I knew frame 3 was gonna be a big miss right…but…after another strike in the second frame…I used the line anyways and left the damn 1-2-8 (my nemesis!). So I used the D. Encounter the rest of Game 3. It wasn't as bad as the score indicates…only two opens…a 6-7-10 split and a 4-6 split. But the 4-6 split was in the 10th…so...

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.85 pins
Strikes: 39% (1 turkey, 4 doubles, and 2 singles)
Spares: 73% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (6/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin, 7-pin, 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 80% (8/10)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 191.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 202.67.

Still gotta get used to sliding. Most of my bad shots were sliding and losing my balance or trying to compensate for the imbalance.

This was another rare game where my multi-pin spare shooting was better than single-pin spare shooting. Picked up every multi-pin spare that wasn't a split.

This game shows the value of doubling versus single strikes. Last week was mostly singles…and I averaged 10 pins lower.

The MOST disappointing thing about tonight happened on the 2nd to last shot. I guess as a anchor, I'm going to have to get used to this…but it sure felt horrible.

Our team won the first game and the other team won the 2nd game. We needed 23 points + a win in Game 3 to take 3. I was the last won to roll and I knew if I just marked we'd tie. And I knew if I struck or marked and kept it on the lane we'd win and split. So, I went up, feeling confident after a strike in the 9th…finally my time to 'matter' as the team anchor…and I leave the 4-6 split in the 10th. Lost by 9 pins. Ughhh…. :(

[Amyers]

Not coming though in the clutch sucks it's happened to me a couple of times this summer. Just remember you will win some for the team but your going to lose some too. Don't let it get in your head. I just changed the sole son my SST8 to the S10 (more slide) from the S8 and it caused me some problems last night I seem to be sliding on my third step I guess I'm too much up on the toes killed me Friday night. All in all nice scores

[vdubtx]

As an anchor, you will have those low times(have had my share of that), but you will also get those times when you strike out to win by 1 pin as well. Take the good with the bad and learn from the experiences. :cool:

[Aslan]

As an anchor, you will have those low times(have had my share of that), but you will also get those times when you strike out to win by 1 pin as well. Take the good with the bad and learn from the experiences. :cool:
Agreed. It's my first time being on a team where I'm in that role and for the most part I do pretty well and it actually contributes to me bowling a little better. Most people tend to bowl worse when the pressure is on...I tend to bowl worse if there is no pressure.


last night I seem to be sliding on my third step I guess I'm too much up on the toes killed me Friday night.
Yeah. I noticed that last night as well. My Brunswick shoes didn't have much slide at all. My white Dexters had the perfect amount of slide, but were 0.5 to 1 size too small. So I'm currently using a black pair of Dexters that seem to only be about 1/2 size small and a little too narrow...but they slide way more than the white ones (newer, barely used, etc...). And I noticed that same thing you mentioned...as I went to take my 3rd step...my left foot would 'slip' a little as I got up on my sole/toes....and the other shoes I didn't have that problem.

I might invest in a decent pair of shoes. I need to talk to my coach about it. When I didn't slide much...shoes weren't really an issue. I liked the Brunswicks because they fit the best. But now...wooo...I sometimes feel like Bambi on an ice rink.

[manke]

Thats my issue to my first game is always 10 to 15 pins below my average.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: low oil synthetics

526 Series: 168-193-165

The lanes were dry tonight. Not sure why. But once again this house just seems to do whatever they can to keep people guessing.

In Game 1 I started with the D. Encounter because the Le. Revolver was hooking WAY too much. Third frame I chopped the 1-2…then in the 8th I chopped the 2-4. Then in the 10th I chopped the lovely 1-3-8-10. And I only left the dang 1-3-8-10 because we got MOVED from the lanes we were on to a pair on the other side of the center. Equipment malfunction. So, 9th frame and 10th frame I went Brooklyn as I realised these lanes were even drier than the other side.

Game 2 I was clean through 7 until I left the 4-6-7 in the 8th and then completely tugged the next shot leaving the 1-2-3-5-6-9-10. I was quickly learning that with my new release…if I really "try" to put axis rotation on the ball…I can cause it to hook alot more than I would have thought.

Game 3 I balled down to the Asylum but made the stupid error of going back to 2nd arrow. That was stupid because I don't usually go back that far when balling down…and the Asylum may be the weakest of the 3 balls I'm using right now…but it's really not that much weaker than the D. Encounter…so I should have known going back outside wasn't gonna work. So, by the time I got dialed in…it was the 5th frame. And I just couldn't stop chopping easy spares…missed a 6-10 in the 2nd and chopped another 6-10 in the 7th….and ANOTHER in the 10th!!!

So SERIOUSLY…who has EVER MISSED THREE 6-10 leaves in the SAME GAME!!!?? Thats…maddening…

https://storytimewithjohn.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/noooo-gif.gif

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.68 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 5 singles)
Spares: 57% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (8/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 27% (3/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 175.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Wow. Two-for-two on the 3-6-10…and I made my ole buddy the 2-4-8…but when it came to the easy ones….6-10, 1-2, 2-4…those I either missed or in most cases chopped.

I kinda balme Susie Minshew….I read her article about picking up single-pin spares on BTM….and apparently I didn't read the fine print where it says "this method will help you with single-pin spares but you'll miss every make-able multi-pin spare."

I don't think I had a consistent approach. My knee has been giving me trouble since Friday and I think I was worried about it and not bending it enough. And early on I was breaking my elbow eather than swinging through the shot. Honestly, the team took 3 of 4 points…I won $4 by winning 2 of the poker hands…our female bowlers wasn't there so it was sort of a "guy's night" where we could be slightly more vulger than normal…we got a free round of drinks from the center for the equipment malfunction and subsequently moving us…and most of all…my knee hald up. And thats good news because Saturday I was thinking it might be a surgery thing. And can the bowling world survive with Aslan out of action for 6-18 months??

If your answer was a snarky "yeah"…then let me paint it another way…can the world tolerate and Aslan that due to injury is unable to bowl and devotes all that energy into writing 4000 word posts on the internet 24-7??? I thought so.

[MICHAEL]

Tuesday League Night: low oil synthetics

526 Series: 168-193-165

The lanes were dry tonight. Not sure why. But once again this house just seems to do whatever they can to keep people guessing.

In Game 1 I started with the D. Encounter because the Le. Revolver was hooking WAY too much. Third frame I chopped the 1-2…then in the 8th I chopped the 2-4. Then in the 10th I chopped the lovely 1-3-8-10. And I only left the dang 1-3-8-10 because we got MOVED from the lanes we were on to a pair on the other side of the center. Equipment malfunction. So, 9th frame and 10th frame I went Brooklyn as I realised these lanes were even drier than the other side.

Game 2 I was clean through 7 until I left the 4-6-7 in the 8th and then completely tugged the next shot leaving the 1-2-3-5-6-9-10. I was quickly learning that with my new release…if I really "try" to put axis rotation on the ball…I can cause it to hook alot more than I would have thought.

Game 3 I balled down to the Asylum but made the stupid error of going back to 2nd arrow. That was stupid because I don't usually go back that far when balling down…and the Asylum may be the weakest of the 3 balls I'm using right now…but it's really not that much weaker than the D. Encounter…so I should have known going back outside wasn't gonna work. So, by the time I got dialed in…it was the 5th frame. And I just couldn't stop chopping easy spares…missed a 6-10 in the 2nd and chopped another 6-10 in the 7th….and ANOTHER in the 10th!!!

So SERIOUSLY…who has EVER MISSED THREE 6-10 leaves in the SAME GAME!!!?? Thats…maddening…

https://storytimewithjohn.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/noooo-gif.gif

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.68 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 5 singles)
Spares: 57% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (8/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 27% (3/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 175.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Wow. Two-for-two on the 3-6-10…and I made my ole buddy the 2-4-8…but when it came to the easy ones….6-10, 1-2, 2-4…those I either missed or in most cases chopped.

I kinda balme Susie Minshew….I read her article about picking up single-pin spares on BTM….and apparently I didn't read the fine print where it says "this method will help you with single-pin spares but you'll miss every make-able multi-pin spare."

I don't think I had a consistent approach. My knee has been giving me trouble since Friday and I think I was worried about it and not bending it enough. And early on I was breaking my elbow eather than swinging through the shot. Honestly, the team took 3 of 4 points…I won $4 by winning 2 of the poker hands…our female bowlers wasn't there so it was sort of a "guy's night" where we could be slightly more vulger than normal…we got a free round of drinks from the center for the equipment malfunction and subsequently moving us…and most of all…my knee hald up. And thats good news because Saturday I was thinking it might be a surgery thing. And can the bowling world survive with Aslan out of action for 6-18 months??

If your answer was a snarky "yeah"…then let me paint it another way…can the world tolerate and Aslan that due to injury is unable to bowl and devotes all that energy into writing 4000 word posts on the internet 24-7??? I thought so.


GET a knee replacement and a urethane bowling ball for the dry lanes... second thought,,, THINK seriously before you let Anyone cut on you. So many natural supplements that can help! 3 right off the bat that will help. MSM,,, (read about it), magnesium, potassium, and K-2.... that's four, but remarkable! I use to have knee pain 3 years ago,,, but now feel like a 30 year old greek god!

Stay away form sugar!!!!!

use stevia when needed, eat REAL organic foods, and pure water, juice like ICEMAN everyday!!!

seriously try changing your eating habits.... Sugar DOES cause inflammation, the root of most PAIN!!

I actually feel stronger, and in better health now then when we met last September!

[Mike White]

GET a knee replacement and a urethane bowling ball for the dry lanes... second thought,,, THINK seriously before you let Anyone cut on you. So many natural supplements that can help! 3 right off the bat that will help. MSM,,, (read about it), magnesium, potassium, and K-2.... that's four, but remarkable! I use to have knee pain 3 years ago,,, but now feel like a 30 year old greek god!

Stay away form sugar!!!!!

use stevia when needed, eat REAL organic foods, and pure water, juice like ICEMAN everyday!!!

seriously try changing your eating habits.... Sugar DOES cause inflammation, the root of most PAIN!!

I actually feel stronger, and in better health now then when we met last September!

Can you wear shoes yet, or do you still bowl in sandals.

30 year old greek gods only wear sandals when they are in Greece.

[Tony]

Can you wear shoes yet, or do you still bowl in sandals.

30 year old greek gods only wear sandals when they are in Greece.

Being that Podunk is a long way from Greece, the normal bowling shoe is the high top biker boot style.

[Aslan]

3 right off the bat that will help. MSM,,, (read about it), magnesium, potassium, and K-2.... that's four, but remarkable! I use to have knee pain 3 years ago,,, but now feel like a 30 year old greek god!

Okay, lets table the sugar issue for now...but lets say I decide to try the MSM and K-2. Where's a good place to get that kinda stuff? Is that like GNC kinda thing?

I'm leary on Potassium and Magnesium because for awhile I was taking in a large amount of Calcium due to a program I heard on the radio claiming that diets extremely high in Calcium tend to promote all kinds of positive health effects and longevity. Unfortunately...that led to kidney stones. Apparently the pretend doctor on the radio left that part out.

[Amyers]

Okay, lets table the sugar issue for now...but lets say I decide to try the MSM and K-2. Where's a good place to get that kinda stuff? Is that like GNC kinda thing?

I'm leary on Potassium and Magnesium because for awhile I was taking in a large amount of Calcium due to a program I heard on the radio claiming that diets extremely high in Calcium tend to promote all kinds of positive health effects and longevity. Unfortunately...that led to kidney stones. Apparently the pretend doctor on the radio left that part out.

Isn't K-2 "synthetic marijuana"? Pretty sure that's even illegal here. I'm pretty sure that if that is what it is should clear your knee pain right up and anything else that hurts. lol

[Aslan]

Isn't K-2 "synthetic marijuana"? Pretty sure that's even illegal here. I'm pretty sure that if that is what it is should clear your knee pain right up and anything else that hurts. lol

I'm well ahead of you on that one. If K-2 is simply marijuana...then I already got that and am taking it regularly. And yes, it's 100% legal...I have a little ID card with my picture on it and everything...given to me by a medical doctor in good standing. Granted, he wore slippers and looked a lot like the comic store owner from the Simpsons cartoon...but lets not go there.

http://media.punchingkitty.com/wordpress/2010/10/comic-book-guy.jpeg

I even tried to "bowl high" thinking it might solve my issues with "being too much inside my own head"...but it really messes with my balance on the approach and at the foul line so I no longer bowl high purposely. I sometimes underestimate how long a high will last...and end up bowling the first game or two high...but that's something I try to avoid.

Funny bowling/pot related story. I recently participated in a Pro Am with the PBA50 and I was really, really nervous being around some of my bowling idols. WRW wasn't there at that event, but PBIII was as well as other PBA50 greats. Well, I got there really, really early so I decided to go out to my car and smoke just a little bit to calm my nerves...and one thing people may or may not know about Pete Weber is; he smokes...a LOT. I think just cigarettes...so don't start a scandal or call TMZ or anything...but nearly every break Pete was outside in the smoking area puffing away. And for a moment...I kinda thought it would be cool/interesting to roll up a joint and go over there and just smoke with Pete. I mean, maybe he'd be totally cool and ask to take a hit. But, I decided while there was a 15% chance Pete would take a hit...and a 55% chance nobody would notice and Pete wouldn't care/mind if I was smoking a J near him....I figured there was a 30% chance it could get me in trouble...and I was too nervous anyways...I didn't want to add to the anxiety by risking it.

The PBA is really cool and interesting because most major sports...you don't have that kind of access to the athletes. I got to bowl with John Burkett and I tried to ask each of them one question...but if I could have asked John B. a second question, it would have been what its like to go from a sport like baseball where there is a line of police and stadium personnel between you and the adoring fans...versus bowling where you're in line with the fans at the snack bar. John B. was probably the quietest of all the Pro-Am guys/gals I bowled with that weekend (I did 2 pro-ams that weekend...the first one I bowled with M. Parkin, Sean Rash, and a few lesser known West Regional PBA guys). I think he's still adjusting to fans being so intimate with him.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was Sean Rash...that guy is out of control. My daughter won't admit it..but I think she has a crush him. If I see him again, I'm gonna try and get him to autograph an 8x10 or something for her. Sean was bowling against Action Jackson during warm-ups...taking Action Jackson's money. Then he was goofing around during introductions. When he was bowling with my group, he spent a lot of time talking to my daughter and joking around. By the end of the bowling...and this is 100% truth...he actually was walking around the place with no shirt on because he agreed to auction it off for the charity auction.

[Tony]

Seems like the Asylum is a pretty tough ball to throw on dry lanes, too bad you didn't have something made for med to dry with you. I might even be tempted to throw my spare ball if facing those conditions without a lower powered ball.

I had knee problems and surgery was suggested but my second opinion guy insisted that physical therapy would have a good chance of success, The top exercise was leaning against the wall knee bends. As I worked more and more on them it strengthened the muscles enough that the knee pain was minimized and to this day have never had the surgery. That was over 10 years ago.
If you haven't and are able to see a non surgical physical medicine Dr. ( Physiologist) it could potentially be helpful depending on the type of damage you have.
Since that point I have avoided a couple of other potential surgeries and been more comfortable that the surgeries I have had were truly medically needed.

[Aslan]

@Tony: Agreed Tony. I actually saw a physical therapist and he gave me a handful of exercises to do. I kinda stopped doing them recently but I guess I need to get back to it.

Wednesday League Night: medium-oil synthetics, typical THS.

607 Series: 186-210-211

Struggled out of the gate again...but not as bad as the score would indicate. That would have been a 195 had I not missed a single 10-pin in the 9th.

GAME ANALYSIS: During practice 2 weeks ago, my league night yesterday, and the first game (above)...I've really been struggling with my inside line. I've been trying to play around 11.5-13...essentially trying ride the oil line...and I'm just not getting much movement downlane. If I get lucky, it hits the pocket and collapses the pins...if I miss a board right or a board left...it seems to go through the nose. If the goal of league bowling is to find a ball/line combination that allows you the most miss room...what I was trying to do was NOT working. I also notices that sometimes...most of the time...if I missed more than 1-3 boards right...I actually struck with power.

SO...I moved back outside. I know Rob is a big proponent of playing inside and MikeW almost out of necessity must move inside to counter his rev rate...it just seems to me that with my ball speed....I need to be around 2nd arrow. Am I concerned that playing out there my ball will lose energy and hit light? Absolutely. I don't like shooting endless 10-pins any more than anyone else. But playing around 3rd arrow...it's just not working. Maybe I need MORE angle...rather than playing the line...move more left and try to bowl to the breakpoint...but that's something I can work on with Rob when I'm out in Vegas next month.

Game 2 I left a 1-8 in the first frame...but was clean the rest of the way and struck out in the 10th to take a share of the skins sidepot ($40).

Game 3 that outside line (8.5 board) started to break down a little so I had to make some minor adjustments as Game 3 progressed. The only open frame was a missed 6-10 in the 6th frame.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.20 pins
Strikes: 48% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 3 doubles, and 4 singles)
Spares: 82% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (4x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10! (4x).

Splits: 100% (1/1)

Average over 3 games: 202.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 205.67.

Anytime I can break 600 it's a good night of bowling. Winning $40 on top of it is just icing on the cake. Unfortunately, the rest of my team is God awful...except for one kid that apparently has decided to sandbag as much as possible in the 3 weeks leading up to Vegas. I mean, how can the guy who has thrown a 697 series come in last night and throw a 392? I mean, sure, thumbless bowlers are generally more up and down than traditional bowlers...but 100 point swing per game? Gimme a break.

I plan on practicing tonight. I'd like to do 12 games and work on both spare shooting and experimenting with aiming for a breakpoint rather than the dots...but with my knee being questionable...I think I'll just do 7.

[Amyers]

Aslan maybe you need to adjust that line to get the ball outside of ten earlier from the third arrow so it hits more dry boards and has a chance to hook back. You can have a break point at 7 from 15 just as easily as you can from 10.

[Aslan]

Aslan maybe you need to adjust that line to get the ball outside of ten earlier from the third arrow so it hits more dry boards and has a chance to hook back. You can have a break point at 7 from 15 just as easily as you can from 10.

Yeah. That's one of things I got to look at when I see Rob in a couple weeks. I think my speed is prohibiting me from moving too far left of center. Generally if I get inside of 14...and/or my feet get left of 22...I start to have some real problems getting the ball to come back to the pocket. But, what I want to try in practice...I was hoping tonight but I might skip it and practice this weekend instead so I can watch the Lions game....is to aim for the breakpoint rather than the dots.

Generally on a 35ft pattern, rule of 31, the breakpoint is going to be at the 4 board. If it's more like a 37ft pattern then the 6-board. My current way of aiming at the dots, the ball doesn't seem to ever actually get to that breakpoint.

But at the next practice, assuming the knee is in good shape, I want to spend 1-3 games trying:
1) A 3- step approach, super-simplified, just to see how I bowl when I take out the approach variability.
2) Aiming for the breakpoint rather than the dots/arrows.
3) 2-point targeting for corner pin leaves.

I don't have high hopes for any of those to actually end up being incorporated into my game...but maybe I'll at least learn some things in the process.

[Mike White]

Yeah. That's one of things I got to look at when I see Rob in a couple weeks. I think my speed is prohibiting me from moving too far left of center. Generally if I get inside of 14...and/or my feet get left of 22...I start to have some real problems getting the ball to come back to the pocket. But, what I want to try in practice...I was hoping tonight but I might skip it and practice this weekend instead so I can watch the Lions game....is to aim for the breakpoint rather than the dots.

Generally on a 35ft pattern, rule of 31, the breakpoint is going to be at the 4 board. If it's more like a 37ft pattern then the 6-board. My current way of aiming at the dots, the ball doesn't seem to ever actually get to that breakpoint.

But at the next practice, assuming the knee is in good shape, I want to spend 1-3 games trying:
1) A 3- step approach, super-simplified, just to see how I bowl when I take out the approach variability.
2) Aiming for the breakpoint rather than the dots/arrows.
3) 2-point targeting for corner pin leaves.

I don't have high hopes for any of those to actually end up being incorporated into my game...but maybe I'll at least learn some things in the process.

A 1 step approach is simplified, because you wait for the ball the reach the top of the back swing.

A 2 step, and 3 step are probably the least simplified, there isn't a good feeling to know when to start.

As for having trouble moving in...

If the ball doesn't react well when you move in, you've probably moved in too far.

If the ball isn't going high to begin with, moving in isn't the proper adjustment.

The rule of 31 really doesn't apply to house shots where you want to exit the pattern near the edge of the oil line.

40 foot, 10 to 10, you exit at about 8-9, 37 foot 10 to 10, you exit at about 8-9.

For you, accuracy (by playing the oil line) far out weighs angle of entry on a house shot.

[Aslan]

Thursday Practice: 173-167-171-177

Similar scores, essentially 2 open frames per game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.53 pins
Strikes: 33% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 10 singles)
Spares: 65% picked up

Single Pin spares: 78% (11/14)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (7x).
Only left a 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 53% (8/15)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10! (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 172.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 180.50.

The lanes were a bit dry, but thats usually the case for practice so no surprise.

I tried to work on a 3-step approach, but as MWhite elluded to; it felt so strange that I abandoned it after 2 frames.

I also tried 2-point targeting when shooting the corner pins…but that didn't work well either. It felt like in golf when you try to keep your head down and eyes on the ball but then lift it up at the last second to see where the ball goes. So I abandoned that after a game.

The rest of the practice I spent trying to keep from bending my elbow before releasing the ball. I made some truly nice shots when my arm was straight at the release point.

And I found a trick to improving my corner pin spare shooting. To keep from psyching myself out…I would simply focus on the release of the ball. It doesn't matter much (hand position) for spares (if you use a plastic ball as I do) but it's just "thinking about it" gives me something for my mind to focus on rather than worry I'll miss the corner pin.

[Aslan]

Sunday Tournament: 32ft pattern

Home center tournament. About 55-60 participants.

487 Series: 161-159-167
Game 1 I couldn't seem to strike much and left 3 straight splits in frames 6, 7, and 8. Midway through Game 1 I realized the Lethal Revolver was just too strong on a pattern that was so dry/short. Switched to the Dark Encounter midway through.

Game 2 I had spare shooting troubles. Missed right at the 6-pin twice, and missed an 8-pin.

Game 3 I switched to the Asylum…but still had carry issues.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.62 pins
Strikes: 26% (1 double and 7 singles)
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, nor 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (8/14)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2-8 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 162.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.33.

Obviously the tournament didn't go well. It was disappointing. I was able to win a couple gift cards in a drawing…so I can get a free lunch at In and Out Burger.


Post-Tournament Practice:

564 Series: 154-202-208 (clean)
Started out with the Asylum in Game 1…but was having more carry problems. I decided to switch to the Le. Revolver and play more of a hook. Lately I've found my lines too tight…not taking advantage of the breakpoint…just trying to precisely float it up the oil line. So, I followed Rob's advice…because he once told me that I'd eventually abandon my 'systems' when I got more confident in my game. So Game 2, rather than standing with left foot on 17 and throwing up the 11-board…I was standing with my left foot about 2.5 boards left and my line about a 0.5 board right. I still couldn't get the Le. Revolver too far right on the dry lanes…but I was doing much better. In Game 3 I tried the same thing with the Dark Encounter. Had to move 1.5 boards right with my feet and a board right with my target, take advantage of more dry…but it worked again.

560 Series: 179-168-213
Continued trying to figure out a good line for the Asylum.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79 pins
Strikes: 37%(1 4-bagger, 2 turkeys, 4 doubles, and 7 singles)
Spares: 69% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (15/20)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 3-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (12/19)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8(2x).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 3 games: 187.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 195.83.

As disappointing as the tournament was, the practice sort of made up for it because I got a lot out of it.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: medium-oil synthetics

Practice/Warm-Up Game: 191

Practiced on Sunday, things seemed to be going okay...but the Le. Revolver just seemed a bit erratic.

518 Series: 171-179-168

In Game 1 my struggles with the 6-pin continued. Left it in the 4th, missed right. Left the 6-10 in the 9th, missed right and chopped it. Throw in two baby splits...one of which I picked up....and the rest of the game was clean...but the score was inflated a bit because I struck out in the 10th.

I just couldn't figure out what line to play. 15 minutes of practice and an entire game...and I still couldn't figure out where the heck I was supposed to be playing. I started just right of center targeting the 8-board (at the dots)...but if I got some hand into it...it would go Brooklyn or through the head...but if I didn't have as much hand into it...it would miss way right and leave the headpin.

Game 2 was more of the same...but my spare shooting was strong....but still I missed a 4-7 in the 4th and chopped a 1-2-8 in the 5th....the rest clean.

If I moved my feet anywhere left of center...I'd hit right. If I moved my feet right to adjust...I'd miss left. It just seemed like I had a target of 8 or 9....anything left of that and the ball seemed to just float down the oil river and at BEST hit pocket...at worst go through the head.

Game 3 I switched to the D. Encounter. It allowed me to move back outside a bit...a bit weaker and not as drastic a move downlane. But, one lane played a little drier and I left the 4-6 in the second frame. My only other open was the 4-6-7-10 in the 7th. But the D. Encounter was having the same problem I was having with the Le. Revolver....move to the 10-board...ball floats up the oil line....move to the 7-8 boards....ball hooks through the nose. And in the final 3 frames...I finally found pocket consistently...but the D. Encounter still was hitting soft.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.82 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 8 singles)
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (8/14)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 3 games: 172.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 176.67.

