Well my league for Friday was still putting some teams together so they've decided to wait until the Friday after Labor Day. So at least I got some practice time in today threw three games weren't score monster 158-176-182 at least the ball was mostly going where I intended.
I tried slowing down on the approach but the reason for that was to try and correct for my late timing but it doesn't help I just hold the ball longer before starting my swing so I'm currently trying to do away with the push out all together and go more with a hinge type start good thing with it seems to help my ball speed bad thing is I feel like I'm about to take flight but maybe that's just because I'm so used to the later timing. I'm pretty sure it against the laws of physics for something my size to leave the ground anyway especially toting a 15 pound anchor.
The other thing is trying to grip more with the fingers and not with the thumb. I've come to the realization that I just can't grip the ball the way I have been an be successful. Here's hoping it works my roll off is tomorrow so at least I made the top two so I'm already in the finals. I don't have to win to feel good but I need to at least show up and make some noise.
Good luck and stick with it hopefully Rob can help you some while your in Vegas. I know how frustrating it can be not being sure exactly what's wrong and the getting the advice to fix it that actually works for you.
I am a proud member of Bowlingboards.com bowling forums and ball contest winner
Current arsenal
900 Global Badger Claw - Radical Ridiculous Pearl - Spare Ball Ebonite T Zone
Aslan, I know i have mentioned this before but why don't you just stay out as long as possible. With your rev rate and the ball speed you currently have along with several ball options you should be able to stay outside of 10 all night. That outside angle is your friend. Good luck with your game, hang in there it will improve.
Normally…like 92%…I agree with you.Originally Posted by fortheloveofbowling
When I was scoring well…even after synthetics were installed…I was using the solid coverstock, symmetric core Hammer Rhythm (similar to an Arson) up the 6-8 board. "Generally" it would make it into the pocket and if it didn't…at least leave me rather make-able spares.
However, more recently…and especially as you get towards the center of the alley where the oil doesn't dry up as fast…it seems like there's been MORE oil on the lanes…and that shot was just not making it back without hitting light. And that was leaving spare after spare after spare.
I decided, it was time to expand my arsenal and get a ball with a stronger, asymmetric core. I got a pearl to hopefully get it to go longer before snapping into the pocket since I anticipated staying outside. And I had an identical ball drilled and surfaced more aggressively hoping it could expand my repertoire and maybe I could play an inside line more effectively.
Well, after extensive testing….the results were…at my rev rate…the ball doesn't matter much. All of the various balls tended to follow the same paths. And I was STILL consistently coming in light from the outside (6-8 boards) and even the middle (10-12 boards).
So, I knew that eventually I'd NEED to develop an inside game. I figured it'd probably be AFTER working on my release…but in the meantime I'd be "open" to the idea. Rob, my celebrity coach to the stars, swears by the inside line…and he's not a big rev guy either…so IF it's working in practice…I give it a try.
Now…it RARELY works in practice. Usually the ball just careens off into the 6-pin. Then I decided between which line (middle or outside) I'm gonna play. But Thursday night…for some reason….maybe because we were closer to the door or they oiled the lanes earlier…who knows…the inside line seemed to be working. So, I gave it a shot.
The key for me RIGHT NOW…is I'm willing to try that line….but NOT if I have to add revs to play it. Rob doesn't want me to "try" and make the ball hook. Also, if I "try" to make the ball hook…I tend to "toss" it like a horseshoe rather than "roll" it. So, I'll only try the inside line if my normal release can get the ball back into the pocket. And in order for that to happen…I've had to get more "realistic" with what an "inside" line is. I can't stand 35 and lay the ball down 25 targeting 15. I don't have Rhino Page's rev rate…so I gotta stop playing his line. For ME…"inside" is more of an "up the middle" shot where I'm simply throwing at the 17-20 boards…from a "little" left…and letting the ball go up the middle….out to the friction…then slightly back into the pocket.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
Thursday Pre-League Practice: low oil synthetics
135-160
Threw a couple games before league play. Game 1 spare shooting was horrible. Game 2 things got much better but I was still consistently coming in light and sometimes right of the headpin.
PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.50 pins
Strikes: 22% (5 singles)
Spares: 50% picked up
Single Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin and 7-pin (2x each).
