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

[Aslan]

I would vote for breaking one of your old friends out of the retired bowling ball home and starting with that. I’d go with one that worked well, not necessarily the weakest

Definitely good advice...and probably what I'm gonna attempt.

It just flies in the face of arsenal-making theory. You wouldn't buy 3 balls with identical specs. The point of having an arsenal is to have a range of choices. Granted, if you're only playing one THS pattern twice a week...and never playing another house or doing tournaments...you almost don't need an "arsenal".

[J Anderson]

Definitely good advice...and probably what I'm gonna attempt.

It just flies in the face of arsenal-making theory. You wouldn't buy 3 balls with identical specs. The point of having an arsenal is to have a range of choices. Granted, if you're only playing one THS pattern twice a week...and never playing another house or doing tournaments...you almost don't need an "arsenal".

There are bowlers who do quite well with just one ball that matches up well with their centers normal pattern plus a ‘spare’ ball. If you bowl leagues with 5 person teams and are surrounded by guys with lots of revs throwing very aggressive equipment you might need another ball to handle the transition.

[Aslan]

There are bowlers who do quite well with just one ball that matches up well with their centers normal pattern plus a ‘spare’ ball. If you bowl leagues with 5 person teams and are surrounded by guys with lots of revs throwing very aggressive equipment you might need another ball to handle the transition.

Well, thats true.

I decided to take a personal day to run some errands and had some time to practice before leagues.

The main focus of the practice to get a feel for some balls that I unretired to see if weaker equipment might be a better first for this drier lanes type of house. I figured I could throw a game with the Rhino Gold, the Endeavor, and the Yeah Baby Sinful and just see how much/little hook they had.

The PROBLEM with bowling practice...is finding lanes that have an intact pattern. I had no luck and was playing on some lanes that were pretty burnt up and probably had a good deal of carry down from the house balls. But, I figured I could still get some semblance of useful information.

Open Bowling:

Oil Pattern: THS (dry and not fresh)

155-214-209

Started out with the Rhino Gold up the 7-board, but I had to move 1:2 left as even the Rhino Gold at 4000 abrasion was too much for what was left of the pattern. Didn't seem to do very well...4 misses and 4-5 weak hits.
8 -, X, S8 -, 8 /, 9 -, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, 7 /, 9 / 9.

Switched to the Endeavor with a 2000/polish finish. Had to move 1:1 left as the Endeavor had a little more "bite" to it. Had a few misses...but only 1 weak hit.
8 1, X, X, 9 /, 8 /, X, 8 /, 9 /, X, XX9.

Switched to the Yeah Baby Sinful (Lane Masters) with a 4000/polish finish and had to make a 1:2 move left...which was surprising given the high RG (2.62) of this ball. A few misses and about 6 deflections. This ball clearly has "issues" which is why I barely used it back in the day...the specs are just absurd. A solid cover with a very weak core. It's like wrapping a Brunswick Slingshot in a solid cover.
X, X, X, X, 8 /, X, 9 /, 8 -, 7 /, 9 / 6.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.91 pins
Strikes: 35%
Spares: 73% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin (3x)
Never left single 1-pin, 3-pin, 8-pin, and 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 66% (6/9)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (7x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 192.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 196.33.

Hard to make heads or tails of the results with the lanes all beat up. I figured I'd use this new (unretired) arsenal and see how it did up the 7-9 boards on a fresh pattern during league. The decision to show up with this arsenal turned out to be a good one...but not for the reason I thought. More on this when I post tonight's league results. But, I need to go to bed because my body is aching...not used to bowling 6 games in 5 hours...out of practice and 10 years older than my younger self.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 23

Read open bowling post below...

...so I'm sitting around waiting for leagues to start...thinking it may have been a mistake to bring all my weaker equipment given hot weak it was hitting on the chewed up lanes. THEN, something unforeseen happens. The less experienced bowling center employee oiling the lanes...forgot to turn them all off first. So, when the oil machine went into the pin deck, the pin-setter cycled and smashed the oil machine and screwed up the lanes. One pair was already down to maintenance issues.