The first game I struggled with the approach. My shoe just wasn't sliding very much so I was almost falling over the line on some shots...didn't get comfortable on the approach until Game 2.

I think I gotta start looking at speed control and release consistency. I think a lot of my problems tonight were related to shot-to-shot variance. I'd put more hand in the ball...go through the head, then move left...then miss right with less hand in the ball. Then move right... rinse, repeat... :mad:

If I go there and practice....drier, less fresh conditions...I can usually do fairly well 180-220. But then they apply the oil before league play...and you're left with a shot where there's just very little room for error...maybe 2 boards at the most. And it's not the common idea about missing....where a miss right ends up right and a miss left ends up left. In my case...a miss left and I either miss left or go through the head...but a miss right from the same spot and I have the same problem...a miss left or through the nose. But if I move my feet left of about center...I miss way right. If I try to move that target left...play 11-15....it either misses right or hits light.

With my new release and lighter arsenal...when I DO make a good shot....1-3 times a game...it's a NOTICEABLY good shot. If you look just at the pin deck...you'd think a poor man's Dick Allen had thrown it. But I don't seem to have the ability (or GIFT) where I can repeat that release and speed shot to shot. I think that's what I have to work on.

On the good side....our team kicked some tail for a change. Even absent our anchor. And it helped that the other team was horrible. And I won a couple poker hands...made $3...can't complain too much I guess. But being stuck in the low 170s is about as aggravating as last season when I was stuck in the low 160s.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low-oil synthetics, typical THS.

647 Series: 223-224-200

I read an article this afternoon on Bowling This Month by Suzie Minshew and it's from back in March but it talks about the mental side of the game and confidence; essentially. So I got off to a decent start and I guess I just kept thinking about that article and when I went up on the approach I made it a point to try and talk positively or with confidence to myself (inner voice..not out loud….that would have been weird). And when I'd open I'd make a point to try and at least 'notice' some of the things I was saying, negative things, so maybe I could cut those out.

So, Game 1 I started off with a turkey, then left that DAMN 8-10! (See 14lb/15lb thread about my theroy that 15lb equipment isn't carrying the 8-pin or 8-10 as well as the 16lb equipment did). So, I noticed I was pretty hard on myself for the inability to ever get a sanctioned 300…and then I went up and next shot…left a 4-7..then proceeded to chop the 7 off…rather rare for a RHer. But…I talked to myself positively (inner voice) before the next frame….rattled off a 4-bagger.

Game 2 I continued the positive/confident attitude/approach…only really made one big mistake and that was leaving a 1-2-10 washout in the 3rd frame to ruin the clean game. But, I kinda felt like maybe….just maybe…I have found (with Suzie's help) a way to beat the mental side of the game….the part that has continued to plague me as I've developed.

Game 3, the DANG 8-pin…leave it in the 3rd…and I missed it (barely)! THEN…I left an 8-10…same lane…5th frame. So, issue #3 for my top issues to go over with my coach when they're back from the tour….the damn 8-pin and 8-10…because while I love 15lbs so far and actually being able to get better axis tilt and rpms…this is getting annoying!! Those were my only two opens that game…but I couldn't run any together until a 5-bagger to end the game to salvage a 200.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.24 pins
Strikes: 61% (2 5-baggers, 1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 3 doubles, and 4 singles)
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (2/3)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x)
Other single-pin leave was the 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 55% (5/9)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 (2x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 215.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 219.67.

The stats were actually worse than last week…but the additional two 5-baggers tend to cancel out the spare shooting which was barely average.

I felt good tonight. At the start of bowling, I got recruited for a team for next season. It felt good that people had noticed me enough to actually recruit me versus just getting assigned to a team. Then I was playing like an anchor should play…confident, solid, with games in the 200-220s. Our team took all 4 games…and I remember getting up there in the 2nd game…and I needed to mark….the other anchor needed to strike…I went first and just had this kinda "killer mentality" (versus the usual feeling of fear and despair). And that was probably one of the 2-3 best strikes of the night.

And then I was talking to a teammate's husband and they were asking me about Vegas and I told them I had a lesson scheduled on that Friday…and the guy seemed shocked that I took lessons….insinuating that I was so good, who could give me lessons and what would we work on??? I know, it''s hilarious and I did have to work hard not to start laughing…but still…it's like when I've gotten asked stupid stuff like, "Are you a pro (bowler)?" Obviously, thats funny. But…it's better than having little kids point and laugh at you because you 'suck'.

It wasn't perfect, it's the easier house/center, on the pair I have done best on, I didn't set any personal or season bests, and at times had trouble stringing strikes together…and the spare shooting was sub-par….BUT…this is what bowling should be…it makes it much more fun. I still kicked my bag…but only lightly and once…I think when I chopped the 4-7…or it was the 8-10 in Game 1…but whatever.

[NYMIKE]

Great bowling

[vdubtx]

Congrats on the nice series Aslan.

Which article from Susie? Thinking about doing a 1 day clinic with her next month.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Nice set with the 647.

[manke]

Good job keep it up!!!

[Aslan]

Congrats on the nice series Aslan.

Which article from Susie? Thinking about doing a 1 day clinic with her next month.

Something about a popoff valve. It's her article from March 2015 if you go into the archives.

[vdubtx]

Something about a popoff valve. It's her article from March 2015 if you go into the archives.

That's what I thought. So, assuming you are using this site as your "journaling".

[mc_runner]

Nice series!

[Blacksox1]

Nice shooting 647 with all games deuce or better. Aslan what was your strike total for the series?

[Aslan]

That's what I thought. So, assuming you are using this site as your "journaling".
Well, I wanted to start taking better notes....include a section about the mental side, the journaling she mentioned, and also start tracking my speed variation. I'm just hesitant because I already do a LOT of over-analyzing and I just don't know how much more I wanna do.


Nice shooting 647 with all games deuce or better. Aslan what was your strike total for the series?
27 strikes

61% is quite high for me. I generally am happy with >35%.

[Amyers]

Well, I wanted to start taking better notes....include a section about the mental side, the journaling she mentioned, and also start tracking my speed variation. I'm just hesitant because I already do a LOT of over-analyzing and I just don't know how much more I wanna do.


27 strikes

61% is quite high for me. I generally am happy with >35%.

The mental side is easy for you just put in slightly neurotic with a tendency towards OCD. Congrats on the nice set

[Aslan]

Monday Practice: low oil, THS

512 Series: 193-142-177

448 Series: 169-131-148

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.79 pins
Strikes: 28% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 11 singles)
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (6/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a 1-pin, 4-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 47% (16/34)
Most common multi-pin leaves: Full Rack (4x). (Yup....4 gutter balls on shot #1)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 160.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 162.83.

No comment. Nothing I have to say that will make it past the profanity filter...so we'll just post this and then it's here, it's official...but thats all I'll say about it. :mad: :mad:

[Amyers]

Dag man when you implode you don't screw around with it. Don't you just love it when you throw a couple good series and then pull one of these stinkers out? Happens to me all the time.

[classygranny]

Well, I wanted to start taking better notes....include a section about the mental side, the journaling she mentioned, and also start tracking my speed variation. I'm just hesitant because I already do a LOT of over-analyzing and I just don't know how much more I wanna do.

The idea is to take notes as you bowl - not analyze as you go. Take the notes and then act like a Monday morning quarterback later-after the game or even away from the alley. The more you do this, the more you will find that you are automatically adjusting or correcting WITHOUT the analyzing and overthinking going on in your head.

[mc_runner]

At least it was practice and not league, right?

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: low-oil synthetics

We played the 1st place team, serious bowlers, on the far lanes closest to the door. Usually drier on that pair because it's by the door. So, I had high hopes because I usually do better:
A) Against better bowlers/competition.
B) On drier lanes (speed dominant, rev challenged)

554 Series: 146-197-211

In Game 1 I currently average 10 pins below my league average and about 15 pins lower than in Games 2 or 3. My only guess is speed control. I come in firing 18-19mph...as I tire and settle down...I get back closer to 16mph. But, had trouble staying right...the lanes were far, far, far drier than usual. And my spare shooting started off horrid. Two missed single 7-pins, a whiff on a 4-7, and a 6-7-10 split. The only highlight was in the 9th when I picked up a 4-7-9 throwing a back-up ball. It's fun when you can impress the really good bowlers with a shot. :cool:

Game 2 I settled in and my only open was a single 3-pin. Still wasn't carrying...which has been a problem for both the D. Encounter and Asylum. The Asylum at least let me play closer to the 9-board vs. the 10-13 area I was playing in Game 1 with the D. Encounter.

Game 3 the line I was using with the Asylum finally came together and frames 1 and 2 I was really on. Frames 3-7 it was still there but giving me signs I might have to move left. And then I started seeing signs I might need to move left...but with only a few frames left, the line pretty much held up.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.94 pins
Strikes: 45% (2 turkeys, 1 double, and 7 singles)
Spares: 64% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (6/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 7-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, nor 6-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (2x).

Splits: 18% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 184.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 196.33.

Not horrible. I won $6 in poker. We took 3 points from the 1st place team. Spare shooting started off rough...not sure why. Sometimes when I shoot the 7-pin I square up to the foul line..causes me to miss inside. And I missed the 3-pin because the Asylum is a little erratic...so on non-corner pins where I throw my strike ball...if the Asylum 'jumps' a little...I can barely miss even something like a 2, 3, 8, or 9.

But, better than practice on Monday so I can't complain too much.

[Amyers]

Nice set other than the first game. Can't say this makes sense to me though your having problems missing left starting off and the problem gets better as your speed drops and the lanes dry out? Lower speed and dryer lanes should equate to missing even farther left unless you can't throw the balls until they are burning up or something. I think you've got something going on other than what you think starting out.

[Aslan]

Nice set other than the first game. Can't say this makes sense to me though your having problems missing left starting off and the problem gets better as your speed drops and the lanes dry out? Lower speed and dryer lanes should equate to missing even farther left unless you can't throw the balls until they are burning up or something. I think you've got something going on other than what you think starting out.

I think under normal conditions...I struggle early on fresh and get better as they dry out.

In the case below...I was missing left in Game 1 so I balled down in Game 2. And in Game 2 I was missing right...then seemed to hit the pocket well...and by the last couple frames of Game 3 started missing left as the lanes broke down. So, it makes sense the way you're thinking about it...you just have to throw out the first game since that was more of a bad ball choice.

[Amyers]

I think under normal conditions...I struggle early on fresh and get better as they dry out.

In the case below...I was missing left in Game 1 so I balled down in Game 2. And in Game 2 I was missing right...then seemed to hit the pocket well...and by the last couple frames of Game 3 started missing left as the lanes broke down. So, it makes sense the way you're thinking about it...you just have to throw out the first game since that was more of a bad ball choice.

Makes a little more sense like that. Sounds like to me your trying to make the lanes play how you want instead of what they are giving up in the beginning and waiting on them to come to you.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low-oil synthetics, typical THS.

556 Series: 157-214-185

Game 1 I just couldn't keep the Le. Revolver right of the pocket. Same problem I had Tuesday night. But I also would sometimes make a shot that would be perfect...so I wasn't sure if I was playing the wrong line, the wrong ball choice, bad timing, inconsistent release, or speed variance. And again, a Game 1 that is just lower than my other 2 games. Can't seem to break the cycle. Maybe I HAVE TO show up early every night and bowl one warm-up game...get the Gremlins out of my game. I don't know. But 157 is fairly devastating in a league where I average(d) 190.

To add insult to injury...that older guy that I've complained about in the past...he threw a 278 with an old Columbia urethane from the 80s/90s. Horrible speed. Horrible form. A ball technology that existed before cell phones. Yet he just struck...every single time except once. A guy like me watches that and thinks, "Well then, whats the point? Whats the point of practice and lessons and learning about equipment?

On the other hand...to try and think positively...I've been bowling 2 years and am the anchor of that team and average 190. A BAD game for me in that league is 150-185. That guy averages in the low 170s and is usually happy if he can finish with a 150-180. So, a random game aside, I've managed to go from worse to better than him in 2 years and he's been bowling since the 1960s.

On the other hand...my highest sanctioned game is a 256...and I keep watching these other bowlers surpass that...even if sporadically...and it's like, "When will I finally be able to run some of these strike streaks together where someone like ME can bowl in the 260-300 range??" I'm trying to be patient, trying to become a fundamentally better bowler...then this guy rolls a 278 doing most everything wrong.

Game 2 I continued to miss left but made some adjustments and actually started to find the pocket more...but by the end of the game was back to missing left. My only open was a 2-7-8 split in the 9th to kinda screw up my foundation frame.

Game 3 was more of the same...missing left, adjusting, missing right, adjusting...definitely lost my strike ball....but only had one open on a 1-3-6-8 in the 8th frame.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.56 pins
Strikes: 37% (2 turkeys, 2 doubles, and 2 singles)
Spares: 63% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (3/5)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin and 10-pin (2x each)
Other single-pin leave was the 2-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 64% (9/14)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 3-6-10 (4x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 185.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 192.00.

I think my ball choice was wrong. Just like Tuesday. I guess I just had more confidence in the Le. Revolver and stubbornly didn't want to switch and lose the carry.

I looked at my speeds and they didn't seem as bad as I thought they'd be:

Speed Range: 14.51-17.48mph
Speed Range (w/o outliers): 15.09-16.97mph

Variance shot to shot (frame-to-frame):
Range: 0.04mph to 1.59mph

And I also have to realize that much of my mental issues are actually just increased expectations. I mean, Tuesday night I shot a 554 and was happy because I had a couple good teams, looked like the best bowler in terms of form...or at least 2nd best. And I helped the team win 3 of 4 points against the top team in the league. AND I won $6 playing poker.

LAST night...I bowled a 556 (higher), the team took 4 out of 4 points (more than the 3 Tuesday) from the team above us in the position round, and I won the larger poker game in Game 3 and won $15 (more than $6 on Tuesday). So....how can I bowl a better series...win more money...and take more points as a team...yet felt horrible compared to the night before??

Part of it is my teammates saved me last night. One guy bowled a 278 in Game 1, another guy bowled a 253 in Game 2...so, the anchor got bailed out a bit. But the BIGGER PICTURE is...my expectations are far higher on Wednesdays AND my expectations continue to creep up steadily. Last year I'd have been happy with a 500+ series. Now, anything less than a clean 600+ series and I'm miserable. And I don't think that's fair...because VDub also has a goal of never getting under 600...but he has the skill and experience to make that happen...and I do not.

I gotta figure out the footwork. Trying to shorten that first step and keep a fluid motion to the foul line is causing me to move very fast. That is where my speed comes from...my feet. And I think that in a lot of cases I am rushing the shot...getting to the foul line too soon, late timing...and in many cases I'm missing my mark and off balance...just feels like it's TOO fast. IDK. I got one league night left...maybe 1-3 chances to practice with a holiday weekend approaching...then it's time to sweep...two leagues in one weekend...could be a great experience where I win enough to cover my expenses...maybe even enough to make a little profit. OR...I can go there and drop $400-$600...come back broke...and spending the entire 5hr car ride questioning whether I should leave my bowling balls in the desert somewhere.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Practice: low-oil synthetics, THS

Post-League Practice: 204-188

No rest for the wicked. I didn't really feel like staying at the lanes after rolling 3 league games when it's 10PM already...but I wanted to see if part or most of my problem was stubbornly sticking with the Lethal Revolver all night when I really should have balled down midway through Game 1.

Didn't really learn much. Seems to be some timing and approach issues that are making it hard to figure out if it's a ball/line issue or not.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.14 pins
Strikes: 50% (1 4-bagger, 2 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 63% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin and 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 40% (2/5)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a.

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 196.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 201.50.

[Mike White]

Wednesday League Night: low-oil synthetics, typical THS.

556 Series: 157-214-185

Game 1 I just couldn't keep the Le. Revolver right of the pocket. Same problem I had Tuesday night. But I also would sometimes make a shot that would be perfect...so I wasn't sure if I was playing the wrong line, the wrong ball choice, bad timing, inconsistent release, or speed variance. And again, a Game 1 that is just lower than my other 2 games. Can't seem to break the cycle. Maybe I HAVE TO show up early every night and bowl one warm-up game...get the Gremlins out of my game. I don't know. But 157 is fairly devastating in a league where I average(d) 190.

To add insult to injury...that older guy that I've complained about in the past...he threw a 278 with an old Columbia urethane from the 80s/90s. Horrible speed. Horrible form. A ball technology that existed before cell phones. Yet he just struck...every single time except once. A guy like me watches that and thinks, "Well then, whats the point? Whats the point of practice and lessons and learning about equipment?



I've told you over and over again, with a THS, the game doesn't require overall skill, it just rewards a specific technique.

The closer you are to what the lane wants, the worse you can be at things the lane doesn't care about.

When the ball follows skid, hook, roll, and the hook phase only significantly effects ball motion for a very short distance, there isn't a lot the bowler can do wrong if they are playing the oil line, and have the ball with the proper parameters for that bowler.

Now if you make a change to the oil pattern, (width, or length), that bowler goes back to looking like garbage, and a different bowler becomes invincible.

I just found out that our 234 avg bowler at Arlington didn't even break 500 when we went to Laughlin.

Clearly he's got the ability to repeat shots, but to get to 234 he had to fine tune his technique and equipment to what Arlington wanted.

Laughlin wanted something different, and he didn't bring it.

[Aslan]

Friday Practice: low oil, THS

560 Series: 180-166-214

Game 1 I couldn't really find a strike line but made all but one spare.

Game 2 I started to find a strike line but chopped a 1-2-4 and missed a couple splits including a 4-7-10 in the 10th.

Game 3 was great, 6 strikes...only one open.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.50 pins
Strikes: 37% (1 4-bagger, 1 double, and 6 singles)
Spares: 72% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (4/4)
Most common single-pin leaves: n/a (1x each).
Only left a 2-pin, 5-pin, 9-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 64% (9/14)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2, 3-6-10, and 6-10 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 186.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Better than the last practice. Mainly was trying to keep my elbow locked and arm straight until the thumb was out and I was also trying to keep the swing as effortless as possible. But it was encouraging. I made all my single-pin spares and only missed a couple makable (non-splits) spares.

[Aslan]

Saturday Date Night Practice: low oil, THS

Took a date bowling to fill some time. Scores aren't worth much since I wasn't really trying much...mostly just answering her questions and helping her. She must have only bowled a couple times in her lifetime so it was a pretty rough prospect. And on a couple of my shots I actually threw her ball just to illustrate something.

145-148

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.36 pins
Strikes: 27% (1 double, and 4 singles)
Spares: 43% picked up

Single Pin spares: 50% (4/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: n/a (2x each).
Only left a 4-pin, 7-pin, 9-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 37% (3/8)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2, 4-7, and 1-3-6-9 (2x each)

Splits: n/a.

Average over 3 games: 146.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 164.50.

Lots of trouble with single-pin spares for some reason...but I also had a pretty solid first ball average. Another practice/night like this and I'll have to get some low-ball in before sweeps next weekend. : (

[Aslan]

Sunday Morning Practice: low-medium oil, THS

Date didn't go well last night so I went to bed early and got up early and thought it might be nice to get some bowling in.

609 Series: 191-203-215
Game 1 I had to get used to the fresher than usual practice/pattern conditions. Game 2 was 'okay'. Game 3 I really felt good until I missed picking up a 7-pin in the 9th and then left the **** 8-10 split on a pocket hit in the 10th. Shoulda been a 230+ game...but oh well.

552 Series: 188-180-184
Found a strike line late in Game 4, but a split and a chopped bucket kept me down. Game 5 was almost identical, found the strike line late, but a split and a chopped 3/4 bucket kept it down. Finally switched to the Dark Encounter in the 8th. Game 6 was okay, but I missed a couple 10-pins.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.00 pins
Strikes: 49% (1 5-bagger, 1 4-bagger, 4 turkeys, 2 doubles, and 8 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 82% (14/17)
Most common single-pin leaves: 7-pin (5x).
Only left a 1-pin, 3-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 41% (7/17)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-4-5 (4x).

Splits: 0% (0/5).

Average over 6 games: 193.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 198.83.

I worked on my focus, targeting, balance, release, timing, approach, etc... Things were actually coming along quite well. Normally the lanes are hard to play/practice on because they're so dry...but I got there early enough in the AM that they were still in good shape.

I worked on my lateral movements and adjustments.

One thing I've found is that sometimes if you're hitting light...you can move right...straighten the line out a little, and hit pocket/carry. But you could also move left and try to get the ball more into the dry.

I've also found that when I move left it's either a 1:1, 2:1, or 3:2 move (feet to target). But when I'm hitting light...I might move JUST my feet 0.5-2 boards right...to try and just 'tweak' the line a bit...straighten it out.

But one thing I've really struggled with is that eventually I end up with a very straight shot up the 11-13 boards...just riding the oil line. But that shot:
A) Requires exact precision.
B) Gives you very little miss room.
C) Gives you horrible carry.

But I also struggle if I get too far inside of 13...I just don't have the revs/speed/ball combination to play that far inside.

But because of my SYSTEM(s)...I get somewhat locked in to certain lines and then when I ball down...the difference between the Le. Revolver and D. Encounter is so big...that I almost always will have to adjust my line right more than once to make up for the weakness of the D. Encounter.

I remember RobM once said in one of his posts to me that someday I'll be confident enough in my skill set that I won't be so reliant on "systems" to make adjustments for me. And he's absolutely right. Now that I sort of know how the patterns work and I am familiar with my arsenal...I actually was making adjustments to my line and feet that didn't really 'fit' my standard system. Maybe I move left a couple boards...but move my target 0.5 boards right...try to give myself a little more angle...but also keep it out in the dry a bit to get some angle downlane.

This was the first time I've actually felt confident with my left foot slightly left of center.

Overall very confident with my last couple practices. Not sure how it'll play in Vegas...but I think I might have a shot. Doesn't look like I'll have a chick with me so I guess in glass is half full news, less distractions from my bowling.

[Aslan]

Labor Day Morning Practice: low-medium oil, THS

Wanted to confirm that yesterday's practice wasn't a complete fluke...and ramping up my practice/effort with sweeps less than a week away.

204-179-208-196
Game 1 felt good, just missed a 7-pin and 10-pin...so single-pin spare shooting was a little off to start.

Game 2 I lost my strike line and switched to the Dark Encounter but had to make a bunch of adjustments since the D. Encounter is a bit weaker. Lots of spares...but missed a single 6-pin to ruin the clean game.

Finally found a strike line with the D. Encounter in Game 3 and was a missed single 10-pin away from a clean game.

I bought one more game because I wanted to see how the Asylum was working. But it took me most of the game to finally get a good line with it so I could never run many strikes together. Only open was a chopped 2-5 in the 9th which cost me a 200+ game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.09 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 4-bagger, 2 turkeys, 1 double, and 7 singles)
Spares: 80% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (14/18)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4-10 and 3-6 (2x each).

Splits: n/a.

Average over 4 games: 196.75.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 208.25.

Form looked good again. Had a statistically awesome morning of multi-pin spare shooting...but look at the number to the right...and you'll see it helps if you don't leave many of them to begin with. Single-pin spare shooting was concerning me and I was tempted to play 1-2 games of low-ball. But I think I kinda figured that out after the first few games...I think I need to really just focus on the target...like in golf...I need to stop popping up or popping my head up...keep my head down until the ball passes the mark.

I have an arsenal/scenario question but will ask it in a separate thread.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: low-oil synthetics

Pre-League Practice:

512 Series: 188-169-155
I was struggling to find a line that worked on the lanes before the guy came by with the oil machine. I balled down to the Dark Encounter but when trying to pick up a 10-pin in the 3rd frame I stuck on the approach and fell. I spent the rest of the game just trying to get my head right and still was missing left terribly even after the fresh oil was applied. Game 3 I balled down to the Asylum and opened up my angle a bit...played a little deeper...and that line seemed to be working the best so I just decided to try the Asylum to start league play.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.52 pins
Strikes: 32% (1 4-bagger, 2 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin (5x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 58% (7/12)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-3-9.

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 170.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 178.67.

League Play: Position Round (Final Night of Summer League Play before Sweeps this weekend)
514 Series: 167-186-161

I ended up starting with the Dark Encounter because in practice I just couldn't control the Asylum. If my line got too far into the dry, the ball would hook too far left...if I straightened out the line, the Asylum would hit light or jerk through the nose at the last minute. But the D. Encounter couldn't stay right...just missing the pocket. Finally I put a few strikes together late...but it just wasn't working.

Game 2 I went to the Asylum thinking maybe I could play deeper and use the dry and hopefully find some way to control the Asylum...but it was more of the same...if I got it out in the dry, it hooked brooklyn or through the nose...if I straightened out the line and tried to play up the 9-10 board...it would just lazily skid into the pocket and hit light. And then in the 10th frame I pulled a shot (thanks to announcement #103 over the loud speaker...$&%^^!)...chopped the 1-2-3-5-6-9-10...to lose my shot at a 200+ game.

Game 3 I went back to the safety net...grabbed the Lethal Revolver and just went back to standing just right of center and throwing it out towards the outside of 2nd arrow...but I was trying to keep my axis rotation down...knowing that too much hand and the Le. Revolver would hook the lane. But I only managed to get the ideal speed/axis tilt combination maybe once or twice. Most shots I threw too hard with not enough axis rotation...then by the time I figured it out...the lanes had transitioned slightly and I was going through the nose.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.44 pins
Strikes: 37% (3 turkeys and 3 singles)
Spares: 44% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (3/5)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin, 9-pin, nor 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 38% (5/13)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4-8 and 4-7 (2x each).

