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

[fortheloveofbowling]

Yes sir, that is what i was trying to convey. You are correct about getting up the side and over the top to soon. Good luck to you.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Practice: low oil synthetics

507 Series: 182-175-150
Game 1 I started out with a 4-bagger but then the new higher speed/rev release started giving me problems. Ended up with a 4-7-10 in the 6th, followed by 2 washouts. Game 2 was actually better, clean through 6 before leaving a Big Four. 4-7-10 in the 10th squashed the score. Game 3 my spare shooting fell apart.

519 Series: 165-169-185
Game 1 I opened with a washout. Then somehow missed 2 straight 6-10s in the 6th and 7th…so that game was lackluster. Game 2 I had a couple splits and missed a single 4-pin. Game 3 I balled down to the Frantic and despite a couple open frames, did a little better.

177-139
I messed around in a game throwing thumbless and then high loft/speed…just trying to mess with getting some more revs. Then I settled down and threw the 177. I was experimenting with a more inside line, standing at about board 30 and throwing over center. Other than a 4-10 split in the 2nd, I was clean…but only 2 strikes. Just couldn't get carry playing that middle line. The final game my spare shooting was abysmal. I was trying to slow things down and add hand…but I just left a lot of spare opportunities and for some reason struggled picking them up.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.54 pins
Strikes: 31% (4-bagger, 3 turkeys, 1 double and 12 singles)
Spares: 53% picked up

Single Pin spares: 55% (30/56)
Most common single-pin leaves: 4-pin (7x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 52% (20/38)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 4-7 (9x).

Splits: 0% (0/9)

Average over 8 games: 167.75.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 178.88.

Struggled with the new release. Couldn't get the revs without adding too much speed. Struggled with the 4-pin. Nearly 1/3 of my leaves were either single 4-pin or 4-7…which if I can figure out the pin action…means I'm coming into the pocket too far behind the headpin…knocking it and the 2-pin out to the side rather than into the 4 and 7 pins.

[Amyers]

Wednesday Practice: low oil synthetics

507 Series: 182-175-150
Game 1 I started out with a 4-bagger but then the new higher speed/rev release started giving me problems. Ended up with a 4-7-10 in the 6th, followed by 2 washouts. Game 2 was actually better, clean through 6 before leaving a Big Four. 4-7-10 in the 10th squashed the score. Game 3 my spare shooting fell apart.

519 Series: 165-169-185
Game 1 I opened with a washout. Then somehow missed 2 straight 6-10s in the 6th and 7th…so that game was lackluster. Game 2 I had a couple splits and missed a single 4-pin. Game 3 I balled down to the Frantic and despite a couple open frames, did a little better.

177-139
I messed around in a game throwing thumbless and then high loft/speed…just trying to mess with getting some more revs. Then I settled down and threw the 177. I was experimenting with a more inside line, standing at about board 30 and throwing over center. Other than a 4-10 split in the 2nd, I was clean…but only 2 strikes. Just couldn't get carry playing that middle line. The final game my spare shooting was abysmal. I was trying to slow things down and add hand…but I just left a lot of spare opportunities and for some reason struggled picking them up.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.54 pins
Strikes: 31% (4-bagger, 3 turkeys, 1 double and 12 singles)
Spares: 53% picked up

Single Pin spares: 55% (30/56)
Most common single-pin leaves: 4-pin (7x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 52% (20/38)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 4-7 (9x).

Splits: 0% (0/9)

Average over 8 games: 167.75.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 178.88.

Struggled with the new release. Couldn't get the revs without adding too much speed. Struggled with the 4-pin. Nearly 1/3 of my leaves were either single 4-pin or 4-7…which if I can figure out the pin action…means I'm coming into the pocket too far behind the headpin…knocking it and the 2-pin out to the side rather than into the 4 and 7 pins.

Aslan with the new release when you said you were picking up speed were you increasing the loft also like before or have you found a solution for that? I know one place here you mentioned increasing the loft separately wasn't sure if you were working on something new or just going back to your old release.

Increasing speed isn't necessarily a bad thing as long as you can get additional revs enough to make it work. Do you think switching between the releases was effecting you spare shooting or just a bad night for it.

