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

[Aslan]

Thursday League: low-medium oil synthetics

566 Series: 154-179-233 (clean)

Game 1 I did pretty well through 6 frames; then a 6-7-10 split, then a 3-10 baby split, then a couple balls that didn't make it back to the pocket and left me with crap multi-pin spares. So that game was in the toilet.

Game 2 I started off chopping a 6-10…but was then clean through 7…until a 4-6 split in the 8th, a strike, and then I somehow left an 8-pin…which I couldn't pick up…probably because I've virtually never leave an 8-pin. Above my average…but not great…and the open in the 10th cost my team the win.

Game 3 was clean including a 5-bagger in the 6th through 9th. So, while it's disappointing that I couldn't strike out in the 10th and give me my highest score ever (258)…it was my highest score to date in the league and helped solidify the win and overall win giving us 3 of 4 points.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.81 pins
Strikes: 45% (5-bagger, a turkey, 2 doubles and 2 singles)
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 40% (4/10)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 188.67
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 196.33.

Not happy with spare shooting tonight. 50% isn't going to cut it and to think I could have averaged over 196 had I picked up a single 8-pin and both 10-pins rather than shooting 66% is very disheartening.

But, the team had fun and took 3 out of 4 points. AND…I did not only MEET my goal of 525+ but scored my highest league series EVER with a 566 and set my high single game score this season at 233. And this is 4 STRAIGHT weeks of 527+ series…averaging over 176 a week.

Had the outside to myself so I never needed to change my target more than a board or ball down.

[Aslan]

Monday Practice: Low Oil Synthetics

559 Series: 174-177-208
The first 2 games were solid; just missed a few spares I should have picked up and a couple I couldn't. Game 3 was clean through 7, including a 4-bagger, but a 1-2-4-10 washout ended that in the 8th.

573 Series: 157-204-212
Bad spare shooting in game 4. Game 5 was better but I missed a single 10-pin in the 4th and a single 7-pin in the 7th to ruin it. Game 6 was a chopped 3-6 in the 4th and a missed single 6-pin in the 6th away from a clean game.

548 Series: 189-146-213
A few open frames in game 7 but I ended with a 4-bagger to salvage a decent score. Missed another single 10-pin then a 1-2-10…then a couple splits…didn't strike enough to salvage a decent score in game 8. Game 9 was a 4-10 split in the 4th away from being a clean game.

498 Series: 135-178-185
Game 10 was bad spare shooting and splits. More of the same in game 11. Game 12 was actually only an open frame in the 7th from being clean…unfortunately 6 of the remaining 9 frames were spares which kept the score down a bit.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.85 pins
Strikes: 40% (4 4-baggers, 2 turkeys, 7 doubles, and the rest singles)
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (22/31)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (14x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 46% (19/41)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 4-7 (5x).

Splits: 11% (1/9)

Average over 12 games: 181.50
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 189.67.

Stayed out around the 6-7 boards the whole night. I wasn't as "on: as I wanted to be; but I think it was my release and speed being inconsistent rather than timing or accuracy. Hopefully in the upcoming tournament the conditions aren't going to be too "slick" and hopefully I'll be able to be a bit more consistent with my release/speed.

[Aslan]

ABTA Tournament:
Irvine Lanes, Irvine, CA.
Heavy Oil Synthetics

Squad A: 430 Series: 129-136-165
In game 1; couldn't make a spare…lots of washouts. Made more spares in game 2 but only struck once and ended with a 7-10 in the 10th. Had a couple washouts in game 3, but otherwise was pretty solid on spare shooting. Only one strike though.

Squad B: 487 Series: 167-159-161
Started off game 3 with 2 washouts and a missed single-pin spare. Then did fairly well. Picked up a 4-9 split which was exciting. But I could not recover from the terrible start. In game 2 I started off with a couple strikes, but missed a single 6-pin and had an open frame every other frame after that which tends to lead to a not so good score. Game 3 wasn't much better. Bad spare shooting.

Squad C: 483 Series: 156-170-157
Game 1 was nothing special. Game 2 started off rough, but I recovered and got a turkey before opening again in the 8th. Then game 3 I couldn't strike and spare shooting was hit or miss.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.09 pins
Strikes: 25% (1 turkey, 3 doubles, and 16 singles)
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (12/20)
Most common single pin leave: Single 3-pin and 10-pin (4x each)
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 45% (21/46)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (4x).