Splits: 50% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 171.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 178.00.

Horrible warm-up for sweeps. Everything that could go wrong, DID go wrong. Too much hand, not enough hand, ball progression all screwed up, falling down on the approach, and spare shooting failing me. Our team took 3 points...went out with a couple nice wins in the last 2 weeks...but just a really bad performance after a weekend of some nice practices.

I sweep Saturday. The AM session will be against more players and to some degree tougher competition. But, my average is 172 in that league which should help. I then sweep at noon in another center for my Wednesday league and while that is a smaller league with lesser competition (in general)...I carry a 190 average in that league so unless RobM gives me some kinda magical, super-secret trick Friday morning during my lesson...on how to dominate those lanes...gonna be tough. Definitely going to need to re-establish the confidence on Friday when I practice at the 2 centers in Vegas.

[Amyers]

Good luck at sweeps you could always try to bowl like me Friday league I shot 192-143-244 Saturday league I shot 148-255-167. That's how I've been lately its either all or nothing each game and just not a clue why.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Practice: low-oil synthetics, THS

Pre-Meeting Practice: 185-202

Got to the center a tiny bit early for the end/beginning of the season league meeting so I bowled my two free games (AMF, 2 free per week for league bowlers). Game 1 I only had 1 open on a chopped 1-2-10 washout in the 6th frame. But it was practically a dutch 200; double percentage of 0%. Game 2 I was able to double a couple times and my only open was a damn 8-10 split in the 2nd off a pocket hit. :mad:

Post-Meeting Practice: low-oil synthetics (but fresh), THS

After the meeting, the center reserved a block of lanes, oiled them, and let the league members practice on them for free. Gotta admit....AMF is really TRYING...gotta give them credit for that. I think they're starting to see the value of leagues despite Bowlmor's influence. I hope that continues.

551 Series: 200-171-180
Bowled against my former and future teammate...a little friendly head-to-head match.

Game 1 I looked good...but chopped a 4-7-10 split in the 6th (too much hand on the shot) and chopped a 2-4-5 3/4 bucket in the 10th. LOTs of oil in the middle made some of the multi-pin and single middle-pin spares a bit tricky. Won the game.

Game 2 I opened in the first two frames...missed the 2-pin and a 6-10...both very makeable....not happy about that. Then a chopped 3-10 baby split in the 8th...3 opens = not good. Still won though.

Game 3 I was clean until I chopped the 4-7 in the 6th and then chopped the 6-7-10 in the 8th...otherwise clean....but other than a leadoff strike and striking out in the 10th...all spares.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.09 pins
Strikes: 41% (2 turkeys, 4 doubles, and 9 singles)
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 94% (18/19)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (7x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 27% (3/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 and 4-7.

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 5 games: 187.60.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 189.40.

I felt good. The multi-pin spare struggles were an issue. Like I said above, there was SO much oil in the middle that the ball just did not want to move at all which made my non-corner pin spares difficult. But that low multi-pin % is also a bit misleading since really only 5 of the 11 leaves would be considered "make-able" spares. 4 of them were splits and 2 were washouts (one of which I picked up).

The stats do point to an issue I hadn't seen as a problem while actually bowling the games...and that's the carry issue(s). Lots of pocket hits that left a 5-pin, 9-pin, 7-pin, or 10-pin standing. Going to have to keep an eye on that in Vegas and maybe add it to my "issues list" for my lesson later in September.

One of the issues I'll get some guidance on from Rob tomorrow...and that's my "line". As I've started to come through the ball and develop more revs and axis tilt and axis rotation...I am now able to swing the ball out more. So if I miss RIGHT...for example....hit my mark, but came in very light and left the 2-pin....

- In my old 'system'....a miss right is a move right. Simple bowling 101. But here's the problem...and I'm sure Rob knows a lot about this being the "modern bowling" guy. If I move right...feet only...lets say 1 board. Next shot...still light...leave the 10-pin (flat). Now I'm gonna make about a 0.5 board move right. I used to actually bring my target IN...but have been trying not to move my target vertically, lately to remove a variable. So, long story/example short....if I keep moving right...eventually I'm throwing the ball straight...usually right up the oil line. That shot doesn't carry as well as a shot with some better entry angle.

So, again...in the past...I'd have panic-ed and moved my target right...maybe my feet as well...trying to get out in the dry where I could get some friction. FAST FORWARD to NOW....and I've found that if I miss right...it's usually a speed issue...or I don't get the right axis tilt. But if that's not it....I find that it's almost better (than just moving my feet right) to move my feet a half board left...maybe move my target a half board right. And the REASONING is...I might be missing right simply because the ball isn't encountering the friction soon enough...so if I can swing the ball out just a bit more...as counter-intuitive as it sounds...I get better results and better chance for carry.

So...we'll see. I hate to abandon my systems....they can be very useful in standardizing your adjustments and resulting in less variation. BUT...the systems have to WORK...and there has to be a little "wiggle room" for intangibles like pattern and lane issues or just "feel".

[Amyers]

I understand your want to put everything in a system and have one thing that is the correct answer when your facing a situation. Heck A+B=C is easy to understand unfortunately bowling in a lot of ways is more of an art than a science and trying to fit different lanes with different oil patterns and different amount of breakdown of that pattern just doesn't work. Learning what adjustments work for you in different situations and then having the confidence to execute after making that adjustment is the big step in the game. Quit trying to break it down logically and develop a feel for what you need to do and then build the confidence you need to execute it. You won't always be right but I've found if I believe what I'm doing is correct it's almost as important as actually making the correct move.

[Aslan]

Practice for Sweeps at the Gold Coast (Las Vegas):

Had a lesson with RobM in the morning and then stayed to get a look at the 3 balls and how they looked on the lanes.

Brunswick Lethal Revolver:
456 Series: 175-142-139
It was just way too broken down (post-lesson) to realistically throw this ball. I'll try to use it on fresh tomorrow, but once things start burning up, it's a tough ball to use.

Columbia300 Dark Encounter:
532 Series: 151-179-202
I had to make some adjustments...but finally found a line that worked...but by the end of Game 3 the lanes had broken down too much for even that ball.

RotoGrip Asylum:
494 Series: 181-161-152
Carry issues persist...but it had a nice line to the pocket. I tried to make a vertical targeting adjustment and that seemed to help the carry...but I think physically and mentally I was pretty much on borrowed time by Game 3.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.52 pins
Strikes: 31% (1 turkey, 7 doubles, and 13 singles)
Spares: 57% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (18/24)
Most common single pin leave: 7-pin and 10-pin (7x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 46% (18/39)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (6x).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 9 games: 164.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.67.

Not a bad practice...not a great one. But the lanes aren't that tough. I had some sticking issues as the practice progressed and got a shoe cover 'just in case' I start sticking tomorrow. Rob gave me a Melee Jab which I'm gonna try to plug up and have ready for tomorrow. It's not much different than the Loaded Revolver in terms of specs...but it'll be interesting to see how it performs versus the Loaded Revolver given it's much newer technology. And it might be useful to have right NOW....because the Loaded Revolver is still in the pro shop back home...so this will give me a 4th option. No time to practice with it though...and I doubt the lanes will transition enough to use it tomorrow anyways...but like the cub scouts say...be prepared.

[Aslan]

Practice for Sweeps at The Orleans (Las Vegas):

Put in some practice at the other center where I'll be sweeping in the AM.

Brunswick Lethal Revolver:
518 Series: 170-191-157
Was all around the pocket...but not as much bite as at Gold Coast.

Columbia300 Dark Encounter:
542 Series: 171-169-202 (clean)
Found a good line to the pocket...but the asymmetric core was very over-responsive to hand position.

RotoGrip Asylum:
561 Series: 204-158-199
Light hits early, but eventually found a line and the Asylum was hitting quite well. Game 2 the erratic nature of the Asylum reared it's ugly head. Game 3 wasn't bad, but thats only because the spare shooting was good. Truth be told I was too deep by the end of game 3 and just couldn't hit the pocket properly.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.69 pins
Strikes: 32% (1 5-bagger, 1 turkey, 5 doubles, and 14 singles)
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 79% (23/29)
Most common single pin leave: 10-pin (11x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 58% (20/34)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2 and 6-10 (4x each).

Splits: 12% (1/8)

Average over 9 games: 180.11.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 186.78.

Did better than at the Gold Coast...but not good enough to win big $$ Saturday. Gonna need to tighten up the spare shooting if I'm gonna have a chance...and I need to string more strikes together. I think I'm gonna start with the Asylum at The Orleans. It was erratic at times...but overall gave me the best angle into the pocket and best carry.

[RobLV1]

"I think I'm gonna start with the Asylum at The Orleans. It was erratic at times...but overall gave me the best angle into the pocket and best carry."

With all of our discussion yesterday about preconceptions, do you really want to decide in advance what ball you are going to start with the next day based on a different pair of lanes and a different time of day? Really?

[Aslan]

"I think I'm gonna start with the Asylum at The Orleans. It was erratic at times...but overall gave me the best angle into the pocket and best carry."

With all of our discussion yesterday about preconceptions, do you really want to decide in advance what ball you are going to start with the next day based on a different pair of lanes and a different time of day? Really?

Not really. But given I got to throw about ONE ball in practice...it was either start with a preconception based on a recent practice, start with my most aggressive (true preconception we spoke about), or just flip a coin and let God and gravity make the decision.

Had I NOT spoke with you...I'd have likely just started with the 1st ball in my "progression"; the Lethal Revolver. But after our lesson...I thought; "Ya know...the Asylum...usually it's a little difficult to get it to make the turn on fresh...but with the Orleans having a shorter pattern..and if it's even kinda close to what I was practicing on...maybe go outside the box and start with the Asylum.

Also, the Melee Jab didn't really factor into the decision because I had it at K&K and the guy was drilling it for the VISE IT that morning...so I didn't have it as an option until the 12:00PM sweeps at Gold Coast and never actually got to throw it. I might bowl this morning and maybe see it in action. Thanks again for the ball!!

But yeah...our lesson was on my mind. Not so much the approach/shoulders stuff...I'm gonna have to practice that before using it in competition. But I was thinking about the progression discussion.

[Aslan]

Sweeps in Las Vegas: low-medium oil synthetics, 37ft pattern

The 9:00AM sweeps at the Orleans is for my Tuesday league. The Tuesday league plays at a house with a 40ft flat pattern...it's a BIG league with 31 teams, lots of talent...and lots of folks with lower averages due to the center that the league plays at being one of the tougher shots in Orange County. I average 172 there....the highest average bowler is at 206 and he's the only bowler I've seen in that league that could probably play at the PBA Regional level.

549 Series: 176-182-191
Game 1 was clean except for a chopped 1-3-6 in the 7th and then a chopped 3-6-10 in the ninth. Spare shooting looked 'okay', but carry wasn't there...which is the usual problem with the Asylum.

Game 2 I was clean through 7 and was finally getting some carry. Then a chopped 1-5-9 in the 8th followed by a 6-7-10 split in the 9th and a 4-6 split in the 10th.

That put some pressure on me in Game 3 as I figured I'd need a 230+ game to get into a place where I could get some $$$. I started out clean through 5...then chopped another 3-6-10 in the 6th before closing out clean.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.19 pins
Strikes: 37% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 5 singles)
Spares: 63% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (6/6)
Most common single pin leave: 10-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 46% (6/13)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-6-10 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 183.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Very similar to last year...but some of the strikes I threw last year turned in to multi-pin spares this year.

With my release improved...it greatly changes how important consistency and shot repeatability are. If my release isn't good...I miss right. If I move a little right to try and tweak the line...and I get more hand in the ball and execute my release better....now I'm through the head or going left.

This is my last season in this league. It's a nice center and I like most of the people...but the center isn't really focused on leagues or sport bowling...they bring in their $$ with college kids and rich kids from the affluent area. They allowed the pro shop operator to host a tournament last month...but it was the first tournament of any kind that they've hosted in over a decade.

I knew I'd need a 600+ series to win since everyone had lower averages and were used to tougher conditions. But, the chopped 3-6-10 in the 6th of Game 3 pretty much eliminated me from any chance at a decent payout. I think I ended up winning $33 total. This is DESPITE being the best player on the pair that morning and making it to the finals in most brackets. Very disappointing.

[Aslan]

Sweeps in Las Vegas: medium oil synthetics

The 12:00PM sweeps was with my Wednesday league. A longer pattern at the Gold Coast. Most people in the league have higher averages due to playing at the easiest house in Orange County. Despite a 172 average on Tuesday and a lifetime 161 average...and 2 years as a mid-high 160s bowler....I average 190 in that house. Because it's a harder pattern than they are used to...and because they all have inflated averages...I knew my only REAL competition was the one semi-pro that has experience in other houses. Other than that...the conditions favored lower average bowlers where the pattern won't affect them as much.

514 Series: 177-200-137
Game 1 was clean until a chopped 2-4-5 in the 10th. Game 2 I chopped a 2-7 baby split in the 7th and missed a 3-9 in the 8th; but struck out from there to salvage a 200 game and win $75 (for 3 strikes in the 10th). Game 3 the wheels came off. A 6-7-10 split to start things off. A missed single 7-pin in the 5th...a missed single 10-pin in the 7th...a chopped 2-5 in the 9th....then a 5-7 split in the 10th. :mad:

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.69 pins
Strikes: 37% (1 4-bagger, 1 double, and 6 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common single pin leave: 7-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (8/14)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 171.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 179.33.

I'll be in this league at least one more season on Wednesdays. The people are a bit questionable...some really nice and terrific....some that are just drunk delinquents. But the bottom line is this league has ruined any chance of me being competitive in tournaments or having a shot at bowling in the USBC Open in the lower division. As a low 180s calibre bowler...I now have a 189-190 average that will follow me around.

I bowled we through 2 games and had a shot to at least win $30-$150...but the 3rd game was one of the lowest official games I've thrown in some time. 3 splits in one game. And to add insult to injury...I didn't win ANYTHING in the drawings and stuff that they do in the post-sweeps meeting. A league of 85 bowlers...and they pulled 52 tickets worth $100 each....I probably had 22 tickets in the bag...didn't get called once.

Next season....I'll save myself the $5 for those tickets and the $1 for mystery score...and just enter the stuff that is dependent on how I actually bowl like side pot, skins, and brackets. If I win...it's because I bowled well. If I lose it's because I didn't. And after this past experience....I might not even go to sweeps anymore....unless I honestly feel I can finish Top 11 or so. It costs a lot of money to go to Vegas...even just driving from California. I went on the cheap this time around and really didn't do much other than bowl. But still...2 nights and 1.5 days...I figure I spent over $377 plus another $120 to enter the various side pots and brackets and stuff. So, just under $500 invested and I won $108 total...plus got a free ball from Rob...plus I won about 27 cents in the slot machines. I put $40 in...was up to about $81....cashed out before losing my $40. So if I add in the ball...I came down about $300. Not terrible...I've gone to vegas and been down over $1000...if you actually gamble a bit and take in a show and some buffets. But like I've said before...I put way too much time and effort into bowling to be a 166-183 average bowler.

[Amyers]

Sorry you season ended in a disappointment. I know how that feels the end of this past fall season was a big let down for me and I'm still trying to recover from that slump. Hope the Jab works good for you from what I've seen a good ball and should plug a gap in that arsenal of yours.

[Aslan]

Sorry you season ended in a disappointment. I know how that feels the end of this past fall season was a big let down for me and I'm still trying to recover from that slump. Hope the Jab works good for you from what I've seen a good ball and should plug a gap in that arsenal of yours.

It actually is an interesting ball in terms of the comparison I think Rob was looking for.

He gave it to me to show me some difference that simply age/technology makes. The difficulty in making that comparison is you're often comparing apples and oranges unless you have two balls from different eras with nearly identical specs. Well, the Jab is virtually identical in specs to the Loaded Revolver...so it should be an apples to apples comparison.

The two are SO close I was almost tempted to just plug the Jab and put it on my bowling rack since the Loaded Revolver is pretty much identical...so why carry around a 6th ball everywhere? And had I won it in a contest or giveaway...that's probably what I would have done. But given that Rob gave it to me with a purpose in mind....and seeing as it already has some games on it....I figured I'd just wedge it between the Asylum and Loaded Revolver in terms of progression.

Rob doesn't like the term "progression"...because it implies precognition rather than using what the lanes specifically dictate on that pair at that time. The downside to Rob's "anti-progression system" is that it usually requires a poo-ton of practice before league play or before tournament play to actually figure out how a ball is going to work...and then you factor in that the lanes you practice on are usually not oiled the same as league night...and there's no guarantee you'll be on the same pair...so what are you going to do? Practice 24 hours before your league by showing up just after they oil and demand the same pair you'll get the following day?? Lord knows I can't get enough practice shots pre-league play to try 5 strike balls on 1-3 different lines. I used to try and roll 1-3 different balls on 2-3 different lines and I think I only had enough time to do that once.

Recently, 5-person leagues, I barely have enough time during practice to figure out my strike line...much less try different balls and different lines. THUS...even though Rob might disagree...I think you need some type of 'progression' or 'system' so that you can make a choice quickly and confidently...and then roll with that decision and make adjustments as needed.

The Loaded Revolver is still in the Pro Shop and I couldn't get in for my next lesson until September 29th...so I'll just have the Jab as my 4th ball (dry conditions) until I can get the Loaded Revolver and actually spend some time throwing them side by side. Maybe I'll even dig out the video camera and put another video together like I did with the Encounter Project.

And yeah, as dejected as I was...the great thing about bowling is you got another chance at greatness as soon as the new season starts!! And I certainly won't be hurting for instruction from high level coaches as this coming season is about to begin. I had a lesson with Rob on the 11th...a lesson scheduled with Mark Baker on the 18th...and a lesson scheduled with my regular coach on the 29th.

But I have a feeling this season will either be a breakout season where I finally start getting my shot-to-shot consistency under control (speed, revs, hand, etc..) OR...it's going to be another frustrating season where every lesson seems to be yet another attempt to try and fix my timing and approach funkiness. Maybe both. We'll see.

[Aslan]

Monday League: First Night: low-oil synthetics, THS, very, very dry tonight.

The league was bigger than expected so a few teams got moved to the other side...and the conditions were probably the 2nd or 3rd driest/shortest I've ever experienced. I was standing with my left foot from 21 all the way out to 42 and ended up targeting the 18-21 boards. There was no way to use the Lethal Revolver so I started the first two games with the Dark Encounter which worked well in Game 1.

530 Series: 194-156-180
Game 1 I threw 7 strikes. Unfortunately I also threw it in the gutter on the second shot and was only 1 for 3 on single-pin spare conversions. Game 2 kinda fell apart. Missed a 9-pin in the 7th then chopped a 3-9 in the 8th before opening in the 10th with a 4-7-10 split. Game 3 I switched to the Asylum and was clean through 9 before missing a single 10-pin in the 10th. But I couldn't get the carry with the Asylum...mostly spares in Game 3.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 4-bagger, 1 double, and 7 singles)
Spares: 55% picked up

Single Pin spares: 42% (3/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 9-pin and 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (7/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-5 (2x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 176.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 191.67.

This league is kinda a trip. Not a lot of talent. I'm actually glad I didn't bowl too well because had I won the side pots with an entering average of 167; I would have felt bad. Oh...and after giving $1 a week to the mystery score guy on Wednesdays and never coming close to winning...I decided this season not to do it...and of course in Game 1 they pull 194. Cost me $92 on a failure to invest $1. :mad:

It might have been that our lanes, were not oiled pre-league because they hadn't planned on using them...but that would surprise me. We'll find out next week. But it's gonna be a REAL TRIP if I gotta play that far inside. Even with the Melee Jab that RobM gave me...which I switched to in the 10th of the 3rd game...more on that below.

Post-Game Practice: 155-160

This ball has some bite on the back end. Reminds me of the Asylum...it's got some movement near the end of the pattern...kinda erratic and hard to control. And even with that ball I was standing about 34 with my left toe....and targeting 14-15 at the dots. RobM noticed during my lesson last Friday that I have developed a bit of a drift to the right...so I think I probably was drifting quite a bit tonight. I didn't think to check each shot...but most bowlers...as they open up those angles...tend to move/drift towards their target...kinda a natural reaction.

[vdubtx]

Monday League: First Night: low-oil synthetics, THS, very, very dry tonight.

The league was bigger than expected so a few teams got moved to the other side...and the conditions were probably the 2nd or 3rd driest/shortest I've ever experienced. I was standing with my left foot from 21 all the way out to 42 and ended up targeting the 18-21 boards. There was no way to use the Lethal Revolver so I started the first two games with the Dark Encounter which worked well in Game 1.

530 Series: 194-156-180
Game 1 I threw 7 strikes. Unfortunately I also threw it in the gutter on the second shot and was only 1 for 3 on single-pin spare conversions. Game 2 kinda fell apart. Missed a 9-pin in the 7th then chopped a 3-9 in the 8th before opening in the 10th with a 4-7-10 split. Game 3 I switched to the Asylum and was clean through 9 before missing a single 10-pin in the 10th. But I couldn't get the carry with the Asylum...mostly spares in Game 3.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 4-bagger, 1 double, and 7 singles)
Spares: 55% picked up

Single Pin spares: 42% (3/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 9-pin and 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (7/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-5 (2x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 176.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 191.67.

This league is kinda a trip. Not a lot of talent. I'm actually glad I didn't bowl too well because had I won the side pots with an entering average of 167; I would have felt bad. Oh...and after giving $1 a week to the mystery score guy on Wednesdays and never coming close to winning...I decided this season not to do it...and of course in Game 1 they pull 194. Cost me $92 on a failure to invest $1. :mad:

It might have been that our lanes, were not oiled pre-league because they hadn't planned on using them...but that would surprise me. We'll find out next week. But it's gonna be a REAL TRIP if I gotta play that far inside. Even with the Melee Jab that RobM gave me...which I switched to in the 10th of the 3rd game...more on that below.

Post-Game Practice: 155-160

This ball has some bite on the back end. Reminds me of the Asylum...it's got some movement near the end of the pattern...kinda erratic and hard to control. And even with that ball I was standing about 34 with my left toe....and targeting 14-15 at the dots. RobM noticed during my lesson last Friday that I have developed a bit of a drift to the right...so I think I probably was drifting quite a bit tonight. I didn't think to check each shot...but most bowlers...as they open up those angles...tend to move/drift towards their target...kinda a natural reaction.

Good way to start, you have really come a long way the last few years. I know you will, but keep at it. With all of the knowledge you have in your noggin', I know you will continue getting better.

On the mystery score... I did the exact same thing last week. Over the summer I was putting $2 each week, for game 1 and 2. I stopped last week donating to it and wouldnt you know it, the 278 I bowled last week would have won the mystery score and likely about $60 or so.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k1wqciODsC8/maxresdefault.jpg

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: First Night: low-oil synthetics, THS, Easy House.

Pre-League Practice/warm-up: 179-232
Hard to believe you can throw 7 strikes and only open once and all you have to show for it is a 232...but that was one of the better games I've thrown in awhile.

I averaged 189 in this league last season and was drafted to be on a "super team" this season. I've lost the anchor spot to their anchor (who I think gets 4 less pins handicap than I do) so I'm bowling 4th...but behind the same guy I bowled behind on last season's team...he was the one that drafted me to go with him to the new team.

First game out of the gate we played a pretty talented team. They edged us by 4 pins in Game 1 and then 120 in Game 2. But in Game 3 we stormed back and ended up splitting.

574 Series: 171-192-211
Game 1 I ran into a few frames where I got a pocket 8-10 split, then threw it in the gutter on the first shot of the next frame, then whiffed on a 2-5 in the 5th. Then it was strike, spare the rest of the way.

Game 2 I only opened on a 6-7-10 split in the 3rd frame and missed a single 6-pin in the 7th frame.

Game 3 I was just in a zone...through the first 8 frames I struck 5 times and left 3 single 10-pins. Unfortunately I left a 1-2-4-10 in the 10th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.94 pins
Strikes: 48% (1 4-bagger, 1 double, and 7 singles)
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 80% (3/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x)
Only left a single 6-pin, 7-pin, 9-pin, and 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 28% (2/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a (left each once).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 191.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 195.33.

Another rare outing where I feel like a bowler.

[Aslan]

Monday League: low-medium synthetics

Bowled sick. I went to the doctor in the morning and was in bed all day. Was right on the border of whether I'd even be able to bowl much less bowl well...but didn't want to miss the second night.

512 Series: 146-187-179
Had a horrible time finding the pocket early. The ball choice was wrong...the line was wrong...just an entire game of struggling to play inside of 12 when the shot just wasn't there. I knew I should have started outside 2nd arrow; but after last week being so dry...my starting line was just screwed up.

Game 2 I balled down to the Dark Encounter but was still struggling to play inside of second arrow. Only one open though; 1-2-10 washout in the 4th.

Game 3 I moved a little more outside...but it was just in time for the lanes to start transitioning so I started missing left...and it took most of game 3 to get realigned.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.62 pins
Strikes: 34% (4 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (6/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 6-pin (2x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 7-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 42% (6/14)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 3-6 and 6-10(2x each).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 3 games: 170.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

I got a lesson from Mark Baker on Friday. Most of the lesson went fantastic. I even practiced at a center while getting my car repaired and rolled a 207 with a plastic house ball. So, obviously, high hopes for league play this week. Well, between the lanes actually being oiled this time (last time we got moved to the other side at the last minute so I think we were playing on dry) and me being sick with some type of respiratory virus and on codeine laced cough syrup...obvious disappointment.

