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

[RobLV1]

Actually, before going out on Tour, the pros practice closer to 20 games a DAY, not 20 games a WEEK. For the Senior Open this year, we bowled six games per day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Those that made it to the finals bowled approximately 50 games by Friday. Doing simple math, that means that they bowled over thirty games between Thursday and Friday. Besides practicing fundamentals, tournament bowlers also need to build endurance. I can tell you from my own experience that bowling a ten gamer on a tough pattern feels like bowling twenty games on a house shot, for two reasons: there are fewer one-ball frames (strikes), and you have to concentrate on every single spare. Nothing can be taken for granted. To say that it is mentally exhausting is an understatement.

In terms of changing balls for a house shot, unfortunately the majority of bowlers who do it, do it so that they can stay in their comfort zone by balling down. This may work for a while, but eventually everyone has to move in. When they do, some will revert back to a more aggressive ball - not a bad idea!

[fortheloveofbowling]

Hey man, you will have to pull up the bpaa all star step ladder finals on you tube tomorrow. Your girl diana looks like she will be in the finals!

[Aslan]

Actually, before going out on Tour, the pros practice closer to 20 games a DAY, not 20 games a WEEK.

I meant 20 games a day.

Nothing can be taken for granted. To say that it is mentally exhausting is an understatement.

Well, any league bowler knows that. I can bowl 9 games of open bowling, rapid fire…no big deal. But I tried to bowl 3 league games and then immediately pre-bowl for the following week once…it was a disaster. I was way more mentally exhausted after 3 league games than I ever thought I'd be.

[Aslan]

Thursday League: medium oil synthetics

491 Series: 144-163-184
Yet another disappointing night from an individual standpoint. Tried out the new (< aggressively drilled) Encounter up the outside (7-8 boards). Nearly every frame I was coming in light. The ball just didn't seem to be making any move at all. I was used to a solid coverstock,not a pearl. And the reaction on the backend was virtually non-existent.

Game 1 I didn't strike until the 10th. Game 2 I was able to strike a few times, but also had a couple nasty splits. Game 3 I started out with 4 marks, then chopped a 2-4-5, then chopped a 2-4-10 washout, before finishing with 5 more marks.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.09 pins
Strikes: 27% (2 doubles and 5 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

Single Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 9-pin and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 56% (9/16)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4 and 2-4-5 (3x each).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 163.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 168.00.

Overall a good night for the team; holding onto a spot in the #2-#7 and getting 3 of 4 points. Some of the other team was NOT happy. I guess they don't like high handicap we were getting. But, hey...

1) I didn't insist on this stupid 100% of 220 handicap system...so they need to speak up at the beginning of next season rather than whine about it all season long.
2) We tied them scratch the 3rd game...so it's not like they were having a great night or anything.

That team was the perfect example of how crappy this sport has become. The majority of their bowlers threw thumbless...BIG hooks...loved to see that ball go flying off to the left...as if it's "cooler" or something. And hey...when they are "on"..VERY tough to beat! But when they can't strike...they can't make spares...they leave weird leaves...and they score < 140.

All these Thursday Night All-Stars need to start some scratch leagues so the rest of us don't have to listen to the constant whining about how good they are yet they keep getting screwed by handicap.

[RobLV1]

Using an aggressive bowling ball with an aggressive layout and playing in the dirt outside of ten, it's really no surprise that the ball wouldn't make a move to the pocket. It was probably out of energy by about 40'. The funny thing about this sport is that you don't tell the lanes how you are going to play them. They tell you!

[Aslan]

Using an aggressive bowling ball with an aggressive layout and playing in the dirt outside of ten, it's really no surprise that the ball wouldn't make a move to the pocket. It was probably out of energy by about 40'. The funny thing about this sport is that you don't tell the lanes how you are going to play them. They tell you!

Maybe...I don't know. I still need to see what the new balls can do in the middle and in the inside lines. Honestly, I don't think I have the revs to make them come back if I throw them through the heart of the oil. On the other hand, if you're right about burning up the energy...then maybe thats EXACTLY what I need to do with those 2 balls. And thats why I haven't re-surfaced the more aggressive one just yet...because if the lack of success is related to it burning up energy...then a surface change might not be the answer.

I'll have more practice time on Tuesday. Taking a couple days off to rest. Bowled about 28 games in the last 3 days so my body (and mind) needs to take a rest. Have the Wolf pattern Sunday morning so right now I have NO idea what ball to use. Gonna have to really maximize the pre-game practice time to see how the pattern is affecting the ball movement. I can't see the Encounter losing energy in that oil volume...but I have no idea what it'll do past 32 feet.

[RobLV1]

I think it may help you to try to think of the line you play as a continuum. There's no outside shot, or middle shot, or inside shot. There's only on shot you play, and you play it on the part of the lane where it needs to be played. The lanes are just like women. They tell us what they want done, and if you're smart, you'd better listen!

[MICHAEL]

I think it may help you to try to think of the line you play as a continuum. There's no outside shot, or middle shot, or inside shot. There's only on shot you play, and you play it on the part of the lane where it needs to be played. The lanes are just like women. They tell us what they want done, and if you're smart, you'd better listen!

Rob, I always listen to my wife,,, gulp!!!!! ALWAYS!!!

[Aslan]

I think it may help you to try to think of the line you play as a continuum. There's no outside shot, or middle shot, or inside shot. There's only on shot you play, and you play it on the part of the lane where it needs to be played. The lanes are just like women. They tell us what they want done, and if you're smart, you'd better listen!

Yeah, the lanes are like women alright. No matter how hard I try…no matter how much I practice, no matter what equipment I bring…they're still going to insist on being right…right of the headpin.

- I throw a hybrid cover stock, 2.53 RG, it misses right or hits weak.
- I throw a solid cover stock, 2.48 RG, it rolls earlier and hits weak.
- I go get a couple higher end balls, stronger cores, pearl cover stocks, 2.50 RG…hits right.

That leads me to believe…it's not the balls…it's the skill less guy throwing them. Balls require revs and friction to make a turn. A house shot offers friction to the outside. I need to increase revs to help utilize that friction. And that is just something I've struggled to do without increasing speed and sacrificing accuracy.

[Amyers]

Yeah, the lanes are like women alright. No matter how hard I try…no matter how much I practice, no matter what equipment I bring…they're still going to insist on being right…right of the headpin.

- I throw a hybrid cover stock, 2.53 RG, it misses right or hits weak.
- I throw a solid cover stock, 2.48 RG, it rolls earlier and hits weak.
- I go get a couple higher end balls, stronger cores, pearl cover stocks, 2.50 RG…hits right.

That leads me to believe…it's not the balls…it's the skill less guy throwing them. Balls require revs and friction to make a turn. A house shot offers friction to the outside. I need to increase revs to help utilize that friction. And that is just something I've struggled to do without increasing speed and sacrificing accuracy.

Not that I'm a better bowler than you Aslan but we've discussed this. There is a limit to how effective your going to be with your current style. All you've really done there is prove what you already knew. You're going to have to develop the rev side of your game to take the next step even if it is backwards.