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

[Aslan]

So if this was practice, what were you working on?

Still trying to make my approach more fluid and still working on forward spine tilt.

Tuesday Night League: Fairly new synthetics, dry THS

527 Series: 160-219-148

Game 1 I ran into some split issues.

Game 2 was a missed single 5-pin away from a clean game; but not a ton of carry.

Game 3 my spare shooting was poor giving me 4 opens; including a chopped 2-8 sleeper in the 10th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.73 pins
Strikes: 33% (2 turkeys and 5 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin (4x).
Also left a single 3-pin, 4-pin, 8-pin, and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 61% (8/13)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2 and 2-5 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 175.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 185.67.

Not a very good night. Hard to get good carry when anything thrown up the outside burns up and rolls out well before 50ft...and using weaker equipment in the middle...the equipment has no 'snap' on the backend.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low-medium oil synthetics, older brunswick lanes

567 Series: 213-181-173

Game 1 I was a chopped 2-4-5 in the 6th away from a clean game.

Game 2 I again chopped a 2-4-5 in the 6th, but also opened on a 7-pin in the 10th.

Game 3 I chopped a 1-2-8 in the 4th and then another 2-4-5 in the 7th. Relatively little carry, but I ran a few strikes together late to salvage the sub-standard 173.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.78 pins
Strikes: 43% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 1 double, and 5 singles)
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 7-pin (4x).
Also left a 2-pin and 4-pin (2x each)

Multiple Pin spares: 40% (4/10)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-4-5 (4x)

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 189.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 193.33.

Just three players against a team that didn't show, so the 'rhythm' was off. And I just couldn't seem to hit the pocket solid. 2-pins, 1-2-8, left side bucket, 5-7 split, 2-4-5-7, 1-2-4-7, and FOUR 2-4-5 3/4 buckets. If I move outside to find some dry, the ball hits weak. If I move inside to keep it from burning up, doesn't make it back.

[Aslan]

Friday League Night (subbing)
Older Brunswick synthetics: low-moderate oil

556 Series: 207-172-177

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.71 pins
Strikes: 41% (1 4-bagger, 1 double, and a 8 singles)
Spares: 72% picked up

Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x).
Also left a 5-pin and a 7-pin (2x each).

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (7/11)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 (2x)

Splits: 50% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 185.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 188.33.

I figured I wasn't going to carry a 207 average...all I could hope was that my game coming "back down to Earth" wouldn't hurt the team I end up subbing for. And, fortunately, the team took 2 out of 3, despite my performance. And, it's good to get my average down...even if it's still a bit elevated at 200.

This week was supposed to be a 'confidence builder' going into the USBC tournament this weekend. Instead, it was a stark reminder that, at the end of the day, I'm a 180s bowler. Not good news when I'm still forced to use a 192 average for tournaments.

[Aslan]

Orange County USBC BVL Tournament: low-moderate oil, older Brunswick synthetics

Gonna be nearly impossible to win the Classic (191+) Division. I'd have a good shot of winning the B-Division (151-169) and at least some chance of winning the A Division (170-190). I was 30-40 pins ahead of the guy who was winning the A Division after the AM squad. But, competing in a 191+ division with an inflated 192 average, I'm gonna probably need my first ever 700 series in order to win. Given that's gonna be nearly impossible, I'm just hoping to finish in the top 5 of the division to keep my "Top 5 Finish at the BVL" streak alive.

AM SQUAD
534 Series: 222-156-156

Started off with a missed single 7-pin, but other than that I had good carry. Then, complete collapse as carry evaporated and my spare shooting was abysmal.

PM SQUAD

565 Series: 152-200-213

Started out horribly with 3 splits; including a Big 4 and pocket 7-10 in Game 1. Add in a missed single 10-pin, and I was out of every bracket except one.

Game 2, carry was sub-standard, but I was only a missed single 10-pin away from a clean game.

Game 3, things got better, but a missed single 10-pin in the 10th kinda wrecked things.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.88 (AM) and 8.69 (PM) pins
Strikes: 42% (AM) and 40% (PM)
(2 4-baggers, 6 doubles, and 7 singles)

Spares: 47% (AM) and 63% (PM) picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (AM) and 50% (PM) (9/14)
Most common single pin leaves: 10-pin (6x).
Also left a single 4-pin, 6-pin, 5-pin (2x), and 7-pin (4x).