And...I bit myself in the *** by being honest. They had my average listed as 162. I told them my average is actually 167 and that they probably made the mistake by not adjusting my sport league average. The guy went back and looked things up...and now I have a 174 average because they don't use the composite; they use the highest average of any league.

But hey...we still took 4 more points and are 8-0 to start. At least I think we are. Ya never really know the first few weeks of the season while many people are establishing and such.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: low-medium oil synthetics, dry outside, heavy oil inside, easier house shot.

615 Series: 221-192-202
Game 1 my only open was a very make-able 4-7 in the 9th. But a strong game.

Game 2 I only opened on a 1-2-4-10 washout in the 3rd and a 4-10 split in the 4th...but thats all it takes to ruin a run at 200.

Game 3 was strong early on, but I missed a single 4-pin in the 7th and then left another 4-7 in the 10th and chopped it.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.16 pins
Strikes: 53% (1 4-bagger, 2 turkeys, 2 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (2x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 33% (2/6)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 205.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 209.00.

A full house in Game 2 and a Flush in Game 3 and I couldn't win a poker hand. But my 202 in the 3rd was barely enough to take 1 of my 2 brackets so thats a positive.

Gonna have to work on hitting the 4-7 in practice tomorrow. Unacceptable. But I knew it was going to be a good night. I was bowling a familiar face from the sport shot league I was in and was wearing my lucky bowling jersey. Figured the combination of the jersey and my tendency to bowl better against people I'm trying to impress would translate into a good night.

The closure of the lanes in Tustin has flooded other centers with teams...so our 18 team league from summer has become a 30 team league. It's actually pretty cool. But I can't get too excited...I made some bad shots tonight and the easy pattern compensated. Gonna practice tomorrow at the other center to try and get my average up there.

[Aslan]

Saturday Color of Money Tournament: medium oil synthetics

Small weekly colored-pin tournament.

I only participated in the tournament because I got knocked out of the poker tournament, had nothing to do, and the last two days I've been trying to practice but they haven't had their lanes oiled...so whats the point?

568 Series: 188-207-173
Game 1 was clean except for a chopped 1-8 in the 4th frame.

Game 2 I was also clean except for a 3-6-7 split in the 8th frame.

Game 3 I switched to the Dark Encounter and had 3 open frames and all spares until the 9th and I struck out from there to salvage a 173.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.41 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 2 doubles and 3 singles)
Spares: 72% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (2/2)
Most common single-pin leaves: n/a.
Only left a single 6-pin and 10-pin (2x each).

Multiple Pin spares: 68% (11/16)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2-4-10 washout (3x).

Splits: 50% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 189.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Played in this little miniature color-pin tournament 3 times and shot a 562, 567, and 568. Consistent I guess.

Made some good shots. I only did the tournament to practice on oiled lanes. Mainly my release was a bit inconsistent.

Kinda feel like I got hustled at the end though. One guy I was bowling with wasn't doing very well and the shots he was drinking seemed to be getting to him and he asked me if I wanted to play against him for $2. So the guy that was kinda stinking...140s-160s...but then proceeded to beat me 202-197.

Oh well. It was a good practice.

[Aslan]

Monday League: medium oil synthetics

475 Series: 172-170-133

No carry. Game 1 I only opened on a 1-2-10 washout and 4-9 split. Game 2 I left 3 splits but managed to pick one of em up. Still no carry. Switched to the Dark Encounter (from Lethal Revolver) for Game 3...still couldn't carry...but also couldn't pick up 5 of the 8 spare attempts.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.21 pins
Strikes: 24% (2 doubles, and 4 singles)
Spares: 59% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin (3x)
Only left a 4-pin, 5-pin, 9-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (8/16)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 and 4-9 split (2x each).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 3 games: 158.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 161.67.

I don't know. I don't know if it's the pattern or if I'm using the wrong line or wrong ball or what. What I DO know is I couldn't keep the ball right of the headpin...and many times pocket hits would turn into single 4-pins and 4-9 splits. And if I put any hand into the shot...it'd hit left of Brooklyn. I tried moving inside...then the ball would miss right and leave a washout.

Had high hopes that game, bowling against the other team's anchor who I know actually has competed at the PBA level (all be it many years ago and I think he finished near last). Thought the "challenge" would push me...but it was a disaster. Probably should have switched to a hybrid or pearl cover to see if I could delay the hook a bit...but by the time I realized things were hopeless with balls #1 and #2...it was the end of Game 3.

Trying to think if there might be another sport or hobby to take up... :mad:

[Amyers]

I feel you my friend. Even when I'm bowling well it seems like there are days like this one just lurking out there. I tell myself I would rather struggle with days like you had that you just can't find the pocket instead of what I've been doing of hitting the pocket 34 out of 36 frames and ending up with 5 strikes on the night like I have been that last week or so but the truth is they both suck.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: low-medium oil synthetics, easier house shot.

574 Series: 193-200-181
Spare troubles early on. Chopped a 4-7 because the lanes were dry so the plastic ball hooked. Missed a 10-pin the following frame for the same reason...hooked 'just' inside. Wanted to add polish...but too late once the series is underway.

Game 2 I just couldn't carry. I was in or around the pocket the entire game, but couldn't get the ball to strike until the second half of the game. Opened in the 9th chopping a 1-2-4 so I had to strike out just to salvage a 200.

Game 3 was okay, I just left two splits and chopped a 1-2-8-9...not much chance of 200+ if you open 3 times.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.14 pins
Strikes: 54% (3 turkeys, 4 doubles, and 2 singles)
Spares: 46% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x)
Only left the single 4-pin, 7-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 28% (2/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a (all 1x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 191.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 202.33.

Not horrible. I had my line pretty much to myself against a team of mostly thumbless bowlers. Was working on my stance/approach. I only moved left once, after the Big 4 split in the 3rd frame of Game 3. Just trying to get a consistent release...and get my speed under control without messing up my timing.

Gonna need to improve my spare shooting if I want a 600+ series. Missed 3 single-pins and chopped a 4-7...can't do that and expect to compete with the "big boyz".

[J Anderson]

Not horrible. I had my line pretty much to myself against a team of mostly thumbless bowlers. Was working on my stance/approach. I only moved left once, after the Big 4 split in the 3rd frame of Game 3. Just trying to get a consistent release...and get my speed under control without messing up my timing.

This is what caught my eye when reading the post:"Was working on my stance/approach."

I would say that for most bowlers, one can not work on one's technique while competing. You work in practice. In competition you trust that your body is going to do what you've practiced. Your brain works on where do you have to stand and aim to hit the pocket consistently or where do you have to stand and aim to make the spare.

Much easier for some of us than others, and often easier for me to say than do.

[Amyers]

This is what caught my eye when reading the post:"Was working on my stance/approach."

I would say that for most bowlers, one can not work on one's technique while competing. You work in practice. In competition you trust that your body is going to do what you've practiced. Your brain works on where do you have to stand and aim to hit the pocket consistently or where do you have to stand and aim to make the spare.

Much easier for some of us than others, and often easier for me to say than do.

Not to put words in Aslan's mouth but I think what he was getting at was working to implement what he had been practicing. Not that he had decided to randomly test new footwork while bowling league.

[Aslan]

Not to put words in Aslan's mouth but I think what he was getting at was working to implement what he had been practicing. Not that he had decided to randomly test new footwork while bowling league.

Correct.

I DID debate a little bit with myself on whether to even implement the new stance/approach Wednesday night when I just learned it (in a lesson) Tuesday evening.

There are some things that I hold off implementing until I've had some sufficient practice time. Then there are other things, where you're doing something wrong and need to correct it, where I implement them immediately.

For example, lets say you trying out a new wrist brace and it is something you're really not used to. Something like that, I'd practice at least once using it...at least a few games....before I'd bust it out on league night. Same with a new ball. Or maybe you're toying with how high your backswing is or experminenting with loft or going from 4 steps to 5 steps...these are things you should practice at least a few games...and then see where you're at.

But if it's something that you are doing that is really negatively affecting your game...like walking left and then walking back right...or closing your eyes when you release the ball...or not being balanced and able to post a shot....these are things that you either fix...or you're going to continue to struggle. So those things you kinda need to start working on IMMEDIATELY...not wait a week or so and then practice.

[Aslan]

Saturday Practice: dry lanes, THS

A buddy wanted to bowl a few games before going out bar hopping so I obliged. He's a 194 average bowler that bowled in high school but doesn't really bowl outside of his home center once a week. I was lazy and didn't want to carry my whole arsenal down to the center and back so I just took the Melee Jab that RobM gave me and my spare ball. It's the weekend in a house that only oils for leagues so I figured I wouldn't need anything that hooks early.

538 Series: 150-193-195 (clean)
Game 1 I wasn't carrying and was making a lot of small movements trying to find the line. Struck a couple times and was clean until 2 back-to-back opens on multi-pin spares in the 9th and 10th frames.

Game 2 I had a bit better carry and opened in the 1st and 3rd instead of 9th and 10th.

Game 3 was a bit more focused and serious since I guess my friend got annoyed that he lost two straight. I kept it clean but he ran 3-4 strikes together in the middle frames and I couldn't double in the 10th so he beat me 198-195.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.30 pins
Strikes: 33% (2 doubles, and 7 singles)
Spares: 71% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 7-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 61% (8/13)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7, 2-4-5, and 3-10 baby split (2x each).

Splits: 100% (2/2).

Average over 3 games: 179.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 183.00.

Pretty easy to look at the numbers/data and realize that I was struggling to hit the pocket flush...probably just a 1:1 move to the left was needed. The line wasn't off enough to leave splits, but was off too much to strike or just leave a flat 10-pin.

Played him well and got a clean game; but not at the 200+ every time out level I'd like to be.

[Aslan]

Monday League: low-medium oil synthetics, THS (38ft?) with some out of bounds at 1-3.

585 Series: 182-231-172

Spare shooting was good in Game 1. Only opened on a 1-2-4-10 washout in the first frame and a 4-10 split in the 6th. But it took me too long to figure out where to line up to strike.

Got lined up in Game 2 and made most of my shots...but it was still transitioning. Only open was on a terrible miss at a 6-10 in the 8th.

Should have switched balls. Should have actually started with the Dark Encounter and then went to the Asylum in Game 3...in retrospect. Kept things clean through 6 frames but threw it in the gutter first shot of the 7th and could only get 9. Then a 5-7 split in the 8th and a 6-7-10 split in the 10th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.82 pins
Strikes: 48% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 5 singles)
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (5/5)
Most common single-pin leaves: 3-pin and 9-pin (2x each)
Only other leave was a single 7-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 45% (5/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 3-6 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 195.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

I think the team took all 4. The girl on the team bowled a 157 and I think won the side pot with a 271 handicap. I won the second side pot with a 231 scratch. And our rather talented young male bowler won the 3rd side pot with a 291 handicap/266 scratch. I guess we didn't need our absent female too much tonight.

Only one bad spare shot where I badly pulled a shot at the 6-10. Overall positive though.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: low-oil synthetics, easier house shot.

682 Series: 244-223-215
I sure tend to do well on lanes 3 and 4. Not sure why. I think every series over 620 I've bowled there was on that pair.

Game 1 I was clean other than a 4-7-10 in the 8th. Game 2 I lost my line momentarily and made a bad shot in the 3rd...but finished strong. Only open frame was a 7-10 split in the 2nd frame. Game 3 I lost my line in the 5th and 6th. Chopped the dang 6-10 for my only open. Just wasn't able to run as many strikes together in Game 3.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.35 pins
Strikes: 67% (1 5-bagger, 2 4-baggers, 1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 72% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (4/4)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin (2x)
Only left the single 4-pin, 7-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-5 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 227.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: n/a.

Kinda felt like a bowler tonight rather than a person trying like hell and failing to be a bowler. Team took all 4 which is what we needed after going 1-3 last week. Missed the side pot in Game 1 by 13 pins. The second game a guy 6-8 lanes over threw a 299. But I did manage to win two brackets and finish 2nd in the other one. Nice to walk out of the bowling alley with more money than I walked in with.

And I got the 6th ball of the arsenal (Loaded Revolver) finally drilled. It was drilled wrong back a couple months ago and I never managed to get back to the place until today. Probably won't need it much on league night. Rarely ever use the pearls in the bag...except on dry lanes practicing.

[bubba809]

Wow, awesome bowling Aslan no matter what house or set of lanes you're on. This just may be your breakthrough year.

[Amyers]

Congrats on a nice series.

[vdubtx]

Congrats on your nice series Asian!

You will get the 700 series before you know it. :cool:

[Tony]

Nice scores !

[NewToBowling]

Great series

[Mark O]

Great bowling Aslan!

[Aslan]

Thanks all.

I can't get too excited until I see the success translate to my Monday league and tournaments. I know it's still 'good'...but one thing I've learned over the past year is that lane/house conditions have FAR FAR FAR more impact than I thought when I started bowling. And if MikeW were here...he'd remind me/us that he even pointed this out after one (or all) of his epic losses to me...that the way I used to bowl (badly)...the pattern didn't matter as much. Now that I'm bowling "properly"; the patterns are probably the biggest thing affecting success.

I averaged 162 two seasons ago in Anaheim Hills. Then 173 last year in that house. I average 176 in my Monday league in Anaheim. I averaged 174 (adjusted) in BOTH seasons I was in the sport shot leagues. And I averaged in the 160s every season since I started (all in Anaheim Hills). I NOW average 203 on Wednesdays. Statistically speaking...that is a significant difference. Plus, I averaged 190 in this league last season. So we're talking a CONSISTENT 20-30 pin difference.

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer...but I have to be realistic and keep focused on improvement...especially at my home center in Anaheim (Mondays). I don't want to turn into "that guy" who averages 195-215 in ONE house and never leaves because the minute he bowls in another center he can't break 180. I have a singles tournament next weekend...my first tournament since the disappointing performance in the singles tournament back in late August.

But...on the FLIP/POSITIVE side....what really was surprising about the performance wasn't the scores. I've bowled 215-244 games before. I've started with the front 5 before. But the REAL source of inspiration and motivation was more qualitative. In other words, it was how I looked and how the ball looked. When you SEE someone that is bowling PROPERLY (form, timing, balance, focus, release, etc...)...you can most often tell. And I've only seen TWO guys (non-PBA) bowl with better form than what I bowled with last night. One of them was the best bowler on Tuesdays and the other a semi-pro that used to bowl on Wednesdays.

The team we played was new and every once in awhile I'd look back as I was getting up to the approach or coming off the approach...and they were just in "awe". They watched my teammates (#3 and anchor) with their big thumbless hooks...their mouths open...and at a couple points even came over and said, "wow...you guys can really hook the ball!" And then they watched me...and it was like watching the PBA on Saturdays. It wasn't just that the ball STRUCK...it was that the ball struck PERFECTLY. No brooklyns...maybe ONE. The thumbless guys can hook more...but they were inconsistent. Some of their shots the pins exploded...other shots were horrible leaves. Meanwhile...almost every shot I made was perfect.

Opening up the shoulders is a big part of the recent success. It feels weird to walk one way with your shoulders/feet pointed another way...but I'm getting used to it.

FOCUS is a big part. People tell me to "think less"...and that's partially right and partially wrong. I need to THINK less...but FOCUS more. If I stare down that target...I almost always hit it and the shot hits well. But if I get distracted with other nonsense and take my focus off that target....not as good.

And BALANCE. People here and elsewhere have said..."if you can post your shot...that means you're balanced...and your shot will almost always be good." That is SO TRUE! On the few "bad shots" I made...I fell off the shot....couldn't stay balanced at the line...probably out of time (timing).

So, Mudpuppy Cliff Notes, the score was nice...I love to win more than I spend. :D But I also have to be realistic and make sure I don't fall into the trap most league bowlers fall into...where they average 205 and then go to Vegas for sweeps and average 135.

And not to incur the wrath of atheists and agnostics...especially the bowling God Iceman (come back old timer!!!)...but ya know...money has been tight lately with alimony and child support and an expensive bowling habit and a car that has required some significant CASH lately to keep it running...and this week I was SHORT on cash. Then Monday I win $27...gives me some cash for Tuesday and Wednesday. Then on Thursday, I win another $70...now I have some cash for the rest of the week/weekend. And today I got a gift card in the mail from Time Warner Cable for $200...which was part of the deal when I signed up and I actually forgot about it...so that will help. Now I can afford to go online this weekend or go shopping...got a father and niece with birthdays coming up. So my point is...God provides what we need. I needed a little "help" this week...and I got it. I might even have enough money to play hockey tomorrow morning or at least go out on a date this weekend!

Okay...Foundation for a Better Life/Church of Latter Day Saints message over...back to focusing on womanizing!! :cool:

[NYMIKE]

Great bowling bro! Did you ever calculate your annual bowling expense? I figured my is at $2500 a year, and I'm just becoming a 150 (147.5 as we speak) average guy, lol.

[Amyers]

Great bowling bro! Did you ever calculate your annual bowling expense? I figured my is at $2500 a year, and I'm just becoming a 150 (147.5 as we speak) average guy, lol.

Just don't even go there man I don't want to know.

[Aslan]

Great bowling bro! Did you ever calculate your annual bowling expense? I figured my is at $2500 a year, and I'm just becoming a 150 (147.5 as we speak) average guy, lol.

Rough Estimate?

League Dues (2 leagues): $2,256
Side Pots: $288
Brackets: $600
Mystery Score: $24
Beverages/Food: $480
Sweeps (2x/year): $1000 (gas, lodging, food, gambling, etc...)
Tournaments/Pro-Ams/Clinics: $615
Private Lessons: $700
Practice: $416
Equipment: $400
Attire: $90

So, for one full year of bowling, with practice, with lessons, with 2 leagues, both sweepers, occasional small tournaments....Grand Total = $6,769. Rough estimate. I'd say if I had to guess a round number...it's probably a $7,000/year habit. It seems like a big number, but if you add up your costs the way I did...I bet you spend WAY more than you think!

Now that I'm going to Mark Baker once every 4 weeks...it could be higher. And if I were to do REAL tournaments...ABT, ABTA, TNBA, USBC Open, etc.. or God forbid PBA regional events....then we're talking serious, serious cash.

[NYMIKE]

So far 2 balls about $340
summer league 12 weeks $15 a week $180
fall league 35 weeks $21 a week $735
Coaching so far 12 lessons $20 a lesson $240 lets say before the end of the year another $60 to $100
Practices $20 to $30 a week so lets say $1200
I don't gamble, I rarely drink alcohol at the alleys, probably less than $100, food is a different story I eat 4 meals a day, out of which 2 are bought, I rarely but food at the alley, but it's a huge expense for me, but non bowling related.

[mc_runner]

Nice series, Aslan! This got me thinking about how much I spend too... rough (very rough) estimates are at $1500 for league, $500 for raffles/games (of which I normally come close to breaking even), $750 for food/drinks, maybe $250 for balls/equipment and $400 for practice. Oof... gets expensive if you look at it that way, $3400 before any amount coming back. And it's only going up...

[Aslan]

Yeah. I think for most league bowlers...the number is probably close to $3000/league.

I spend a little more on equipment, lessons, tournaments, etc... than the average league bowler...but I tend to spend far less on booze/food.

[NewToBowling]

My hard costs are done for now (ball, bags, shoes, etc)

One league a week ($15) and three practice games (2 are free so $2.35 for 1 paid game). Not bad. I don't bowl that much anymore. I used to go every other day but it was actually detrimental to my game.

[Jessiewoodard57]

ouch, just figured mine no wonder I'm broke. $2100 in balls bags and bowling supplies, $2500 leagues and weekly bowling, not counting gas $4600. Glad I won a free ball one less to buy.

[NewToBowling]

ouch, just figured mine no wonder I'm broke. $2100 in balls bags and bowling supplies, $2500 leagues and weekly bowling, not counting gas $4600. Glad I won a free ball one less to buy.

That's a lot. But hey if you're enjoying it that's all that matters.

I tend to go cheap on bags and shoes. Just picked up some Dexter Turbo's on ebay for $20. 3 ball roller bag on Craigslist for $10, etc.

I don't think I'll ever pay for a used bowling ball seeing is I have to spend upwards of up to $70 to re-drill it. Might as well get new ball at that point

[Aslan]

One league a week ($15) and three practice games (2 are free so $2.35 for 1 paid game). Not bad. I don't bowl that much anymore. I used to go every other day but it was actually detrimental to my game.

$15/night is pretty low. Is it a no-tap league or non-sanctioned? Those are the only two times I've seen < $20 nowadays.

[vdubtx]

I am way under what most are posting here. 2 leagues that are $18 and $16 per week, both sanctioned. Include tournaments including expenses and I am still under $3000 per year.

[Aslan]

I am way under what most are posting here. 2 leagues that are $18 and $16 per week, both sanctioned. Include tournaments including expenses and I am still under $3000 per year.

Are you counting the money you win?

If you're in 2 leagues, 2 seasons, lets say $17...thats just under $5000.

2 leagues * 24 weeks = 48 weeks * 2 seasons = 96 weeks * $17 = $817 *2 leagues = $1632

That leaves you $1368 for the year. If you never enter side pots (which you'd be a fool not to with your average/potential)...or brackets...and your leagues never sweep in Vegas or anywhere you have to travel...no mystery score...no new equipment...you never need to practice...and never take a lesson...okay...then you still have the USBC Open and Tulsa tournament. Entry + Gas + Lodging + expenses??? And you never eat or drink when you are bowling leagues??

I'm just saying...yes, my total is higher than most because I bowl 750-1000 games a year and take lessons at least once a month...buy/drill a new arsenal every year...sweep in Vegas at least twice a year...so my number will be higher than most. But I bet yours is higher than you think. All those little $3 side pots and $5 brackets and $5 raffle tickets/strike ball/50/50...those all add up over the course of a year.

[Aslan]

Monday League: medium oil synthetics, THS (38ft?) with some out of bounds at 1-3.

539 Series: 156-171-212

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.85 pins
Strikes: 42% (1 4-bagger, 2 doubles, and 6 singles)
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 7-pin, 9-pin, nor 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (5/10)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 179.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 191.67.

Mudpuppy Cliff Notes: Aslan needed to take his %&*($$ head out of *** sooner than the 8th frame of Game 3 if he wanted to actually be competitive tonight.

Plain and simple. I spent two games falling off shots and bending my elbow before releasing the ball. Whoopee. We took 1 point of 4. Who cares? This team sucks. The two female bowlers probably barely broke 300...and couldn't have cared less.

Hey, at least I won $8 in the 2nd poker hand...and helped the team salvage a point. But I really, really needed more of a confidence boost with the CA State Singles Tournament coming up this weekend. I don't think I can compete with those guys...but I entered anyways...and after last week convinced myself I at least had a "shot"...but I couldn't hit the 6-pin to save my life. I left a single 6-pin 3 times and a 6-10 3 times. And in 6 tries...the 6-pin fell over once. It was like that damn thing had a forcefield around it.

My chances with the young thang are pretty much over. Kiss that dream goodbye...and probably for the best. A 26 year old girlfriend might be fun for a couple weeks...but I GOTTA think its aggravating after that.

I'm gonna take a bath...and get really high...and then go to bed. I'm gonna pretend this night never happened...and I did not throw a 156 game...and I did NOT miss 3 single-pin spares...I'm just gonna chalk this up to a combination of a bad 6 inch sub that I had for lunch today and the unseasonably hot weather...and we'll just leave it at that.

#bowlingisstupid #myfantasyfootballteamsucks #Ineedtopracticemycornerpins #Wednesdayleaguebetternotsuck #MarkBakerlesson#2onFriday

[Amyers]

I feel you my friend I sucked all weekend last week culminated with a loss to my 11 year old daughter 150-168 on Sunday. Of all things I missed three 7 pins over two games. I really don't understand what causes these stretches.

[NewToBowling]

$15/night is pretty low. Is it a no-tap league or non-sanctioned? Those are the only two times I've seen < $20 nowadays.

It's a sanctioned regular league. 14 teams with small prize pot

[vdubtx]

Are you counting the money you win?

If you're in 2 leagues, 2 seasons, lets say $17...thats just under $5000.

2 leagues * 24 weeks = 48 weeks * 2 seasons = 96 weeks * $17 = $817 *2 leagues = $1632

That leaves you $1368 for the year. If you never enter side pots (which you'd be a fool not to with your average/potential)...or brackets...and your leagues never sweep in Vegas or anywhere you have to travel...no mystery score...no new equipment...you never need to practice...and never take a lesson...okay...then you still have the USBC Open and Tulsa tournament. Entry + Gas + Lodging + expenses??? And you never eat or drink when you are bowling leagues??

I'm just saying...yes, my total is higher than most because I bowl 750-1000 games a year and take lessons at least once a month...buy/drill a new arsenal every year...sweep in Vegas at least twice a year...so my number will be higher than most. But I bet yours is higher than you think. All those little $3 side pots and $5 brackets and $5 raffle tickets/strike ball/50/50...those all add up over the course of a year.

$18 one league, $16 other = $34 per week for 35 weeks is $1190.00.

I don't get into brackets or high pots during leagues because they are always handicap. Not donating my money to someone getting 50 pins on me.

Practice maybe 2 times per month if I can, That's $10 each session for $20 per month = $240.00

Tournaments - Entry to Nationals $188, Tulsa $88, State $65, City $60 = $401.00

Travel to tournaments - Drove to El Paso this year gas = $125.00. Lodging for El Paso $250.00. Drove to Tulsa $75.00, no lodging stayed at brothers in OKC. State and City both local this year and next, Maybe $20 gas. Airfare to Reno in past years was free via points earned and lodging was cheap at $25 per night so less than $100 for the stay.