...so, there was a captain's meeting before leagues started explaining the situation and a vote on whether we wanted to bowl or not. It was a difficult night to just send people home because many of the folks braved some slippery road conditions to come in...so it would be doubly aggravating to just tell them to go home. But for me...I was probably in a better position than most...because I just happened to bring my high-RG equipment thinking I was going to try the weaker stuff up the 7-9 boards.

593 Series: 160-189-244

X, X, - 8, X, S5 3, 9 /, X, 8 /, X, 9 -.
Stated off okay...sans dumping the first shot of the 3rd frame in the gutter (slipped off my hand). But it was just a real struggle to stay right of the headpin...even with the relatively weak Vintage Rhino Gold at 4000 abralon. Went through the nose in the 5th...left a 9-pin in the 6th...moved left and struck...then back through the nose...moved left and struck....then left a 4-pin.

X, X, X, X, S7 2, 9 -, X, X, 8 1, 9 -.
Finally was left enough to run some strikes together...but that only lasted 4 frames...then back through the nose. The next shot I hit weak and left a 10-pin...so that was my cue to switch to the Endeavor. At this point, I was practically at 3rd arrow and running out of room on the approach. Put a couple strikes together...but still couldn't hold the line.

X, X, X, X, X, X, X, S8 1, S7 1, XXX.
By this time, my left foot was practically on 33 and my target was inside the 3rd arrow. Usually a bad combination for my game. But, the line was working....and for the first time that night, I was getting some miss room to the right. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold that line past the 8th frame. Pulled my shot badly in the 8th...then a 6-7-10 split in the 9th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.03 pins
Strikes: 65%
Spares: 18% picked up

Single Pin spares: 25% (1/4)
Most common single-pin leave: 9-pin (2x).
Also left a single 4-pin and 10-pin.

Makeable spares: 28% (2/7)
Multiple Pin spares: 33% (1/3)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 197.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 209.00.

Positives
- Haven't had the front 7 in awhile.
- 65%! strike rate! Rarely, if ever, am I in the 60% range for strikes.
- The 3rd game salvaged what was on track to be an abysmal night.
- I was able to use my bowling 'knowledge' to bowl on conditions that most of the rest of the league had no idea how to tackle.
- Won the 3rd card game.
- Helped the team salvage one point against a team tied for 1st in the league.

Negatives
- Team lost 3 out of 4...AGAIN. Thats like 2-3 straight nights.
- Wasn't able to test by "low-oil, up-and-in" hypothesis due to the lanes being so screwed up.
- As good as my strike rate was...my spare stats are off-the-chart HORRID! 18%!!? 1/4 of my single-pins and 1/3 of my multi-pins??!
- Adding in 4 splits was just kicking a man while he was down...but it could have been ALOT more based on what other folks were encountering.

So, I (accidentally) brought the exact right equipment on the rare night it'd be useful. Not to mention, I had just practiced on dry lanes beforehand...so I had a bit of an edge over the competition.

Hopefully they get their oil machine fixed/replaced before Sunday. I still think I'm gonna have more success with an entire arsenal of skid/flip balls (that I had the most success with in the past)...but I wanna rule out the weak equipment/dry lanes idea first.

If I can throw the weaker stuff up 7-9...standing center or just to the left of center...thats essentially my wheelhouse. If I move to my skid/flip arsenal (Fortera Exile, Force Pearl, and Outer Limits Pearl)...its going to be alot more "jumpy"...a lot less forgiving. Should give me a better angle and more power...but I'll lose some miss room and could see tougher leaves. I have the Force Pearl in my bag now just in case the high RG stuff fails miserably.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 25
We're in the bottom half of the league and are bowling the team that is a point or so out of first place. Two 200+ average bowlers...one of which just set the league scratch score season high last week with a 289 and 738 series.

Our younger female bowler had emergency gall bladder surgery recently, so her sister bowled with us. It didn't matter much...our regular bowler averages about 103 and her sister averages 93. But, it would turn out to be important.

