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

[Amyers]

Well some decent ones mixed in there. I know your struggling with the release some and this may be difficult but the biggest thing you can do is believe in it. If you go up there thinking I don't know if this is going to work or not more often than not it won't. Have confidence in what your doing believe your going to strike or pick up the spare. Good Luck in Vegas

[Aslan]

Practice for 1st Annual Aslan vs. Iceman Challenge in Las Vegas: synthetic lanes/low oil

I wanted to get some practice in before just diving into this shindig so I played a few games (on different lanes) before this thing started:

585 Series: 214 (clean)-169-202
I was shocked out of the gate how much bite I was getting. This was NOTHING like the last time I was in Vegas. First game everything was clicking. Didn't strike a "ton", but "enough". Game 2 I struggled with some single pin spares but struck out in the 9th and 10th to make the score look better than it was. Game 3 was a couple missed single 10-pins away from being clean…struck a decent amount.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.20 pins
Strikes: 48% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 4 doubles and 2 singles)
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 50% (5/10)
Most common single pin leave: 10-pin (3x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, 7-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 195.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 213.33.

Obvious improvement over my last trip to Vegas at the end of March 2013. I was feeling pretty good before the challenge began. I mean, if these lanes were even close to this dry on fresh oil as they were in practice…I was gonna be able to compete! The only "issue" was that I went 2 for 7 with my plastic spare ball (right side leaves). I was 3 for 3 on the left side with my strike ball.

[Aslan]

1st Annual Aslan vs. Iceman Challenge in Las Vegas: synthetic lanes/low oil

The long awaited event was finally here! It wasn't going to be easy. Every competitor was throwing strikes in practice with ease. Looked like the conditions weren't exactly "difficult". So I had to hope that as the lanes dried out even further, it would interfere with the higher rev rates of Mudpuppy, Iceman, and MWhite and I was gonna just have to rely on RobM either fading physically or mentally.

Qualifying Round:

474 Series: 150-159-165
Having a qualifying round where you're guaranteed an entry into a stepladder is a double edged sword. It takes the pressure off, but it also makes you a little less focused. Game 1 was "okay". A couple missed spares I should have made and a couple splits. Game 2 I just couldn't strike. 8 or 9 pins on every first ball except a strike in the 8th. All it took was 3 missed single-pins and suddenly you're in the 150s. Game 3 was a mirror image, a few missed single-pin spares, except I managed to strike periodically to raise the score a little.

It looked like my hopes were tied to my ability to pick up EVERY spare and not leave a single split. It's the only way I'd have a chance of advancing past Rob M. in the stepladder finals.

Stepladder Game 1: #5 Aslan vs. #4 Rob M.

158

Same as qualifying. Missed a couple spares and had a split…otherwise "okay"…struck a few times.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.80 pins
Strikes: 25% (11 singles)
Spares: 59% picked up

Single Pin spares: 63% (12/19)
Most common single pin leave: 10-pin (6x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 53% (7/13)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 4 games: 158.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 176.00.

THIS is why you should have a bowling APP for your phone! The stats tell you everything you need to know. My spare shooting wasn't "tremendous"; but it wasn't "bad". But when you only strike 25% of the time…thats 30 frames where you get tested to pick up spares. And unless you're Norm Duke, you will probably miss some. And I'm not Norm Duke.

I can't compete with guys like MWhite, Mudpuppy, Iceman, and even RobM who are routinely running 4 strikes together. I struck 11 times and NOT ONCE did I double. Thats not going to win you a no-tap booby prize much less advance you against this group.

My only hope at that point was that the guys had fun, Rob M. did well against Iceman and the others, and maybe MWhite and I could salvage a win in the doubles match later on.

[Aslan]

Post Tournament Lesson w/Rob M. at Red Rock in Las Vegas: synthetic lanes/low oil

Rob gave me and Iceman some pointers the morning following the epic tournament of tournaments and afterwards we all bowled a couple games as Rob warmed up for his Thursday AM league:

234 (clean)-179

Started out with a few spares and then strung 4 strikes together. Striking and picking up single corner-pin spares makes things simple! Game 2 brought me back to reality. Started out with 6 straight frames leaving a single-pin spare; unfortunately missed the single 10-pin in the 4th. Then a couple washouts…but strung 3 strikes together in the 9th/10th to salvage something "okay".

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.09 pins
Strikes: 39% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, and 1 double)
Spares: 76% picked up

Single Pin spares: 90% (9/10)
Most common single pin leave: 10-pin (5x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 33% (1/3)
Only left a 3-6-10, 1-2-8-9, and 2-5-8.

Splits: n/a

Average over 2 games: 206.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 212.00.

Much needed confidence boost after getting trounced in the Aslan/Iceman Challenge. And beat Iceman in both games! Where was this awesomeness when it counted!!?

