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

[Amyers]

Pretty decent shooting been struggling with the spares myself a little and it's been left side spares for me too which I've been seeming to leave more of. I'm going to start using my euphoria for all my spares until I get my plastic the asylum is just too unpredictable when throwing across the oil. Good luck on ending your summer season both mine are finishing up and I'm 1 or 2 in both.

[Aslan]

Sunday Sport League: WTBA Beijing Pattern

501 Series: 117-150-118-116
Game 1, lots of washouts and a few splits. But I figured I could make the adjustments. In game 2, better, but still had 4 washouts that I couldn't convert. Game 3 was more washouts, very little conversion. Same thing in game 4 except add a couple splits to the situation.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.91 pins
Strikes: 20% (1 double and 7 singles)
Spares: 24% picked up

Single Pin spares: 28% (2/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 3-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 7-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 23% (6/26)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 and 1-2-4-8 (4x each).

Splits: 0% (0/7)

Average over 4 games: 125.25.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 134.50.

Well, nothing like a new sport pattern to bring your self image back down to Earth. Online, it recommended playing very far to the outside…but with my low rev rate, the middle (11-board) line seemed to be working in practice so I started with the less aggressive Encounter up that line. But my problem wasn't that the ball was going left…it was that the ball wasn't going left enough.

The "pros" will probably see the results and say that it was a result of playing a line that had too little area to miss. Moving outside of the 5-board may have given me more room to miss and still strike.

What I see when comparing the stats between this series and last week…is that I had virtually an identical first ball average and identical strike rate. Yet I had abysmal spare shooting across the board and left more than double the splits. On sport patterns, spare shooting is key because you simply don't strike as much. Last week a 603 series and this week a 501 (4 games) and the only "statistical" difference was spare shooting.

So, "why" was the spare shooting bad?
1) The Slingshot wasn't as straight as usual due to the short pattern. Early on, it just seemed to have too much hook to it to play my usual semi-straight shot.
2) I am experimenting with using the Slingshot for ALL leaves, right and left. And so far, that experiment has been a bit of a struggle as I try and figure out how to target left side leaves.
3) Since the Slingshot wasn't reliable for right side leaves, and I didn't have my urethane with me, I decided for plan C which was to flatten my release. That DID allow me to throw it straight, but I have very little practice with that shot so it wasn't very successful.

Going to try and do this sport league again in the fall. And for the shorter patterns, I'm going to bring a urethane ball for spares. I STILL am going to try and work on using a spare ball for all leaves (left and right)…and further develop that system…but we'll see how it goes. It's really hurting my left side spare shooting right now.

[Aslan]

Monday Practice: low-medium oil synthetics

536 Series: 198 (clean)-194-144
Game 1 I didn't strike much but left easy spares so it was a good game. Game 2 I missed a couple single-pin spares but ran some strikes together. Game 3 splits killed me.

514 Series: 162-192-160
Game 4 was okay, but couldn't strike much and spare shooting wasn't perfect. Game 5 was clean except for a missed single 5-pin in the 8th. Game 6, more of the same; couldn't strike much and spare shooting was good but not perfect.

557 Series: 182-199 (clean)-176
Game 7 I got moved to a new lane and it took a couple frames to get used to the new lane…then I was clean until the 9th when I missed a single 10-pin…but struck out in the 10th to salvage a decent score. Game 8 started out well because I picked up a 5-10 split in the 1st and was clean. Didn't strike much though. Game 9 spare shooting was a bit off. I had a turkey so the score was okay, but it wasn't great.

452 Series: 159-137-156
Game 10 I was starting to get tired. Was also starting to get too far inside to keep throwing at the 11-board laying it down 18-16 boards. Not much room for error at that angle. Too much speed/loft or not enough hand…washout. Too much hand/too low a speed…crossed over and hit Brooklyn. I decided to move a shade right and ball down to the Rhythm in Game 11, but the same problem. Thought I'd give it one more and move my target in a bit for Game 12, but was having the same problems.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.60 pins
Strikes: 30% (3 turkeys, 5 doubles and 21 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (22/31)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (11x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 56% (31/55)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 6-10 (9x).

Splits: 25% (3/12)

Average over 12 games: 171.58.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 179.25.

A little disappointed that the stats aren't better. I seemed to really be doing well early on. I worked on trying to stay lower. Also tweaked my spare targeting a bit because I really struggled with single 7-pins (50%). Since trying to pick up left side leaves with the Slingshot didn't work too well, I experienced with using the strike ball, but changing the right side lateral adjustments to 3-6-9 rather than 4-8-12. Not sure if thats gonna work better or not…we'll see.