Multiple Pin spares: 22% (AM) 69% (PM) (13/26)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2 and 2-4-5 (3x each)

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 6 games: 183.17.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 191.83.

Was one of the stronger bowlers in the AM squad, but after Game 2 I looked at the squad as 'practice', more than anything.

In the PM squad, starting out with the 152 just mentally killed me. Being in the classic division, I'm not gonna be competitive when one of my games is sub-200.

Just bad timing the whole day. I'm trying to work on some form/timing issues...and it was just messing me up all day. I'm trying to improve my spine tilt and avoid 'popping up' when I release the ball. But if I concentrate on the spine tilt, I sometimes have the tendency to 'dive' when I get to the foul line. I'm also trying to keep my footwork fluid...I have a tendency to slow down/stop somewhere around step 3. But, when I concentrate on staying 'fluid', I have the tendency to rush my footwork and speed...which means I need more rpms to get the ball back to the pocket...and then I'm 'trying' too hard and my shot isn't relaxed etc.., etc.., etc... Lots of things in old duder's head, for sure.

In Game 3, when I started doing better, I started focusing on my balance arm a little more. Even though, a bowler's balance arm kinda 'does what it does' and isn't usually something you have to "think about"; I have seem to make much better shots if I focus on my balance arm, rather than just letting it 'do whatever'.

Try again in about 5.5 hours. Gonna try to be more relaxed and just focus on balance arm, form, and release. Hopefully I can still shorten my first step and have adequate spine tilt without focusing on it so much. I'd have to probably throw a 706 or better to win the division...gonna need to bowl a 670-690 series to keep my top 5 streak alive.

[Aslan]

Orange County USBC BVL Tournament: low-oil synthetics

Coming into Day 2, the score to beat was a 682 or 692 (??). So, essentially, it'd take my best series (ever) to bump me into the top spot. Coming into the tournament, I knew the Classic Division winner would likely need a 706+ series.

I have to say, mentally it was going to be a question mark when I realized, on the same pair, I was bowling against one of the better amateurs in the area, a guy that averages over 200, over 220 in some leagues. So, would I get intimidated and poo the bed? Or would I "play up" to his level? I had a decent breakfast versus yesterday when I bowled on an empty stomach. However, I only had 2.5 hours sleep that night.

AM SQUAD
669 Series: 217 (clean)- 247 (clean) - 205

I felt good in Game 1. The high average guy beat me by 10 pins or less. I guess I figured, if I could hang with him...then I could actually win the Classic Division.

Game 2 I started out with a couple spares, but managed 7 strikes over the next 8 frames and beat out the high average guy by 20+ pins. At this point, I didn't care if I managed the 693 to win, but I wanted to beat that high-average bowler scratch.

Was able to continue my success in Game 3, but started losing carry in the 6th frame, which was also my only open frame of the series. I was able to regain composure after the open frame, and struck in the 8th and 10th to finish with a decent 205. I beat out the other two classic division rivals by 2 pins, each.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.45
Strikes: 57% (1 5-bagger, 2 turkeys, 1 double, and 6 singles)

Spares: 84% (11/13)

Single Pin spares: 80% (8/10)
Most common single pin leaves: 10-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, nor 5-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 100% (3/3)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: N/A

Average over 3 games: 223.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 227.00.

Historical Reference
2014
I finished 5th in the B-Division with a 563 series. There were 18 competitors in that Division and the scores ranged from 390-661.
That year, the Classic Division winner rolled a 731. The range was 497-731 with an average series score of 617.

2015
I placed 3rd (out of 8) in the B-Division with a 527 series. That year, the B-Division scores ranged from 452-561.
That year, the Classic Division champion rolled a 787 series with scores in that division ranging from 480-787, with an average of 619.

That year, I also competed in the A-Division of the Citrus Belt BVL and finished 2nd with a 593. The winner shot a 630.

2016
I finished in 3rd place in the Orange County A-Division with a 609. Scores ranged from 473-663.
The Classic Division champion that year rolled a 741, the scores ranged from 441-741, and the average score was a 612.