[Aslan]

Practice for Sweeps in Laughlin, NV: synthetic lanes/medium oil

I got a chance to bowl on a pair of lanes that hadn't been touched by the evening leagues so I took advantage of it.

497 Series: 158-147-192
Game 1 I was missing right. Game 2 I was making spares but not striking much. Game 3 would have been clean except for a 4-6 split in the 1st frame.

538 Series: 155-203-180
Game 4 I was doing okay and made a ball change. Then I did well with spares but couldn't seem to strike. Finally started striking in game 5. From the 6th frame in game 5 through the 4th frame of game 6 I struck 9 times. Then I started leaving sleepers and couldn't pick them up and was barely able to salvage the 180.

139-158
Game 7 I couldn't strike. Made 6 spares. Then decided to switch to the Frantic for the final game. Suddenly was able to strike again; but missed every single-pin spare. ???? Go figure.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48 pins
Strikes: 34% (2 4-baggers, 4 doubles and 14 singles)
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 55% (11/20)
Most common single pin leave: Single 5-pin (9x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 9-pin, nor 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 47% (16/34)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 (7x).

Splits: 0% (0/6)

Average over 8 games: 166.50.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 175.88.

Was troubled that my spare shooting seemed to be falling apart….but this practice went better than when I practiced in Vegas for Sweeps back in March. And more practices were yet to come. I had an entire free day before sweeps and planned to do an AM and PM practice. Nothing else to do in Laughlin but feed slot machines and spontaneously combust in the heat.

[Aslan]

AM Practice for Sweeps in Laughlin, NV: synthetic lanes/medium oil

Bowled the following morning on fresh oil.

491 Series: 164-180-147
Rocky start in game 1 but found my groove about midway through. Game 2 was a washout in the 6th away from being a clean game. Game 3 I only struck once. Back to the drawing board I guess!

444 Series: 144-128-172
Games 4, 5, & 6 were all repeats…low strike ability…varying levels of spare shooting.

540 Series: 195 (clean)-193-152
Game 7 and 8 were lots of spares. Game 8 was almost clean except for a 8-10 split in the 2nd frame. In game 9 I switched to the Frantic with mixed results.

185
Had time for one more game and was a 2-7 split in the 8th away from another clean game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.34 pins
Strikes: 28% (1 turkey, 3 doubles, and the rest singles)
Spares: 64% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (15/20)
Most common single pin leave: Single 5-pin and 9-pin (4x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 60% (33/55)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (8x).

Splits: 0% (0/6)

Average over 10 games: 166.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.20.

So now my spare shooting recovered, but my strike rate is back in the toilet. Great.

[Aslan]

PM Practice for Sweeps in Laughlin, NV: synthetic lanes/medium oil

Bowled later in the evening. Not fresh oil, but I wanted to get some more practice in and work on my release, approach, etc...

442 Series: 152-155-135
Not so good. Rarely struck and spare shooting was hit or miss.

435 Series: 154-126-155
More of the same in games 4 and 5. In game 6 I shot spares a bit better and threw a few strikes…but also had a couple splits.

474 Series: 188-131-153
Game 7 I was a couple washouts and a split away from a clean game and even managed to string some strikes together. Then game 8 and 9 I went back to 1-2 strikes and hit or miss spares.

183
Game 10 was okay. Some strikes, a couple missed spares.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.14 pins
Strikes: 25% (1 4-bagger, 5 doubles, and 14 singles)
Spares: 48% picked up

Single Pin spares: 73% (17/23)
Most common single pin leave: Single 6-pin and 7-pin (4x each).
Never left a single 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 38% (21/55)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 2-4-5 (8x).

Splits: 9% (1/11)

Average over 10 games: 153.40.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 159.50.

Single pin spare shooting was okay. But everything else was in the toilet. Not the encouragement I needed the night before sweeps. : (

[Aslan]

Sweeps in Laughlin: medium oil synthetics

481 Series: 167-157-157
Game 1 went well. I only had a couple opens; both washouts. But, only struck twice. Game 2 I had 3 washouts and a split…but struck out in the 10th to salvage a 157. Game 3 was just average…some strikes…but other misses.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.03 pins
Strikes: 33% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 4 singles)
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (3/4)
Most common single pin leave: Single 5-pin (2x)
Only left the 5-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 47% (8/17)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2-4-7, 3-10, and 1-2-4 (2x each).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 160.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 163.33.

Well…3 lessons...a 4-hour ride to the middle of the desert…28 games of practice…having to carry 6 bowling balls back and forth from one hotel to another….and I rolled 2 games under my average and won $24. Absolutely depressing. Add in the loss of about $150 in slot machines that apparently are set at such a laughably low payout level as to not even "slightly" encourage you…I mean, wow…what a **** vacation!!

Only bright side…I guess it was an improvement over my sweeps in Vegas last March. Yup…thats all I can come up with.