Used the less aggressive Encounter most of the night, but balled down to the Rhythm. However, the more aggressive solid cover stock was more aggressive than I thought so I think I'm gonna adjust that arsenal a bit and maybe use the Slingshot for the middle line in practice…and if the lanes are too slick, ball UP to the Rhythm. I'll use the less aggressive Encounter as a ball DOWN. The Slingshot shouldn't be more aggressive than the Encounter…but for some reason it has some "kick" on the backend. So I'll give it a try.

Gotta get my average up though. I got a team that needs me to hopefully capture 1st place…and I got a very well-publicized battle with some high average bowlers getting closer and closer...

[bubba809]

Wow, I just went and bowled 5 games and was tired. I guess I could do 12 in my younger days.

[MICHAEL]

Sunday Sport League: WTBA Beijing Pattern

501 Series: 117-150-118-116
Game 1, lots of washouts and a few splits. But I figured I could make the adjustments. In game 2, better, but still had 4 washouts that I couldn't convert. Game 3 was more washouts, very little conversion. Same thing in game 4 except add a couple splits to the situation.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.91 pins
Strikes: 20% (1 double and 7 singles)
Spares: 24% picked up

Single Pin spares: 28% (2/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 3-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 7-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 23% (6/26)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 and 1-2-4-8 (4x each).

Splits: 0% (0/7)

Average over 4 games: 125.25.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 134.50.

Well, nothing like a new sport pattern to bring your self image back down to Earth. Online, it recommended playing very far to the outside…but with my low rev rate, the middle (11-board) line seemed to be working in practice so I started with the less aggressive Encounter up that line. But my problem wasn't that the ball was going left…it was that the ball wasn't going left enough.

The "pros" will probably see the results and say that it was a result of playing a line that had too little area to miss. Moving outside of the 5-board may have given me more room to miss and still strike.

What I see when comparing the stats between this series and last week…is that I had virtually an identical first ball average and identical strike rate. Yet I had abysmal spare shooting across the board and left more than double the splits. On sport patterns, spare shooting is key because you simply don't strike as much. Last week a 603 series and this week a 501 (4 games) and the only "statistical" difference was spare shooting.

So, "why" was the spare shooting bad?
1) The Slingshot wasn't as straight as usual due to the short pattern. Early on, it just seemed to have too much hook to it to play my usual semi-straight shot.
2) I am experimenting with using the Slingshot for ALL leaves, right and left. And so far, that experiment has been a bit of a struggle as I try and figure out how to target left side leaves.
3) Since the Slingshot wasn't reliable for right side leaves, and I didn't have my urethane with me, I decided for plan C which was to flatten my release. That DID allow me to throw it straight, but I have very little practice with that shot so it wasn't very successful.

Going to try and do this sport league again in the fall. And for the shorter patterns, I'm going to bring a urethane ball for spares. I STILL am going to try and work on using a spare ball for all leaves (left and right)…and further develop that system…but we'll see how it goes. It's really hurting my left side spare shooting right now.

COME ON Viva Las Vegas!

Old Broken Down, Beat up Iron Worker it READY to Rumble!
I wish I had a slingshot to shoot me there quicker!!

But wait Iceman,,, Aslan has fairy dust that he brings to bowl offs, that he purchased in San Francisco! Will Fairy Dust be allowed in this meeting in Vegas??????? I don't have, nor do I want to handle the stuff! Its like selling your soul to the devil!!

When you beat Mike White, I knew MAGIC was involved!!!!

[Amyers]

Monday Practice: low-medium oil synthetics

536 Series: 198 (clean)-194-144
Game 1 I didn't strike much but left easy spares so it was a good game. Game 2 I missed a couple single-pin spares but ran some strikes together. Game 3 splits killed me.

514 Series: 162-192-160
Game 4 was okay, but couldn't strike much and spare shooting wasn't perfect. Game 5 was clean except for a missed single 5-pin in the 8th. Game 6, more of the same; couldn't strike much and spare shooting was good but not perfect.

557 Series: 182-199 (clean)-176
Game 7 I got moved to a new lane and it took a couple frames to get used to the new lane…then I was clean until the 9th when I missed a single 10-pin…but struck out in the 10th to salvage a decent score. Game 8 started out well because I picked up a 5-10 split in the 1st and was clean. Didn't strike much though. Game 9 spare shooting was a bit off. I had a turkey so the score was okay, but it wasn't great.

