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

[Aslan]

Monday Practice (wood lanes)

472 Series: 168-144-160
Was feeling good.

563 Series: 197-177-189
My BEST SERIES EVER!! Including picking up a 5-10 split to salvage a clean game in the 6th…before losing it to an open frame in the 9th. Damn Sleepers!! Then missed a clean game AGAIN by one frame…a gutter ball in the 2nd followed by 9 pins. Damn ball slipped off my thumb.

537 Series: 184-169-184
THIRD BEST SERIES EVER!! Including yet another near clean game…only missed it due to a 7-10 split…which believe it or not…I ALMOST picked up.

The main difference in my game was allowing myself to drop my shoulder. It was one of the first things my coach had me change 3-4 months ago…trying to get me to stand up straighter. But now that I'm not leaning over the foul line, dropping that right shoulder is really allowing my arm to swing freely. So I focused on my release but also my balance leg and overall form. And wow what a difference!!

Wasn't striking early on due to being a few boards too far inside…throwing the ball a bit straight at the headpin and a little too hard. But as I adjusted, moved my target a bit right…didn't muscle it as much, I started getting a better strike rate.

[Aslan]

Thursday League (synthetic, moderate-heavy oil)

449 Series: 149-155-145
Felt "okay", but not great. Spare ball (tri-grip) was missing way left. Seemed to be okay using my strike ball for spares.

Make-up Game from Halloween
402 Series: 113-179-110
Disaster. I got on a streak in the 2nd game…but what a disaster. Cost my team 2 points. I was all over the place. Just when I thought I had my mechanics down…I go and poop this brick. Very disappointed. By game 3 I just stood off to the side…watched my teammates do pretty well…but I was worthless at that point. Not sure what changed from the first game to the second game…maybe my knee started to wear out so I couldn't get as low…maybe out of frustration I was pulling it…I don't know. But far too many 3/- frames.

[Aslan]

Friday League (sanctioned league/wood lanes/low-moderate oil)

387 Series: 129-131-127

Worst series since I started playing in this league. And no excuse since this is the type of lane/conditions that I do well on and my ball is designed for. Not sure why…no answers…no excuses…just absolute disappointment. Worst series since joining this league…dropped my average 6 pins. And the first week where my scores in the Thursday League were higher than my scores in the Friday league.

The only good thing is consistency…and the only possible explanations are either the lanes were more oily than usual OR….I did use a 1000 grit wet sandpaper on the ball…not to "sand" it…just to scuff it a little. I thought that would help it grab a little more though…not less. I don't know…maybe it grabbed earlier and was all rolled out by the time it hit the pocket.

But I feel horrible…we lost 3 out of 4 points to a very sub-par team…on a night where the 2 teams ahead of us and the two teams we are tied with all played each other. This was our opportunity to get pack into the top of the standings..and it wasn't the "team" that failed…it was me. They all did fine.

[Aslan]

Monday Practice

Synthetic (med.-heavy oil)

Holiday rates were in effect at my usual wood lanes practice place, so I went to the synthetic lanes who were having a Veteran's Day special.

As usual when practicing on synthetics, I tried both the Frantic as well as the tri-grip drilled Columbia WD.

Frantic Series: 147-102-120-147
Wasn't doing horrible, but was not striking much and was missing spares. I tried to keep the speed down to try and get some backend hook…but even when I was barely throwing it…I was hitting 18-19mph. I may need to really, really slow it down and/or get a stronger ball.

Tri-Grip Columbia WD Series: 105-99-146-114
Just wasn't working out. Seems to work okay as a spare ball…but I just don't see it working well as an everyday ball. Really hard to judge whether the grip is effective or not. I'd like to see how the grip does creating revolutions and hook…but since it's a plastic ball…that effect isn't going to be very noticeable by design.

Will try to practice with each ball before league play on Thursday. But will probably stick with the Frantic as the strike ball and WD as the spare ball for now.

[Aslan]

Thursday Practice (Pre-League)
Fingertip Grip Frantic: 118
Tri-Grip Columbia WD: 91

Thursday League (moderate-heavy oil synthetics):
448 Series: 210-121-117
Had my SECOND CLEAN GAME EVER!! And my highest scoring game on synthetic lanes!! But then, in games 2 and 3…back to sucking rocks! Bowled about 14 pins above my average (overall) so I helped my team take at least 1 point…but let em down in games 2 and 3 which helped to cost us 2 out of 4 points against the worst team in the league. : (

Thursday Post-Game Practice:
439 Series: 134-137-168
More consistent, felt good…but was highly motivated to impress the couple next to me…one of whom was this mid-20s blonde with a rack that WOULD NOT QUIT! But at the end of the day I left alone…destined for a night of masturbation and pornography and she will go home with her thumbless bowling boyfriend…and give him tremendous head. Oh well…someday…my prince will come (disney song). Hopefully, my prince looks like Alyssa Milano…except minus all the tattoos and the weird fascination with starving children in Africa.