[Hampe]

Well like I've said a bunch of times, I'm no coach or anything, but if you're adding speed along with revs, could it be that you start to accelerate through the ball too early? Instead of accelerating at the last minute when the ball is coming off your hand, you might be starting too early while it's still on the downswing. I've seen some people around here have that problem.

[Aslan]

Well like I've said a bunch of times, I'm no coach or anything, but if you're adding speed along with revs, could it be that you start to accelerate through the ball too early? Instead of accelerating at the last minute when the ball is coming off your hand, you might be starting too early while it's still on the downswing. I've seen some people around here have that problem.

Aslan with the new release when you said you were picking up speed were you increasing the loft also like before or have you found a solution for that? I know one place here you mentioned increasing the loft separately wasn't sure if you were working on something new or just going back to your old release.

Increasing speed isn't necessarily a bad thing as long as you can get additional revs enough to make it work. Do you think switching between the releases was effecting you spare shooting or just a bad night for it.

I think Hampe is sort of correct in his assessment....to clarify...when I try to add hand/revs...it involves either bringing my hand through the ball and/or up the side of the ball. Since the hand won't naturally do that (due to Physics)...I have to apply some level of Force to "push" my hand through the ball and/or up the side.

I've found that when trying to "push" that hand up the side...the fingers naturally lift the ball up...so I get more revs...but more loft.

I've tried to combat that by adding forward spine tilt so that I'm adding more revs toward the pins rather than up the side (toward the ceiling)...but the new way, while controlling the loft/lift, still adds speed to the ball.

So, the result, is if I go up the side...I can generate a great deal of revs...and limit the speed (to some extent)...but I loft the ball 12-20ft (not an exaggeration) which on slicker conditions doesn't give the ball enough time to react to the lanes and it doesn't make it back to the pocket. If I try to go through the ball...and release more towards the pins...the loft is more controllable...but the speed increases so much that the ball still does not have enough time to get back to the pocket. And this is true both in a normal release as well as my back-up ball release...my back-up ball actually looks and feels like a more modern release...but I can't control the speed.

To add revs but not increase speed...seems to take a mastery of a quick flip of the wrist...so quick that your fingers simply move from behind to the side...with no effect on the ball's lift nor putting any force into the ball from behind...and I haven't been able to do that.

I'll make some videos during league bowling tonight. But yeah, the release still needs a LOT of work.

And yes, I think the spare problems were a combination of me playing with my release and also the dryness of the lanes. In extremely dry conditions, my spare ball (reactive resin not plastic) tends to move slightly. So I have to make little adjustments for that. Also, it was "cosmic bowling" conditions...which tends to hurt my spare game since the boards are harder to see in the dark.

[Aslan]

Thursday Pre-League Practice: low oil synthetics

633 Series: 145-176-165-147
The first game I had a couple splits and some sub-par spare shooting. In game 2, I was clean through 7 before missing a single 7-pin. But, I only struck once the entire game. In game 3 I balled down to the Frantic. I had a split in the 1st frame, then missed a single 10-pin and single 3-pin. In game 4, I had 3 splits so the score was worse than how I actually bowled.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48 pins
Strikes: 19% (8 singles)
Spares: 63% picked up

Single Pin spares: 69% (21/33)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (6x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 60% (12/20)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 4-7 (4x).

Splits: 0% (0/6)

Average over 4 games: 158.25.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 169.25.

Yet again, my spare shooting and fundamentals were strong, but my strike rate was abysmal. I continue to leave a LOT of 4-pins and 4-7s. I'm obviously either coming in too sharp and getting behind the headpin, pushing the 1 and 2 pins to the side rather than into the 4-pin…OR…and more likely…I'm coming in to light and not getting enough of the headpin…causing it to go more sideways than diagonally.

[Amyers]

Thursday Pre-League Practice: low oil synthetics

633 Series: 145-176-165-147
The first game I had a couple splits and some sub-par spare shooting. In game 2, I was clean through 7 before missing a single 7-pin. But, I only struck once the entire game. In game 3 I balled down to the Frantic. I had a split in the 1st frame, then missed a single 10-pin and single 3-pin. In game 4, I had 3 splits so the score was worse than how I actually bowled.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48 pins
Strikes: 19% (8 singles)
Spares: 63% picked up

Single Pin spares: 69% (21/33)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (6x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 60% (12/20)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 4-7 (4x).