Also left a single 3-pin and 5-pin (1x each)
Multiple Pin spares: 40% (4/10)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 1-2-4 (3x).
Splits: 0% (0/1)
Average over 2 games: 147.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 156.50.
Sunday Morning Practice: low oil synthetics
206-128
Took the daughter and a couple of her friends bowling in the mid-morning. My outside shot seemed to be working well. Game 1 was clean except for a chopped 1-3-6-9 in the 5th. Game 2 wasn't as bad as the score indicates. I had splits in the 1st and 3rd frames and in the 2nd frame I was teaching the kids so I wasn't worried about the pins that frame. And I missed a couple single pins..then missed a 6-10…but probably would at "least" chopped if the bumpers weren't up. It's hard for me to pick up 10s and 6-10s with the bumpers up since I hug that 1-2 board.
PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.18 pins
Strikes: 40% (1 turkey and 6 singles)
Spares: 38% picked up
Single Pin spares: 25% (1/4)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x).
Also left a single 7-pin and 9-pin (1x each)
Multiple Pin spares: 44% (4/9)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: n/a (all 9 1x).
Splits: 33% (1/3)
Average over 2 games: 167.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 178.50.
Didn't have much time to really concentrate and 'practice'. But my main focus here and tomorrow during practice will be on timing and staying low. I feel like I've made some progress slowing down my footwork and staying low when I release…but in the process I've lost my timing a bit. So now I gotta bring it all together…footwork, low release, AND timing and see if that brings things to where they need to be.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
Monday Practice: dry-low oil synthetics
428 Series: 125-154-149
Games 1 and 2 were miserable. The lanes were very dry. I switched from the outside to the middle line for Game 3 and actually only had 3 open frames, but I didn't throw ONE strike!
499 Series: 215 (clean)-157-127
Game 4 I switched from the Slingshot to the Frantic and it went pretty well. But, by the end of the game, it was obvious that I needed to move right and ball up…so I switched to the less aggressively drilled/surfaced Encounter. Game 5 was better than the score indicates…I only had 3 open frames and they were all splits. Game 6 was more of the same but with worse spare shooting.
486 Series: 163-146-177
Game 7 I moved a little right and started throwing the Rhythm but still had huge problems with the ball going left. 4 splits and I only picked up one. Game 8 more of the same. Game 9 I moved right again and started throwing the more aggressive Encounter. But it was erratic and the spare shooting was bad.
429 Series: 151-143-135
Game 10 was more of the same. Finally, since things were just not going well and the lanes were just excessively dry…I figured I'd try the inside line. I used the Frantic…but…despite the dryness of the lanes…I still couldn't get the ball to come back into the pocket consistently. If I had more games, I could have balled up the the more aggressively drilled/surfaced Encounter…but by game 11 I was physically and mentally "done".
PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.31 pins
Strikes: 25% (1 turkey, 8 doubles and 15 singles)
Spares: 45% picked up
Single Pin spares: 74% (20/27)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (9x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.
Multiple Pin spares: 32% (21/64)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 6-10 (5x).
Splits: 8% (2/24)
Average over 12 games: 153.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 158.75.
A very disappointing night. I used to love drier lanes; but with my lower speed now, I just can't play them anymore. I was tempted to, and even threw some higher loft balls and it worked "okay"…but it wasn't accurate nor consistent.
I was surprised that single-pin spare shooting was as good as it was. Especially near the end, I had real problems keeping the ball from bouncing left off the dry area. I started just using the strike ball with a flattened wrist…but that wasn't working either…it takes some time to get that shot dialed in.
I am still trying to work on slowing things down, getting lower, and staying focused. If I can get a consistent line to the pocket, I'd like to start watching the ball through the pins to start getting a better idea of whats happening. The only 'good' news is league play will be on slicker conditions as will Vegas so maybe I still have a chance at bowling well when it matters.
Last edited by Aslan; 08-26-2014 at 11:50 AM.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
Who would have thought Aslan wishing for more oil.
I am a proud member of Bowlingboards.com bowling forums and ball contest winner
Current arsenal
900 Global Badger Claw - Radical Ridiculous Pearl - Spare Ball Ebonite T Zone
Thursday Post Lesson Practice: low-oil synthetics
474 Series: 152-129-193
Game 1 was okay. Game 2 I couldn't seem to make spares. Game 3 was clean except for a missed 1-5 in the 4th and a 1-2-4-10 washout in the 10th.
PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.68 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 turkey and 10 singles)
Spares: 33% picked up
Single Pin spares: 20% (1/5)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (3x).
Also left a single 2-pin and 7-pin (1x each)
Multiple Pin spares: 38% (5/13)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 1-2-4 (2x).
Splits: 0% (0/2)
Average over 3 games: 158.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.67.
Had a lesson this afternoon with a silver level coach. Worked on getting my thumb out of the ball in a cleaner fashion. It was difficult but interesting.
Thursday League Night: moderate-low oil synthetics
436 Series: 158-147-131
Game 1 I actually only had two opens and one was a 4-7-10 split. Went 3 for 3 on single-pin spares. Game 2 was much worse. Left 2 single-pin spares and missed one of them. Missed all 4 of the multi-pin spares; a 4-5 split and a 1-2-4-10 washout amongst them. And game 3 was just horrible. Only left a single-pin spare once (made it). Five open frames. Only made 2 multi-pin spares.
PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.00 pins
Strikes: 28% (1 double, 7 singles)
Spares: 43% picked up
Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin, and 8-pin.
Multiple Pin spares: 25% (4/16)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-5 split and 4-7-10 split (2x each).
Splits: 0% (0/4)
Average over 3 games: 145.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 149.33.
Well, worst series of the season. Average now only 1-pin higher than it was at the end of Fall/Winter.
The day started off early (5:00AM) so I might have been tired. It's also been a rough day emotionally due to some disagreements with a friend (now former friend). I was really excited about my lesson. And it was interesting to get a totally different perspective on my game. Normally I wouldn't incorporate a new concept into my league performance, but this was a relatively simple change and it seemed to be working in post lesson practice…so I did.
So…long story long…I'm now in a bit of a pickle. Our team was once happy and fun…1 point out of first place…trophy in sight. Now, we're somewhere in the top 2-4…and likely not in contention for first place. And the team isn't having as much fun now that they are bowling poorly. One guy bowled a sub-70 tonight. And we just don't have the interest to field a team for Fall/Winter so looks like I'll have to join a random team, probably back in my old Friday league. I was looking forward to Sweeps in Laughlin, but now it just seems like a long way to drive to get out ***es kicked.
I was excited about the new sport league season starting next weekend…but now with this whole "disagreement"…that team is probably not gonna happen…so I'll have to just go solo and try to find a person or a team that needs a person or something. I was also excited about the Vegas challenge…but at this point…whats the point?? I'm struggling to bowl in the 150s-160s and I'm in a scratch tournament against 4 200+ average bowlers?? Seems pretty stupid wouldn't ya say???
Oh well. Maybe it was just a rough day. Maybe I was tired from being up for 12.5 hours before league started. Maybe I just wasn't "mentally sharp" for tonight. A lot of this game is mental so maybe...
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
Being tired can definitely take a toll on you. You've been in a bit of a slump for a couple of weeks now I go through periods like that myself just had one a couple of weeks ago seems like nothing is right and your not sure what right even is anymore. Best I can tell you I have had quite a few of those periods and usually the light bulb goes off and I change something usually something small and it comes back most of the time better than before. So keep your head up keep working you'll get through it and yes I know its easier to say that from the outside looking in.
I am a proud member of Bowlingboards.com bowling forums and ball contest winner
Current arsenal
900 Global Badger Claw - Radical Ridiculous Pearl - Spare Ball Ebonite T Zone
I also took a lesson last Friday, just before bowling in position round. I bowled horribly. The next day in competitive practice with friends I bowled horribly. The next day in post games, things started getting better. I didn't bowl Monday, and on Tuesday night I bowled really well in sweeps coming in fourth in Men's Singles in a 22 team league, first in Men's Doubles, and my team came in first in Team Sweeps. My point is that it takes a while to assimilate what we learn in a lesson. Many bowlers are looking for a magical quick fix that will immediately transform their game. It doesn't exist. It takes practice to get it right, and make it work for you.
