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

[Aslan]

First practice back on the lanes since leaving Iowa in early 2022.

The "good news"?

1. My Achilles held up.
2. I didn't fall down.
3. I didn't go postal on the mental midgets that surrounded me, all 3 games, rapid firing house balls, and seemingly never sitting down!
4. Rolled 3 games...3rd game I shot a 197 with two opens. That's about where I was in 2022.

The "bad news"?

1. I was horrible. I don't remember the scores of the first two games because I wasn't really keeping score until the 3rd game...but it was BAD! Usually when I have a long break...and come back...I do this thing where I throw the ball in the right gutter...like not squaring my shoulders or something...it just takes me a while to break that habit.

2. In case you live in Canada and haven't heard...it's wicked HOT...all over the country...but it's been > 100 degrees EVERY DAY for 3 weeks. Every day. 22-23% humidity...102 degrees. It's maddening! And don't get all Rob/classgranny and say it's hotter in Vegas or Phoenix. Yes...I know...but those are essentially deserts. If you're in a Vegas casino, it doesn't matter how hot it is outside. Unless it's Laughlin...that place was unbearable all the way around.

So, my point is...I'm fat...and I sweat a lot. I bring a washcloth and a battery powered fan with me to league night because I'll be sweating even in the winter. Well, today...oh my God! It looked like I just walked in to bowl from a water park. You sweat, the thumb tape comes off, God forbid a drop of sweat hits the approach and gets on my slide sole! My thumb was HUGE...so I had to go up a VISE size...then I shot a couple spare shots...no VISE in the spare ball...so I gotta take tape out! And all this heat makes my head hurt...so I had a splitting headache...I think I was dehydrated...

3. I knew I wasn't gonna learn much about my two new balls (Trident/Sting) given I haven't even resurfaced the OOB finish yet...but it would be nice to see how they "roll". But, when you're as rusty as I am...I just don't think my release was even close to normal...so I didn't "learn" anything about my new equipment. And I probably won't figure it out until a month into leagues.

I just really, really hope this new arsenal isn't a disaster. This is the first arsenal using the system I developed to select balls. It's taken almost 10 years to perfect it (and drain the 'closet of destiny'), and...if there's ANYTHING to ball specs...then this arsenal will be far superior to that garbage one I put together with the Optimus Solid/LaneMasters ball/Special Ops. If this system fails...then I'm just buying balls based on color and smell from now on...because it's all nonsense.

Takeaways?

I will probably be sore tomorrow...but as long as my Achilles is stable...Aslan will RISE...and I will RISE in Iceman's home state. Too bad he's not around to see me take over his throne. Maybe I can still make the Kansas Bowling HOF! Probably not. There's probably some legit talent in Wichita. The guy there that drilled my new balls for VISE IT is a former pro (Justin Hromek). I'm not sure if he still coaches...but I might see if wants to give me lessons once I'm back into it. He threw a kickanse ball back in the mid-90s! It's a pain to drive 45 minutes to get there...but this ain't Orange County, CA...this is Kansas. There's like 0 cities, Wichita, and then a scattering of large towns over an enormous area.

Gonna call the "league lady" tomorrow to see where I'm at as far as finding a team in a couple leagues. Worst case maybe I can sub. I could also convince my coworkers into creating a team...I think I could convince 2-3...maybe more. But, unfortunately, I live 25 minutes away and one of the guys that might be interested lives an hour away. And, I (selfishly) don't want to get through with work around 4:30 and have to sit in the bowling alley till 6:30 waiting for leagues to start. But, it's an option.

Also waiting on my "big order" from bowlingball.com! Went a little over budget and got a new pair of shoes and a couple deluxe triple rollers. The Pyramid shoes are really nice, but the right one is starting to come apart a little and the insides are pretty worn. It's time. I got 6-7 years out of em...and a LOT of games! And my Ebonite 4-ball roller bag has never been great. The handle broke almost immediately after I bought it. And the bottom pocket is starting to get little holes. It lasted me almost a decade...but I think two deluxe rollers gives me more than enough capacity and storage...with functioning handles...and that means I only need those two bags (versus a 4-ball roller, a 1-ball joey, and a backpack.

[boomer]

Yeah - thank goodness you were only at 20% humidity. My buddy is in TN where it's upwards of 80% relative humidity. He's a rabid triathlete and he has no desire to do ANYTHING . . . LOL But I get ya - I've got my sweat-rag and my fan and my wife will STILL not give me a hug after a good shot. . .


Just a thought - if you're having that much trouble, maybe do a 2-step drill to get back in the mode?