I don't count food and drink because I need to eat anyway and usually do so before league(usually at work before I leave, which I bring food from home). Don't drink beer or alcohol while bowling. Sometimes get a soda on Thursdays, that's $3.00 = maybe $100 for the year.

That leaves me approx $500 for various other "stuff". Brackets at Nationals, Tulsa, State or City tourneys. Anything I win goes to new equipment or into my pocket.

2 balls that I got this year = Roto-Grip Spare ball was paid via winnings from brackets first day of Nationals. Storm Ride was free and a fluke as the pro-shop operator messed up one ball and took awhile to drill up another, he ended up just giving it to me.

[Jessiewoodard57]

I'd bet those of us spending too much have one thing in common ....not married

[Aslan]

I feel you my friend I sucked all weekend last week culminated with a loss to my 11 year old daughter 150-168 on Sunday. Of all things I missed three 7 pins over two games. I really don't understand what causes these stretches.

I shoulda practiced Thursday but was short on cash this weekend due to unexpected car repairs last week. And I probably shoulda practiced a bit over the weekend as well...but same thing...money issues and chores around the house...never made it to the center. And it's very simple when you look at the stats what the problem is, at least statistically, and that's that I couldn't make my spares. 48% strike rate isn't great...but I should have been in the 190s minimum each game...but I couldn't pick up the spares.

Game 1 I struck in the 3rd, 5th, and 7th. So on the one lane...I seemed to have a manageable line.

But on the other lane I was way right. 1-5, 2-pin, 2-4-5, 6-10, 6-10. And normally, I pick up those spares (except the 1-5...that one I struggle with). But this time I put too much hand in the 2-4-5 and chopped it...and completely missed on the 6-10 in the 8th. Three open frames and no doubles = POO!!

Game 2...I seemed dialed in...but missed a single 6-pin in the 3rd frame. Then my BELOVED 8-10 pocket leave in the 5th...which my coach swears has nothing to do with me switching to 15lbs...but for crying out loud...I've rarely ever left that...then switch weights...and now it's a nightly occurrence. Then I missed a single 8-pin (again...rarely ever left it throwing 16lbs) because my slide foot slipped and I yanked the shot left. And AGAIN....3 opens...the only difference was the double to start.

Game 3 I was strongly considering making a move to the Asylum or at least the Dark Encounter...because it just seems like the lanes had broken down enough that I was starting to see transition late in Game 2. But...I was stubborn and stuck with the Lethal Revolver. And I started off with a 4-bagger so it seemed like my line was working...then a chopped 6-10 in the 5th and a single 3-pin leave in the 6th made me move left...then I missed a single 6-pin in the 7th. Only 2 opens and I strung a lot of strikes together to salvage the 212.

Finally in frame 8 of Game 3...I realized my arm was causing a lot of the problem...bending my elbow before the ball comes off my hand...and I struck twice...but the transition/breakdown was horrible. As soon as I found a line...it would change. I almost needed to make a 2:1 move every two frames. Maybe it was that some of the other guys were playing inside my line...and once I got to their line(s)...it was already broken down. That's the most logical explanation. Unfortunately, without dropping my speed considerably...with the pattern being more on the slick side...and with nothing stronger than what I was throwing...I couldn't start left of those guys. By the time I transitioned inside the second arrow...the 3rd game was almost over.

Wednesday hopefully will be better. Monday league is my "fun league" because the two female bowlers are fairly horrible. The other guy on the team is actually really good...but we can only do so much without any help. Wednesday will be more serious. And Friday I have lesson #2 with Mark Baker. I get paid Thursday so I'll be back in business monetarily speaking. Then Saturday I'll head to Northern LA County to try my luck against the "big boyz".

But if I miss single-pins...can't convert 6-10s or 2-4-5s...and can't hit a 6-pin to save my poomachine....then I might as well just stay home Saturday and forfeit the $50. Traffic sucks out that way so I do I want to spend $30 in gas and 3 hours sitting on the I-5? Just to get my booty handed to me? Probably not...but I also love to bowl and already paid the $50...so I'll probably go regardless. :rolleyes:

And I shouldn't take last night so hard...I mean, "technically" I was above my average for the night and managed to almost single-handedly salvage a point for the team in Game 3...and I won a poker hand...so...it wasn't quite as bad as it felt like at the time.

Bear with me...patience is NOT one of my virtues.

[Aslan]

I'd bet those of us spending too much have one thing in common ....not married

Well...if Diana Z would ever return my calls...

[NewToBowling]

I am married. Wife bowls with me. She was the one that purchased bowling shoes for me January of this year so we could bowl more.

[Jessiewoodard57]

widowed so no one to answer to

[NYMIKE]

I'm married

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: low-oil synthetics, easier house shot, a good deal of hold in the middle.

656 Series: 232 (clean)-221-203

Game 1 I was solid. I had 7 strikes through 9 frames until finally making a bad shot in the 10th. I would have liked to have been in the 250s...but I never complain about a clean game. Won the poker hand with a 4 of a kind and advanced in all 3 brackets.

Game 2 was more of the same; but I whiffed on a 4-7 leave in the 6th frame for my only open frame of the game and that cost me pretty big. Still managed to survive in all 3 brackets I was in...but I could tell in the 9th and 10th that the lanes were starting to break down.

Game 3 was rough. The strike line was gone and it took me 6-7 frames to finally start striking again. I was around the pocket...but in the first 6 frames I left 3 single 7-pins and 2 single 10-pins...all pocket hits that just weren't carrying. And, unfortunately, I finally missed a single 10-pin in the 4th for my only open of the game. Luckily, 203 was enough to win two of the brackets and help the team take all 4 points for the second straight week.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.24 pins
Strikes: 54% (1 4-bagger, 2 turkeys, 3 doubles, and 2 singles)
Spares: 84% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x)
Only left 10-pins and 7-pins.

Multiple Pin spares: 80% (4/5)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 3-6 (2x).

Splits: n/a.

Average over 3 games: 218.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 222.33.

Another solid outing although it must be said that these lane conditions are the easiest in Orange County so I'm not gonna buy my PBA card just yet.

The good thing is our team took all 4 points for the second straight week and are slowly climbing up the standings. It's also a bit more profitable bowling well:

Last 2 weeks in this league:
Cost: $44 (dues) + $30 (brackets) + $6 (poker) + $6 (side pot) + $1 (mystery score 1 week) + $6 (skins) = $49
Winnings over two weeks in this league = $59 (last week) + $89 (this week) = $148

In Game 1 I wanted to get a drink but only had $3 cash on me...so I actually had to wait until I won the poker hand so I could buy a drink. But yeah, it's a nice feeling to actually make more money bowling than I'm spending...even if it's not a bunch.

Still got a LOT of work to do. My spare shooting was encouraging, but my strike rate fell off from last week and some of my strikes tonight were gifts from this oil pattern. But I definitely needed this little confidence boost heading into this weekend's tournament.

[Amyers]

Wow another nice set. Apparently you found where Ice's old lane man from his 300 games must have retired to LOL.

[vdubtx]

Nice shooting Aslan.

[Jessiewoodard57]

Nice set Aslan . A week to be happy with.

[Ishkabibble]

Solid set. You'll do great this weekend. Focus and stay posative.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Nice shootin.

[NewToBowling]

You have the Gift now

[RobLV1]

Good bowling! Interesting how you chose to describe the center as being soooo easy rather than giving yourself the credit you deserve.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Good bowling! Interesting how you chose to describe the center as being soooo easy rather than giving yourself the credit you deserve.

Good point and i agree for confidence building. Somewhere between delusional and self deprecating is the balance we need as bowlers to constantly learn and improve.

[Amyers]

Good point and i agree for confidence building. Somewhere between delusional and self deprecating is the balance we need as bowlers to constantly learn and improve.

I don't think Aslan struggles with either of those concepts

[Aslan]

Wow another nice set. Apparently you found where Ice's old lane man from his 300 games must have retired to LOL.


You have the Gift now


Good bowling! Interesting how you chose to describe the center as being soooo easy rather than giving yourself the credit you deserve.

Yes. I watched a few shots....where I released them and immediately thought "oh no...that was bad...missed by 1-3 boards inside...that's gonna be ugly..." And guess what happened...the ball just slid down the lane...didn't move...hit a bit too close to the headpin for my liking...but struck. That's when I thought, "Hmm...suddenly Iceman's 300-games are starting to make more sense!"

Yes Rob. I know it sounds like I'm being unnecessarily tough on myself. But I average 207 in this league. I think I average 176 in the other league. The last 4 seasons in my old house...160s to 170s. BOTH times I bowled in a sport shot league...149 both times. Part of being "realistic" in bowling is understanding that you are not as good as you think you are. FAR too many bowlers watch the PBA and think, "tshhh...I rolled a 267 once...I could beat Pete Weber." And we KNOW that isn't true. We KNOW that PDW is bowling on conditions most bowlers never experience. Those of us that have bowled sport shots and tournaments KNOW...there are easy houses...easy THS shots...and there are patterns that are absolutely brutal. I am HAPPY that I bowled well. I'm happy that I'm on track to maybe be in the top 10-20% of a very large league with some very good bowlers.

BUT....BUT...I absolutely will NOT be happy with myself so long as I can't break a 180 average in my Monday league on what I would say is an average difficulty house shot. I will not be one of "those bowlers" that averages 200 on an easy house shot and goes out and gets their PBA card. Someday. But not today. I still need a TON of work before I start competing with VDub for top bowler on the site. I fell off FAR too many shots. I'm still learning how to slide. I still don't really know my arsenal and when to make the proper moves/changes. I still occasionally lose focus. My swing arm still tends to 'bend' too soon on some shots. I mean, I could go on and on...

I just saw a flyer for a tournament at South Point this weekend...I think $125 entry...thousands of $$ in prize money. I didn't even give it a CONSIDERATION. Because I know (and you know)...if I showed up in Vegas...against the caliber of bowlers that reside in Vegas year round..on REAL conditions...I'd get SMOKED.

Am I sure? No. But let me put it to you this way. This league swept at Gold Coast. The big money winner was a girl on my current team that averages about 109. All the "BIG GUNS" in our league...with their inflated averages...couldn't even beat a 110 average girl. Why? Because they got used to the easiest house shot in Orange County...and the girl's shot didn't rely on the pattern.

The bottom line is my high sanctioned game is a 256...and my high sanctioned series is a 689. And that hasn't changed. I need those to move higher before I get too in love with myself. And I need to start making better shots on Mondays...and prove to myself that I CAN compete on tougher conditions.

I think Mark Baker summed it up during my last lesson when I made a really good shot, good balance at the line, etc...

MB: "Howd that feel?"
ME: "I felt like Parker Bohn at the end of the shot."
MB: "Well, lets not get ahead of ourselves."


I don't think Aslan struggles with either of those concepts
Is it possible to be both delusional AND self deprecating???

I agree by the way...what I really need is to start taking Lithium because Monday I was ready to throw my bowling balls away...then yesterday I was on cloud 9. It's like being manic depressive.

[Amyers]

Yes. I watched a few shots....where I released them and immediately thought "oh no...that was bad...missed by 1-3 boards inside...that's gonna be ugly..." And guess what happened...the ball just slid down the lane...didn't move...hit a bit too close to the headpin for my liking...but struck. That's when I thought, "Hmm...suddenly Iceman's 300-games are starting to make more sense!"

Yes Rob. I know it sounds like I'm being unnecessarily tough on myself. But I average 207 in this league. I think I average 176 in the other league. The last 4 seasons in my old house...160s to 170s. BOTH times I bowled in a sport shot league...149 both times. Part of being "realistic" in bowling is understanding that you are not as good as you think you are. FAR too many bowlers watch the PBA and think, "tshhh...I rolled a 267 once...I could beat Pete Weber." And we KNOW that isn't true. We KNOW that PDW is bowling on conditions most bowlers never experience. Those of us that have bowled sport shots and tournaments KNOW...there are easy houses...easy THS shots...and there are patterns that are absolutely brutal. I am HAPPY that I bowled well. I'm happy that I'm on track to maybe be in the top 10-20% of a very large league with some very good bowlers.

BUT....BUT...I absolutely will NOT be happy with myself so long as I can't break a 180 average in my Monday league on what I would say is an average difficulty house shot. I will not be one of "those bowlers" that averages 200 on an easy house shot and goes out and gets their PBA card. Someday. But not today. I still need a TON of work before I start competing with VDub for top bowler on the site. I fell off FAR too many shots. I'm still learning how to slide. I still don't really know my arsenal and when to make the proper moves/changes. I still occasionally lose focus. My swing arm still tends to 'bend' too soon on some shots. I mean, I could go on and on...

I just saw a flyer for a tournament at South Point this weekend...I think $125 entry...thousands of $$ in prize money. I didn't even give it a CONSIDERATION. Because I know (and you know)...if I showed up in Vegas...against the caliber of bowlers that reside in Vegas year round..on REAL conditions...I'd get SMOKED.

Am I sure? No. But let me put it to you this way. This league swept at Gold Coast. The big money winner was a girl on my current team that averages about 109. All the "BIG GUNS" in our league...with their inflated averages...couldn't even beat a 110 average girl. Why? Because they got used to the easiest house shot in Orange County...and the girl's shot didn't rely on the pattern.

The bottom line is my high sanctioned game is a 256...and my high sanctioned series is a 689. And that hasn't changed. I need those to move higher before I get too in love with myself. And I need to start making better shots on Mondays...and prove to myself that I CAN compete on tougher conditions.

I think Mark Baker summed it up during my last lesson when I made a really good shot, good balance at the line, etc...

MB: "Howd that feel?"
ME: "I felt like Parker Bohn at the end of the shot."
MB: "Well, lets not get ahead of ourselves."


Is it possible to be both delusional AND self deprecating???

I agree by the way...what I really need is to start taking Lithium because Monday I was ready to throw my bowling balls away...then yesterday I was on cloud 9. It's like being manic depressive.

mudpuppy cliff notes: In your case yes

[Aslan]

CA State Singles Championship: USBC White Pattern

Lanes 11 & 12: 172-203-149
Game 1 only two open frames; but couldn't get a good line to the pocket. Didn't find a good line to the pocket until the 8th frame of Game 2 but finished strong. 4 opens in Game 3 pretty much killed my tournament hopes.

Lanes 9 & 10: 189-181-180
Switched lanes and switched to the Dark Encounter. Was feeling better once the lanes were drying up a little. Had a clean game going until the 10th when I missed a single 10-pin. Game 2 was more striking and more miserable spare shooting. Game 3 was clean through 6 before my thumb got stuck causing a bad shot in the 7th, then a split, then another missed single-pin in the 9th.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.99 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 4 doubles and 13 singles)
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 47% (8/17)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (5x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, nor 3-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (11/19)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 4-7, 6-10, and 4-9 split (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 179.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 194.67.

"Spare shooting won't win you tournaments; but it will cost you tournaments."- Chris Barnes

Not sure what happened. I think I totally psyched myself out. I knew the pattern would play tougher so I tried to go out to the 6-board and play up and in. But the shot just wasn't there. I tried for the first 5 frames to work on some footwork issues I had just dealt with at my lesson yesterday. That was probably a mistake. And then I moved to far outside...too afraid to trust my skill/equipment on a tougher pattern. Then I started missing spares...and I couldn't stop. I didn't just "miss"...I missed horribly.

My strength is usually spare shooting. Even on a bad night I'm usually 70%+ on single pins. I can't strike enough to be a bad spare shooter. I finished 2nd in a couple brackets...so the whole tournament probably cost $56 + $20 in gas after the winnings. THIS is why I don't get too excited about my scores on Wednesdays.

As much as I hate it...bowling has become a sport where success can be manipulated. It would be like basketball allowing different size hoops or football teams deciding how long they want their fields to be. Why stop at manipulating patterns...how bout 50ft lanes or 70ft lanes?? Or balls that explode upon impacting the 5-pin?

And the pattern wasn't that hard. I averaged 179 on it and I average 179 on my Monday THS. Obviously today's STORY was the absolutely pathetic spare shooting display. I could have signed up to re-bowl tomorrow and maybe the spare shooting recovers...maybe I do better. But there was no point. The calibre of competition there was far more than what I can handle. I think there were different divisions so I don't know for sure...but the scores were amazingly high. Two 300-games, One guy (at least) was pretty darn close to an 800 series. I bet 85% of the male bowlers there had at least 1-3 300-games to their credit.

Looks like I need to shoot some corner pins. Granted...I'll have to adjust because practice is likely to be on particle board (dry) so my plastic ball will hook a couple boards...but...47%...embarrassing!!

[vdubtx]

Not bad shooting on the bit tougher white pattern.

As I mentioned on another thread recently, I wouldn't incorporate any changes to your game other than in practice. Certainly wouldn't do in a tournament and very rarely in league setting.

Don't get down on yourself too much though, the white pattern was tough even for ICEMAN!!!

Your quote bat spare shooting is absolutely true. Has been said couple different ways but all lead to same thing. Conversions are the life blood of good bowling.

[Aslan]

Don't get down on yourself too much though, the white pattern was tough even for ICEMAN!!!


You shot 772 on it including a 300-game. Correct?

And even Iceman shot a 598. What did I shoot? 550?

So yeah, I appreciate the positive reinforcement, but I suck.

It's okay. I'm gonna put in some extra practice this week. The lessons with Mark Baker have been informative and I just think I have a lot of things to get tightened up before swimming with the sharks. I tried the abta last year and same thing. I need to be more patient.

[vdubtx]

I need to be more patient.
That certainly can help you. One step at a time.

[Amyers]

You shot 772 on it including a 300-game. Correct?

And even Iceman shot a 598. What did I shoot? 550?

So yeah, I appreciate the positive reinforcement, but I suck.

It's okay. I'm gonna put in some extra practice this week. The lessons with Mark Baker have been informative and I just think I have a lot of things to get tightened up before swimming with the sharks. I tried the abta last year and same thing. I need to be more patient.

Hey if I shot 550 on white with a sub 50% spare shooting I would at least be pretty happy with the strike ball!!! Just think what you would have shot with 50% spare shooting 6 months ago 130-150 probably. I know it's disappointing to perform below your expectations but you have to be honest with yourself and look at what needs improvement but give yourself credit for what has improved too. That crap happens to me on the spare shooting sometimes too. I've tries to figure out what causes it but never have when it happens and lasts more than a night or two I usually have to adjust slightly with my feet or release to fix it honestly think it just gets in my head sometimes.

[Aslan]

Yeah...there's something psychological with single-pin spare shooting that sometimes just really hurts amateur bowlers. You don't see it as much at the higher levels...but at the mid-levels of bowlers....better league bowlers...but not the high level ones...you see how once a pin is missed...then another...it's like a snowball rolling down a hill.

I had NO IDEA how to fix it. I tried telling myself that it was no different than league night...I tried to stay confident...but again, my misses weren't "barely off" as they sometimes are during league play. I was missing my target 4-6 boards. I was throwing the ball in the gutters on both sides of the lane. I was chopping 6-10s and 4-7s....it was just a friggin disaster. And the minute I'd see a corner-pin standing...I'd get that crushing feeling that I was going to open. I felt like a Charlie Brown cartoon where the rain cloud was following me around.

And it didn't help that other guys in my foursome were striking Brooklyn constantly and hitting through the head and carrying strikes...yet I was leaving pocket 4-9s and stone 9s and stone 8s.

[Amyers]

Yeah...there's something psychological with single-pin spare shooting that sometimes just really hurts amateur bowlers. You don't see it as much at the higher levels...but at the mid-levels of bowlers....better league bowlers...but not the high level ones...you see how once a pin is missed...then another...it's like a snowball rolling down a hill.

I had NO IDEA how to fix it. I tried telling myself that it was no different than league night...I tried to stay confident...but again, my misses weren't "barely off" as they sometimes are during league play. I was missing my target 4-6 boards. I was throwing the ball in the gutters on both sides of the lane. I was chopping 6-10s and 4-7s....it was just a friggin disaster. And the minute I'd see a corner-pin standing...I'd get that crushing feeling that I was going to open. I felt like a Charlie Brown cartoon where the rain cloud was following me around.

And it didn't help that other guys in my foursome were striking Brooklyn constantly and hitting through the head and carrying strikes...yet I was leaving pocket 4-9s and stone 9s and stone 8s.

I've been there. Once that starts you can't fix it that day all you can do is finish up and hope they spelled your name wrong on the screen.

[Aslan]

Monday League: low oil synthetics, THS (38ft?) with some out of bounds at 1-3.

Got to the lanes early to try and work on some spare shooting and also to take a look at my arsenal top to bottom. With all the recent discussions on here, I'm starting to get a little less confident. The lanes I was practicing on hadn't been oiled since that morning so the Lethal Revolver was out. I looked at the Dark Encounter, worked on the Asylum a bit, then the Melee Jab and for the first time threw the Loaded Revolver.

I didn't keep score as I was using any spare leave to shoot corner pins (vs pick it up). But the two pearls (Melee Jab and Lo. Revolver) seemed to do quite nicely on the burnt up conditions.

534 Series: 160-186-188

Started with the D. Encounter. A chopped 2-5 and two missed corner leaves (6-10 and single-10); then a 5-7 split in the first 6 frames. Finished strong to salvage the 160.

Switched to the Asylum for Game 2. Needed to adjust a bit since the lines for the Le. Revolver and D. Encounter don't work as well for the Asylum. Only 1 open on a 8-10 pocket split in the 7th. Actually had a dutch-200 going through the first 6 frames.

Switched to the Melee Jab for Game 3. The Asylum just didn't seem to be working on the left lane...I thought maybe the Melee Jab would. It was okay. I made at least 4 bad shots in Game 3 so it was harder to tell.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79 pins
Strikes: 33% (2 doubles, and 7 singles)
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 3-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 7-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 and 2-4-5-8 bucket (2x each).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 178.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 181.00.

Bad night but could have been worse. The spare shooting was still a bit problematic. The stats look better than they are given most of my single-pin spare leaves were in the middle. The rest of the stats tell the story. I was average on spares and couldn't strike.

Tonight was example of what RobM talks about with lane variation. Through 2 games;
- I struck on the right lane 7 times
- I struck on the left lane ONCE.

And part of that, and part of the reason I was going through my arsenal faster than usual is the league has 22 teams and only 20 lanes on each side of the alley. It's the only bowling alley outside of Vegas that I've bowled at that has lanes on two sides. So one pair of teams has to go to the west side of the alley to bowl...and for some reason they didn't oil that side. So I imagine the left lane had really had a lot of traffic up the right side because I really had to move in to find anything playable. Definitely couldn't figure that lane out.

Our team took all 4 points from the opponent so I'm sure we're in the top 3 now. But my potential dating interest hooked up with the other guy on our team...so I had to watch them playing little lover games during bowling...which was annoying. I can't blame her. The kid has nice eyes, a slim build, he's a great bowler, seems like a nice guy...she could do worse. And there's the added bonus that he's probably within 3 years of her age-wise versus my 14. But thats fine. I need to focus on my bowling during league night anyways rather than getting distracted with girls. Gotta find a way to consistently get in the 190s on these conditions.

[Blacksox1]

Consider this for game 3. Use asylum on the right lane and something else on the left lane. Ouch on the girl. Better to find that out sooner than later.

[NYMIKE]

Monday League: low oil synthetics, THS (38ft?) with some out of bounds at 1-3.

Got to the lanes early to try and work on some spare shooting and also to take a look at my arsenal top to bottom. With all the recent discussions on here, I'm starting to get a little less confident. The lanes I was practicing on hadn't been oiled since that morning so the Lethal Revolver was out. I looked at the Dark Encounter, worked on the Asylum a bit, then the Melee Jab and for the first time threw the Loaded Revolver.

I didn't keep score as I was using any spare leave to shoot corner pins (vs pick it up). But the two pearls (Melee Jab and Lo. Revolver) seemed to do quite nicely on the burnt up conditions.

534 Series: 160-186-188

Started with the D. Encounter. A chopped 2-5 and two missed corner leaves (6-10 and single-10); then a 5-7 split in the first 6 frames. Finished strong to salvage the 160.

Switched to the Asylum for Game 2. Needed to adjust a bit since the lines for the Le. Revolver and D. Encounter don't work as well for the Asylum. Only 1 open on a 8-10 pocket split in the 7th. Actually had a dutch-200 going through the first 6 frames.

Switched to the Melee Jab for Game 3. The Asylum just didn't seem to be working on the left lane...I thought maybe the Melee Jab would. It was okay. I made at least 4 bad shots in Game 3 so it was harder to tell.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79 pins
Strikes: 33% (2 doubles, and 7 singles)
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 3-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 7-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 and 2-4-5-8 bucket (2x each).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 178.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 181.00.

Bad night but could have been worse. The spare shooting was still a bit problematic. The stats look better than they are given most of my single-pin spare leaves were in the middle. The rest of the stats tell the story. I was average on spares and couldn't strike.

Tonight was example of what RobM talks about with lane variation. Through 2 games;
- I struck on the right lane 7 times
- I struck on the left lane ONCE.

And part of that, and part of the reason I was going through my arsenal faster than usual is the league has 22 teams and only 20 lanes on each side of the alley. It's the only bowling alley outside of Vegas that I've bowled at that has lanes on two sides. So one pair of teams has to go to the west side of the alley to bowl...and for some reason they didn't oil that side. So I imagine the left lane had really had a lot of traffic up the right side because I really had to move in to find anything playable. Definitely couldn't figure that lane out.

