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

[Aslan]

Thursday Leagues: wood lanes/low oil

557 Series: 190-188 (clean)-179
The whole night was virtually the same. My spare shooting was very good and it had to be because I couldn't strike. Other than missing a 6-10 split in the 2nd frame of Game 1…I was clean. Was clean all the way through Game 2. Game 3 I missed on a baby split and a 4-6-7 and somehow missed a single 4-pin but struck out in the 9th and 10th to salvage a decent score.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.76 pins
Strikes: 32% (1 4-bagger, 1 double and 5 singles)
Spares: 78% 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: 76% (10/13)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 6-10 (4x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 185.67
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 189.67.

This was 1 pin higher than my previous best in this league so I was happy with my performance. Monday my spare shooting was very good and tonight it was even better. And since I couldn't figure out how to strike…I NEEDed my spare shooting to be above average.

I took some video and will post it this weekend. Having disk space issues on the laptop so I'm transferring some movie files to a flash drive as we speak.

[Mike White]

OUCH!!! Seems Mike White isn't bowler he's cracked up to be. Even a good bowler would average 160 on such "tough" conditions.

Just ribbin' ya Mike White!!!

If you held a gun to my head and made me bowl a whole season on those lanes, I would probably find a way to average 180+.

But every week I would be checking to see if the gun had bullets in it.

[Blacksox1]

Aslan drill that Asylum up and use it. It has only been out for a short time. Time to use the most recent, modern technology. Please do not store it in your closet. Only a doomsday prepper or maybe a hoarder would let it rot in the closet.

[Mike White]

Aslan drill that Asylum up and use it. It has only been out for a short time. Time to use the most recent, modern technology. Please do not store it in your closet. Only a doomsday prepper or maybe a hoarder would let it rot in the closet.

With his wood lanes going away, he's going to have to focus on synthetic lanes, and less loft, more roll.

It will be a while before he develops a stable release and a specific PAP location.

Better to keep the "good" stuff on hold until it can be drilled for how he ends up throwing the ball.

[Aslan]

But every week I would be checking to see if the gun had bullets in it.

Thats funny.

Aslan drill that Asylum up and use it. It has only been out for a short time. Time to use the most recent, modern technology. Please do not store it in your closet. Only a doomsday prepper or maybe a hoarder would let it rot in the closet.

But then...what about the 2011-2013 technology that is currently in the closet?? Will it not be even OLDER by the time it gets it's turn???

I ordered the Asylum in 15lb because I have a group of 15lbers and the Asylum would fill a very nice role in that arsenal. If I drill it NOW...it's really not that much different than my Frantic and I wouldn't be solving the problem of using both 15 AND 16lb balls at the same time. Replacing the Frantic with the 16lb Bullet Train makes more sense...and then save the Asylum for the 15lb arsenal.

Now...if it had been an assymetric core ball...with some slightly different specs...I actually would have got it at 16lbs and had it drilled up because it would fill a gap in the current arsenal...but it wasn't...and I certainly aint gonna complain about winning it...because it IS a ball I kinda wanted. Not as bad as I wanted the IQ Fusion or the Deranged....but certainly more than I would have wanted the Johnny Petraglia or Uproar or Rumble.

There IS a method to the madness...I promise.

With his wood lanes going away, he's going to have to focus on synthetic lanes, and less loft, more roll.

It will be a while before he develops a stable release and a specific PAP location.

Better to keep the "good" stuff on hold until it can be drilled for how he ends up throwing the ball.

Thats a good point.

[Aslan]

Monday Practice: Low Oil Synthetics

Practiced on the new synthetic lanes at my home center! The wood lanes are about 60% replaced so I figured I might as well get a head start on getting used to the new surface!

680 Series: 184-242 (clean)-254 (clean)!!!
What can I say? The new lanes seemed to be very much like the wood lanes except the ball didn't take AS much of a drastic turn as got to the last 1/3 of the lane. I have a feeling they've left these new lanes as dry as possible so not to mess with the league players and other patrons that have established their game using the wood lanes. In Game 2, with the exception of leaving a 7-pin in the 3rd frame, I struck through 7. That WOULD have been my highest game EVER...except I immediately broke that record in Game 3 when I opened with 5 strikes then a spare, then a double, then a spare, then a double. Both the last 2 games were clean, my first ever multi-clean game in one series...and what ended up being my highest series to date of 680.

495 Series: 165-167-163
Game 1 was 5 splits. I tried to move inside, and that helped in Game 2, but I chopped a couple spare opportunities. Couldn't buy a strike in Game 3. As usual, moving inside with a symmetric ball...it just won't came back even with a solid coverstock and my low speed. Only struck once, in the 6th frame.

435 Series: 145-158-132
Tried to move even more inside, slow things down further...but still...it wasn't working. So, I balled down to the Frantic and tried to play a little inside, but the Frantic was even less aggressive in terms of coming back to the pocket. I tried to play more of a straight shot up the middle...but then in Game 3 I got 4 splits for my effort.

