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

[Aslan]

Wednesday Pre-League Practice: low oil synthetics

Warm-Up Game: didn't really keep score.

541 Series: 171-179-191
Game 1 I missed a couple corner pin spares and had a 6-7-10 split in the 9th..but other than that bowled well. Game 2 I missed a single 6-pin in the 7th but was otherwise clean. Game 3 I missed a single 7-pin in the 3rd and chopped a 1-2 leave in the 8th…but my first ball average was really good.

Arguably Useful/Non-Useful Statistics:
First Ball Average: 8.94 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 turkey, 2 doubles and 6 singles)
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (6/10)
Most common single-pin leave: I left each of the corner pins twice.
Also left a single 3-pin and a single 5-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2 (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 180.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 195.00.

Obviously my corner-pin spare shooting was off in practice. Much like pre-league practice at the other center…I needed to make a slight adjustment. With my wrist brace on…I tend to miss gutter side on the 7 and 10. Not sure why. I tried to slightly alter my target…mixed success. So I figured I'd try to modify my stance a little and leave the targets alone once league play started.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low oil synthetics

550 Series: 137-189-224 clean

I knew from practice that the Bullet Train wasn't going to play so I didn't even try it and started out with the Rhythm. Strike after strike in practice so I thought I'd be in for another big night in this league on these favorable (to my game) conditions.

Game 1 I wanted to kick or punch things…but kept my composure. It would be easy to blame it on 4 splits…but I also missed a single 10-pin, chopped a 3-6-9-10, and chopped a 2-5. For a guy that preaches accuracy over rev rate…I didn't make ONE spare. And without me having a ton of handicap..my team got destroyed with me bowling about 45 pins below my average.

Game 2 was more of the same…but not AS bad. Only two splits…and only one other open frame; a chopped 1-2-10 washout. So really, not any "makeable" spares that I missed. But things turned around in the 10th. I made a ball change on one lane after the baby split in the 3rd and the new ball behaved better on that lane. And I ended up going into the 10th off a strike and proceeded to strike out. Unfortunately, our team still lost by 27 pins and I didn't take the skins (for striking out in the 10th) because 4 other guys did as well so it carried over.

Game 3 I think my entire mentality changed. After striking out in the 10th of Game 2…suddenly the light bulb flickered and came on. I was more confident and I was more focused. I was now using the Encounter (A) on both lanes and through the use of tape and ample powder was able to keep the thumb from being a problem. I should have had the front 6 but lost focus in the 3rd frame, forgot to make a slight adjustment, and was penalized with a 6-10 leave…which I picked up. That lane would continue to give me problems. I struck every time on the left lane until ball 2 of the 10th frame. But I only struck twice on the right lane.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.85 pins
Strikes: 52% (1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 3 doubles, and 5 singles)
Spares: 31% picked up

Single Pin spares: 50% (1/2)
Left the single 10-pin twice.

Multiple Pin spares: 28% (4/14)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-10 baby split (3x).

Splits: 14% (1/7)

Average over 3 games: 183.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 186.00.

I think I'm gonna need a sports psychologist or something. I mean, when I'm focused and confident…I throw a 224 game, scratch, help my team take a point, and in the process win the men's side pot for that game. When I lose that focus…even momentarily…and/or I lose that confidence…I'm a bowler that can't find the pocket to save my life. It was striking out in Game 2 that really was the turning point. After that, I knew I could do well…I had my confidence back.

So, it sucks that my team lost 3 out of 4…it sucks that I didn't put up another 600 series…and it sucks that my single-pin spare shooting is SO off with my wrist brace on……but I beat out some real good bowlers to take that side pot in Game 3…AND..I bowled > 525…AND a clean game…BOTH goals of mine every time I bowl. So it's not the disaster it appeared to be early on. And I have to "fix" that in my mind! I can't let a bad shot or a missed spare lead me down a spiral to defeat. I have to accept that not every shot is going to strike…and thats OKAY. I'm not gonna pick up every spare…and thats OKAY.

[jab5325]

Aslan, I'm right there with you when it comes to focus.

It's the toughest part of the game for me to keep consistent. I feel that now, I have a good approach, good swing, good release, good timing.....but when I lose focus, all is lost.