Splits: 28% (2/7)

Average over 9 games: 155.56
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 164.56.

Write-up in the "first tournament" thread.

[Amyers]

Aslan do you think the higher oil was part of your struggles not that these are terrible scores but they are lower than you hoped contributed your lower scoring? Was this on tournament on THS? I have beem condisdering trying this out myself especially since my handicap is higher in my leagues right now than in my opinion than my talent but all of the local handicap tournaments have been on sport pattern here lately and I know I'm. Not ready for that yet.

[Aslan]

Monday Practice: Low-Medium Oil synthetics

490 Series: 136-165-189
Game 1 I had 4 splits. Game 2 I kept leaving multi-pin spares that weren't necessarily "makable". Then in game 3 things kinda came together. Game 3 was clean except for a chopped 3-6-10 in the 5th frame. Not a lot of strikes though (2). Mostly practiced my spare shooting.

579 Series: 188-174-217
Game 1 I was clean through 7 frames before opening in the last 3. Game 2 I had 2 opens and 2 splits but struck out in the 9th and 10th to salvage a decent score. Then in game 3 I started out with a 4-bagger…missed a single 2-pin in the 6th…chopped a 2-4-5 in the 9th…but struck 8 times to salvage a decent score.

553 Series: 221-170-162
In game 1 I opened with a split followed by another 4-bagger, a spare, a double, and then 2 spares. Would have been a clean game had it not been for the 2-5-7 split in the 1st frame. Game 2 was a couple missed spares and a split; so-so game. Game 3 started out clean through 4 frames, but then was hit or miss and opened in the 10th for a disappointing 3rd game.

483 Series: 132-173-178
Much like the first game of the evening; 4 splits. Game 2 was much better; somehow chopped a 1-2 in the 5th and then missed a single 10-pin in the 10th but otherwise was clean. Game 3 was more of the same; struck more but had 2 splits and again opened in the 10th by somehow chopping the 6-9.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.67 pins
Strikes: 38% (3 4-baggers, 1 turkey, 12 doubles, and 10 singles)
Spares: 51% picked up

Single Pin spares: 78% (18/23)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (9x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 39% (20/51)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 6-10 (6x).

Splits: 12% (2/16)

Average over 12 games: 175.42
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 180.00.

Initially I was trying to work on getting more hand on the ball and increasing my revs. After failing miserably in heavy oil Saturday I figured I'd need to "help" my weaker equipment. I tried to hit up on the ball more and work on my follow through. Unfortunately, I found that the increased revs led to increased speed…which cancelled out the increased revs.

Mostly played the 8-board all evening. I tried to add more revs as I got out to board 26 (with my feet), but lost my accuracy. So the increased revs idea is still on hold. Perhaps next week I'll work on my slide. I'd like to develop a slide rather than a plant; maybe do less damage to my knee. But I didn't want to work on it while simultaneously working on my release/follow-through.

[Aslan]

Wednesday VBT Tour
Fountain Bowl; Fountain Valley, CA
low-medium oil synthetics

I got there early due to traffic being lighter than expected and found out they might need to end open bowling earlier than originally expected so I bowled 4 games while waiting for Bunny to arrive. I figured, WORST CASE, if Bunny and I couldn't bowl…I'd at least have my scores.

Practice: 198
603 Series: 220-191-192
A truly great 4-game set. Practice I was clean except for a missed 3-8 in the 7th and a missed 6-10 in the 9th. Game 1 I was a missed 6-7 split in the 4th away from not only a clean game, but a 7-bagger to boot. In game 2 it was just 3 splits that held me back. And in game 3 it was just a washout in the 6th that kept me from a clean game. Even picked up a 5-7 in the 8th frame.

Bunny and I then tried to do our series (on different lanes):

Practice: 179
Series: 182 - DNF - DNF

Unfortunately, we couldn't even come close to completing our series so we're planning on going back next week to start over and do the entire 4 games. Both of us rolled above our VBT averages so it's not an attempt to get "better" scores. We'd have LOVED to finish the series tonight rather than making another special trip…but we were already 10 minutes past the time they allotted us so we had no choice. And it doesn't make any sense to come back and just do the last TWO games because then we won't get any practice beforehand.

