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

[Aslan]

Summer League

Forgot to enter these in last week.

Week 7

564 Series: 175-166-223

X, 9 /, X, 7 /, 8 /, X, - /, 9 -, S8 1, X 7 /.
Wasn't terrible...just couldn't carry.

S8 1, S8 -, X, 7 /, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, 7 -, X, X 8 /.
Balled down to the Scorpion Sting (SS). Still couldn't carry.

9 /, X, X, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, X, X, S7 2.
Stuck with the SS...found my carry...then I got reamed in the 10th with a wonderful 4-6-7 split.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.66 pins
Strikes: 40%
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin (3x).
Never left a single 3-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, and 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 86% (13/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-6-10 and 4-7 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 188.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 191.33.

Positives
- Better spare shooting.
- The female team member found a babysitter.

Negatives
- Carry was once again abysmal.
- And a split in the 10th...after a 4-bagger...is like a kick in the shins.

Not a great night...but I'll take a 550+. Brings my average up to 179...hopefully I can get into the 180s by the end of the season.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 8

541 Series: 211-163-167

X, - /, X, X, 9 /, S7 -, X, X, X, 9 / 9.
Pretty decent game. Bummed that I opened....would have liked a clean game. Benn awhile.

S8 /, X, 9 /, 9 -, X, 9 -, 9 -, 9 /, X, 9 / 8.
Opened with 5-10 split that I picked up with my spare ball. Of course, picking up only half of my single-pins....when leaving SIX of them...not a good game. Switched to the Scorpion Sting (SS) in the 7th.

S7 2, 5 /, 9 /, 9 /, 7 /, X, 9 /, 9 /, 8 /, 7 2.
Switched to the Radical Outer Limits Pearl (OLP), but the carry was even more abysmal than the previous train wreck. Chopped a 1-3-8 in the 10th to put a cherry on that poo sundae.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.56 pins
Strikes: 31%
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (9/12)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Never left a single 2-pin, 4-pin (2x), 5-pin (3x), and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 76% (13/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 80% (4/5)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 180.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 191.33.

Positives
- Ummm...I picked up a 5-10...seemed impressive at the time.
- At least one of the games was a 200+.

Negatives
- Another night of bad carry.
- And, friction DRAMA...AGAIN!

So we're playing a younger team...looked like a few 19 to mid 20s type of ages. Well, they didn't really do a good job with "etiquette". And, rather than calmly explain to them what proper bowling etiquette is...or having a captain's meeting...or whatever...MY teammates decide to either slam their ball down and march off or yell at them. By the end of the night, our team looked like a bunch of moody idiots and the leadoff bowler decided not to play the last half of Game 3, etc...etc...etc...

For crying out loud. I miss my fall team. The good news is the season is half over. I can't stand drama when I bowl. Drama needs to stay on the internet where it belongs.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 9

500 Series: 137-220-143

7 2, 6 /, 9 -, 7 2, X, X, 7 2, 6 2, X, S8 1.
Multi-pin chops just killed me. Used the Trident Odyssey (TO) even though warm-ups seemed to indicate that I should start with something a little weaker...which I couldn't do because my Scorpion Sting (SS) was cracked (in the bag). And no, I don't keep my bags in my trunk and expose them to extreme heat/cold. This was just a ball failure.

9 /, 7 -, X, 7 /, 8 /, X, X, X, X, X 9 -.
Switched to the Brunswick Endeavor (BE)...a ball I've only used a few times. We needed a good game out of me and I came through...so I was happy with the end result.

8 1, S7 2, 9 /, 9 /, 9 -, 9 /, X, 9 /, 8 /, S5 -.
It was nice to pick up so many spares, but just no carry whatsoever. Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) midway through, but still didn't see much carry.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48 pins
Strikes: 32%
Spares: 42% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 7-pin (4x).
Also left a single 6-pin, 8-pin, and 10-pin.

Makeable spares: 50% (9/18)
Multiple Pin spares: 40% (4/10)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-4-5 and 1-3-5 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 166.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 173.67.

Positives
- At least one of the games was a 200+.
- Team won all 4 games.
- No drama tonight.

Negatives
- Ball #2 (SS) cracked in my bag.
- Splits in the 10th in 2 of the 3 games.
- Twice as many multi-pin leaves as last week.