547 Series: 208-203-136
Was going to switch to the slingshot and play 2nd arrow, but thought I'd stick with the Frantic and play 2nd arrow and that solved the problem. Missed my mark in the 3rd frame of Game 1 and chopped the 1-3-6-10, but otherwise was clean and struck 7 times. More of the same in Game 2. Left a 3-7 in the 1st frame and missed an easy single 9-pin in the 9th...but otherwise clean and struck 6 times. In game 3 I had to start moving a little more inside...and went right back to having problems where the ball tended to not come back to the pocket. A couple splits and some bad spare shooting...and I probably was tired by that point (game 12).

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.67 pins
Strikes: 37% (1 5-bagger, 1 4-bagger, 3 turkeys, 9 doubles and 14 singles)
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 92% (24/26)
Most common single-pin leave: 6-pin and 10-pin (5x each).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 42% (22/52)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 2-4-5 (6x).
Did pick up a 1-2-8-10 throwing a back-up ball though!

Splits: 13% (2/15)

Average over 12 games: 179.75
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 181.50.

The evening went better than expected. The lanes seem slightly slicker, but more predictable. And they aren't so slick that my low rev style can't get a good angle into the pocket. I think high average bowlers from other centers are still gonna struggle with how much friction these lanes have...but it'll be predictable enough to make good adjustments and far more consistent lane to lane. Since the project is only 60% completed, I'll likely still be bowling on wood lanes in league play for at least the next couple weeks and even possibly until the middle/end of June. But it was a relief to perform as well as I did on the new lanes.

I abandoned the "straighter/less forward spine tilt" advice I got at the clinic Saturday. It was really messing up my accuracy and causing me to "toss" rather than "roll" the ball. Still something to think about as time goes on...but not right now. And I did slow the approach even further according to Rob's input. I can't get it Tony Reyes slow...otherwise I gotta totally re-do my timing or go to a 3-step approach (which I have had ZERO success with) or something.

[Aslan]

Thursday League: low-medium oil synthetics

528 Series: 186-159-183
Game 1 was clean through 6, then I got a 4-7-9-10 split. Otherwise clean so I was okay with that effort. Game 2 I started to strike more but my spare shooting was an abortion. Hit right in frames 1 and 3 leaving difficult multi-pin spares (that I didn't pick up). Then in the 8th and 9th I missed a single 7-pin and then a single 10-pin. Game 3 I was clean through 6, then a 7-10 split followed by a 4-6-10. Almost picked up the 4-6-10.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.88 pins
Strikes: 36% (3 doubles and 6 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 78% (11/14)
Most common single-pin leave: 3-pin and 10-pin (3x each).
Never left a single 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 28% (2/7)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 176.00
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 183.33.

Spare shooting wasn't "bad". But it wasn't "good". Strike rate wasn't "bad". But I couldn't run more than 2 together. Couple those factors with me simply having higher expectations and the night wasn't that great. It wasn't "bad"….I hit my target of a 525+ series, bowled above my average, and helped my team split 2 points while increasing my league average to 170. BUT…my expectations are higher. I want that 190 average! I want a 300 game! I want to make > 90% of single pin spares! I want a 600+ series every time! I want a 700 series!

I don't know what was "off" tonight. I was around my mark…didn't seem to miss the headpin much. Mostly played the 6-8 boards…staying just to the right of where most of the righties were playing. Was still going left a "little" too much though. Thought about balling down to the Frantic and playing the 13 board…but as usual seemed to wait too long to pull the trigger. I think I can play a little more inside than I did…maybe that'll get me a better angle to the pocket. Work in progress...

[Aslan]

Thursday League: low-oil synthetics

547 Series: 176-206 (clean)-165

Game 1 was "okay" except I broke up the clean game with a missed single 10-pin in the 5th and then somehow managed to chop the 2-4 off a 2-4-5 3/4 bucket in the 6th. Other than that, a dutch 200 situation alternating spares and strikes. Game 2 was clean…but again, only managed a double once so the score was kinda "blah". Game 3 I chopped a 10 off a 6-10 in the 3rd then chopped the 10 off a 3-6-10 in the 6th. To add insult to injury, I left a 4-7-10 in the 10th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.94 pins
Strikes: 40% (2 doubles and 9 singles)
Spares: 73% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin and 10-pin (3x each).
Never left a single 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 60% (6/10)

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 182.33
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 185.33.

I'm kinda torn. On the one hand, I'm happy because I'm seeing a HUGE improvement on my spare shooting, I met my goal of a 525+ series, had a clean game, and led my team to take all 4 points against the team currently in 1st place in our league.