As for your team, the beginning of a new season is often a tough time for bowlers as old relationships fade and new teammates emerge out of necessity. For me, this season has already seen one league that I was intending to bowl (Travel League) where two of our players didn't show up, so the other one filled a spot on another team, and I decided not to bowl in the league at all. Another league is a four man scratch league where several PBA Tour bowlers and Team USA members bowl that I have long wanted to bowl in, but it's in a house where I have never bowled league, so I'm doing a lot of practice there and lugging in numerous bowling balls to see what works. Wednesday and Thursday I'm bowling in leagues where I bowled the last couple of years, but I am bowling with a new doubles partner, and two new trios partners. The only team that is the same as it was this summer is on Fridays, but it's at a different bowling center. My point is that this time of year is often pretty chaotic, but it usually works out pretty well once the dust settles. I count myself to be in much better shape than my friend who is returning to the trios league with the same team that has been together for the past eight years. They are no longer competitive and he knows it, but he doesn't want to hurt their feelings by moving to a different team. Personally, I think you and I are in a much better situation at the start of the year.
Last edited by RobLV1; 08-29-2014 at 11:07 AM. Reason: grammar
@Amyers- Thanks for the encouragement man. This sub-500 nonsense is getting real old real fast though. I was really looking forward to bowling the sport league with MWhite on Sundays…but after the recent issues with the one friend and with my bowling game being what it is…I mean, it's a SCRATCH league. Now yes, I did "okay" at the end of last season. I even won a couple side pots and a bracket (both handicap). But an open spot gets a 180 average…and I'll be lucky to hit 180 2-4 times during the season. I'm a detriment to whatever team is willing to take me at this point.
Absolutely Rob. Thats why I usually don't incorporate ANY new things into my league play until I had time to practice it. Even after working with you in Vegas, I didn't use those teachings during sweeps that next day…because I hadn't had enough time to practice what I learned. It just seemed that with this ONE change…very specific, and sort of small…that I'd be able to quickly assimilate it into my game. But, no. The problem with getting my thumb out faster and cleaner…is I tend to drop the ball once in awhile. I had to do a LOT of tape work on my thumb holes to get this new release to work properly. As much as I don't "want" to…I may even have to have the thumb holes plugged and re-drilled smaller. Hard to bowl well when each shot you're going back and stuffing more tape in the holes. : (
It's just disappointing because at the start of the year, I had 5 regulars and 2 subs. The team was having so much fun and was generating such "buzz" around the workplace…that our vice president actually showed up to watch us bowl once or twice. And we actually gained two more subs over the course of the season.
We had 5 guys all buy new balls. 4 guys all got new shoes. A couple got new bags. One took a lesson. Another was online researching bowling techniques. Not to mention, we were almost unbeatable. We've only lost all 4 points twice the entire season. Most nights we easily took all 4. We have the team handicap records for high score and high series and have held them most of the season.
But…one of the subs has other leagues in the Fall/Winter. Another sub is a former 5-7 time 300-game bowler who tried to come back this season…but his knees drove him away to begin with and are still just very unmanageable. And I know he's struggled being such a good bowler in the past and now bowling in the 150s. And the other main sub is only interesting in being a sub…one of those very non-committal types. Of our regulars, there are 2 guys plus me interested in continuing..but both want to stay at the current center. However, one of them is taking a college course on Wednesdays, the only time a 4-person team is available. The other regular only started bowling because he was getting divorced and figured he'd have tons of lonely free time…but got himself a girlfriend relatively quickly so now bowling is more of a time burden…not to mention he throws in the 70-110 range. The other regular likes it…but he was only interested in staying a regular if we switched to a center closer to him since he's the only one that has to drive a ways. I've tried to find other people at work, but no interest. I've tried to find females from work…to give us more mixed league options…no success. And just when I need our guys to be motivated and having fun and deciding they definitely want to bowl again next season…our team is completely floundering losing 7 of 8 points over the last 2 weeks and watching 1st place all but slip away. They "say" they're still having fun…but you can see it in their faces (and I'm sure mine) that this "losing c**p" is NOT fun.
I miss my old friday team. We had fun, we were competitive, the league was made up of teams that were less annoying..I think I'll go back to Fridays…of course, now I have to find a different team because my old team is full. I don't "mind" joining a new team…and Rob, you could very well be right..it's just when you get "placed" on a team…it's a c**P shoot. You could find a team and think, "God…I LOVE this team!!" Or…you could get 7 weeks in and dread league night because your team is a bunch of jerks or complainers or cheaters or whatever.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
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