What a frustrating night. I thought I had a good line, but I really felt that starting with the Scorpion Sting would have been better...but when I pulled that ball out of the bag...it was cracked! Not happy with Hammer that this ball I bought a year ago has already failed. This one failed much faster than any of the balls I've bought previously. That led to me trying to throw a Trident Odyssey (TO) that was hitting light...balling all the way down to the Brunswick Endeavor in Game 2...which is a big jump from the TO. If we wouldn't have won all 4 points, I can only imagine how 'peeved' my team would have been. And, this needs to improve before next week when we're scheduled to play the league leaders.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 10

570 Series: 206-208-156

X, 9 /, X, S8 /, X, X, X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 -.
Form didn't feel great, but I was getting lucky. Then a 10-pin in the 10th pretty much spelled disaster. Was wondering if I shoulda balled down to the Grudge Hybrid, but my shot repeatability was so 'off', that I couldn't tell if the Trident Odyssey (TO) was burning up or if I just needed to make better shots.

X, X, X, 7 /, 9 -, X, X, X S7 1, X 7 /.
More inconsistent, off-balanced shots...but this time I opened in the 9th instead of the 10th.

7 /, X, 7 2, 8 1, X, 9 /, 6 /, X, 6 2, X S7 -.
Considered switching to the Outer Limits Pearl, but I still wasn't making good enough shots to really know whether I should move or not. Too many opens and another open in the 9th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.88 pins
Strikes: 50%
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (2x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 50% (9/18)
Multiple Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 190.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 198.00.

Positives
- The scores were better tonight.
- Bowled above my average.

Negatives
- Missed both 10-pins.
- Team lost 3 out of 4 points.

Not a great night. Team lost 3 out of 4 to a team of "mentally challenged" individuals. And, that's not being derogatory...two of them were clearly mentally challenged...and the other one was either mentally challenged or just goofy. Their only halfway decent bowler (also I think mentally challenged) was absent. Had to give em over 150 pins...and they mostly bowled above their average.

Gonna need to figure out why my timing and form seem to be so 'off'. And I gotta find a way to start picking up 10-pins. I mean, lane conditions, patterns, ball reaction, the other teams scores....those are things that should be challenging me. If I add my own poor form/technique to that list, then bowling is just tossing a ball and hoping it knocks down the pins.

And my physical condition is getting to be very aggravating. I'm losing weight, which is a good thing. But I got a right ankle/foot that has achilles tendonitis and arthritis. And I got a left knee that just can't support my entire weight. If I bend down too much, I end up with a sharp pain and I can barely stay standing. And usually, at least once per night, my right foot/ankle all the sudden just becomes painful. Not as bad as before I got a procedure done on mu achilles, but bad enough that it usually causes me to have 2-3 really bad frames as I try to push through it.

It truly sucks getting old...but, as anyone will tell ya...I guess it beats the alternative.

[J Anderson]

Two questions Aslan:
Are you getting any practice in besides the usual pre-league ten minute warm up?

Are you doing any exercises strengthen the bad knee and rehab the bad ankle?

In my opinion focusing on getting your strike line during warm up time in league is over rated. It’s not like you’re bowling Jason Belmonte for tens of thousands of dollars. It’s summer league, the difference in payouts after 14 weeks is what? A hundred bucks per bowler? Forget about lining up if you don’t have time to practice outside of league. Use your few practice shots on fixing your ten pin shooting. If you make it in practice it should boost your confidence when you have to make it in a game. If it’s not working try moving your feet and target a bit. Just watch the other bowlers to figure out where you should be aiming for the breakpoint. It’s probably close to where you started the week before.

[Aslan]

Two questions Aslan:
Are you getting any practice in besides the usual pre-league ten minute warm up?

Are you doing any exercises strengthen the bad knee and rehab the bad ankle?

Second question first.

There's not much I can do about the knee, other than lose weight...which I'm losing. It's just a matter of physics and biometrics. Putting > 250 pounds all on one knee...and trying to get good enough knee bend to have a decent release with leverage....it's just too much weight for the joint. The only "rehab/physical therapy" I could do would be to strengthen the butt muscles...which theoretically will allow some of that weight to be supported with more muscle.

The right achilles is something I addressed with a minor procedure...where they tried to clean up the scar tissue. It's much better...I can bowl again. BUT...the only true solution is full-on achilles surgery. And that's a 12-month rehab.

The foot/ankle (right) is arthritis. It just got diagnosed less than a month ago. There's no "cure" for arthritis. I plan to ask my doctor if there's exercises or physical therapy I can do...but it's likely gonna need surgery if it continues to advance. The good news is that the arthritis is very intermittent...it comes and goes.

As to the first question...."no"...I haven't been practicing nearly as much as I should. I think I "over-practiced" when I was in California. I think I didn't "practice smart". So, recently, I actually did some practicing. Worked on some simple, very easy things to try and get me back on track. And, I played a game of lowball to work on the spares.