Our team took all 4 points from the opponent so I'm sure we're in the top 3 now. But my potential dating interest hooked up with the other guy on our team...so I had to watch them playing little lover games during bowling...which was annoying. I can't blame her. The kid has nice eyes, a slim build, he's a great bowler, seems like a nice guy...she could do worse. And there's the added bonus that he's probably within 3 years of her age-wise versus my 14. But thats fine. I need to focus on my bowling during league night anyways rather than getting distracted with girls. Gotta find a way to consistently get in the 190s on these conditions.

Wow I be uncomfortable if the girl I was after was messing with my teammate, probably I would quit that league, I realize most people are less sensitive than me.

[Aslan]

Wow I be uncomfortable if the girl I was after was messing with my teammate, probably I would quit that league, I realize most people are less sensitive than me.

It occurred to me.

I prefer to look at it as a life lesson...never try to date someone less than "half your age + 7". Dating rules exist for a reason.

It just means I'll be getting drunk more. No bigee...I walk home from the center anyways...so I can drink all I want.

[Aslan]

Tuesday Practice: medium-dry lanes, THS

I usually practice on every other Thursday, but I guess I have a date Thursday...which I'm not that excited about. I almost cancelled to practice bowling...but figured I might as well get it over with.

My goals for this practice:
- First 2 games; concentrate on a short first step.
- Second 2 games; try to walk straight and keep track of any drift.
- Third 2 games; focus on staying under the ball during the release.
- Last 2 games; try to put all the elements together.
- Work on corner-pin spare shooting

First 2 Games: 147-145
Had trouble getting the Lethal Revolver to work right up the 8-board. Mainly throwing between 2nd and 3rd arrow. Game 1 I was just rusty. Game 2 was a lot of splits and washouts.

Next 2 Games: 149-191
Game 3 was more of the same. I tried switching to the Dark Encounter for the 3rd frame but that didn't work. So I switched to the Asylum and moved back over to 2nd arrow. Managed to throw some strikes but it was still "off".

My drift was: 1R, 1R, 1.5R, stuck, 1.5R, 3R, 1L, 3R, 2R, 0, 3R. Game 2 was 2R, 2.5R, 2.5R, 1.5R, 2.5R, 2R, 1R, 1R, 1R, 2.5R, 1.5R.

Next 2 Games: 180-209 (clean)
Game 5 I switched to the Melee Jab that RobM gave me out in Vegas. Couldn't seem to find the right line until the 10th...but I DID pick up my first ever 6-7-10 split in the 2nd frame. Game 6 was more of the same. I had an all-spare game through 7 frames until running a few strikes together and finishing clean.

Next 2 Games: 227-209 (clean)
Game 7 was one of my better games. I was able to relax a bit now that I was just "bowling" (versus working on a specific approach/release/footwork item). Eight strikes and only one open frame. Game 8 was my second 209 game and my second clean game. Mostly spares though. I switched to the Loaded Revolver in frame 6 but had the same results as the Melee Jab.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.75 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 5-bagger, 2 turkeys, 6 doubles, and 11 singles)
Spares: 64% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (17/22)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 54% (17/31)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 (4x).

Splits: 22% (2/9).

Average over 3 games: 182.12.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 188.50.

Might still need more work on the footwork and drift. One coach seems to think a little drift isn't a bad thing so long as it's minor and consistent. As you can see from the data, my drift is VERY consistent. It's usually 3-5 boards right...but I tried to stay as straight as I could and it ended up being more in the 1-3 range. My other coach doesn't like it and claims it might be why I'm having trouble playing further inside (my body is naturally compensating by moving back right). The real benefit was seen when I started focusing more on my release.

Not sure about the ball situation. On fresh conditions, starting with my strongest solids up the 6-7 boards seems to work well on Wednesday nights but not as well on Monday nights. I had some luck playing more inside with the pearls (Melee Jab) in Vegas when I was working with Rob and I seemed to have some luck with the pearls (Melee and Loaded Revolver) tonight (at the Monday house). I'm wondering if maybe I'm just using the wrong balls on Mondays.

It just doesn't make any sense. Why would the solids work so well up the outside on a very easy THS...but on a pattern that seems to be a tighter shot...with a bit of OOB at 1-3...the pearls seem better. Logic dictates that either the Monday center has a narrower pattern and the solids are burning up when thrown up the 8-board...or the pearls are doing well simply because the lanes are so broken down for practice that the pearls are the only things that are playable. Unfortunately...I can't practice on league conditions unless I play in the colored-pin tournaments on Saturdays. :confused: :confused:

[Tony]

Tuesday Practice: medium-dry lanes, THS

I usually practice on every other Thursday, but I guess I have a date Thursday...which I'm not that excited about. I almost cancelled to practice bowling...but figured I might as well get it over with.



Get the date or the practice over with ? You " guess " you have a date, was it arranged by someone against your will ? Is she old enough to drink ? lol

[bubba809]

Still awaiting to hear it's with the Mother of his Daughter. It will be like a romance novel or watching Days. I may even plan a trip to CA when they do decide to renew their original vows. So exciting!!

[NewToBowling]

Go on the date just in hopes of getting lucky. That's better than bowling.

And this other girl, were you trying to be exclusive with her or was it more of hey let's hang out a bit and see where it goes.

[Aslan]

Get the date or the practice over with ? You " guess " you have a date, was it arranged by someone against your will ? Is she old enough to drink ? lol

The date. I love bowling. I hate dating. I like the sex part...but the rest of it is annoying. Bowling is 70% awesome, 10% work, and 20% horrible (when it's not working out). Dating is 15% good (the sex part), 55% annoying, and 30% dreadful.


Still awaiting to hear it's with the Mother of his Daughter. It will be like a romance novel or watching Days. I may even plan a trip to CA when they do decide to renew their original vows. So exciting!!
Yeah. That's not going to happen. She lives in Iowa and I live in California. And I don't think either of us want to go back down that road.


Go on the date just in hopes of getting lucky. That's better than bowling.
It can be. But there's a 90% chance it won't be. See...kids in their teens to low 30s...dating is about "hooking up". Dating in your late 30s and 40s is about finding "the right person". So there's rarely ever sex on the first date. And even when there is, you're at least 30% sure it was a mistake. Besides...my diet isn't working as well as planned so I'm gonna need to keep the clothes on as long as possible.

But I do appreciate the confidence.



And this other girl, were you trying to be exclusive with her or was it more of hey let's hang out a bit and see where it goes.
What other girl? The one on my bowling team?

She's an interesting case because she's much younger than I am (about 14 years) but her and I have many similar interests. It's rare to find someone that much older or younger that shares so many things in common. So I was really looking at it as a very good potential match. But the "downside" to that scenario is there are going to many other areas where there's just too big of a gap where you just don't have a lot of the same shared experiences. And even though she's not necessarily a "10"...youth tends to give women at least a 1-2 point bump in terms of physical attractiveness. Would she have been in "my wheelhouse" physically when I was her age? Maybe, maybe not. But as an older gentleman (and I use the term "gentleman" loosely), she is definitely in my wheelhouse.

But as time progressed I saw some warning signs I didn't like. For example;

1) She, like most gals her age, is at a point of confusion where she doesn't know what she wants out of life. And there really is no responsibility in her life. She goes from job to job and from parents house to roommates to living with grandma and grandpa...she's not at the age where the responsibilities of life have set in.

2) She gets a LOT of hugs from a LOT of older gentlemen in the league. She's quite friendly, and loves the attention and free drinks it gets her. But then she returns to the lanes and starts badmouthing and belittling the older gents that are buying her drinks saying they are "creepy" and trying to get in her pants. Ya think?? :confused: I mean...how dumb are women? Is it just an age thing? At what age does it finally click with women that if you meet a guy at a bar and he buys you a drink...he's probably with a 99.5% certainty hoping to bang you? Am I Rainman because I figured this out in my low 20s?

And now she's dating the younger guy on our team...which I think was her plan all along when drafting him to the team. And he's a nice guy and a solid bowler...so I got no beef. My only slight criticism is that when she brought her hotter, younger friend to the league night a few weeks ago...he was all over her like flies on poo...and completely ignoring girl #1. So who knows. Maybe he's a nice guy, maybe not, or maybe guys in general are just not "nice guys" by nature. Who knows? It doesn't really matter. It was probably a blessing in disguise.

[bubba809]

Love you honesty Aslan (and of course your writing style). Can't you tell there are numerous posters on here very interested in your dating experiences probably more so than your *boring* bowling scores?? I for one am that married guy with 2 kids and no social life other than Caliou or PJ Masks (Google is your friend). Bowling night is my big night out. Please continue with your Details in Dating with Aslan...please.

[Aslan]

Love you honesty Aslan
You either honestly love me or love my honesty. I'm gonna assume it's #2...even in this day and age.


Can't you tell there are numerous posters on here very interested in your dating experiences probably more so than your *boring* bowling scores?? I for one am that married guy with 2 kids and no social life other than Caliou or PJ Masks (Google is your friend). Bowling night is my big night out. Please continue with your Details in Dating with Aslan...please.
I gives the people what they want. They want bowling wisdom...I provide that. They want political debate, I provide them with that. They want to argue endlessly over whether the FDA is evil and whether an alien apocalypse is on the verge of occurring...well, I'll even do that. And yes...when they want me to write my Aslanian version of Penthouse Letters...I provide that as well (with certain restrictions due to the family oriented site and all). Like the Dude...I simply abide.

But really the entertainment value of my dating life hinges on whether classygranny can tolerate it. As the only female bowler on the site...she sometimes must pop in and remind us what we men actually enjoy and remind us that we're not as entertaining as we think we are. That is one of the many roles and burdens of womanhood...to constantly remind men of their deficiencies and overall uselessness.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Sounds like it is time for a new thread....Penthouse Letters By Aslan.....It seems to be what the members want.

[Aslan]

Sounds like it is time for a new thread....Penthouse Letters By Aslan.....It seems to be what the members want.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Bowl1820 would not approve.

Besides, I got scores to post...

Wednesday League: low-oil synthetics, easier house shot, a good deal of hold in the middle, a lot of miss room to the outside.

647 Series: 192-267 (clean)-188

Game 1 was better than the score indicates. My only open was a 2-4-10 split in the 4th until I chopped a 2-4-5 in the 10th. That definitely should have been a 200+ game. But somehow I advanced in all 3 of my brackets, but the team lost. : (

Game 2 was my 2nd 8-bagger to start that I've ever thrown. One of the strikes was a lucky break...but once I threw the 7th and 8th...people were starting to notice. Nobody said anything until I missed (flat 7-pin) in the 9th...then suddenly there was a bunch of groans and sighs behind me...so they were paying attention more than I thought they were. I finally missed pocket in the 10th when I threw it too far right...but I kept it clean and ended up with my new highest sanctioned score ever. Been waiting to update that one in my signature for quite awhile....and it was one of my goals to throw a 266 game or higher this season....so a lot to be happy about despite missing 12 strikes by just 2. And obviously I advanced in all three brackets...but again no side pot...got beat by a 288 scratch.

Game 3 the lanes were finally starting to transition a little bit. I started out with a 6-7 split, then missed (barely) a single 4-pin in the 6th, then a 4-7-10 split in the 9th...had to strike out to salvage the 188. Definitely not enough for me to set a personal best series nor get to 700+. Finished 2nd in two brackets and 1st in the other. The downside is the one that I won I was against my anchor teammate. Didn't quite make a profit this week...but probably almost broke even.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.21 pins
Strikes: 60% (1 8-bagger, 3 turkeys, 3 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 7-pin (2x)
Only left the 2-pin, 4-pin, 7-pin (2x), 8-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 42% (3/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a.

Splits: 0% (0/3).

Average over 3 games: 215.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 219.33.

Tonight I started hearing my first grumblings from some other bowlers about the conditions actually being too easy. Thats something I never thought I'd hear from bowlers. But, for me, it's even worse. If I enter a tournament, I have to use a 190 average. But outside of this one house, I've never averaged over 176. I admit my previous 162 average was probably not reflective of my current skill level...but I ain't really 190 either.

Obviously the run at 300 was fun. It adds a lot of excitement. I tweaked my release in my last lesson with Mark Baker and I don't quite have it down yet. Fortunately, this center didn't punish me for some of the mistakes. I was actually more bummed out that the team lost 3 of 4 points than I was about the 300. This was a team we should have beaten but their first game everyone on their team bowled above their average and the 3rd game the other bowlers on the team just self-destructed. Those thumbless/big hook guys were really, really struggling to keep their shot in the pocket. And once they run out of room....you get disasterous splits and washouts.

Didn't someone mention I should join a scratch league? Well, I know it doesn't count...but next week I think I'm down to 1 pin of handicap...so I'm almost a "scratch bowler". Who'd a thunk it??

[fortheloveofbowling]

Nice game and series.

[bubba809]

Very nice game Aslan. See how one BIG game can really bump that series up?? Just wish we could do that more often...

[Amyers]

Nice game and set. It amazes me the difference between your houses. Is it really that much or is part of it in your head? I bowl leagues in three different houses and there are differences but my differential is about 10 pins.

[billf]

Dating in your late 30s and 40s is about finding "the right person". So there's rarely ever sex on the first date. And even when there is, you're at least 30% sure it was a mistake. Besides...my diet isn't working as well as planned so I'm gonna need to keep the clothes on as long as possible.

But I do appreciate the confidence.


I was dicorced at 36, remarried at 41. I can say with the utmost confidence that if you're dating women 22-52 and not getting any on the first date then you're just not good enough of a liar or can't fake sincerity very well. There were some that I never actually dated and I'm no Cassanova. Maybe you just have more morals than you're willing to admit.

[Aslan]

Nice game and set. It amazes me the difference between your houses. Is it really that much or is part of it in your head? I bowl leagues in three different houses and there are differences but my differential is about 10 pins.

Thanks all.

It's an insane difference house to house. I usually make some good shots during the course of the night...but I can also tell when I've made some bad shots and at most houses those bad shots leave at least 1 pin standing. At this house...they find their way to the pocket. And since it appears to be almost universal (other players), I'm fairly confident it's not just a mental thing.

On the other hand, confidence is confidence. On Wednesdays I am a scratch bowler and thats my mindset. On other nights/days I feel like I need to prove something...less confident...so I'm sure that factors in.

208 on Wednesdays. 176 on Mondays. Last season I predicted a 30-point spread and ended up 190 and 173...so not even 20 pins difference. But this season, yeah, it's that easy. And this'll be my last season in that league. I planned on moving both my leagues to the center closest to me anyways...I just wanted to bowl a league there before I made the final decision...but the conditions make the decision easy. I literally can't get in a handicap tournament right now...not with a 190 average. And it's going to take 3 years before that average is no longer a factor in some tournaments.

[vdubtx]

Nice game and series Aslan!

Confidence is key! If you go into a league session you will perform badly, you most likely will.

Keep it up. You'll get that 700 series in no time. :cool:

[Aslan]

I was dicorced at 36, remarried at 41. I can say with the utmost confidence that if you're dating women 22-52 and not getting any on the first date then you're just not good enough of a liar or can't fake sincerity very well. There were some that I never actually dated and I'm no Cassanova. Maybe you just have more morals than you're willing to admit.

Either you got the looks of Ryan Reynolds, the money of Bill Gates, or your standards are a bit lower than mine.

I mean, listen, I got tail from the gal on my Tuesday team last season...and technically we hadn't even went on an official "date". But that's like a "3" (on a scale of 10). If I just wanted that...well, then yeah. I mean, if a girl is unattractive enough, she'll sleep with you just for saying "hi". But once you get in the 7-9.5 range....you need a lot more GAME and a decent amount of $$, a job, a car, good looks, etc...

And the simple (yet sometimes brutal) truth is...

- if you're a woman reading that and thinking, "That's not true. My husband didn't have those things and I still married him."...you're probably not a "7".
- if you're a guy reading that and thinking, "That's not true. I'm relatively poor and unattractive and I met my wife and slept with her on the first date and she seems perfectly happy."....she's probably not a "7".

It's not a universal truth...but it's generally true...and it logically makes sense. If you are a woman, and men tend to be visual by nature...obviously better looking women will attract "better" men. So the question is, how do we VALUE men in our society. Not how we MEN value men...but how do WOMEN value men? Wouldn't their lives be easier if their man was wealthy (vs poor)? Wouldn't they want a guy with a nice car and good looks to go along with his good personality? Men/women are like cars. The more money you have, the better the car you can afford. Maybe you like Aston Martins...but can only afford a Corvette. Still a nice ride. But if you got your mind set on that Aston Martin...you better start saving up. I'm not saying there aren't 100s of intangibles. Obviously a guy needs to have the basics like good hygiene and some degree of class and social awareness...and he can't be a total jerk.

And to make matters worse...I live in California...not Ohio. I actually did quite well last time I lived in Ohio. But California is a different animal. Women out here don't "settle". They see their friend dating a lawyer or financial manager...driving around in his 7 series BMW and they think, "well, I kinda like that Aslan guy...but he drives a Chrysler...and doesn't live near the beach." I'm not saying that doesn't go on elsewhere...it certainly does...but out here...you're bombarded with people making $200,000-$750,000 a year and many of the older dudes surf and live really active lifestyles...so their in even better shape than I am.

The last girl I dated is a perfect example. She seemed into me...but then she saw my ride and my pad....and it seemed like she wasn't that interested anymore. It sounds incredibly shallow...but that's California. And to be fair...it's really not much more shallow than me saying I don't want to date anything less than a "7" (or a "6" is she is younger and/or has a great personality, common interests, etc...). We're all shallow to some degree....I just tend to admit it.

And I agree...I'd have more luck if I lied. The simple truth about women (one that they HATE more than anything)...is they LIKE to be lied to. They would never admit that...because they don't think it's true. In reality...they DON'T want to be lied to....they just want the truth to be something it isn't. For example, I dated a woman a long time ago and she trapped me in a conversation that went like this:

Her: "So, would you still love me if I got really fat?"
Me: "Why? Are you planning on getting very fat?" (a way to avoid telling the truth without lying)
Her: "No. Just as an example. Like, what if I had a baby?"
Me: "Well...eventually you'd have the baby and then the weight would go away. I mean, everybody gets fatter when they are pregnant."
Her: "Well...what if I DIDN'T lose the weight?"
Me: < sensing that I was trapped > "Why wouldn't you?"
Her: "I don't know....maybe I wouldn't WANT to lose the weight. Maybe I'd just like to be enormous. Are you saying you wouldn't love me then?"
Me: "I don't know." < now realizing there's simply no way I'm surviving this without lying >
Her: "You 'don't know'? Well, that's just great.

I tried to distract her (like a baby with a set of car keys) by claiming that I'd still "love" her...but maybe just not be physically attracted to her...but that wasn't what she wanted to hear...she didn't want that to be the truth. She was actually mad at me about that! See, THATs an example of where a woman WANTS to be lied to...but she wants the lie to be true. She wants me to say, "I'd feel just as strongly about you at 400lbs as I would at 140lbs...because it's your inner beauty more so than....blah blah blah...nonsense." She doesn't want me to LIE...she wants the truth to be different.

But...I've rambled on enough about that. The bottom line is this chick I'm going out with tonight is probably a 7.5 easy...easy. Maybe even more towards 9 or 9.5. That's "dating outside my league" a bit so unless there's something horribly wrong with her personality...I have a feeling this is going to be one of those "one and done" dates where she'll cite "just wasn't feeling the chemistry" as her reason to not go out on a date #2. And it's almost in Beverly Hills...which is a HUGE drive from Anaheim during horrible evening traffic. The distance when coupled with this being a long shot is not necessarily leading me to be too enthusiastic.

[fortheloveofbowling]

You seem to be forgetting you can make up for the lack of a bmw by showing her your bowling skills.:cool:

[Aslan]

You seem to be forgetting you can make up for the lack of a bmw by showing her your bowling skills.:cool:

Yeah. Not really. It'd be NICE. But...as we talked about in another thread...bowlers that are "good" and "into" bowling are actually "blacklisted" many times...it's looked at as "weird" that a person is THAT INTO bowling.

[NewToBowling]

Yeah. Not really. It'd be NICE. But...as we talked about in another thread...bowlers that are "good" and "into" bowling are actually "blacklisted" many times...it's looked at as "weird" that a person is THAT INTO bowling.

Ha I kind of feel that way. People tend to look at bowlers and say "oh, you're a bowler". Might as well be into D&D or DDR. It doesn't have the same cache as "I play in a semi professional basketball league"

[Aslan]

Thursday Practice: medium-dry lanes, THS

No date. She cancelled. So, might as well make the best of it.

My goals for this practice:
- Keep working on balance/form/release
- Keep working on single-pin spares
- Try to move around, try some different lines, work with the entire arsenal

448 Series: 164-136-148
A little rusty. Started with the Lethal Revolver to get lined up. Game 2 I switched to the Dark Encounter but it was horrible so I switched to the Asylum. Game 3 I used the Asylum the entire game. Other than that, just bad carry and poor spare shooting.

555 Series: 180-181-194
Switched to the Melee Jab but I just couldn't carry. SEVEN frames of 9 / or 9 -. Four 10-pins. Switched to the Loaded Revolver for the last two games and things went better. Both games could have been much higher if it weren't for some untimely splits.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.78 pins
Strikes: 36% (2 turkeys, 1 doubles, and 15 singles)
Spares: 51% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (12/20)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (9x).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 42% (8/19)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 and 1-2-4 (3x each).

Splits: 0% (0/7).

Average over 3 games: 167.17.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 181.50.

RobM has convinced me...along with the last two practices...and I think I'm gonna start with the Melee Jab on Monday. Hopefully have time to try the Loaded Revolver as well. No weekend plans so who knows...might be back before Monday.

[bubba809]

The last girl I dated is a perfect example. She seemed into me...but then she saw my ride and my pad....and it seemed like she wasn't that interested anymore.

......or maybe she saw the 15 undrilled bowling bowling balls you keep in the living room with little hats and name tags on each. One labeled "Iceman". One "Mike". Or maybe she checked your browser to find 163 searches under "Bowling/stats/mental" #obsessed #Ineedtoimprove. Or maybe she saw your thick diary under the coffee table labeled, "Mudpuppy's Cliffnotes".

[RobLV1]

"RobM has convinced me...along with the last two practices...and I think I'm gonna start with the Melee Jab on Monday. Hopefully have time to try the Loaded Revolver as well. No weekend plans so who knows...might be back before Monday."

The only thing that Rob M is trying to convince you of is that you shouldn't be making any decision about what ball to start with on Monday, the previous Thursday!

[Aslan]

......or maybe she saw the 15 undrilled bowling bowling balls you keep in the living room with little hats and name tags on each. One labeled "Iceman". One "Mike". Or maybe she checked your browser to find 163 searches under "Bowling/stats/mental" #obsessed #Ineedtoimprove. Or maybe she saw your thick diary under the coffee table labeled, "Mudpuppy's Cliffnotes".
I like the idea of a girl actually making it far enough along in the process that we actually meet and she actually has the opportunity to discover all those disturbing things. Not so sure I like the outcome though.


[I]The only thing that Rob M is trying to convince you of is that you shouldn't be making any decision about what ball to start with on Monday, the previous Thursday!
And as soon as you come up with a way to do an extensive test of 5 balls, multiple lines, and a pair of lanes...in 10 minutes of pre-league practice...I'll be one of the first people to sign up to give it a try. Until then, I am a cub scout that needs to "be prepared".

[vdubtx]

And as soon as you come up with a way to do an extensive test of 5 balls, multiple lines, and a pair of lanes...in 10 minutes of pre-league practice...I'll be one of the first people to sign up to give it a try. Until then, I am a cub scout that needs to "be prepared".

You practice enough to know what each of your balls do on the lanes, and, how each one is different. Make a plan to start with the ball that has given you the best reaction on those specific lanes and make adjustments from there.

There is no magic formula that anyone is ever going to come up with to make warm ups tell you exactly which ball to use that specific day. Roll your ball, watch it's reaction and adjust from there with the knowledge of what balls are in your bag(s).

[Aslan]

I agree VDubtx. And that's what I'm going to try Saturday night at the colored-pin tournament. I'm just really apprehensive about using long (high RG) pearls on a fresh pattern. I'm seeing positive results using them on burnt patterns...but logically, I SHOULD see those results on a burnt pattern. But, I'm coachable and I'm willing to try.

My point about the "system" is that bowling is a game of consistency. The less "creativity" in the process; the better. When people start advocating "getting an idea on how a ball or arsenal of balls plays in a certain house based on experience"...they are on a slippery slope because if a new bowler popped in here and says that h'/she chooses their ball based on randomly throwing each ball in their bag until they strike...we'd say that is not an optimal way to choose. Of matter of fact, one of my biggest pet peeves are "new arsenal bowlers" that throw a ball a couple frames...then pull a shot and suddenly grab ball #2. No reasoning. No point to it. Just "feel".

My belief is that "feel" is what you use to determine if you made a shot worthy of making an adjustment or not making an adjustment. Actual results should dictate what ball you throw and when. But that's just my current belief. I could be wrong, there could be better approaches, and I'm open to new ideas. But the ideas have to be at least somewhat scientific to adequately sway me...I don't get swayed by "feel".

[RobLV1]

I'm just really apprehensive about using long (high RG) pearls on a fresh pattern. I'm seeing positive results using them on burnt patterns...but logically, I SHOULD see those results on a burnt pattern. But, I'm coachable and I'm willing to try.

