At least I was consistent

[boatman37]

Ughhhh. Couldn't buy a strike tonight. Practice was pretty good and started the night with 4 strikes. hmmmm....gonna be a great night! yeah, right. We bowled the 1st place team (we were in 2nd). Couldn't catch them but could have dropped to 5th and 2 teams were right on our tails. Ended of 5-2 tonight so we finished 1 game ahead of 3rd. The 1st place team has 6 guys averaging between 207 and 222. Tonight they had a 653, 567, 620, 699, and 582. We had 561, 521, 558, 630, and 650. We lost the first game by 101, won the 2nd by 86, and won the 3rd by 116. I hit my mark almost every shot. Probably the best I have done all year at hitting it consistently. Kept hitting light all night. Moved about 3 boards left and still hit light. Moved my mark in by about 3 boards and still hit light. I never have to move that far. When I did hit the pocket I would leave a pin almost every time. At least I was pretty good with spares tonight.

Had a 188, 190 (clean), and 180. Started the night with 4 strikes and ended the night with 3 strikes. Just wish I could have got more in between. Current league average is 173.0

Next week we bowl for averages. I guess all teams bowl and whoever beats their average by the most wins the championship? Not sure of the details, just know that's what we are bowling for next week.

Our PSO had another 300 tonight. 2nd one since I started in early February. Said he drilled up a new ball for last week but it was too strong so he polished it up for this week and said it was perfect.

So all in all I had 12 strikes, 15 spares, and 5 opens. Was able to cover the 2, 5, 7 split and also the 1, 3, 7 (not a split but should be...lol). Did a much better job with the left corner. Didn't have any solo 7 pins but had a few 4's and some 4, 7's and 4, 7, 8's and covered all of them I think. Been really struggling with that all year so was happy I seem to be getting better with those.

Goal for next year is a 200 average. Had a 193 when I quit 15 years ago so I know I can do it. Just need to get more consistent. Bowling in a summer league so hope to get some things ironed out before the fall league starts back up.

[J Anderson]

Consistency is a good start! I would take a series with every game over my average rather than bowl a 300 with the other games under my average.

[bdpeters]

great goal for next year. sounds like you are on the right track with what you are working on. covering your spares and all. keep us posted.

[Phonetek]

You've come a long way since Jan when you joined the board a couple days after me Boatman, keep it up.

[boatman37]

Yeah. I have to keep looking at the bright side. 15 years ago I rarely missed any spares. 3 months ago I was missing more than I made. Hope this is the turnaround I was looking for. And the 2,5,7 and the 1,3,7 that I made was on purpose. I try to make all my spares regardless of what they are. I would rather get a gutter trying to convert a 4,7,10 than to just settle for the 4,7 without trying. So those weren't flukes. I really was all in on those spares.

[Phonetek]

Just remember, league is just about done. You've then got ALL summer to practice practice practice. By next fall you'll have all your ducks in a row.

[fordman1]

Consistency is a good start! I would take a series with every game over my average rather than bowl a 300 with the other games under my average.

John are you serous? Why would you say that? 90% of the bowlers in leagues will never hit a 300 game but almost everybody has had a series with all 3 games over average.

[mx1alex]

Still not too shabby!

[boatman37]

I agree with John. The 300's will come or they won't. I would prefer to bowl 3 consistent games than 1 great game and 2 average games. My 2nd week back I had a 244 then a 124. Forget the 3rd game but ended with about a 550. I wasn't happy when I left. Maybe if the 244 was last but I knew I blew it and the 244 was a fluke. If I had bowled 3 180's I would have been happier.

BTW-our PSO shot another 300 last night. 2nd one for him in our league since I started in early February.

@Phonetek-i signed up for the summer league so i will get my practice in :)

[manke]

Keep up the good work!!

[fordman1]

I guess you guys don't have Jackpots. Most bowlers will only get one chance at a 300 game in their whole life. Many will never get the 1st 8 strikes. They will have 3 games under avg. hundreds of times more than they will shooting 300.

[Phonetek]

I agree with John. The 300's will come or they won't. I would prefer to bowl 3 consistent games than 1 great game and 2 average games. My 2nd week back I had a 244 then a 124. Forget the 3rd game but ended with about a 550. I wasn't happy when I left. Maybe if the 244 was last but I knew I blew it and the 244 was a fluke. If I had bowled 3 180's I would have been happier.