X, X, X, X, X, 9 /, X, X, X, 9 -.

So, yeah....apparently the small things I worked on were very effective. Lowball didn't go as well. Not sure what is going on with my spares. Either I'm squaring my shoulders and missing inside...or I'm over-compensating and throwing it wide into the gutters. I've gotta get that figured out...and I'm gonna need to continue to prioritize practicing. It's not gonna just get better on it's own.

And, if the practice isn't working....I gotta find a coach. It might not be a PBA level coach like I had out in California...but I just need another set of eyes from someone who has at least some level of success/training...college coach, high school coach...whatever the case may be. I'm encouraged regarding the strike ball practice...but I'm not even close to "there" yet.

[J Anderson]

Sorry to hear about the aches and pains and since you say the weight is starting to get under control there is hope for the knee.

I think Tampabaybob had a system for teaching people to shoot the ten pin. If you can’t find it on the site I’ll try to remember the details.

[Aslan]

I think Tampabaybob had a system for teaching people to shoot the ten pin. If you can’t find it on the site I’ll try to remember the details.

Yeah...I'm gonna have to figure something out. Tonight was an epic disaster...largely because of poor spare shooting.

Summer League

Week 11

498 Series: 173-167-158

6 -, X, X, X, X, S6 2, 9 -, 7 /, X, 8 -.
Had a decent amount of warmup shots and decided to start with the Grudge Hybrid...which I haven't thrown in awhile. I only pulled it out of retirement because my Scorpion Sting cracked a couple weeks ago. Had a decent run after the first frame, but it seemed to come crashing down rather quickly.

X, S8 1, 8 -, 6 /, 7 2, 9 -, 9 -, X, X, XX7.
Another terrible game, another split, more missed single-pins. Arghh!

9 -, 7 2, 6 /, 9 /, 7 1, X, X, 9 -, 9 -, XXX.
Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl to try and get some length and snap downline. But, the single-pin spare shooting continued to haunt me.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.71 pins
Strikes: 44%
Spares: 22% picked up

Single Pin spares: 14% (1/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (7x).
Only left 10-pins.

Makeable spares: 25% (4/16)
Multiple Pin spares: 33% (3/9)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2-4-8 and 2-4-5 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 166.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 185.67.

Positives
- Team split...which is pretty good given how horrible the entire team was bowling.

Negatives
- Left 7 10-pins and only made 1.
- Form/Timing just isn't 'right'.

Had some high hopes for league night after the positive results in practice...but not so much. This is a fairly unique set of stats. It's very rare that I leave only 10-pins. I think I was hitting light early, and I blamed that on the ball. By the end of Fame 2, I finally made a switch...but it was too little too late.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 12

611 Series: 217(clean)-171-223(clean)

X, X, 8 /, X, 9 /, X, 9 /, X, X, 9 /X.
Got to the alley a bit late and its been BRUTALLY HOT outside lately...so I was sweating like a mad man. Got some water and a soda...tried to cool down as much as I could so I'm not sweating all over the place. But, I got some decent shots in...was pulling shots badly, but still had time to warm up a little. Moved my line in quite a bit...1:2 on the left lane and 2:4 on the right lane. Things were just working. And, when they weren't working and I pulled the shot badly; it actually left me with something in the middle that I was able to pick up. Only one corner pin and I converted it.

9 -, X, X, 9 /, X, 8 /, 9 -, 7 /, 7 /, 9 -.
Left 3 single 7-pins...missed all 3. [INSERT BAD WORD]. I thought, "Great...another good game followed by a collapse." And, of course, one of the missed 7-pins was in the 10th.

5 /, 9 /, 7 /, 9 /, X, X, X, X, 8 /, X 9 /.
Stuck with the Trident Odyssey and the same line I was using all night. Started out rough...but "you don't adjust off bad shots." So...I stuck with it and things came together. Was still a little "off"...but held on for my 2nd clean game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.06 pins
Strikes: 46%
Spares: 82% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin and 7-pin (3x each).
Also left a single 4-pin, 6-pin (2x), and 10-pin.

Makeable spares: 82% (14/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 100% (7/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 and 1-3-6 (2x each)

Splits: N/A

Average over 3 games: 203.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 214.33.

Positives
- Obviously, anytime I can bowl 1 clean game, much less two clean games; it's a good night.
- Team took 2 out of 3 points, even though all 3 of us had bad games in Game 2.

Negatives
- Obviously...learn to pick up a 7-pin and I'd have shot 20+ pins higher minimum. Just embarrassing.

Much better night than last week. Amazing what a little practice and really going back to the basics (setup, push away, swing plane, etc...) can do.

[Timmyb]

Good night!