On the other hand, like Chris Barnes said, "good spare shooting won't win you championships. But bad spare shooting will cost you championships." The emphasis for me is on the first part. I can't seem to strike consistently…and thus I can't score very high. I have to be "perfect" just to get in the 200s. And the better I get, the more upset I become with myself when I miss make-able spares.

I didn't get much practice this week. Had a family function on Monday, was sick on Tuesday and Wednesday. And in Game 3, I noticed one reason I wasn't having a great game was both timing and speed control. I was hitting my spots pretty well…but my speed was fluctuating a bit. I gotta keep working on my timing and making sure the speed doesn't vary shot to shot.

I played the outside all night. Targeted board 6. I pretty much had the outside to myself so I really didn't need to move much. By the end of Game 3 on one lane I had to move to the 7-board…minor adjustment…but no need to move much nor ball down tonight. 5 righties all playing the middle. 3 lefties. And one guy playing a big hook. So I had outside of the 9-board to myself.

[Aslan]

Cosmic Bowling: low-medium oil synthetics

135-136-124-153

Tonight was just awful…just awful. Kid wanted to go to the bowling alley so I went and thought I could get a little practice in. Man, I couldn't figure out heads from tails.

No sense really even going through the stats. I tried using the Frantic, playing 13-board…a little inside (left foot on 25). But if I got out to 24-26…Frantic wouldn't come back and would miss right. If I moved into say 23…Frantic hit dead center and left me multi-pin spares. Just couldn't seem to find that angle into the pocket. Stayed around the headpin all night…but not the pocket.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.14 pins
Strikes: 18% (all singles)
Spares: 44% picked up

Single Pin spares: 63% (7/11)
Most common single-pin leave: 6-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 34% (8/23)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 1-2-4 (3x).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 4 games: 137.00
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 146.75.

[Aslan]

Tuesday Night Practice: low-medium oil synthetics

After a craptastic performance open bowling Sunday I decided to try and get a couple nights of practice in before league night on Thursday.

445 Series: 141-177-127
Started out with the Frantic playing the 13-board with a slightly inside line but there appeared to be too much oil for that initially....much like what I experienced Sunday...so I balled UP to the Rhythm after game 1. Game 2 was a couple splits and a missed 6-10 from clean. Then Game 3 was a nightmare. 4 splits and 3 missed spares...don't even want to think what the score would have been had I not struck 4 times.

501 Series: 172-128-201
Game 1 I missed the single 4-pin TWICE...then a split in the 8th....other than that; okay. Game 2 more splits and bad spare shooting. After missing the single 10-pin in the first frame of Game 3 I recovered and was clean the rest of the way to salvage a decent score.

533 Series: 179-202-152
It was clear after the end of the last series I'd probably need to ball down to the Frantic; the 6-9 boards were getting too dry. Game 1 I was clean through 6 before chopping the 2-4-5 and then opening in the 10th with a 2-5-7 split. Game 2 was great; just a 1-2-4-10 washout in the 4th that kept it from being clean. Game 3 I struggled. A couple missed spares and a couple splits.

209-190
Tried to get in one more series before the end of the night but only managed to get in 2 games. Game 1 I was finally dialed in and was clean through 9 frames before leaving a 4-6-7-10. Game 2 I missed a single 10-pin in frame 2 and then left a 4-6-7 split in the 5th but otherwise was strong.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.72 pins
Strikes: 36% (5 turkeys, 6 doubles, and the rest singles)
Spares: 51% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (27/36)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (11x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 28% (11/38)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 2-4-5 (6x).

Splits: 0% (0/15)

Average over 11 games: 170.73
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 178.27.

Initially I tried to work on adding some "hand/release" to my stroke...but I found (as predicted) that it added loft and speed and decreased accuracy. I then experimented with changing ball placement...after watching some old Earl Anthony footage. But I found that at the end of the day...I was getting just as much hook throwing it softly with little "hand" as I was trying to add hand and get it out further down the lane.

As I ball downed to the Frantic, I was essentially playing the 13-board and just taking advantage of that "hold line" on the right side of the bulk of the oil. I was also able to use the Brunswick target spots down lane to see as my ball went down the lane where it needed to be. If I hit my target, which I was doing a good job of, I'd see the ball go just to the inside of that 10-board indicator and come back to between the 10-board and 15-board indicators and then a sort of straighter angle into the pocket.

The downside to the Earl Anthony/Don Carter style and the "straight at the pocket" style is pin carry. A lot of "light hits" leaving me single 10-pins, 6-pins, 3-pins, 4-pins, 5-pins, 7-pins, and 9-pins. And, of course, as conditions degrade...that straighter angle that misses the pocket left tends to leave splits. Missing right actually seemed to help me as it gave me a little more angle. I'm tempted to change from targeting the 13-board to targeting the 12-board...give me a little more angle...but I have to be careful with speed.

Hoping to continue experimenting with this tonight (more practice). Gotta work out some of these kinks...127 and 128 games are unacceptable at this point.