It's just another of the famous Aslan preconceptions. Look at it this way: when you start with a dull solid and play outside of the second arrow, you're not in any significant amount of oil, even if the pattern is fresh. This is a tremendous opportunity for the ball to lose energy before it gets anywhere near the pins. On a forty foot pattern, there is twenty feet of friction past the end of the pattern, even in the center of the lane. Using a high rg polished pearl allows you to retain the energy in the ball to do the most damage to the pins, even when you insist on playing in the dirt because you think you can't hook it.

[vdubtx]

I agree VDubtx. And that's what I'm going to try Saturday night at the colored-pin tournament. I'm just really apprehensive about using long (high RG) pearls on a fresh pattern. I'm seeing positive results using them on burnt patterns...but logically, I SHOULD see those results on a burnt pattern. But, I'm coachable and I'm willing to try.

My point about the "system" is that bowling is a game of consistency. The less "creativity" in the process; the better. When people start advocating "getting an idea on how a ball or arsenal of balls plays in a certain house based on experience"...they are on a slippery slope because if a new bowler popped in here and says that h'/she chooses their ball based on randomly throwing each ball in their bag until they strike...we'd say that is not an optimal way to choose. Of matter of fact, one of my biggest pet peeves are "new arsenal bowlers" that throw a ball a couple frames...then pull a shot and suddenly grab ball #2. No reasoning. No point to it. Just "feel".

My belief is that "feel" is what you use to determine if you made a shot worthy of making an adjustment or not making an adjustment. Actual results should dictate what ball you throw and when. But that's just my current belief. I could be wrong, there could be better approaches, and I'm open to new ideas. But the ideas have to be at least somewhat scientific to adequately sway me...I don't get swayed by "feel".

As usual, over complicating it. Who cares what someone else does and why they grab another ball. Go with what you know your balls will do and adjust accordingly. Outside influences don't matter, just you, the ball and the lane. Not talking about feeling what a ball will do, it's knowing what the ball will do based on prior balls being used.

[Aslan]

But Rob...IF your belief it true...lets call it Hypothesis #1:
"You will have higher scoring in a modern game if you play inside and throw to a breakpoint using a pearl cover ball because today's game is less about friction/revs and more about stored energy versus balls losing energy in the dry."

So, the null hypothesis (the opposite argument that you try to prove in order to "nullify" the hypothesis) is:
"You will have lower scoring....etc...if you throw to a breakpoint using a pearl cover ball OR you'll have lower scoring playing second arrow because you can't store any energy out there....etc..."

The problem with that argument is...you still see MOST players playing up second arrow. And you still see a TON of bowlers playing out there successfully. So that's at least a partial strike against the original hypothesis....because according to your theory...up the 2nd arrow should be a death blow. The other side of the argument against the original hypothesis is that I've actually thrown balls inside of 2nd arrow. I've lined up as deep as 20-25 boards left and targeting as far left as 24. I can tell you that I rarely strike at that angle. I can rarely get the ball to make a turn that far inside. And when it does turn...it hits weak.

So why might this strategy work better for YOU (because I've seen your success with it) and not for me? Well, you say you throw 16.5mph...I think you throw slower than that. If not, I throw way faster than 16mph because my shot is noticeably faster than yours. Could I play a more inside game if my speed was lower? Maybe. Of matter of fact...at a lower speed I doubt I could play as right of 2nd arrow as I do.

The Mudpuppy Cliff Notes is that your obsession with staying away from 2nd arrow is a position that is severely weakened by the success that most bowlers have playing 2nd arrow. And I think it's harder for you to see that because YOUR shot would probably not work well over 2nd arrow. I'm willing to move inside...I'd actually welcome it in many ways...but how many 2-4-5s do I have to leave trying to move inside when the shot at my speed and rev rate just isn't there??

This would be a better discussion to have when I can get some videos posted. I have the Melee Jab vs. Loaded Revolver project (testing the effect of modern technology versus older technology) next in line. But maybe after that I can show what happens when I start moving inside.

On that note...I think while I'm working, I'm gonna put youtube on in the background and relive the greatest single tournament in the history of single tournaments....and watch Rob's heroic triumph in the "Aslan vs. Iceman Challenge". (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SExnVPJwpg)

[RobLV1]

OMG! Hypothesis #1? Let me be clear that I have nothing against playing the second arrow, as long as you don't ASSUME that it's where the shot is. While you are right that the last time we bowled together, my speed was slower than my usual 16.5 mph. As I told you at the time, I only bowled with you so that I could show you a couple of things (mainly about ball reactions), despite the fact that my back was really bad that day. Please, please, please, stop trying to figure everything out! There's no magic formula for higher scores. You are an intelligent man, and as such, you can learn everything you need to know by watching your ball reaction, where others play the lanes, etc. The problem is that while you are looking for the non-existent magic formula, you are closing your mind to what you can learn. Instead of saying, "Eureka, I found the secret!," try saying, after every bowling session, "What did I learn today?".

[Amyers]

#1 rob doesn't say never throw over the 2nd arrow just that many bowlers assume that's the only place to play.

#2 rev rate and speed do apply no one is suggesting you star playing 4th arrow.

#3 pearls can be effective quit trying to over analyze everything.

#4 how's is a loaded revolver and a Melee Jab new tech vs. old? The loaded revolver is only a year or two old you can still find them new online.

[Aslan]

#1 rob doesn't say never throw over the 2nd arrow just that many bowlers assume that's the only place to play.
If you can find a post/article by Rob that praises playing 2nd arrow...let me know.


#3 pearls can be effective quit trying to over analyze everything.
I realize that...but I've always looked at their value as options for burnt patterns and to allow you to continue playing an up and in game even when the pattern was a bit thinner. To use them first out of the bag on a fresh pattern I would only assume was a good strategy on lower volume or shorter patterns or wood lanes. Rob, I think, is saying that assumption is sometimes/most of the time incorrect.


#4 how's is a loaded revolver and a Melee Jab new tech vs. old? The loaded revolver is only a year or two old you can still find them new online.
If you ask me, it's not. If you ask Rob or anyone that has anything to do with marketing/selling bowling balls...balls become "too old" after a relatively short time. I'm going to test that difference with the Melee Jab that Rob gave me and the Loaded Revolver as they both have similar covers and RGs. Initial impressions are that there may be a difference...it's just a matter of how significant it is.

[Aslan]

Saturday Color of Money Tournament: low-oil synthetics

Small weekly colored-pin tournament.

I only participated in the tournament because I wanted to practice on fresh conditions and this is about the only opportunity. I wanted to see how the pearls would do on fresh conditions. Unfortunately, even though the guy claims they oiled it, I don't think they did. I got there a little late so I couldn't say for sure.

534 Series: 192-171-171
Since I was running a little late, I didn't get much practice time so it took me a few frames to find my line. But I finished strong to salvage the 192. Game 2 was more of the same. Game 3 started out better but I chopped a 6-10 in the 10th for another 171.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.82 pins
Strikes: 45% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 2 doubles and 4 singles)
Spares: 44% picked up

Single Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common single-pin leaves: 9-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 5-pin and 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 36% (4/11)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2 and 3-9 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 178.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 188.33.

I can't really blame the new strategy to use the Pearls. Actually I struck slightly more than the last time I did this tournament...but my spare shooting was abysmal. I'm not sure if it was a fresh pattern or not. The guy said it was, but nobody bowling thought it was. But I think Monday league I'm gonna keep the angle the same but move in 5.5 boards left (target and feet). It just seems like this center the lanes break down quickly. I'm thinking it might be advantageous to start left of everyone versus right of everyone. It's worth a shot

Gotta get my release more consistent, gotta fix the spare shooting problems, gotta figure out the arsenal issues...work in progress.

[Amyers]

If you can find a post/article by Rob that praises playing 2nd arrow...let me know.


I realize that...but I've always looked at their value as options for burnt patterns and to allow you to continue playing an up and in game even when the pattern was a bit thinner. To use them first out of the bag on a fresh pattern I would only assume was a good strategy on lower volume or shorter patterns or wood lanes. Rob, I think, is saying that assumption is sometimes/most of the time incorrect.


If you ask me, it's not. If you ask Rob or anyone that has anything to do with marketing/selling bowling balls...balls become "too old" after a relatively short time. I'm going to test that difference with the Melee Jab that Rob gave me and the Loaded Revolver as they both have similar covers and RGs. Initial impressions are that there may be a difference...it's just a matter of how significant it is.

#1. I doubt Rob feels the need to write an article about playing the second arrow as that is where a lot of house bowlers all ready play

#3. Two things here whether a ball is a pearl or a solid or a hybrid makes very little difference and the purpose of any of those is not so you can play burnt sections of the lane. The main thing to consider is surface typically pearls tend to have polished surfaces and solids lower surface grits but this isn't always true. A pearl will read the midlane slightly slower than a similarly surfaced solid or hybrid and tend to provide a stronger reaction off of the breakpoint. A highly surface pearl may provide some small advantage if the heads are burnt but this is a condition that rarely happens on first shift leagues. The real reason for a pearl is to save energy and provide a strong move off the spot not to play a burnt section of the lane.

#4. The difference between a low end ball from year to year is usually very small. You might see some larger differences between upper line and midline balls from year to year but it's not like they are introducing new tech into their lower end balls on a yearly basis. I expect you will see very little difference between the balls. I think you'll see more difference between the surface of the balls than the actual balls themselves. The Loaded Revolver has more surface so it will read somewhat earlier and maybe cover a board or two more total. To be honest I haven't ever met a bowler who liked the revolver line but I haven't thrown them myself but I did have the opportunity to throw the Jab. I really expected to like the ball (balls with those numbers usually work well for me). I never really understood bowlers who sold balls after 10 games until I threw the Jab. I was glad I just got the opportunity throw someone else's because if I had bought it I'm pretty sure I would have just walked it over to the trash bin and deposited it. All the rest of the Brunswick balls I tried worked well for me but that thing just wouldn't work not matter what I tried. If I played outside it hooked early and burnt up if I moved inside with it The ball was allergic to oil. I do know some people who like it just didn't work for me at all.

[Aslan]

The real reason for a pearl is to save energy and provide a strong move off the spot not to play a burnt section of the lane.
Then why would anyone use anything other than a Pearl? Are you saying there are people out there that are trying to find balls that are going to lose energy prior to the breakpoint and not have a strong move to the pocket?

See...and this is just my interpretation of the argument so it may be off...but is SEEMS like:

1) Just about everyone (ask PSOs) want a ball that is going to go "Long and have a strong backend". It's practically a punchline because a PSO KNOWS that is what every bowler wants when they come in looking for a new ball or to get a ball drilled.

2) To accomplish that, you need a ball with minimal surface, a pearl (more so than a hybrid or solid) cover stock, and a core/diff. that is going to provide the 'engine' for that downlane movement.

NOTE: There are significant factors that unfortunately come into play at this point. The real physics of bowling is simply friction and rev rate. The balls can't throw themselves nor create revolutions...they are forced to work with the inconsistencies and limitations of the bowler. So at this point you may have a bowler with too much speed (over-powers the lane friction) and needs more rpms to compensate. Or you may have a senior bowler with plenty of rpms but a ball speed that is too slow...so said bowler either needs to move further inside and stay in the higher volume of oil longer OR they need to lower their rpms, axis tilt, axis rotation appropriately.

So the question is....why bother with hybrids or solids?

IF the hypothesis is true that when balls hit weak it's because they are all burnt up...and we need to move inside of 2nd arrow to adequately throw a ball with stored up energy:

1) Nobody should play outside the oil line. And if they do....they should suffer for it not be rewarded.
2) Everyone should throw pearls and just vary their speed/rpms accordingly to deal with the speed/rpm/friction relationship.

IF you believe in that mindset....then really hybrids and solids are simply balls for people that either:
A) Don't like to hit the pocket with a lot of energy...they are trying to get an all-spare game patch or something.
B) Don't want to (or feel they are unable to) alter their speed/rpms so they forego an explosive backend in exchange for a ball that hits pocket (all be it light).

I'm not "poo-poo-ing" Rob's theories/approach. I read Rob's stuff as much as anyone and take lessons from him and have bowled with/against him before. But if we're going to go down a road where there's a theory that exists regarding ideal places to play (vs less ideal) and ideal ball movements and ideal ball specifications...part of leading the way in those theories/philosophies is being able to defend them. And I don't mean the usual bowling defense of, "everyone bowls differently, use what works." Because when you rely on THAT defense....then why do anything or read anything or learn anything? At that point, Iceman wins, because bowling is really just a matter of having a gift vs not having a gift. All the other stuff is just white noise.

[Amyers]

Then why would anyone use anything other than a Pearl? Are you saying there are people out there that are trying to find balls that are going to lose energy prior to the breakpoint and not have a strong move to the pocket?

See...and this is just my interpretation of the argument so it may be off...but is SEEMS like:

1) Just about everyone (ask PSOs) want a ball that is going to go "Long and have a strong backend". It's practically a punchline because a PSO KNOWS that is what every bowler wants when they come in looking for a new ball or to get a ball drilled.

2) To accomplish that, you need a ball with minimal surface, a pearl (more so than a hybrid or solid) cover stock, and a core/diff. that is going to provide the 'engine' for that downlane movement.

NOTE: There are significant factors that unfortunately come into play at this point. The real physics of bowling is simply friction and rev rate. The balls can't throw themselves nor create revolutions...they are forced to work with the inconsistencies and limitations of the bowler. So at this point you may have a bowler with too much speed (over-powers the lane friction) and needs more rpms to compensate. Or you may have a senior bowler with plenty of rpms but a ball speed that is too slow...so said bowler either needs to move further inside and stay in the higher volume of oil longer OR they need to lower their rpms, axis tilt, axis rotation appropriately.

So the question is....why bother with hybrids or solids?

IF the hypothesis is true that when balls hit weak it's because they are all burnt up...and we need to move inside of 2nd arrow to adequately throw a ball with stored up energy:

1) Nobody should play outside the oil line. And if they do....they should suffer for it not be rewarded.
2) Everyone should throw pearls and just vary their speed/rpms accordingly to deal with the speed/rpm/friction relationship.

IF you believe in that mindset....then really hybrids and solids are simply balls for people that either:
A) Don't like to hit the pocket with a lot of energy...they are trying to get an all-spare game patch or something.
B) Don't want to (or feel they are unable to) alter their speed/rpms so they forego an explosive backend in exchange for a ball that hits pocket (all be it light).

I'm not "poo-poo-ing" Rob's theories/approach. I read Rob's stuff as much as anyone and take lessons from him and have bowled with/against him before. But if we're going to go down a road where there's a theory that exists regarding ideal places to play (vs less ideal) and ideal ball movements and ideal ball specifications...part of leading the way in those theories/philosophies is being able to defend them. And I don't mean the usual bowling defense of, "everyone bowls differently, use what works." Because when you rely on THAT defense....then why do anything or read anything or learn anything? At that point, Iceman wins, because bowling is really just a matter of having a gift vs not having a gift. All the other stuff is just white noise.

First off Don't have me putting words in Rob's mouth he may disagree with what I've said.

As to the question of why they make anything other than pearls is because as usual your over reacting to what I've said and taking it to the 10th degree. Burning up is not the only reason a ball can hit weak. It can also hit weak because the ball hasn't gotten to the roll phase too. Ask my wife (who needs lots of surface) what happens when she misses inside. She leaves 5 pins because the ball deflected and hit like a marshmallow. Burning up and not getting into a roll are both extreme examples though.

Yes every moron walks into the PSO and says I want something long and strong but there are plenty of bowlers out there that understand that you don't always want something that screams off the friction at 80 miles an hour too. Otherwise every bowler would have a Hyper Cell Skid and step down to Sky Rocket but pro shops sell lots of other stuff too. Most bowlers that have bowled long have learned a ball that's super angular is super hard to control too.

Heck I'm not saying the using a pearl balls going to fix all the problems with your game but thinking that you can't use a pearl before game 2 is just wrong headed. Ball selection is about finding what works for you not some preconceived rules that you just made up in your head. Ball selection "again" is not about hitting the pocket but about hitting the pocket at the correct angle with the ball in the correct phase with the maximum energy.


IF you believe in that mindset....then really hybrids and solids are simply balls for people that either:
A) Don't like to hit the pocket with a lot of energy...they are trying to get an all-spare game patch or something.
B) Don't want to (or feel they are unable to) alter their speed/rpms so they forego an explosive backend in exchange for a ball that hits pocket (all be it light).


I wont go this far with it but unless your just generating crazy revs and ball speed and probably not then. Throwing lower grit sanded equipment up 5 isn't going to be your best option. Noticed changed conversation to surface not Pearl, Hybrid, or Solid.

[RobLV1]

Ameyers hit the nail on the head. Forget about material for a minute, and worry about surface.

[Aslan]

Monday League: low oil synthetics, THS (38ft?) with some out of bounds at 1-3.

518 Series: 182-143-193

Experimenting with some advice from the site about ball selection. Started with the Jab...tried to find a line that would work. It was 'okay'. Spare shooting could have been better.

Game 2 I was still struggling and switched to the Loaded Revolver in the 6th frame. Spare shooting was miserable.

Game 3 was clean except for a 4-9 split in the 4th. Horrible carry though.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.77 pins
Strikes: 31% (3 doubles and 5 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 72% (8/11)
Most common single-pin leaves: 5-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 1-pin nor 2-pin

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (5/10)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-4-5 (2x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 172.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 183.33.

Another average night of spare shooting with very little carry. Doesn't look much different from last week. Maybe I'll see what the Asylum can do Wednesday and maybe next week. At this point, at least on Mondays, I don't think it'll hurt much.

[fortheloveofbowling]

A little premature mr moderator on the pwba list. Did you not see the espn magazine photo shoot called THE BODY ISSUE with Kelly kulick that highlighted the fact that a woman bowler could actually have an athletic physique? She was basically naked just holding the bowling ball to cover up. The PWBA would do well to highlight the attractiveness of their bowlers much the same way the LPGA did in the 70's. Or should the women be considered fat and beer drinkers like the men????? I might not agree with aslan all the time or much at all but he did point out their bowling skills and did not refer to the women in a disgraceful way, just that they were hot. That means attractive for the prudish or elderly.

PS,
Please don't end this thread and punish aslan for my opinion even though it is the correct one.

[Amyers]

A little premature mr moderator on the pwba list. Did you not see the espn magazine photo shoot called THE BODY ISSUE with Kelly kulick that highlighted the fact that a woman bowler could actually have an athletic physique? She was basically naked just holding the bowling ball to cover up. The PWBA would do well to highlight the attractiveness of their bowlers much the same way the LPGA did in the 70's. Or should the women be considered fat and beer drinkers like the men????? I might not agree with aslan all the time or much at all but he did point out their bowling skills and did not refer to the women in a disgraceful way, just that they were hot. That means attractive for the prudish or elderly.

PS,
Please don't end this thread and punish aslan for my opinion even though it is the correct one.

I agree I thought Aslan handled his list in a appropriate way. Is it the only reason to watch WPBA no does it help if the women are attractive yes. I would have no problem if one of the females on the site put a list of the most attractive males on the PBA tour.

Aslan wasn't referencing their bra sizes or anything overtly sexual in nature. As long as it stays on the up and up leave it alone. If someone doesn't like it they don't have to participate. Keep it PG but as long as it does leave it be.

[vdubtx]

the prudish or elderly.

A little too much of this regarding that thread. I thought it was fine and didn't cross a line.

[NewToBowling]

I didn't see any problem with it. Let's not be so uptight here.

Humans procreate. To procreate it helps if some of us are attractive. It's ok to point out if you find someone attractive.

Just mindless fun banter really

[Aslan]

Thank you all. I thought about it some and while I don't think I crossed any lines, all my comments were positive, and I tried to highlight the performances throughout the season (many I saw in person as an avid watcher of PBA XTra Frame and a PWBA fan)...I also understand the point of view by Bowl1820 and the others. As I stated in the first sentence....it's one of those threads where I knew it was going to possibly go South quickly...so I wasn't surprised.

Yes, the site is a little quick on the trigger sometimes...but maybe thats why this place hasn't devolved into Yahoo chat or Xbox Live where Bowl1820 spends the majority of his time trying to clean up fake viagra ads and booting the countless 11-year olds that love to use the n-word. My only real hope is that the list didn't offend any of the actual people on the list...that was certainly not the intent. The fact that it made the prudes yell in unison "oh my!"...well...thats to be expected. But I certainly didn't mean to imply that the ladies are just there for our visual enjoyment any more than People magazine implies that actors and other people in their " Annual Most Beautiful People" list aren't serious about their profession and only exist for our visual amusement.

Not to mention...I DID put a fairly lengthy disclaimer at the bottom....so legally...if you got offended it's technically on you.

But, ya swing and sometimes get a hit and sometimes strike out. I've gotten threads locked for less....I've gotten away with more...ya just roll with the punches. But don't aggravate Bowl1820 too much about it...I may not agree, but I understand the motivation.

[J Anderson]

Thank you all. I thought about it some and while I don't think I crossed any lines, all my comments were positive, and I tried to highlight the performances throughout the season (many I saw in person as an avid watcher of PBA XTra Frame and a PWBA fan)...I also understand the point of view by Bowl1820 and the others. As I stated in the first sentence....it's one of those threads where I knew it was going to possibly go South quickly...so I wasn't surprised.

Yes, the site is a little quick on the trigger sometimes...but maybe thats why this place hasn't devolved into Yahoo chat or Xbox Live where Bowl1820 spends the majority of his time trying to clean up fake viagra ads and booting the countless 11-year olds that love to use the n-word. My only real hope is that the list didn't offend any of the actual people on the list...that was certainly not the intent. The fact that it made the prudes yell in unison "oh my!"...well...thats to be expected. But I certainly didn't mean to imply that the ladies are just there for our visual enjoyment any more than People magazine implies that actors and other people in their " Annual Most Beautiful People" list aren't serious about their profession and only exist for our visual amusement.

Not to mention...I DID put a fairly lengthy disclaimer at the bottom....so legally...if you got offended it's technically on you.

But, ya swing and sometimes get a hit and sometimes strike out. I've gotten threads locked for less....I've gotten away with more...ya just roll with the punches. But don't aggravate Bowl1820 too much about it...I may not agree, but I understand the motivation.

With the disclaimer at the bottom, one has to read through the post to get to it. If one truly finds the post offensive, one would stop reading long before the disclaimer.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: medium-oil synthetics, easier house shot, a good deal of hold in the middle, a lot of miss room to the outside.

Was playing wide tonight though. I wanted to use my Asylum...but even with a lot of practice time (most of both teams didn't practice)....I couldn't find a good line. So I abandoned that experiment and went back to what usually works (Lethal Revolver). But even the Le. Revolver was struggling to get back to the pocket. It just seemed like the heavy oil volume in the middle was there...but it was playing longer and wider. Not the usual dry 'bounce' on the outside. I moved my feet over 3 boards and my target over from the 6-board to the 5-board...but it was too far outside at that house.

586 Series: 188-176-222

Game 1 I chopped a couple easy spares and threw a first shot gutter in the 5th frame. Just couldn't seem to get back flush into the pocket.

Game 2 I had a couple splits, another first shot gutter, and somehow whiffed on a 1-2-9.

Game 3 I only had one open and that was on a friggin 8-pin.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.54 pins
Strikes: 51% (1 4-bagger, 3 turkeys, 2 doubles, and 1 single)
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (3/4)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x)
Only left the 8-pin and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 41% (5/12)
Most common multi-pin leaves were the 1-2 and a full rack (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2).

Average over 3 games: 195.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 199.00.

Well, no bracket winnings this week. I managed to win $15 in the poker game. It might be that my solids are working so well there because the pattern is actually a bit longer and wider than what is on Mondays. I definitely couldn't move inside and throw the pearls or even the Asylum...seemed like the dry just wasn't dry enough...or I just don't have the revs/axis rotation to make that shot. Played the whole night straight up the 5-board. That was a tough line to play because a miss by more than 1 board right and you're in the gutter.

Still a lot of work to be done.

[RobLV1]

"It might be that my solids are working so well there because the pattern is actually a bit longer and wider than what is on Mondays."

Bowlers love to attribute everything to the oil pattern, and totally forget about the lanes themselves. Do you remember the last time we bowled together in Vegas? If I had a dollar for every time that I've heard how "they" use reverse oiling so there is less reaction on the back ends, I'd be a rich man! No one takes into account that the center has the oldest lanes around, and that those lanes were less reactive.

I remember a discussion I had with Don McCune several years ago. He commented that so much has been made of reactive bowling balls and easy lane conditions, that most bowlers don't even consider the impact that synthetic lanes have had on the sport.

[vdubtx]

"It might be that my solids are working so well there because the pattern is actually a bit longer and wider than what is on Mondays."

Bowlers love to attribute everything to the oil pattern, and totally forget about the lanes themselves. Do you remember the last time we bowled together in Vegas? If I had a dollar for every time that I've heard how "they" use reverse oiling so there is less reaction on the back ends, I'd be a rich man! No one takes into account that the center has the oldest lanes around, and that those lanes were less reactive.

I remember a discussion I had with Don McCune several years ago. He commented that so much has been made of reactive bowling balls and easy lane conditions, that most bowlers don't even consider the impact that synthetic lanes have had on the sport.

Well said Rob. Reminds me of a coaching tip I read a LONG time ago on the very subject of lane surfaces. Article is by Mike Dias.

LINK (http://www.denverbowling.com/tips/tip-2006-05-WhatAreYouBowlingOn.pdf)

[RobLV1]

Good article! Thanks for the link.