452 Series: 159-137-156
Game 10 I was starting to get tired. Was also starting to get too far inside to keep throwing at the 11-board laying it down 18-16 boards. Not much room for error at that angle. Too much speed/loft or not enough hand…washout. Too much hand/too low a speed…crossed over and hit Brooklyn. I decided to move a shade right and ball down to the Rhythm in Game 11, but the same problem. Thought I'd give it one more and move my target in a bit for Game 12, but was having the same problems.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.60 pins
Strikes: 30% (3 turkeys, 5 doubles and 21 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (22/31)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (11x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 56% (31/55)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 6-10 (9x).

Splits: 25% (3/12)

Average over 12 games: 171.58.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 179.25.

A little disappointed that the stats aren't better. I seemed to really be doing well early on. I worked on trying to stay lower. Also tweaked my spare targeting a bit because I really struggled with single 7-pins (50%). Since trying to pick up left side leaves with the Slingshot didn't work too well, I experienced with using the strike ball, but changing the right side lateral adjustments to 3-6-9 rather than 4-8-12. Not sure if thats gonna work better or not…we'll see.

Used the less aggressive Encounter most of the night, but balled down to the Rhythm. However, the more aggressive solid cover stock was more aggressive than I thought so I think I'm gonna adjust that arsenal a bit and maybe use the Slingshot for the middle line in practice…and if the lanes are too slick, ball UP to the Rhythm. I'll use the less aggressive Encounter as a ball DOWN. The Slingshot shouldn't be more aggressive than the Encounter…but for some reason it has some "kick" on the backend. So I'll give it a try.

Gotta get my average up though. I got a team that needs me to hopefully capture 1st place…and I got a very well-publicized battle with some high average bowlers getting closer and closer...

Well it looks like you got yourself back on track on the first three series anyway. Good bowling

[Aslan]

Thursday League: low-medium oil synthetics

458 Series: 127-175-156
Game 1 sucked **ll*. I couldn't strike and my spare shooting was the worst I've seen it in quite awhile. So that helped the team lose our first point in over a month.

Game 2 I still had trouble striking but put together a double in the 10th to salvage a 175. Still couldn't strike much, but the spare shooting was better.

Game 3 was more of the same. Couldn't strike. "Okay" on spare shooting…but ya need to be perfect if ya can't strike.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.85 pins
Strikes: 20% (1 double, 5 singles)
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (3/5)
Only left a single 5-pin (2x), 6-pin (2x), and 10-pin (1x).

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (11/19)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (4x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 152.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 158.67.

Just miserable.

The stats paint the picture. While the single pin spare shooting was slightly off; it was mainly that my first ball average was under 8 pins and I left nearly double the multiple-pin spares that I did last week. Multi-pin spares are not "gimmees" like single-pin spares. Ya can't just say, "should get a plastic ball". A plastic ball isn't any better at picking up a 1-2-4 than my strike ball is. The root of the problem is I'm striking far less than I should be and leaving spares that simply aren't very easy to convert.

Why was the spare shooting off? Well, for the 6-10, single-6, and single-10…I practice on lanes that are drier than league conditions and I use a resin ball and thus the line I'm comfortable using changes when the lanes are more slick. So, the first couple shots at those spares I tend to gutter because I'm expecting dry area on the outside that isn't there.

As for the other 12 spares (of 19)…it had nothing to do with my choice of spare ball. It was simply a combination of 1/3 bad shots and 2/3 spare leaves that have a higher difficulty to convert. I mean, am I "expected" to pick up a 1-2-8-10?? Whats the expected conversion rate of a 1-2-4 or a 1-2-4-7??

The other culprit was me trying to play my "C-Game". Yeah, thats right…guess who played the inside line tonight? Ya know, that line that supposedly makes you the best bowler ever and gets you away from all the losers playing the 2nd arrow. Yeah…standing left foot on 28, laying down about 18, targeting 17. Seemed to work nicely in practice…so I said, "what the heck…lets give it a try!" BIG mistake. That line sucks. Instead of my usual problem of the ball not quite making it back to the pocket and hitting light…I had the added fun and pleasure of the ball not only hitting light…but pretty much washing out or going brooklyn 8 out of 10 frames a game.

From the statistics, it's hard to say where the problem is. I'm always tempted to go back to my old ways of lofting that sucker 10-15 feet with some nice revs on it…about 20mph. But looking at the data…the new approach WAS working the first half of the spring/summer season…on WOOD lanes. The drop off seemed to be when things went to synthetics. Even though I've made adjustments and arsenal changes…and am getting to the pocket…I've lost my ability to hit the pocket in the optimal way. And I've lost the room for error that used to exist on wood lanes.

