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

[Aslan]

Sunday Sport League: PBA Wolf Pattern

591 Series: 150-146-146-149
Really just sub-par spare shooting in game 1. In Game 2 I was coming in right…also sub-par spare shooting. Despite the score being the same, game 3 was better; just couldn't run many marks together until the last few frames. And game 4 was just more sub-par spare shooting.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.46 pins
Strikes: 24% (2 doubles and 6 singles)
Spares: 43% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (8/12)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 8-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 27% (5/18)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7, 6-10, 2-8, and 1-2-4 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 4 games: 147.75.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 157.50.

I can't really blame the pattern on this one. I mean, to be honest, I thought the Wolf pattern was barely more difficult than a typical house shot. But you simply can't score even halfway decent if you can't make easy spares. A LOT of red up there points to just a really "off" night picking up spares.

As for how I played the pattern, I started out with the (< agg. drilled) Encounter up the 7-board. But for Game 4 I switched inside and just used the Slingshot as both the strike and spare ball…but stood a little left of center and played it up the 11-board…what I call the "middle game".

Still struggling with release and projection down the lane. Both balls are Pearl cover stocks, so if I am going to try and get any type of reaction from them..even on a very short patter like the Wolf…I need to get some revs and stored up energy down lane.

[Aslan]

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.

Other than you not being a better bowler…because after this week I am just going to concede that you are…I agree with that 100%.

[Amyers]

Other than you not being a better bowler…because after this week I am just going to concede that you are…I agree with that 100%.

Take it easy bud. Those sport patterns can get in your head quick and your throwing a reactive ball at those spares on a short pattern. I've been struggling too as you will see with my VBT scores tomorrow. Up and down and all over the place. At the moment I don't know if I should expect 250 or 130 when I bowl.

[Blacksox1]

Bowling to the best of your ability, is what really counts. Taking steps to always improve, shows real spirit. Carry on Aslan !

[Aslan]

Tuesday Practice: low oil synthetics

425 Series: 146-145-134
This was to continue the ball experiment from last Wednesday, so in game 1 I used the more aggressive Encounter up the middle, Game 2 I used the less aggressive Encounter up the middle, and in Game 3 I used the Rhythm playing the "inside" line. Game 1 I struggled with hitting the pocket AND spare shooting. Game 2 I had 4 splits! I had so many that the cosmic bowlers next to me asked me if I was doing it "on purpose". Game 3 was like Game 1, just couldn't hit the pocket and the spares were borderline "make-able".

394 Series: 117-143-134
In game 4, I switched to the Frantic and it was miserable. Game 5 I switched to the Slingshot and strung 4 marks together...but a LOT of washouts on the right side as the Slingshot just didn't have the flare to make the turn. Game 6 I tried the more aggressive Encounter but it was all over the place.

507 Series: 115-207 (clean)-185
In game 7, I used the less aggressive Encounter and it was even worse. And to make matters worse, since I use my strike ball to pick up left-side spares...but couldn't find my line...it threw off my spare shooting. Once the experiment was over (thank GOD!) I had time for a couple games of "normal" and in Game 8 threw the < aggressive Encounter up the 7-board. After a double, it was 7 straight spares before I made an adjustment and started throwing it up the 6-board and then struck out in the 10th for my 28th clean game. In Game 9, more of the same, but after leading off with a double it was 6 spares in 7 frames before opening in the 10th on a chopped 1-3-6.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.05 pins
Strikes: 21% (1 turkey, 3 doubles and 11 singles)
Spares: 49% picked up

Single Pin spares: 63% (14/22)
Most common single-pin leaves: 2-pin and 10-pin (4x each).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 43% (22/51)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2-9, and 3-6-10 (3x each).

Splits: 7% (1/13)

Average over 9 games: 147.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 156.00.

Can't complain too much since 7 of the 9 games were just "experiments" more than actual "games". Once I got done "fooling around", I was able to put together 9 clean frames...even got a "high-five" from one of the cosmic bowlers that was easily impressed with the 207. AND, I was able to do this despite cosmic lights, darkness, people on both sides of me constantly running up the approach when I was releasing the ball, and a girl on the lane next to me that wasn't very shy about showing off her black thong (and most of her business) every time she bent over to throw her ball.