As to the practice and the first game…practice was okay. Just chopped a few spares. First game everything went pretty well. Other than a chopped 1-3-6-8-10 in the 8th frame, it was clean. AND…I picked up a 4-9 split in the 10th which got me some cheers from the onlookers!

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.93 pins
Strikes: 48% (4 turkeys, 4 doubles, and 6 singles)
Spares: 62% picked up

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

Multiple Pin spares: 44% (8/18)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (4x).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 5 games: 196.00
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 196.00.

[Aslan]

Thursday League: low-medium oil synthetics

575 Series: 256-171-148

Well, in game 1 I shot my best game ever!! I was rolling SO well…I started thinking maybe I HAD THE GIFT that Iceman speaks about!! Suddenly I had visions of a possible 300 game and 800 series!! Then…back down to Earth. : (

In game 1, I had a spare in frame 1, followed by a turkey, then a 7-10 split, then struck out; SEVEN in a row!! Most strikes I ever threw in a row!

In game 2, something happened in the first frame that I think screwed me up for the rest of the night. On my first ball, my slide foot stuck and I nearly fell over the foul line. It sort of "messed with me" and I changed the way I slid and planted, worried that it would happen again. I struck, then left 2 single 4-pins in frames 3 and 4 before a double. Then I left a 6-10, made the spare, then left a single 3-pin and somehow missed it. I struck in the 9th and then opened in the 10th by chopping a 3-6.

I figured if I recovered and threw a 300-game, I could still salvage an 800 series…but game 3 was even worse than game 2. In game 3, I left a few makable spares and chopped them. Add a big-4 split in there and it was a wonder how I managed to even score above a 125.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.09 pins
Strikes: 54% (7-bagger, a turkey, and a double)
Spares: 46% picked up

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

Multiple Pin spares: 22% (2/9)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 191.67
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 195.67.

On the one hand, I'm encouraged that I was capable of throwing 7 strikes in a row and getting a 256. And yet another week of exceeding my 525 target AND averaging over 190; bringing my league average up another 2 points to 176.

On the other hand, NO clean games and 2 games BELOW my average. I seem to be getting better at single-pin spares, but worse at multiple pin spares.

????

[Amyers]

Congratulations on the 256 Your closing in on my high (267). Multiple pin spares can be rough seems like I have periods where I can get them no problem and then I go through spell that I chop them.

[Aslan]

Congratulations on the 256 Your closing in on my high (267). Multiple pin spares can be rough seems like I have periods where I can get them no problem and then I go through spell that I chop them.

Thanks man. I think you're the only one that reads this.

I'm the same way. One minute I make multi=pin spares and struggle with single pins...then it reverses. In fairness, since PinPal counts splits as multi-pin spares, I was actually 2 for 7 (29%) versus 2/9 (22%)...but still. And they weren't impossible washout kinds of spares. I mean, yes, a couple were. A 3-6-9-10 and a 1-2-8-10. But 5 of the multi-pin spare leaves were either a 6-10, 3-6, or 4-7 and those should be automatic at this point.

But....I gotta not get frustrated. At this point, given how fast my average is rising...I might have to worry that if I keep this up...I won't be able to compete in the classified (<180) division at the USBC Open next year!!

[Amyers]

Thanks man. I think you're the only one that reads this.

I'm the same way. One minute I make multi=pin spares and struggle with single pins...then it reverses. In fairness, since PinPal counts splits as multi-pin spares, I was actually 2 for 7 (29%) versus 2/9 (22%)...but still. And they weren't impossible washout kinds of spares. I mean, yes, a couple were. A 3-6-9-10 and a 1-2-8-10. But 5 of the multi-pin spare leaves were either a 6-10, 3-6, or 4-7 and those should be automatic at this point.

But....I gotta not get frustrated. At this point, given how fast my average is rising...I might have to worry that if I keep this up...I won't be able to compete in the classified (<180) division at the USBC Open next year!!

It really needs to separate that out because a lot of splits the odds are so low it just skews the numbers. I am thinking of trying that pinpal thing out. Looks like good info. I enjoy reading the updates on how people are doing maybe I'm weird but it beets the crap out of doing my job