585 Series: 202-209-174

As far out as it seems...the Brunswick Vintage Rhino Gold, with a 4000 surface, was seemingly burning up in practice...on fresh. So, I started out with the Endeavor. Had to move 6 boards left with my feet and 3 boards with my eyes. Still couldn't keep the ball right of the headpin...so I switched to the Lane Masters Yeah Baby Sinful (YBS). Can't say I had a huge amount of confidence in that ball given its questionable specs. I mean, this ball has the highest RG of any ball I've ever owned...0.034 higher than a Brunswick Slingshot and 0.040 higher than a Track 300A....both of which were practically 'spare balls'. But, it was working.
S8 1, X, X, X, S8 -, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, X 6 /.

Stayed with the YBS and things were going very well. But, by 8th frame, the line was starting to transition again. The problem with using weaker equipment to stay around 2nd arrow....is that there's so much traffic on that line...it's almost impossible to stay there for any long length of time. Wasn't too upset. Only one missed spare. Switched to the Force Pearl with the 3rd shot of the 10th frame.
X, X, X, X, 7 /, X, 9 -, 8 /, 8 /, 7 / 9.

Had a lot more confidence in the Force Pearl...one of my favorite balls I've ever thrown. Lots of power...but a real smooth arc into the pocket. Unfortunately, my shot-making started to falter. And, my line got very angular just to keep it right of the headpin. Three missed single-pins just really ticked me off.
X, X, 9 -, 9 -, 8 /, X, 9 -, 8 /, X, 7 /X.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.03
Strikes: 48%
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 33% (2/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (4x).
Also left a single 7-pin and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 71% (10/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 100% (8/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 195.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 208.33.

Positives
- Other than a short bout of arthritis (foot)...no physical ailments.
- Made 100% of my multi-pin, non-split leaves.
- Team took 3 out of 4.

Negatives
- Kinda faltered in Game 3.
- Abysmal single-pin spare shooting.
- Thought I could keep up with the two 200+ average bowlers on the other team...but they both had 600+ series and I fell short.

Kinda sad that I may have to keep using this "unretired" arsenal. I 'may' have to completely change my next arsenal to accommodate these lane conditions. But, its like RobM and Bowl1820 and others used to say...the lanes dictate how to play them...ya can't force your will on the lanes. I 'may' be able to use stronger equipment if I master a lower axis tilt...but I don't think thats a reliable way to get a ball to the pocket with the energy to consistently strike.

I'm just amazed at the way I was able to use the Yeah Baby Sinful. It's #21 (out of 28) on my list of "best balls I've thrown". The Vintage Rhino Gold is #18. So...I really wasn't thinking these would amount to much. And I still plan to try an arsenal of entirely skid/flip balls (Fortera Exile, Force Pearl, Outer Limits Pearl)...maybe this summer I'll give that a try.

[boatman37]

Yeah I have been struggling with my single pin spares, mostly the 10 pin and I'm a lefty. Last week my coach stuck around and worked with me for a few minutes. Seems to be a simple fix so will find out tomorrow. I might actually be a decent bowler if i could make my spares...and strike a little more...lol

[Aslan]

Yeah I have been struggling with my single pin spares, mostly the 10 pin and I'm a lefty. Last week my coach stuck around and worked with me for a few minutes. Seems to be a simple fix so will find out tomorrow. I might actually be a decent bowler if i could make my spares...and strike a little more...lol

I may need to know that secret. I've tried a few different "fixes"....but just when I think I got it figured out...I have a night like this.

[boatman37]

It was just a matter of standing too square to the line. Didn't leave any lone 10's last night but did leave a few 6's and a couple of 6-10's and made all of them so must have worked...lol

[Aslan]

It was just a matter of standing too square to the line. Didn't leave any lone 10's last night but did leave a few 6's and a couple of 6-10's and made all of them so must have worked...lol

My problem is I tend to square up (hips rotate square) as I go through my release. I've been trying to move my target out...which makes it harder to hit...but helps me not to square up.

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 24

Bowled against a team that was absent. They're the last place team...don't know if they are post-bowling or not.

546 Series: 156-154-236

- 9, X, 8 1, X, 7 -, X, 9 /, X, X, S7 2
Just abysmal. I'd make a terrible shot and then redeem myself...then make a terrible shot...then redeem myself...repeated for 8 frames or so.