I think it's time to get my next ball drilled. I think I'm gonna pass on tri-grip…it just doesn't feel right. I'll head up to see Mike White in a couple weeks and get the new ball drilled up. I need a stronger ball for synthetic lanes with heavier oil…the Frantic just aint cutting it (despite the 210 game). I also only used my "spare ball" ONCE tonight!! Yeah….ONCE!! The Frantic is SO straight…it makes no sense to switch to a spare ball…even for single 10-pins or 6-10 leaves.

[MICHAEL]

Thursday Practice (Pre-League)
Fingertip Grip Frantic: 118
Tri-Grip Columbia WD: 91

Thursday League (moderate-heavy oil synthetics):
448 Series: 210-121-117
Had my SECOND CLEAN GAME EVER!! And my highest scoring game on synthetic lanes!! But then, in games 2 and 3…back to sucking rocks! Bowled about 14 pins above my average (overall) so I helped my team take at least 1 point…but let em down in games 2 and 3 which helped to cost us 2 out of 4 points against the worst team in the league. : (

Thursday Post-Game Practice:
439 Series: 134-137-168
More consistent, felt good…but was highly motivated to impress the couple next to me…one of whom was this mid-20s blonde with a rack that WOULD NOT QUIT! But at the end of the day I left alone…destined for a night of masturbation and pornography and she will go home with her thumbless bowling boyfriend…and give him tremendous head. Oh well…someday…my prince will come (disney song). Hopefully, my prince looks like Alyssa Milano…except minus all the tattoos and the weird fascination with starving children in Africa.

I think it's time to get my next ball drilled. I think I'm gonna pass on tri-grip…it just doesn't feel right. I'll head up to see Mike White in a couple weeks and get the new ball drilled up. I need a stronger ball for synthetic lanes with heavier oil…the Frantic just aint cutting it (despite the 210 game). I also only used my "spare ball" ONCE tonight!! Yeah….ONCE!! The Frantic is SO straight…it makes no sense to switch to a spare ball…even for single 10-pins or 6-10 leaves.

That Frantic should have a HUGE FLIP at the end!!!!! Wow,,, how is it drilled??? pin up down, where is it located?? Was the ball drilled to suit your delivery with Mike looking at your axis of rotation ect..ect...

Its not the Tri Grip,,, Mine flips a bunch, and Gene one of teammates is bowling Godzilla scores with his tri grip DV8 marauder! It SHOULD NOT GO straight!!!

Has Mike seen you throw the ball???? Maybe its your delivery, release of ball? It kicks like a Missouri Mule!!! Gene it now thinking about doing some tournaments since after going to the tri grip, his average has been 235! Before the Tri grip,,, he was a 220 bowler.... good, but now he has moved up to another level!
It may not be for you!!! You might be right,,, maybe later after you reach a certain level, you might want to give it another try!

For the life of me, that ball should hook, like many of the women you date!!!

[Aslan]

That Frantic should have a HUGE FLIP at the end!!!!! Wow,,, how is it drilled??? pin up down, where is it located?? Was the ball drilled to suit your delivery with Mike looking at your axis of rotation ect..ect...

I've posted the picture in the past; here it is again:
2013-09-29 15.05.33.jpg

So hopefully from the picture you can tell what the pin up versus pin down is, location, etc... I always thought "pin up" meant the pin was above the finger holes...but I'm a complete techno-peasant when it comes to drilling. Mike has done a good job of explaining it...but it's still kinda Greek to me.

I know a Frantic can hook. I've seen a couple other players throw a Frantic as their strike ball and both got more hook than I do. I "believe" (this is a theory at this point) that my Frantic/hooking issue is 20% lane conditions, 10% drilling, 20% beginner skill level, and 50% my delivery/style.

On low-oil/wood...I get a smooth arc...left foot center...targeting 9-board...ball arcs into that 11-5 board area...the hooks smoothly into the pocket. No hard break at the end, just a smooth arc.

On synthetics and heavier oil...I have to stand about 5 more boards right...and throw virtually straight at the 11-13 boards...and there's a slight "flare" at the end just before it hits the headpin.

So...."why is that?" Well, from what I've gathered...a combination of things (in believed order of importance):
1) Ball Speed: I throw 19-20mph. I've tried to reduce that with a shorter backswing and a shorter approach...less muscling...but I can't comfortably get that number much below 19mph. Through trial/practice...I HAVE noticed that I can get the Frantic to hook more on synthetics/heavy oil if I can get down to 13-15mph. I saw a guy throw a Frantic with a ball speed of 11-12mph...extreme outside track (2-board)...and he got a HUGE amount of turn/hook.
2) Loft: I comfortably loft the ball about 10ft. That much loft kills the ball energy (in terms of building up revs). I've tried to set it down sooner...closer to 5ft...but I lose all accuracy as I essentially just start "dropping" it.
3) Stroker/Revs: My approach is a stroker with low revs. I've seen a Tweener use a Frantic and get a little more flare...I'm sure a cranker or thumbless bowler could get it to turn...but my release just doesn't seem to generate a lot of revs.
4) Sanding/Polish: I have used a 1000grit wet sandpaper to "scuff" it a little. The "point/intent" was to get it to grap more...but I think that has resulted in cutting down a bit on the energy the ball can build up. I tried to polish it...but that didn't appear to do anything.