[Aslan]

I don't disagree with the concept and I understand that the lanes are made of different materials...but again, it gets into the discussion of "how can I realistically systemize this information?" If the answer is "you can't, the world of bowling is completely random and therefore the bowler with the most number of balls in their van is going to win because they'll eventually find a ball that will work on a given pair at a given center on a given day, etc..."...then it doesn't really help much. It does, however, further explain why bowlers are so petrified to leave their own cozy centers. If these differences are so pronounced from lane to lane and center to center...it's a wonder how bowlers could ever compete in tournaments or travel leagues.

I used to think you needed just one ball. Then I conceded to the arsenal ideals and bought a spare ball. Then I further embraced the arsenal concept...and bought 1 more strike ball...then another strike ball...then I decided to go with 4 strike balls and a spare ball. And usually it ends up being 5 balls + a spare ball. And my overall feeling (while it has evolved), hasn't totally changed...if I can't win with 5 different strike balls and a spare ball...then whats the point??

Bowling is supposed to be about skill...not finding a "magic ball". If the conditions are so crazily different from place to place...for whatever reason(s)...then the USBC should do something about it. IF THEY DON'T...then I don't think I can honestly support it as an Olympic sport. The standards are just too lax to make scores meaningful anymore. I'm not trying to pull an MWhite and claim that bowling is "easy"...because God knows (see my scores) it's NOT easy. But easy vs hard isn't the issue. Like I said about by old center...I don't mind a tough pattern. I welcome tough patterns...I bowled in a sport league for crying out loud. But the patterns MUST be consistent. Lane variations (lane to lane) tend to be minor...but not putting fresh oil down for league play is ridiculous and leads to amazingly different conditions from lane to lane and there's no reason for that other than greed and laziness. Now I have a center that is "too easy"...and I won't be bowling there next season either. I love to score as much as the next guy...but with a 190 average on bowl.com I am now completely unable to bowl handicap tournaments.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Probably your biggest problem is you try to make bowling a system. The idea of having multiple bowling balls is not to throw 5 in practice but have knowledge of how they work for you. That is unless you are at a pba national or regional event and have a pre-tournament practice. In a normal league situation within a few shots and paying attention to others on your pair you can make a informed decision. Very very rarely do really good bowlers use more than 2 balls even in a 6 or 8 game block after practice. Reading lanes and identifying the correct equipment and lines to use come from experience. This game is not a pre determined system nor is it a game only for the gifted. The more you bowl and identify successes and failures and what caused them the better you will become.

[Mike White]

Bowling is supposed to be about skill...not finding a "magic ball". If the conditions are so crazily different from place to place...for whatever reason(s)...then the USBC should do something about it. IF THEY DON'T...then I don't think I can honestly support it as an Olympic sport. The standards are just too lax to make scores meaningful anymore. I'm not trying to pull an MWhite and claim that bowling is "easy"...because God knows (see my scores) it's NOT easy. But easy vs hard isn't the issue. Like I said about by old center...I don't mind a tough pattern. I welcome tough patterns...I bowled in a sport league for crying out loud. But the patterns MUST be consistent. Lane variations (lane to lane) tend to be minor...but not putting fresh oil down for league play is ridiculous and leads to amazingly different conditions from lane to lane and there's no reason for that other than greed and laziness. Now I have a center that is "too easy"...and I won't be bowling there next season either. I love to score as much as the next guy...but with a 190 average on bowl.com I am now completely unable to bowl handicap tournaments.

Maybe the issue is handicap tournaments aren't really about skill.

[Aslan]

Maybe the issue is handicap tournaments aren't really about skill.

You're just happy because at the 3rd Annual BHMAVZSCI....you'll finally realize the dream of bowling me when I'm not getting spotted any pins. Friggin Carter Lanes. I had MWhite's NUMBER....now I gotta hope he falls down again. :cool:

[Aslan]

Saturday Color of Money Tournament: long but dry on the outside, medium-oil synthetics

Small weekly colored-pin tournament. I only participate in this tournament because I want to practice on fresh conditions and this is about the only opportunity. Due to Halloween, the tournament got cancelled so I just practiced 6 games on the fresh conditions.

451 Series: 178-136-137
Was trying to use the Asylum the whole series; trying to get a feel for it and how it might work/not work on these lanes. And the result was miserable. I lost the strike line midway through Game 1 and never found it again. I'd go Brooklyn, move left, then washout, then move back right and go Brooklyn, move back right and hit light, etc... over and over again. I can't blame the ball per se....I think it's that when I had it drilled my release was different...and they drilled it "weak"...and now that my release is better...I'm not getting the true benefit of the ball. But, I tried it at the Wednesday center and it just wouldn't work...now I've tried it at the home center and over 3 games couldn't get it to work...it's just gonna be a ball that maybe I can use when the conditions transition or get beat up...maybe a wood lanes ball or something. It just doesn't have the backend snap of the pearls I throw and it doesn't move soon enough like the solids I throw.

516 Series: 191-146-179
Tried switching to the Lethal Revolver in Game 4. It hit better, but the lanes had transitioned a bit and I couldn't hold my line very long. Game 5 I switched to the Dark Encounter and it performed miserably (as usual) so I tried the Asylum again on lanes with a little more transition on them, but it performed miserably as well. Game 6 I switched to the Melee Jab and it did okay. The only downside to the Jab (and others have said this as well) is that it tends to behave erratically downlane. I had to keep my line kinda tight and it just seemed like sometimes it would strike and other times it would dive through the nose or leave a 4-9 split. So Game 6 was not as bad as it seems...3 splits and only 2 opens

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.55 pins
Strikes: 22% (4 doubles and 6 singles)
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 78% (15/19)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (7x).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 40% (11/27)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2 (3x).

Splits: 30% (0/10)

Average over 3 games: 161.17.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 168.17.

I think I'll stick with the Pearls on Monday. The Asylum was even worse than the solids. Still not sold on the idea of starting with the pearls...but it's possible the 170s games are the result of the solids burning up on the drier/lower volume outside. It might be that playing further inside and bouncing the pearls off the dry on the outside is the better play. I know that violates the "Preconceived Notions Principle" but I need at least a napkin with a stick figure drawn on it as a game plan...I just don't see enough in practice to give every night and every pair a totally fresh look.

And the practice wasn't all about the arsenal...the release is still a work in progress. A lot of shots seemed to hit light because I wasn't getting much axis tilt. I was coming through the ball...but more up the back due to hand position. And still struggling with the right amount of knee bend and getting my hand under the ball. Also still trying to figure out the ideal spine tilt. Got a lesson Wednesday...much needed at this point.

[Aslan]

Monday League: heavy oil synthetics, THS (38-40ft?) with some out of bounds at 1-3.

497 Series: 166-174-157

Tried to start out with the Melee Jab in practice but the lanes were playing very heavy (oil). I was barely clipping the 3-pin much less having a chance to get back to the pocket.

All 3 games were the same and unworthy of both writing and reading.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.94 pins
Strikes: 18% (1 double and 4 singles)
Spares: 75% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (6/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (3x)
Also left the 2-pin, 5-pin, and 7-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 75% (12/16)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8 and 1-2-4 (3x each).

Splits: n/a.

Average over 3 games: 165.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 172.33.

Very frustrating. Made a LOT of spares. Not good enough to have to pick up 8 spares a game. The highlight of the evening was picking up a 1-2-8-10 throwing a back-up ball. Thanks to RobM for teaching me a back-up ball way back the first time I was out in Vegas. It was also significant because it was the 4th frame of Game 2 and at that point I was on track for an all-spares game...but struck the next frame....but it still kept my clean game bid alive which lasted till the 10th when I pulled a shot at the 1-2-8.

Not a good night. Our first place team lost 3 of 4. The other team members can't seem to show up on time. Our best bowler was late and missed Game 1...then proceeded to absolutely stink two games in a row. One of our players only shows up once every 3 weeks. And just impossible conditions tonight. I left a ringing 5-pin, ringing 7-pin, and ringing 10-pin. Thats more "ringing" leaves in one series than I've had accumulated in 2 years. I always leave flat 7s or 10s.

And it should feel strange. Because tonight I played 4.5 to 7.5 the ENTIRE NIGHT. I usually never target outside of 6 at the dots...too chancy that a slight miss puts it in the gutter. And after 2-3 games...I'm usually targeting inside of 11 (at the dots) and my feet are 20-24. But tonight it was firing it up around 5...with a 2-board miss right being a 6-9-10 hit and a miss 2 boards inside and you're leaving a 1-3-9.

I'm tired of doing well in "fantasyland" on Wednesdays, happy and whistling a tune on the way home...only to go in on Monday Night at the other "Non-Fantasyland" center and struggle to get above a 500 series. Six strikes and six opens. I gotta go re-read Suzie's article on BTM about "mental something" because I was so mad tonight that I even got mad when I didn't win the mystery score....which I usually don't give two poopdonglers about. And with all that tenseness and frustration and insecurity piling up...it's no wonder I laid a ripe bomb in Game 3.

Oh well. I'm tired. Probably understandable when you throw the ball 56 times when you should be throwing it 39.

[RobLV1]

Tried to start out with the Melee Jab in practice but the lanes were playing very heavy (oil). I was barely clipping the 3-pin much less having a chance to get back to the pocket.

It seems like you've overlooked your angle. If you are playing outside and barely clipping the 3-pin, you simply have to decrease the angle that you are trying to play. To do this, close down your shoulders and hips slightly, so that you are going more directly at the 1-3 pocket. Sometimes there is area to swing the ball, and sometimes there's not. The lanes will tell you how they want to be played... you simply have to listen.

[Jessiewoodard57]

Sunday I had the reverse conditions. I tried starting with my Haywire as I usually do at this house but when I seen the first roll and realized how dry it was I immediately switched to a ball I had zero games on, my Joy-Ride. Got to say on dry lanes I love the ball! Quickly found the pocket and managed a 173 out of the ball. My Hammer Taboo spare use to be my dry lane ball but as predictable as the Joy-Ride is I will be retiring the hammer.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League: low-medium-oil synthetics, easier house shot

523 Series: 156-192-175

Game 1 I was coming in right. Not sure why. Probably release....maybe angle. Could be ball choice/line choice. Amazingly was still alive in one of the 3 brackets going into Game 2 but that ended quickly. Only 3 opens in Game 1; but I could only strike twice. Lowest score this season in this league. Three more opens in Game 2, including a missed single 4-pin and a missed single 10-pin. Game 3 I only had two opens; both splits...but strikes were few and far between.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.61 pins
Strikes: 33% (1 4-bagger and 7 singles)
Spares: 57% picked up

Single Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x)
Only other single-pins were the 2-pin, 4-pin, and two 7-pins.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (7/14)
Most common multi-pin leaves were the 1-2-4 and the 2-4-10 split (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/4).

Average over 3 games: 174.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 181.00.

Pretty much poo.

Had a lesson. Things looked pretty good. Had confidence. The shot didn't seem that tricky. But I'm just not very good. This was my lowest single-game (156) and lowest series (523) of the season in this league. The only good news is that the team took 3 out of 4 points.

[J Anderson]

Wednesday League: low-medium-oil synthetics, easier house shot


Game 1 I was coming in right. Not sure why.

Aslan, you are among the five most analytical posters on this site. The other four would be Mike W. Rob M. Bill F. and Bowl 1820. You couldn't figure out why???????

Seriously, unless doing something wrong that's easy to try to correct like not using your balance arm or essential like your timing is way off, it really doesn't matter why. If you are consistently missing the pocket right you are not likely to suddenly start throwing it "better" and get the ball to finish in the pocket. In competition, your physical game is what it is; the result of habits set from your practice sessions and your state of health and fitness at that moment. Aside from getting tired as the match goes on it is not going to change. Keep the variables simple. You can change the angle of your line. You can change where your line is on the lane. Once you find that combination that gets you from consistently right of pocket to consistently in the pocket, you can figure out by the pin carry whether it's the right ball.

[bubba809]

Aslan, you are among the five most analytical posters on this site. The other four would be Mike W. Rob M. Bill F. and Bowl 1820.

In the top 5? Really?? That's an insult to Aslan.

[Aslan]

In the top 5? Really?? That's an insult to Aslan.
I'd prefer top be on the "Top 5 Best Looking" list....but I'll take it.

I will honestly say that while I do approach the game analytically and critically...I have nowhere near the substantive value of guys like Rob, Bill, and Bowl1820.

WAY better looking though!! Maybe not "way"...and I am struggling to lose a bit of weight around the midsection...so it might be a 'push' right now.

But it's an "honor just to be nominated".


Seriously, unless doing something wrong that's easy to try to correct like not using your balance arm or essential like your timing is way off, it really doesn't matter why. If you are consistently missing the pocket right you are not likely to suddenly start throwing it "better"...
I see what you're getting at. And to some degree you are right. That's why I try not to (and don't recommend) using things I JUST LEARNED in my lesson...until I have some time to practice it.

But what I was trying to explain (but was and am slightly too dejected and humiliated and still am to really give a POO); is that with my lessons with the two Pros I see every 4 weeks (different pros, different times)...I'm continuing to see approach issues:
- First step too big
- Too far back rushing the line vs. too close and the timing impacts
- hand position: Under the ball? coming through the ball? Consistency?
- swing: muscled?
- form at the line: knee bend too much or not enough? balanced? spine tilt?

And that's just off the top of my head. The point is that both coaches are seeing the same problems...but their approaches to fixing it are slightly different:

Coach #1 wants me to improve my release by getting lower at the line with a slight forward spine tilt. And the reason for this is through observation...seeing that when I'm low (where my knee is bent and my slide foot is on it's side touching the approach)...my hand almost is forced to stay under the ball. And when I can get low, relax my swing, NOT raise up or pop up at the end (even though WRW does it)....I see a lot of downlane movement.

But when I DON'T do all those things....I don't get that good release and I don't get the backend motion and I don't get the carry.

Coach #2 doesn't worry as much about getting lower or spine tilt...but is more concerned that sometimes I release the ball properly...and get good results...and sometimes I release it more like a 'suitcase' release...and then I get very little movement...poor carry.

So for the past couple months...I've been working on a shorter first step....staying balanced at the line...good form, don't bend the elbow prematurely, focus, and come through the ball with my fingers...but in the last couple weeks...I've focused a little less on the shorter first step and getting low and spine tilt and focused more on getting that hand to stay more under the ball.

So...there you can see the dilemma. There's a LOT going on in the old duder's head. And I can't use the excuse that maybe one or both of the coaches are wrong...because both are current/past PBA bowlers...and all my coaches (including Rob) are at least USBC Silver. And they ALL see very similar things and similar flaws...and most of the time the approaches to fixing those issues are very similar.

I'm just starting to question whether I have that "Gift" that Iceman always preaches about. Most of the time I think he's full of poo regarding that...but maybe not? Like Mark Baker and Marshall Holman said at last year's WSOB (answering my question on Facebook) when asked whether a bowler needed natural talent (the gift) or if a bad bowler could through hard work and dedication become an elite bowler without said natural talent....and they both kinda agreed that they've seen a lot of gifted bowlers that don't work hard enough and don't reach their potential....but they've seen relatively few bowlers that are 'bad' and work on their game enough to become 'elite'...which I took to mean that you need to have at least some of the "gift" to go with the work...you need both.

I don't know. Maybe I'm burnt up...like a strong ball thrown up the dry outside...I just don't have enough of "it" at the end when I need it. I think I'm gonna just relax...maybe keep doing the lessons for awhile...probably stop doing sidepots and brackets...and just have some drinks and relax and try to have 'fun'. If I roll a 98...hey, as long as I had fun...it's all good.

[NewToBowling]

I've seen plenty of people with ugly uncoordinated releases still average well above 200. At some point you have to do what's comfortable (big first step, etc) and as long as it is consistent and repeatable to hell with what others say. Keep doing it.

[RobLV1]

I've seen plenty of people with ugly uncoordinated releases still average well above 200. At some point you have to do what's comfortable (big first step, etc) and as long as it is consistent and repeatable to hell with what others say. Keep doing it.

I hate to say it, but that point is when you've given up on improvement. A "big first step" may be consistent and repeatable, but it will also consistently result in timing issues at the line. That's what coaching is about: seeing causes and effects to help bowlers to improve. You're not helping anyone to improve with advice like this.

[Aslan]

I've seen plenty of people with ugly uncoordinated releases still average well above 200. At some point you have to do what's comfortable (big first step, etc) and as long as it is consistent and repeatable to hell with what others say. Keep doing it.

Agreed, but I also agree with Rob.

To be honest, that's whats so hard about trying to be a high-level bowler is that you see SO many people...bowlers that have the absolute worst form and release and balance and just everything...and then you watch them string 6-9 strikes together...most of which were "questionable"...and you can't help but think, "Wait. Should I just "give up" on doing things the "right" way? Because many people think the "right way" = whatever works...and what THEY are doing is working...and what I'm doing is NOT working."

But like Rob said...as soon as you do that...as soon as you fall into that trap...you've now reached your limit of what you can truly accomplish. I'm trying to break through barriers...and do it later in life....in a short time frame. Most bowlers on this site and most better league bowlers have a 30-year head start on me...and it's hard to be "patient" because I don't think I have 30 years left in me...I KNOW my knee doesn't. Either I use resources to acquire knowledge and improve at a fast pace...or I accept that I just waited too long to start this journey...and need to lower my expectations to what a standard league bowler expects...once a week have some drinks with some other adults and every 5-12 minutes you get up and roll a ball. Once a month ya roll a 200+...a few times a month ya roll in the 120s...but you care more about the drinks and quality of the food than you do about the score.

I'm even considering a total re-start...stop lugging 6 balls around and go back to just bowling with one ball. Get my old 70s ball bag with the little wire rack in it...stuff my shoes and a towel and a rosin bag...maybe some powder in there...throw a flat release at corner pins...and take all the ball/arsenal stuff out of the equation. Throw the Rhythm until it cracks in half...then move on to the next oldest ball...just use one ball like most everyone else on league night. And since I can't score with chicks (even if I could...I'm limited in discussing it), why not just wear gym shorts or sweat pants and a t-shirt? Who am I trying to impress? Just have some fun, have some drinks...maybe win a raffle or mystery score or something...just chill.

I don't know. Maybe I'll change my mind by next Wednesday. I'm travelling for work the next week so I'll miss Monday league night anyways...got a week off from bowling. Might bowl Saturday night...maybe do the one ball thing...maybe not...we'll see.

[J Anderson]

Sometimes a week off is what you need.

[Amyers]

I hate to say it, but that point is when you've given up on improvement. A "big first step" may be consistent and repeatable, but it will also consistently result in timing issues at the line. That's what coaching is about: seeing causes and effects to help bowlers to improve. You're not helping anyone to improve with advice like this.

NTB I have to agree with Rob here. There are some items that a bowler can have that may be technically incorrect and they have ways of compensating for that don't really hold back their game. There are also issues that limit you and will keep you from growing as a bowler. A really good coach knows the difference between the two. It also depends on what your mind set for the game is. If you want to be a once or twice a week league bowler it's fine to just go out and rip it but if you want to bowl higher level scratch leagues, tournaments and PBA Regionals as Aslan has set as goals for himself he's not going to get there but just being the best Aslan he can be on his own he will have to become a technically correct bowler.

[Aslan]

Saturday Weekly Color-Pin Tournament:

Just brought the Hammer Rhythm 16lb ball out of retirement. Brought one ball with me and a pair of shoes. Now transitioning to my "I don't care" phase of my bowling development.

439 Series: 110-160-169
Good times. It was more of a learning experience just trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do now that I bowl just for fun. Like, I ordered a couple drinks...so that cost me like $10. I stared at a woman for a bit...not sure if she liked it or not. I tried to think very little about actually bowling.

No stats. Not necessary. First game was a struggle...not quite sure how to line up throwing the Rhythm on these lanes. I don't get the same revs with the 16b equipment...and the speed is slightly lower. These lanes are older and tend to transition faster so even though there was just 6-8 of us on the pair and it was freshly oiled...I really couldn't play outside of 2nd arrow.

Not sure how I feel about bowling if this is all there is. It's less mentally draining, which is nice, but it's kinda pointless. And drinks are WAY too expensive for me to get hammered each league night...especially now that I'm no longer making money in side pots and brackets.

Not sure how I'm gonna approach Wednesday. I'm gonna be traveling for work and miss Monday league and I hate to just show up on Wednesdays and start bowling like a slapee...since that team is kinda serious and was hoping I'd be a key player on the team...not sure they'd appreciate my new found appreciation for being an average league bowler...especially when I currently have a 203 average in that league.

But, the Rhythm got to leave the bowling ball rack of fame and make a celebrity appearance...nice to take the old boy for a walk now and then.

[mc_runner]

You have a 203 average man, don't get your head down. We all go through some slumps, keep working at it and don't give up. You've worked and gotten yourself to a 200+ average in one league in what, 2 years? Keep at it and throw your best. Working through slumps is one of the hardest things about bowling especially when it happens for weeks... but man does it feel good when you get the groove back.

[Aslan]

You've worked and gotten yourself to a 200+ average in one league in what, 2 years?

On Cheese Cakes...sure. But the numbers point to my true average being much more in the 160-179 range.

Wednesday League: medium-heavy oil synthetics, played long tonight...seemed like the lanes were oiled to about 50ft.

521 Series: 146-205-170

Game 1 I couldn't find the line. I tried outside, I tried the track...with the length and the outside not having the same generous bounce as usual...the inside shot was certainly out.

Game 2 I had an open on a 1-2-7-8 washout in frame 1 and was clean the rest of the way.

Game 3 I had a Cincinnati in the 5th frame and then barely missed a single 4-pin in the foundation frame...was otherwise clean...but I just didn't have the carry.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.71 pins
Strikes: 35% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 7 singles)
Spares: 65% picked up

Single Pin spares: 80% (8/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 6-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (5/10)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a (all leaves were different)

Splits: 0% (0/2).

Average over 3 games: 173.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 180.33.

Almost identical to last week.

Really disappointed that they apparently decided to make the pattern tougher out of the blue. I don't mind a different pattern and have been as vocal as anyone about making the shot harder...but you can't just change it overnight. If the pattern is going to vary week to week, then I'd expect a pattern sheet to be available before the league play begins. And hoping for that is like hoping that Santa Claus is real and brings you a bag full of money.

Looks like my days of 600 series, dominating the brackets, making more money bowling than I spend, and carrying a 200+ average are now behind me. I thought maybe the time off would be beneficial...but not so much. I kinda blame Game 1 on the fact that I got up at 7:45AM CST, flew from New Orleans to Dallas to Orange County and arrived at 3:55PM PST. So, 10 hours in shuttles, airports, and planes...then another hour in Southern California traffic. But after a 170 game to finish the night...I couldn't blame it on being rusty.

I had to change speeds...which isn't my favorite thing to alter. But, with such a long pattern...and me throwing about 19.5mph at the pins...it just wasn't going to work. I moved up in the approach and got the speed down to 15.8 at the pins and that worked better...but carry/power suffered as a result.

Team lost 3 out of 4 to an inferior team. I think our hopes of being Top 5 in the league are probably pipe dreams at this point. Our leadoff and female bowlers just don't have the skills for us to be competitive. Our anchor had a 706 series...and a guy two lanes over threw a 300-game...so not everybody was struggling.

Still have a lesson with M. Baker I think this weekend or next weekend....and a lesson with my regular coach next week or the week after. Not sure how long I'll keep the lessons going. I love the game...I love bowling...but I can't seem to reconcile my skills with my expectations and as long as my expectations are to be a 200+ average bowler....I just don't have the natural ability necessary to achieve that realistically.

[vdubtx]

A Cincinnati? Haven't heard that term before.

Don't get down on yourself. We all have bad weeks. How did you know the pattern changed? Did they tell you it did, or, are you just assuming since the ball didn't react the way you usually want it to?

[Amyers]

Hey buck up man. If it was easy it would be kind of boring. You've been bowling maybe 6 months longer than my wife who has pretty decent form and she averages 140-150, she gets it together and shoots good series for a while then slides back, struggles with her release, and has issues at time finding the pocket. Sound like anyone you know? You are a vastly superior spare shooter compared to her. She hasn't had the lessons you have but she spends almost as much time as you do bowling. My point is you're not behind the game. I don't know of any sport you can pick up and compete at the upper echelons of in 2 years why do you expect to this to be different?

Have you considered the fact that your ball speed is too high causing some of your problems? I know my PSO suggests 14-16 mph on the monitors. If you are hitting 19.5 at the pins that's better than 20 mph off the hand. That's insane to be balanced you would need to generate 450 revs!! You not doing that and most likely will not anytime soon. I realize that you are a big PBA fan and you see those guys throwing balls in that speed range but they have perfected their release over years of coaching and trial and error. 20 mph and 225 revs = dart. It's no wonder you struggle getting the ball to roll and hit the pocket at those kind of numbers the ball isn't reading the lane it's mostly just you throwing the ball into the pocket or not.

Try reducing that speed back to the 15 mph mark and work on building your revs up then slowly work the speed back up as your release improves. You've got the PBA level speed down but if your not capable of generating the revs to go along with it they do you no good.

[vdubtx]

Having seen some of Aslan's videos, I highly doubt the speed is even close to accurate. No way that he is almost 20mph at the pins.

[Amyers]

Having seen some of Aslan's videos, I highly doubt the speed is even close to accurate. No way that he is almost 20mph at the pins.

I had not seen anything like that from his vids either although the point still holds water at 16-17 with lower revs. Speed dominance can be just as difficult to overcome as rev dominance and believe me I'm familiar with that.

[NewToBowling]

20mph we're talking Osku spare shooting speed