X, S8 -, X, 9 /, 9 /, S7 1, 9 /, 9 -, 9 /, 7 / 9.
TWO strikes!! What a *** show. After two pocket hits leaving me a 2-pin and 10-pin in the 4th and 5th frames....I decided to switch to the Yeah Baby Sinful (YBS) which I'm still not confident in. It was playing WAY weaker than last time I used it...had to move my feet right about 6 boards from where I was playing the Endeavor.

X, X, 9 /, 9 -, X, X, 9 /, X, X, XXX.
Tried to stick with the YBS...but after a pocket 10-pin in the 4th...I decided it was time for the "ball of destiny"...the amazing Force Pearl (FP). Struck brooklyn in the 5th which made me realize I needed to adjust left big time. Once I did...the FP was just crushsing it. That ball was covering 11 boards like it was nothing.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.91 pins
Strikes: 48%
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin, 9-pin, and 10-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, nor 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 61% (8/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 25% (1/4)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 182.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 189.67.

Positives
- Single-pin spare shooting was better than I thought at the time.
- I guess its better to end on a high note.
- The Force Pearl has once again pleasantly surprised.

Negatives
- Obviously...not one, but TWO games sub-160...horrible!
- My early struggles may have cost the team a point.
- Still not sure this new arsenal is going to be productive.

If this keeps up, I may go with the 2nd option of trying an entire arsenal of skid/flip balls that I seem to throw well. I could put a little surface on the Fortera Exile and use it on fresh. Put a Step 2 surface on the Force Pearl as a ball down option. Then put a 500/polished surface on the Outer Limits Pearl to use if there's any carry down.

My only pause is that I'm still getting my timing and consistency back. Its mostly back...the speed is consistent and I'm making good shots 66%-75% of the time. But, if I switch to the skid/flip arsenal...any inconsistency is going to be magnified.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 26
We're in 9th (out of 16 teams) and are bowling the 2nd place team. This team moved into 2nd place after we took 3 out of 4 from the team that was ahead of them last week. This is a team of 3 gals and 1 guy and they average in the 130-146 range.

Our younger female bowler had emergency gall bladder surgery recently, so her sister bowled with us again.

550 Series: 143-226-181

Felt good, but I would make 2 good shots and then miss right, make two good shots and then miss right. Two missed single-pins and a pocket 7-10 just deflated me.
X, X, 6 3, X, X, 6 3, 9 -, S8 1, 9 -, 6 2.

Continued to struggle. First three shots felt good, but I couldn't carry nor pick up the spares. Switched to the Endeavor in the 4th but pulled the shot. Then I just got dialed in and everything came together.
S7 2, 8 1, 9 -, 7 /, X, X, X, X, X, XX9.

Kinda lost my line and got too far inside after the first few frames. Switched to the Force Pearl in the 8th, but I was too far inside by that point to get even that strong ball to work.
X, X, X, 6 2, 9 /, 7 /, 8 /, 7 1, 9 /, X 9 -.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.76
Strikes: 45%
Spares: 29% picked up

Single Pin spares: 33% (2/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 2-pin (2x).
Also left a single 4-pin, 6-pin, 9-pin and 10-pin.

Makeable spares: 33% (5/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 33% (3/9)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-9-10 and 1-2-4-7 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 183.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 191.67.

Positives
- My 2nd game saved me from throwing my equipment in the dumpster.

Negatives
- Spare shooting = atrocious
- Carry = not good
- Team lost 3 points...mainly because of me.
- Still don't know if this new approach to dry lanes is going to work.

I bowled so badly in Game 1 that I think the other team felt sorry for me. When I made my first spare (frame 4 of game 2); a gal on the team slapped hands with me. She probably wished she wouldn't have...because after that I went X, X, X, X, X, XX9 : X, X, X. Ten strikes on 11 attempts...mid Game 2 until early Game 3. Closed the gap to 21 pins going into game 3...but then we lost Game 3 by 2 pins...so only 1 point on the night.