[Aslan]

Open Bowling:

Sunday League Night - No Team/No Sub Opportunity

Oil Pattern: THS (dry)

157-164-153

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.27 pins
Strikes: 33%
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 44% (4/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin (3x)
Never left single 1-pin, 6-pin, and 8-pin, nor 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2 and 1-2-8 (2x each).

Splits: N/A

Average over 3 games: 158.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 174.67.

Still no interest from the Sunday or Wednesday leagues. A bowler with no home! Tried to drum up interest at the workplace in forming a team. But, no interest. So, I went to league night, tonight, just to see if a team might pick me up last minute. Offered to sub, but the guy never announced a sub was available (which I hate when they fail to do). So, I just bowled a few games (for score) to see how badly I 'would have' bowled for whatever desperate team picked me up.

Good News:
I felt better. Very few misses right, where I'm dumping it in the right gutter. No falls or sticks or other major disaster. The Achilles feels fine.

Bad News:
Pulled a LOT of shots...so timing is obviously still an issue. Spare shooting was HORRID. NINE single pins and I could only hit less than half. Every spare I left was "makable" and I still only shot 50%. Lame.

Like I sad, I finished off the hour with a game of Low Ball. Shot a 60, but probably more like a 75 with a couple penalties for a gutter and '0'. Not great. I think it's probably a "slightly above average" lowball score. 30-50 is probably the "Good" range. But still, I got in a good rhythm and started making some good shots at the corner pins.

Still got a shot at bowling on Wednesdays. I'd hate to have to go to the next nearest center...then I'd have to drag my bowling balls to work 1-2 times a week...which is a real PITA.

[J Anderson]

For low ball, assuming you give yourself a strike for first ball gutters and a spare if you don’t hit any pins on the second ball, 60 is a decent score. It’s very common to take out the 6-9-10 when going for a ten pin and I have taken the 4-6-7-8-9-10 on quite a few shots when trying to pick off the ten.

[Aslan]

For low ball, assuming you give yourself a strike for first ball gutters and a spare if you don’t hit any pins on the second ball, 60 is a decent score. It’s very common to take out the 6-9-10 when going for a ten pin and I have taken the 4-6-7-8-9-10 on quite a few shots when trying to pick off the ten.

Yeah. The one thing I don't like about lowball is if the are shooting at a 7-pin and miss a little inside (but still could pick up the 7-pin if it were alone there), you might clear out the 4-6-7-8-9-10...and now you can't really pick up anything on the 2nd ball without taking out at least 2 more pins. But if you throw a shot that 'would have' taken out the 10-pin...you get a "0" and a 10-point penalty.

It's too bad I can't just set the lane to put down a 4-7-8 and 6-9-10. Then you could try to pick off corners with minimal penalties.

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 2

575 Series: 233-194-148

6 2, X, 8 /, X, X, X, X, X, X, 5 /X.
A little deceptive. Some lucky strikes and at least 2 Brooklyn strikes mixed in there. The Trident Odyssey was really mowing them down!

X, 8 1, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, X 6 /.
Midway through, I switched to the Scorpion Sting. Just couldn't find the carry. However, once I switched to the Scorpion Sting on both lanes (7th frame), it was X, X, 9 /, X 6 /.

7 /, 8 /, 9 -, 3 5, 7 /, 9 /, X, 7 /, 8 1, 7 1.
Switched to the Force Pearl on the right lane starting in the 3rd frame. Having to switch thumb inserts each frame kinda messed with me. I'd much prefer to make a wholesale ball change. The real culprit was the heat. When it's 109 degrees outside, the thumb is a little bit bigger. Pulled a lot of shots just because my thumbhole was too tight.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.53 pins
Strikes: 40%
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 3-pin and 6-pin (2x each)
Also left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 68% (10/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 58% (7/12)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: n/a

Average over 3 games: 191.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 193.33.

After the first two games, my new team was thinking they might have gotten themselves a halfway decent bowler. Put that to rest in Game 3.

Positives
- No injuries.
- Better spare shooting.

Negatives
- Environment (heat)
- Stats are indicitive of someone just spraying the ball all over the place...but being halfway decent at picking up the spares that are left.
- Release and timing are still awful. I'm off balance and I'm not low enough to get any leverage.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 1

513 Series: 156-125-232

7 /, 7 /, X, 9 /, 8 1, X, X, 7 2, 8 1, 8 -.
A lot of bad pulls...and a disastrous end with 3 opens. I figured, "Oh well, I'm establishing...so, whatever."