[Aslan]

Sunday Sport League: PBA Cheetah Pattern

621 Series: 153-148-129-191
I got up at 2:15AM and drove from Laughlin, NV to Norco, CA to participate in the Sunday sport league.

Game 1 some missed multi-pin spares…only a couple strikes. Game 2 I had a split and missed 4 multi-pin spares including three 3-6-10 leaves. Game 3 was just a disaster. No strikes…bad spare shooting…embarrassing. Game 4 I left a washout and missed a couple single-pin spares but managed to finally strike enough to salvage a decent score.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.17 pins
Strikes: 23% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 48% picked up

Single Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin and 10-pin (3x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 45% (9/20)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8 and 3-6-10 (3x each).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 4 games: 155.25.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 168.50.

Struck a little more but the spare shooting wasn't that great.

Had a chance to throw a few practice games on the pattern afterwards...

398 Series: 128-131-139

Bowled out of frustration more than anything. I was bowling so fast and so hard that sweat was dripping off of me. Having trouble getting my release consistent. Having trouble with my trail leg…"sweeping" it versus "kicking" it. Having trouble squaring my shoulders to the foul line. Half the time I don't focus enough on my timing.

But mostly I just need to get a system for spare shooting. The plastic ball is helping but I need "targets" to aim for. Up until now I've been sort of guestimating what the straight line to the pin would be…but it's hard to do that consistently when your shoulder is throwing the ball and your shoulder doesn't have eyes.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.42 pins
Strikes: 9% (3 singles)
Spares: 51% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin (3x each).
Only left a single 3-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 47% (10/21)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 (3x).

Splits: 50% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 132.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 138.00.

Well, MWhite was absent…but we added another member…so it'll be fun to have a full team.

But yeah, with the Challenge, the Sweeps debacle, and now another sub-standard league performance…this is one of those times where ya gotta take inventory and wonder if maybe bowling isn't the sport "for me". I mean, I've bowled nearly 45 games in 5 days…and it woulda been a whole lot more fun if I could see some level of improvement. But I'm still a 160s bowler that is getting slightly better at spare shooting but can't seem to strike. Whatever. More practice tomorrow while I wait to hear what Fall/Winter league has room for me.

[MICHAEL]

Sunday Sport League: PBA Cheetah Pattern

621 Series: 153-148-129-191
I got up at 2:15AM and drove from Laughlin, NV to Norco, CA to participate in the Sunday sport league.

Game 1 some missed multi-pin spares…only a couple strikes. Game 2 I had a split and missed 4 multi-pin spares including three 3-6-10 leaves. Game 3 was just a disaster. No strikes…bad spare shooting…embarrassing. Game 4 I left a washout and missed a couple single-pin spares but managed to finally strike enough to salvage a decent score.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.17 pins
Strikes: 23% (1 turkey, 2 doubles, and 3 singles)
Spares: 48% picked up

Single Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin and 10-pin (3x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 6-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 45% (9/20)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8 and 3-6-10 (3x each).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 4 games: 155.25.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 168.50.

Struck a little more but the spare shooting wasn't that great.

Had a chance to throw a few practice games on the pattern afterwards...

398 Series: 128-131-139

Bowled out of frustration more than anything. I was bowling so fast and so hard that sweat was dripping off of me. Having trouble getting my release consistent. Having trouble with my trail leg…"sweeping" it versus "kicking" it. Having trouble squaring my shoulders to the foul line. Half the time I don't focus enough on my timing.

But mostly I just need to get a system for spare shooting. The plastic ball is helping but I need "targets" to aim for. Up until now I've been sort of guestimating what the straight line to the pin would be…but it's hard to do that consistently when your shoulder is throwing the ball and your shoulder doesn't have eyes.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.42 pins
Strikes: 9% (3 singles)
Spares: 51% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin (3x each).
Only left a single 3-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 47% (10/21)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 (3x).

Splits: 50% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 132.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 138.00.

Well, MWhite was absent…but we added another member…so it'll be fun to have a full team.

But yeah, with the Challenge, the Sweeps debacle, and now another sub-standard league performance…this is one of those times where ya gotta take inventory and wonder if maybe bowling isn't the sport "for me". I mean, I've bowled nearly 45 games in 5 days…and it woulda been a whole lot more fun if I could see some level of improvement. But I'm still a 160s bowler that is getting slightly better at spare shooting but can't seem to strike. Whatever. More practice tomorrow while I wait to hear what Fall/Winter league has room for me.

ICEMAN dosen's want to hear this cry baby stuff! YOU ARE the reason that your team, the surfers, won the damn team event!!! The event I wanted to win the most!! Your spare shooting is what MADE the Difference!!!!
Keep this in your thoughts:

Good Better Best, never let it REST, Till YOUR GOOD is BETTER, Till your Better is BEST!! You will get there buddy!!! NEVER GIVE UP!! You don't want me to jump on my bike and ride out there and give you an attitude adjustment!!! Again,,, thanks for making my 66th B day fantastic!