Splits: 0% (0/6)

Average over 4 games: 158.25.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 169.25.

Yet again, my spare shooting and fundamentals were strong, but my strike rate was abysmal. I continue to leave a LOT of 4-pins and 4-7s. I'm obviously either coming in too sharp and getting behind the headpin, pushing the 1 and 2 pins to the side rather than into the 4-pin…OR…and more likely…I'm coming in to light and not getting enough of the headpin…causing it to go more sideways than diagonally.

My guess would be you are coming in light but even then I don't leave many 4 pins maybe both light and behind that's almost what it would take to leave it on a consistent basis. Usually if I'm going in behind the pin I move my feet right and my target left a little and it fixes that for me but with both I'm thinking you need to move your line a decent amount.

[Aslan]

Thursday League: medium oil synthetics

456 Series: 161-136-159
Horrible. First game was clean but for a split in the 4th frame and a missed single 9-pin in the 5th. But only 1 strike to show for it. Game 2 started out fine, clean through 4 frames…but then horrible spare shooting to finish. Game 3 was clean except for 2 splits and a missed single 10-pin in the 6th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.09 pins
Strikes: 15% (5 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

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

Multiple Pin spares: 53% (8/15)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 and 6-9-10 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 152.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 163.00.

This problem will continue until I can find a way to strike. Having to be perfect on spare shooting in order to bowl in the 170s to 190s is a terribly difficult way to bowl. We took 2 of 4 points, but thats only a minor consolation. My 136 game probably cost us taking 3-4.

I'll be posting videos sometime this weekend.

[Amyers]

Thursday League: medium oil synthetics

456 Series: 161-136-159
Horrible. First game was clean but for a split in the 4th frame and a missed single 9-pin in the 5th. But only 1 strike to show for it. Game 2 started out fine, clean through 4 frames…but then horrible spare shooting to finish. Game 3 was clean except for 2 splits and a missed single 10-pin in the 6th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.09 pins
Strikes: 15% (5 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

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

Multiple Pin spares: 53% (8/15)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 and 6-9-10 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 152.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 163.00.

This problem will continue until I can find a way to strike. Having to be perfect on spare shooting in order to bowl in the 170s to 190s is a terribly difficult way to bowl. We took 2 of 4 points, but thats only a minor consolation. My 136 game probably cost us taking 3-4.

I'll be posting videos sometime this weekend.

Sometimes it doesn't matter what you do it's just not right. We all have those series I know your a good spare shooter if your having issues with both odds are it was an off night or your frustrating yourself over the lack of strikes and maybe trying too hard. I get told that a lot. Usually when it happens either I tense up or start moving my feet too quickly. Give it a day or two go back and practice and make sure to keep those feet slow.

[Aslan]

Monday VBT Tour
Forest Lanes; Lake Forest, CA
low oil synthetics

I decided to join Bunny and bowl in Lake Forest since it's always better to have a bowling buddy AND I avoid a -10-pin per game penalty bowling at AMF Carter…where I don't bowl well. : )

Practice: 209

Managed to find my strike ball and strung together a 4-bagger. Only open frame was a 6-7 split in the 10th. So I was feeling pretty good about these conditions going into the match. Unfortunately, I was also worried because the lanes were QUITE dry and I was already moved very far left…almost on the verge of balling down.

526 Series: 180 - 168 - 178

The first game I was clean through 6; but only struck once. I then chopped a 3-9 sleeper (I HATE sleepers!) in the 7th. Then finished it out clean. Game 2 "would" have been clean except for a 6-7-10 split in the 5th and 4-7-10 split in the 6th. In game 3 I was clean except for single 10-pins in the 4th and 7th. The lanes had a weird ultra-dry area around the 2-board that was making my Slingshot "bounce" off the 2-board. But again, only a couple strikes.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79 pins
Strikes: 24% (2 doubles and 4 singles)
Spares: 72% picked up

Single Pin spares: 81% (9/11)
Most common single pin leave: Single 10-pin (4x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 5-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (7/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 (3x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 175.33
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 183.00.

The lack of ability to strike really held me back. Fortunately my spare pick-up rate kept me in contention.