8 1, X, 8 1, 9 /, 9 /, 5 3, 5 4, 3 5, 6 3, X 6 /.
Switched to the Scorpion Sting in the 10th frame of Game 1. Tried to stick with it though all of Game 2. Just couldn't find the pocket. Pulls left, misses way right. I think I threw ONE good shot the entire game! And, I'm all for not going super-aggressive when you're establishing...but a 125 is embarrassing. This is a new team, a men's league, an established league, a lot of decent bowlers, and they were hoping for a 191 average bowler...not this disaster.

9 /, X, X, X, X, 7 1, X, 9 /, X, XX9.
Noticed the anchor was having a 700+ night and was essentially throwing and old ball, with an average release, up and in over 2nd arrow. I thought, "Why am I trying to play an inside line that I can't play...and THIS guy is just throwing up 2nd arrow and shooting 200+ each game?" So, scratched out my original game plan, took out the Rhino Gold, and...when in Rome... Coulda shot a 250+ if it weren't for some bad luck on a ringing 7-pin in the 1st and a stone 8 in the 8th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.39 pins
Strikes: 39%
Spares: 42% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (5/5)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (2x)
Also left a single 5-pin, 7-pin, and 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 47% (8/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 25% (3/12)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-3-6 and 1-3-6-8 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 171.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: n/a.

It's funny how the team seemed a bit apprehensive early on...seeing that they might be getting a 125-160 bowler...and then by midway of Game 3 the captain was telling me that we had the game locked up...might want to save the handicap since I was establishing. I wouldn't normally sandbag like that anyways...but ESPECIALLY when I got something to prove. I figured those first two disasters were handicap enough.

And, I'm gonna start another thread on the struggle I've been having between adopting modern bowling techniques (which I'm convinced are valid) versus bowling the way my grandpa taught me..."just stand in the middle and roll it up 2nd arrow."

I've surfaced both the Trident Odyssey and the Scorpion Sting...so now I'll have a consistent surface to work from. Went 800/1000 sanded on the Trident. Haven't seen the movement I expected from that ball, so I wanted to bump that grit down a little. The Scorpion Sting I went with a 1000/2000 and then finished with some old Storm Step 2. This is essentially the OOB finish...but one that I can repeat and work with.

Positives
- Averted a complete disaster with a strong 230+ game in Game 3.
- Learned a little more about these lanes and which line I might want to focus on.
- New team seems cool. And, it's a decent, established league.
- Achilles is holding up.
- I always say it, anytime you shoot 100% at single-pin spares...it's a good night.

Negatives
- K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). I'm a speed dominant bowler trying to play a rev dominant bowler's game. I need to do what works...let the lane dictate the shot rather than me try to force a shot on the lane.
- Can't get low enough (knee) to get good leverage on the ball and finish with good balance. I need to lose some weight and find a way to get low enough to be effective, without blowing out my slide knee.
- You CAN'T leave 12 multi-pin spares. AND, even if you do...you can't have a 25% conversion rate. That makes good bowling scores mathematically impossible.
- Environment: Heat. Gonna have to go down to Wichita to get some work done on my VISE inserts. I'm now using the biggest one...and I really need to have them all widened to where I'm using the 2nd or 3rd biggest on nights like these. Using the top one leaves me no room to go up (should I have to) and leaves 5-6 inserts unusable. Defeats the whole purpose of interchangeable thumbs.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 3

528 Series: 187-142-199

Struggled with timing early...but miraculously only opened twice and got some help from a couple Brooklyn strikes.
8 /, X, X, 5 3, 8 -, X, X, 9 /, X, 9 / 9.

Just wasn't carrying on shots that should carry...so I switched to the Scorpion Sting. Ended up with 4 splits...and even though I converted two of them...three other opens...two on single-pins. And, I only struck twice.
9 /, 9 -, 8 1, X, 8 /, 8 1, 7 2, 9 -, 9 /, X 8 /.

Switched to the Force Pearl...which is my most reliable ball in my arsenal. Had to make a minor adjustment to the right...but I started off strong. After the first 4 frames, I pulled a couple shots and then needed to make a small adjustment to the left...finished strong in the 10th...but needed to strike out to salvage a '200'...I went X X 9...pulled the 3rd shot and left a 3-pin.
X, X, X, X, 8 1, 9 /, 7 2, 8 /, 9 -, X X 9.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.91 pins
Strikes: 38%
Spares: 47% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin, 6-pin, and 10-pin (2x each).
Also left a single 2-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 42% (6/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 16% (1/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-9 (2x)

Splits: 60% (3/5)

Average over 3 games: 176.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 186.67.

I wasn't a "bad" night....but still working out my timing and figuring out my new arsenal.