We'll try to get some surface on one of the Encounters tomorrow evening and then finish up the experimentation tomorrow night.

[classygranny]

And to make matters worse, since I use my strike ball to pick up left-side spares...but couldn't find my line...it threw off my spare shooting.

Duh! Plastic Ball, Plastic Ball, Plastic Ball. Just sayin'

[Aslan]

Duh! Plastic Ball, Plastic Ball, Plastic Ball. Just sayin'

Well...had the inside line approach not resulted in 115-117 scores....then yes, I would have considered that option.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Practice: low oil synthetics

460 Series: 169-174-117
During this series I was trying the more aggressively drilled Encounter on the outside, middle, and inside lines to see the effect of the surface change that I made. Had trouble striking AND picking up splits with this new ball/new surface.

498 Series: 153-144-201 (clean)
I went back to the outside line with the less aggressive Encounter but the first 2 games struggled as I continued to have to move left to find oil. A lot of splits and multi-pin spares early on as the lanes were just too dry. Finally in Game 3 I was at the 2nd arrow and despite not being able to strike much (3x total), I was able to hit 8-10 pins every frame with the first ball leaving me much better spares to shoot at and managed a clean game…the HARD way.

167-212
I had time for 2 more games and in the 1st game I did "okay"…but left a 7-10 and two 4-9 splits. In the 2nd game, despite sub-par spare shooting, I found my strike line (finally!) and managed my high score of the night striking 7 times.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.67 pins
Strikes: 31% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 4 doubles and 12 singles)
Spares: 56% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (22/25)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (10x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 33% (11/33)
Most common multi-pin spare leave: 6-10 (9x).

Splits: 11% (1/9)

Average over 8 games: 167.12.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.50.

A better night than Tuesday, thats for sure. But very aggravating to have to practice during cosmic bowling. The lanes were quite a bit drier than normal; to the point that it was making me "play the hook" more than I like to with the Slingshot.

[Aslan]

Thursday League: medium oil synthetics

479 Series: 147-157-175
Yet ANOTHER disappointing night from an individual standpoint. Early on it was evident that I would need to move WAAAY right due to the oil levels. We were playing on the most interior lanes, so the oil was most recently applied and least affected by the door to the outside. And I arrived a little late, so not as much practice time as I'd have liked.

Game 1 I left a 1-2-4 twice and a 1-2 twice; obvious signs that the ball just wasn't making the turn. In Game 2, more of the same. The first two frames and the 10th frame were all washouts as the ball was still struggling to make that turn in time. Game 3 was much better. Finally the oil had broken down and been moved around enough that the ball was seeing some reaction. Still hitting right, still hitting light, only struck twice…but the spares that were left were primarily make-able.

In the 5th frame, I picked up a 4-6-10 split!! I then promptly RUINED my clean game by missing a single 9-pin the following frame.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.31 pins
Strikes: 25% (1 double and 6 singles)
Spares: 60% picked up

Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 9-pin and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 5-pin, nor 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 50% (8/16)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-4, 2-4-5-8, 4-7, and 6-10 (2x each).

Splits: 50% (1/2)

Average over 3 games: 159.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 163.33.

Not a great night individually other than converting the 4-6-10 ( a first for me). But from a TEAM standpoint…a truly GREAT night as we took 4 points from the team only 2 spots back of us and "may" have moved into 1st place in the league…or at LEAST have done enough to stay in the top 4.

[Aslan]

Saturday: VBT Tour
Fountain Bowl, Fountain Valley CA
low-medium oil synthetics

I decided to get my VBT for August out of the way early since I was already planning on being there that morning for the Saturday clinic.

Practice: 152

Tried Rob's approach of trying out all 3 lines during the practice game. Middle line striked on lane as did the outside line. The other lane I hit weak with both lines. And the inside line was a failure on both sides.

*** Series: X - X - X

Scores and details after opponent (Mudpuppy) bowls.

PinPal Stats:

…stats available after opponent (Mudpuppy) bowls...