In summary, Mudpuppy cliff notes, bowling sucks and I don't like it and I think I might quit and take up something board games or water painting or meditation. I have bowled a whole season…and my average started at 165…and is now down to 167. WOW! What an improvement!! How ridiculous does my goal of 190 seem now!! I must have been drunk when I posted that.

Oh yeah…and insult to injury!!

1) Our team lost all 4 points and are now in 2nd or 3rd and probably not going win diddly squat in terms of a trophy.
2) My team is lame and after all my efforts trying to arrange for fall/winter season is probably just gonna fold due to lack of interest.
3) My old Friday night team is full…so I guess I gotta go back to Friday night and find a NEW team.
4) After winning in poker the first game of the season…I haven't won since…even though tonight I had 4 of a kind…because another guy had 5 of a kind!! (we use like 3-7 decks and there's like 15-20 people playing).

[bubba809]

Hang in there Aslan. That's why bowling is so great. Next week you could go throw a 600! Just shake it off and tell yourself it's only one night. And I really do commend you for taking the time to post all your stats and being upfront and honest.

[Amyers]

Well I understand the frustration I'm on the same boat. It seems like every time I feel like I figured something out some other problem comes up and set me right back to where I was. I really thought towards the end to middle of last month I made some real progress last two weeks I'm struggling with my release and my scores are right back where they were worst thing about it is I'm about to the point I'm not sure what right even is anymore. I throw one ball nicely hooks in the pocket strike, next one I get nothing on it weak or washout, next one I turn the d*** thing clear sideways.

I practiced three games yesterday evening and may have done a little better but still wasn't great. Best of all one of my fall leagues start tonight and I have the roll off in my summer league Saturday where I will be throwing against some top notch guys and would prefer not to embarrass myself.

I don't know hopefully we will eventually figure it out. As far as "expected" pickup rates for the 1-2-8-10 or 1-2-4-7 usually I just want to kick myself in the a** after missing it for leaving that crap to begin with.

Good Luck

[Aslan]

worst thing about it is I'm about to the point I'm not sure what right even is anymore. I throw one ball nicely hooks in the pocket strike, next one I get nothing on it weak or washout, next one I turn the d*** thing clear sideways.

I was in that boat last year. I took lessons, then went to clinics, then took lessons from someone else…not to mention all the varying advice here and elsewhere…and it seemed like one guy is telling me to stand up then a guy is saying bend over then I'm trying to rev up the ball then people are saying not to rev the ball…it got so bad at the end of last season…that I could barely make it to the foul line without tripping because I was thinking of like seven different things during the approach and would forget to think about how to actually "walk".

As far as "expected" pickup rates for the 1-2-8-10 or 1-2-4-7 usually I just want to kick myself in the a** after missing it for leaving that crap to begin with.

EXACTLY! One of the ways the pros make it look SO easy is they strike 6 or 7 times and only need to pick up a few spares per game…and those spares are "usually" single-pins or a couple easy ones. You don't see pros leave 10 straight spares where 3/4 of them are various multi-pin variety. I've left the 1-2-4 '143' times. Thats almost as often as I've left the single 7-pin. I've left the 1-2-4-10 '49' times. Now, the 1-2-4-10 is not a "split"…but I pick it up 33% less than I pick up the 3-10 baby split.

I'm not asking to throw 9 strikes a game…I'd settle at this point for throwing 4 strikes a game and leaving 5 single-pin spares and 1 multi-pin spare. THEN…IF I DO MISS…at least I know it's because I need to improve my spare shooting and/or get a plastic ball or something along those lines. Not picking up a 1-2-4-7 doesn't tell me ANYTHING other than I'm SUCH a cra**y bowler that I leave a 1-2-4-7.

The only miracle last night was…only ONE split!! Playing that inside line…I'd expect a LOT through the head…and that really didn't happen. It still tended to hit light. I'm just sick of the broken record…"light hit, adjust, light hit, adjust, brooklyn, adjust….light hit, adjust, light hit, adjust, brooklyn, adjust…" over and over and over all night long.

I keep thinking back to that 256 series…how did I DO that?? Am I mentally in a worse place? Did I tweak something I shouldn't have tweaked? Is it something simple like slowing down even MORE and getting even LOWER? Is this whole thing release oriented? Is the oil pattern more extreme than just a moderate oil THS? Does my entire approach/game need to completely be re-invented?? Who knows??