Positives
- Two games where I almost hit 200.
- Converted 3 out of 5 splits.

Negatives
- Still haven't 100% locked down the line I need at this house.
- Knees and achilles were sore.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 2

572 Series: 166-243 (clean)-163

X, 9 -, 9 /, 7 /, 8 /, 6 3, 9 /, X, 3 /, 9 / 9.
Not good. I didn't like the Odyssey in practice, so I started with the Scorpion Sting. Timing was still off and the lanes were really slick making my footing questionable.

X, X, X, 9 /, X, X, X, 9 /, 9 /, XX6.
They weren't all pretty...still figuring out the new ball...but once I flattened out my line and started making some better shots...things felt good.

X, 7 2, 8 /, X, 7 /, 8 1, X, 9 /, X, 8 1.
This score was a lot worse than the actual game was...mainly because of the open 10th. Switched to the Force Pearl...and (as usual), that ball was lights out. It was so impressive I heard the young (good) team we were bowling against rumbling about how good my ball was moving. Its (Force Pearl) probably not as good as my old Reaxx Pearl...and it's definitely not as powerful as my Scandal Pearl....but I'd probably have it #3 on my list...even ahead of the Forbear Exile...which was a ball I loved.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.76 pins
Strikes: 42%
Spares: 70% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin (4x)
Also left a single 3-pin (3x) and 4-pin.

Makeable spares: 70% (12/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 55% (5/9)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x)

Splits: n/a

Average over 3 games: 190.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 194.33.

Not a bad night. I gotta move a little right and play the track...at least until I can get more knee bend and a more consistent delivery and release. I'm just not getting the leverage right now that I need to move in and take a more inside line. Not without sacrificing 4mph or so. As long as the track is playable, I'd rather the 16-17mph than to move inside and try to throw in the 9-13mph range.

Positives
- Never a bad night when you get a clean game.
- Highest score since 10/5/2021.
- Achilles is holding up.
- Made a lot of spares. Hate to leave em, but if ya leave em, ya gotta pick em up. Much better with makable spares than last week.

Negatives
- Health is still my biggest enemy. My feet and ankles are swollen and the doctor I saw didn't know why. And, I "tweaked" my right knee...not sure when/how...but fortunately it's my push-off leg or I'd be potentially out of action again until it healed.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 4

517 Series: 151-176-190

Still couldn't find the line early on. I think I need to play more in the track...I'm still expecting too much of the ball...and my release is still in the toilet. Everything was awful. The line, the timing...just garbage. I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself given the score was low due to two splits and an open tenth.
X, 6 2, X, X, 9 /, 5 3, 9 /, X, 5 3, 6 1.

Moved to the Scorpion Sting late into Game 1...stuck with it until the 10th of Game 2. I'd sum this nightmare up as, "Being able to pick up a lot of spares...after throwing horrible shots that caused the splits in the first place." I threw 3 splits, made one of them. The two splits were my only opens. But, when ya only manage to strike 3 times...you're not gonna score very high. The only highlight was picking up a 2-10 by ricocheting the 2-pin off the backstop.
9 /, 9 /, 8 1, 7 2, X, X, 6 /, 8 /, 8 /, X 8 1.

Switched to the Force Pearl in the 10th of Game 2. Played all of Game 3 with the FP. For some reason, I lost my line on one lane in the 1st frame and then lost the line on the other lane in the 4th. Fortunately, I made the right adjustments and finished the final half of the game halfway decent...but, disappointing overall result.
9 /, X, 5 2, 8 -, X, 9 /, X, X, X, 8 / X.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.50 pins
Strikes: 40%
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (6/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 5-pin (2x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 4-pin, 7-pin, and 10-pin.

Makeable spares: 64% (6/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 37% (3/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 3 games: 172.33
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: n/a.

I guess it wasn't terribly worse than last week. I can't blame bad luck given most of my spares were Brooklyn. I accidentally surfaced the Force Pearl wrong before the games. I was in a hurry to get it done before I had to leave. I think I intended to sand it to 1500/Storm Step 2 but ended up sanding it to 1500/Step 1/Step 2...so I guess not much difference. Another night with 5 splits...gotta make better shots to avoid such messes.

Positives
- 100% on single-pins.
- Got a few VISE inserts widened...wasn't having the same thumb issues as the previous couple weeks.

Negatives
- Still haven't 100% locked down the line I need at this house.
- Knees and achilles were sore.
- Late timing leading to pulled shots.

[J Anderson]

Good to hear you got the Vise inserts modified. Now if you can get your timing right bothe your accuracy and your release should improve. Unfortunately I can’t help with the ankle/knee/weight problem.