What are the "Most Important" frames of each game to you ?

[noeymc]

the 1st 2 frames cuz it sets the tone for the game and if u get the 1st 2 strikes your team ur playing against feel the pressure and start to try harder and do worse for the most part

[billf]

It really depends. Of course Bob, I see multiple possibilites to your question. I focus the same each and every frame or at least as focused as I can be at that moment. Every frame is important. If I suck too bad at the beginning it won't matter what my 9th and 10th frames are. On the other hand, if I start with the front 7 (like this week) and then hit split city the big lead can usually carry me through.

[SmilingBowler]

It really depends. Of course Bob, I see multiple possibilites to your question. I focus the same each and every frame or at least as focused as I can be at that moment. Every frame is important. If I suck too bad at the beginning it won't matter what my 9th and 10th frames are. On the other hand, if I start with the front 7 (like this week) and then hit split city the big lead can usually carry me through.

Haha! "Split City" - here, I thought I was the only one who called it that when you start to string splits or hit a couple on the same lane. So glad I'm not alone. First time I saw it mentioned here. Thanks Bill!

[billf]

Monday I hit the front 7 all perfect. Then the 8th I left the 7-10. Changed balls, lines and speed, left the 7-10 again. Converted then the 10th frame I left the big 4 and only got 3.

[Greenday]

They are all important in different ways. The first few (1-3) are important because if you don't start strong, you could fall behind too quickly and screw up trying to make something happen the rest of the game. The middle frames (4-8) are important because it's the tone of the game. This is where if you don't stay strong, one frame can destroy your confidence the rest of the game. It's the confidence set of frames. The final frames (9-10) are important because of the obvious. A weak finish can affect you badly for the rest of your series. I watched multiple times today as people fell behind 40-50 pins in their first game and they just seemed to give up. Even if you are behind, finish strong because it could be the difference between being 50 behind and 30 behind. 30 pins isn't super hard to overcome. 50 can be quite a lot if your opponent stays consistent.

[aussiedave]

Sitting here reading many of these threads and recalled a conversation I had with a team mate a couple of weeks ago. Before I let you know what those "IMPORTANT" frames are to me, I'd like to hear from you folks and see what your take is.

I'll chime back in a couple days from now and let you know what I consider the "most important frames" for me.

Consider this scenario....you are bowling head-to-head against a guy that is 10 pins higher in average than you and your team rally needs these points from you. Where do you want to put the most emphasis. Do you create any other actions ? What would you do?

This should have some interesting ideas.

If you are competing against someone better than you then they are all important. In this scenario, I think to myself whatever the score or situation of the game I am going to make every shot my best shot and never get discouraged - just bowl.
In normal play I do the same thing and hate to leave a frame open - especially the tenth - that's when you blow the "bonus" ball and rob yourself of a chance at ten extra pins.
ad.

[Rdmonster]

My vote is 9 and 10....ive won the most games by tearing it up in the 9 and 10 frames.

I'm not that good so I dont really get upset in bowling like I do in golf (im not very good at that either but get really mad sometimes lol). Our team is a bunch of really fun guys...we drink hard sometimes and are usually the most fun having loudest group on the lanes. Maybe this gets in some peoples heads but I know if we are having fun we are going to do well.\

If I dont hear a bunch of laughing and hollering from my team I get them pumped and that usually turns things around.

[ecub]

As I mentioned earlier, 9th & 10th. There's so many times that either my team will start of hot and then fizzle down, where the other team starts getting hot. Usually by the 8th frame, it's getting close, so the 9th & 10th are crucial. 9th being the foundation frame, to set the foundation for the 10th.

[jbeck]

As crazy as it may sound...frame 3 is the most important for me when it comes to my mental game. If I start off hot in the first 2 then the 3rd frame will determine how I feel through the rest. If I start off slow and strike in the 3rd I get more confidence down the rest of the frames. Then it's 9 and 10 because at that point I can see what I need to finish.

[Tampabaybob]

Thanx everyone for the replies. As you can see, most of us agree about the 9th and tenth as being the most important. I'll get back to those two in a second. I like to start off as strong as possible the first two or three frames. I want to put the guy I'm bowling against on notice right away in the beginning and "try" to get to him right away. Keep in mind that a big part of this game is mental, and if I can get the guy I'm bowling against to start watching my score, chances are he'll start pressing himself in those first couple of frames.

Back to the back end of the game. Let's say you're bowling on a 4 man team and it's the 8th frame and your team is behind by 100 pins. IF...bowler #1 get's a strike in the 9th and then strikes out in the tenth, he potentially has just made up 60 of those pins. (of course you have to take into consideration what the other team will be doing too !) But consider this, all 4 guys strike in the 9th and 10th, you're looking at a potential of 240 pins in the 9th and tenth. Give me a team mate that can show up in the 9th and tenth any day of the week. Those to me are "the most important ones". Starting off good is also important, but as they say, "It ain't over till the Fat Lady Sings."

By the way....last night #9 came along in the 1st game.....no not kid #9 (LOL).....#9 - 300 game. Been a while sine my last sanctioned 300, but it was pretty.