So...the above = about 55% of my issue(s). But, also, the Frantic is a symetric core, entry level advanced ball designed for medium oil and the ball has a hook rating (PerfectScale) of 189.5. If you compare it to some popular balls out there that I've seen on the lanes on Thursdays:

- Hammer First Blood: assymetric, 220.8, Pro Performance
- Storm Hy Road: symetric, advanced level, 173.8
- Storm IQ: assymetric, high performance, 211.9
- DV8 Diva: symmetric, high performance, 199.8
- AMF Mamba hybrid: assymetric, pro performance, 214.2
- Roto Grip Defiant: assymetric, pro performance, 216.47

So as you can see, the only ball that is similar in level and PerfectScale rating is the Hy Road...BUT, the Hy Road is a medium-heavy oil ball. The Frantic is the only ball of the ones listed that is recommended for "Medium" lane conditions. Now, I have seen lower level, low hook balls like the Strike King, Tropical Breeze, Hammer Nail/Spike, Pyramid Path, etc.. but these are usually female bowlers throwing a very straight ball up the middle.

So my point is, while I think my approach/release is far and away the culprit...the bottom line is I have a ball that isn't necessarily designed for heavy oil. And me sanding/scuffing it a bit doesn't help that.

I plan on paying Mike another visit this month or next month...have him watch me a couple more games...and hopefully he'll get enough information to be able to drill my next ball. I probably won't be league bowling much on synthetics until February/March or even May/June...but having a medium-heavy oil ball to "play/practice" with from now till then will help me get some practice for when my next synthetic lane/heavier oil leagues start up again.

[bowl1820]

I've posted the picture in the past; here it is again:


So hopefully from the picture you can tell what the pin up versus pin down is, location, etc... I always thought "pin up" meant the pin was above the finger holes...but I'm a complete techno-peasant when it comes to drilling. Mike has done a good job of explaining it...but it's still

Depending on your actual PAP location.

That look's like what is called a "Label Leverage" layout. That's where the Pin is located 3 3/8" from the PAP and the CG is close to the middle of your grip. It's a basic stroker layout for the most part it will give a good overall reaction depending on how you use it.

while I think my approach/release is far and away the culprit

You hit the nail on the head here.

You got high speed, low rev's and excessive loft, bowling on a oily lane. The ball doesn't have time to read the lanes and react.

[Aslan]

You got high speed, low rev's and excessive loft, bowling on a oily lane. The ball doesn't have time to read the lanes and react.

EXACTLY!!!

BOWL1820 is wise, wise, wise...

Simple Physics explains why I can't get hook...to get hook...on high oil...if you were trying to "instruct" someone...you'd say:
- Asymetric ball, made for moderate-heavy oil
- Lower speed and low loft to give it time to react to the lane
- Polished surface so it doesn't lose energy before the dry area
- 2-handed > thumbless > Cranker > Tweener > Stroker (fingertip) > Stroker (conventional grip)

The bottom line is, I "get away with" my style and that ball on low-oil wooden lanes because it's grabbing the lanes earlier and arcing into the pocket earlier. On heavier oil synthetics...there's nothing for the ball to grab until 9-14 feet in front of the headpin...but the ball is already travelling so fast...it can't make the turn.

It's like driving a car on a paved road versus an icy road. On the paved rode, you can travel 75mph...turn the wheel some and the car turns. On ice, you can have the wheel turned all the way over...but you ain't turnin...and when you finally hit that 10-30 feet of dry pavement...you're just gonna skid.

So why not just slow it down?? Ya dumb-dumb!!

Well, I've tried that. Worked on it a great deal actually. Slower, earlier release...starting the ball lower, lower backswing, shorter approach, etc... But I just can't get the accuracy with that lower speed. My approach/release works when my shoulders are parallel to the foul line and I'm getting good "snap" with the ball. That gives the ball good rotation and at that speed...very good pin action. In addition to the shoulders ending up parallel...it also helpls my acuracy because I'm throwing the ball "out" rather than "down" and I get very good follow-through, extension, form.

The downside is it won't hook. Just pure Physics...the same Physics that causes a person in a car to go in the ditch on an icy road. And if a stronger ball doesn't "help"...I'll have no choice but to work with a professioinal coach at how to either get a higher rev delivery or reduce my speed. Pro bowlers throw at 20-22mph...so you CAN get tremendous hook at higher ball speeds...but you have to develop a professional level release.

[Aslan]

Friday League (sanctioned, wooden lanes, low oil):

540 Series: 168-213-159
Felt good. Actually had a great first game, but it was broken up in the 5th frame with a -/1. First ball in the gutter, second ball my thumb stuck and I pulled it. Then the second game, I had my third ever clean game 213…felt really good about that. I think the booze sunk in by game 3 and I was a little off. A lot more open frames, missed spares (barely)…etc… Probably my 3rd highest series I've ever bowled, second highest in league play.

Never pulled out my spare ball…just threw the Frantic with lateral movement and I did fine.