While my strong outing wasn't enough to win the Division, it was quite respectable given my entering average was 192 and I was competing against bowlers with averages 191 and up.

Spent $75 to bowl, $20 in 50/50 and ball raffles, $65 in brackets, $5 tip (brackets) and $5 for prize fund = $170.
Won $85 in brackets and a 900Global Special Ops bowling ball in the raffle. Given the ball sells for $120, I probably made out well financially. I also probably won some prize fund money; maybe $20-$40.

[J Anderson]

Orange County USBC BVL Tournament: low-oil synthetics

Coming into Day 2, the score to beat was a 682 or 692 (??). So, essentially, it'd take my best series (ever) to bump me into the top spot. Coming into the tournament, I knew the Classic Division winner would likely need a 706+ series.

I have to say, mentally it was going to be a question mark when I realized, on the same pair, I was bowling against one of the better amateurs in the area, a guy that averages over 200, over 220 in some leagues. So, would I get intimidated and poo the bed? Or would I "play up" to his level? I had a decent breakfast versus yesterday when I bowled on an empty stomach. However, I only had 2.5 hours sleep that night.

AM SQUAD
669 Series: 217 (clean)- 247 (clean) - 205


Was able to continue my success in Game 3, but started losing carry in the 6th frame, which was also my only open frame of the series. I was able to regain composure after the open frame, and struck in the 8th and 10th to finish with a decent 205. I beat out the other two classic division rivals by 2 pins, each.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.45
Strikes: 57% (1 5-bagger, 2 turkeys, 1 double, and 6 singles)

Spares: 84% (11/13)

Single Pin spares: 80% (8/10)
Most common single pin leaves: 10-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, nor 5-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 100% (3/3)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: N/A

Average over 3 games: 223.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 227.00.

Nice bowling. You realize that about 2/3 of your strikes were either follow by a strike or preceded by a strike which is the kind of carry that pros get.

Given some of your recent posts about what seems to motivate you, I'm not surprised that you stepped it up a notch.

If your only open frame was the 6th frame of the third game, how could you be 8/10 on single pin spares?

[NewToBowling]

Maybe he had open frame in 10th after striking first ball

[mc_runner]

Nice close on that tournament!

[Aslan]

Nice close on that tournament!

Thanks!
Never won a ball raffle before, so I was more excited about that!

* I have won ONLINE ball giveaways...just never a ball raffle.

Nice bowling. You realize that about 2/3 of your strikes were either follow by a strike or preceded by a strike which is the kind of carry that pros get.

Nice to think I was statistically in that company. But, as we all know...no matter how well we bowl on a given night... "we know" that we weren't "pro level". Leaving a 2-pin on a miss right or pulling a shot and leaving a 3-6-10...NOT things a pro routinely does.

Given some of your recent posts about what seems to motivate you, I'm not surprised that you stepped it up a notch.

Yeah. I wasn't sure how it would go. I usually "play up to" my competition. But, this opponent...lets just say if I was in a doubles match and could have any amateur (non-pro) bowler on my team...I'd pick him. Let's just say, I'd almost take his "bad" shots over my "good" shots.

If your only open frame was the 6th frame of the third game, how could you be 8/10 on single pin spares?

Maybe he had open frame in 10th after striking first ball

Correct. My only single-pin misses were the 10-pin in the 6th frame of Game 3, and the 6-pin on the last shot of the third game, after striking on the first ball of the 10th.

[J Anderson]

Thanks!

Correct. My only single-pin misses were the 10-pin in the 6th frame of Game 3, and the 6-pin on the last shot of the third game, after striking on the first ball of the 10th.

The local sport league used to have a "40 clean" pot, a bowler would have to have no open frames for all four games to win. If the pot wasn't won one week the money would be added to the next weeks pot. Under the rules we played by, your strike with a 9 fill would have been considered an open.

We had this pot going for at least two seasons with no one winning it. The money was not rolled over to the next season, but was either added to the general prize fund, or disbursed through an end of season roll-off. It was replaced with a strike pot where to win you need to get a strike in certain frames of all four games. I'm not sure if anyone has won this pot either, but at least two people have gone 40 clean since we gave up on the 40 clean pot.