BTW-our PSO shot another 300 last night. 2nd one for him in our league since I started in early February.

@Phonetek-i signed up for the summer league so i will get my practice in :)

I'm really proud of you bud, your progression has been quite admirable. Keep it up

[J Anderson]

John are you serous? Why would you say that? 90% of the bowlers in leagues will never hit a 300 game but almost everybody has had a series with all 3 games over average.

Serious.

If I shoot 300, 150, 150, my team will most likely win one game and maybe take wood. If I shoot 200, 200, 200 we have a good shot at winning all three games.

Are you happier winng one game or three?

[boatman37]

Serious.

If I shoot 300, 150, 150, my team will most likely win one game and maybe take wood. If I shoot 200, 200, 200 we have a good shot at winning all three games.

Are you happier winning one game or three?

Yep. I'm more concerned with winning games than I am getting 300's. Never had a 300 yet so you would think it would be a priority. Nah. If I get it I get it. Our team was in about 5th place when I started. I was only supposed to be a fill-in but one of the regulars had surgery and complications so after my first week I was 'promoted' to full-time. We just finished last night and we made it to 2nd place. We are something like 36-6 in the last 2 months and definitely the hottest team in the league. I would like to take the credit but I can't. Sure I bowled above my average almost every week but not by much. In that stretch I only had 1 600 so definitely wasn't from my great bowling...lol. My team stepped up and killed it. Every week 1 or 2 guys would just kill it. I'm happier because of that than if I had bowled 5 300's. I do wish my average was a little higher but after a 15 year break I'm probably about where I thought I'd be. Plan to be over 200 average next year.

And as far as first 8 strikes...they weren't my first 9 frames but did throw 9 in a row my 2nd week back (256). Threw 12 in a row years ago but I finished a game with 5 and started the next with 7. Maybe I will get a 300, maybe I won't. I'm sure I will at some point but if not as long as we keep winning I'm happy. Our 'injured' guy returned last night but we had a full roster and the captain said he didn't want to mess with the chemistry so the 'returning' player sat out. I told him if I struggled my first game I would pull myself and let him bowl. Turns out our 2nd best bowler (200 average) had a 160-ish and was going to sit but everyone knows he usually comes back with a vengeance so we kept the regular roster. He ended up with 168, 236, and 246 (650). We won the 2nd and 3rd games and total pins so good thing.

[Phonetek]

Strikes don't win games without spares. Of course a 300 would win a game. However throw every other strike and the others opens, pretty good chance of losing. Consistency is the key and that's picking up spares. Boatman you did great from where you started from. It's not easy to come back after that long of a stretch and do as well as you did. I'd be proud of your accomplishment.

[SAbowler]

Consistency is a good start! I would take a series with every game over my average rather than bowl a 300 with the other games under my average.

It's funny you say that. On Tuesday, a friend of mine who averages 205, shot a series of 158-300-179 for a whopping 637. LOL

[fordman1]

Serious.

If I shoot 300, 150, 150, my team will most likely win one game and maybe take wood. If I shoot 200, 200, 200 we have a good shot at winning all three games.

Are you happier winng one game or three?

Bowling 2 150 games doesn't mean you lost 2 games. Shooting 300 doesn't mean you won either. All I am saying is in a bowling careen you will not remember the many times you bowl all three games over average. Many I am sure. If you only bowl one 300 game in your whole life it is something you will never forget.
I am not trying to say that bowling 3 games over average isn't impressive. It is just that it will not be something you tell your grand kids about.

[mx1alex]

I'm pretty sure my teammates wouldn't mind if I shot my first 300 but we lost 3 of 4... Nor would I mind if one of them shot their first 300 and it meant losing 3 of 4. That's a lifetime memory! We had plenty of weeks we won 4 of 4 and I couldn't tell you diddly about any of them.

[boatman37]

Well another consistent night. Better this time though. Had a 201, 193, and 192 (586 series). My current average is 174.6 after tonight (173.0 before tonight) so definitely a step up. Struggled with spares the first 2 games but got strikes. Third game I got spares but couldn't get strikes. Hit the pocket almost every shot but just couldn't get the carry. If I could just string together a night where I could get both I would have a great night. Tonight was my 2nd best series since coming back (had a 643 a few weeks ago). Still planning on a 200 average next year. I have the ability, just need to iron out a few things.