[Amyers]

I can't say I have that issue with my strike ball. I have nights I can carry to some extent and some I don't. Where it gets me is with my spare shooting. I can go a whole night and never miss anything I expect to pick up but watch out if I miss one because it's not going to be the only one.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: medium oil synthetics

474 Series: 154-181-139

Strike rate was next to nothing. I was making almost all of my non-split spares…but when you strike once a game (as I did in both games 1 and 3)…ya got no room for splits or the occasional missed spare.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 7.68 pins
Strikes: 19% (6 singles)
Spares: 64% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (3/5)
Left a single 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10-pin. All evens.

Multiple Pin spares: 65% (13/20)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2-4-7 and 6-10 (2x each).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 3 games: 158.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 163.33.

Struck a few times in practice but only 6 times in 3 games after that. Real hard to win if ya strike < 20%.

Was trying out a new outside line at the 6-board and never truly got to evaluate the middle line nor how the Rhythm performed, not enough practice/warm-up time (thanks in part to a rack getting stuck down for a few minutes).

On the left lane, I couldn't stay right of the headpin and by midway through the 3rd game had balled all the way down to the Slingshot. I made 4 ball changes on that lane. To put that in perspective…I genuinely change after I make 1 lateral move, so at best every other frame. Half of the 30 frames are on that lane. 15/2 = 7.5. So if I changed balls every other frame on that lane I'd go through 8. I went through 4.

On the right lane, I had to make a 3 and 2 adjustment right because I was missing the damn headpin and leaving the 1-2-4-7 and 1-2-7. I played all 3 games with the Bullet Train; never balled down.

I had ZERO miss room. Less missroom than on PBA sport patterns that I've played on. If I missed a board right…I'd be lucky to leave just a 2-pin. And when I DID leave just a 2-pin…I &$^%ing missed it. A pulled shot and you leave the 1-3-8-9…a slight miss right and you leave the 1-2-4-7.

Add to that more thumb issues. Oddly enough…it was on the VISE IT ball this time. My thumb kept sticking. Not bad…but enough that I'd loft the ball way out onto the lane unintentionally. And when I did? 1-2-4-7 or 1-2-4-8. The smallest insert is too small. The next size up was just sticking a bit. The next size up is way too big. Normally this ball comes off my hand almost as well as the Rhythm…but for some reason this night it just wanted to stick. I'd powder…but then the ball on the other lane would slip or the spare ball would slip. I know, I know…I need to fix having all these different grips…but just realize it's usually not an issue because I usually only use the Bullet Train and Rhythm…both come off my hand well. But recently due to useing the wrist brace…I'm getting better revs and axis tilt…now I'm deeper into my arsenal…now these things are coming to light.

So there's the 12-page synopsis of why everything BUT me was defeating me…but the real truth of it was 95% of it was my skill. Focus was on again off again. I'd focus and the ball would stick. Then I'd think about my thumb and forget my focus. A couple times I lined up on the wrong line.

Mentally I wasn't there…because each week I come into Tuesday league thinking "this'll be the week I turn things around" and each week I roll a sub-500 series and am reminded of the alternate hypothesis where I might just be a crappy bowler. I rolled a 474…2nd highest on my team and higher than any series by the other team (yeah, they sucked but still took all 4 points). So maybe we're not having a post 900 series press conference…but how can I be dejected when I bowled better than 8 of the other 9 bowlers? I missed the single 2-pin in Game 1…and I never metally recovered. 3 open frames that game, the other 2 were splits.

And FOR GOD's SAKE!! Can we not announce over the loud speaker every single thing in the Webster's dictionary while I'm trying to bowl? I swear…if it wasn't a reminder about a lottery jackpot it was some guy bowling strike ball or some idiot's birthday or "Jesse's food order is ready at the sanck bar" or who the ladies side pot winner was. I'm trying to have a relaxed shot and focus on my mark and on my third step I suddenly hear "ATTENTION BOWLERS…" at 166 decibels. Great. I gutter on the first shot off a spare because we need a 3rd reminder that the mega millions jackpot is 87 million tonight. *$&^% the mega millions jackpot!!! So not that aggravation is on my mind.

And to add to the mental fun…it seems like I hit pocket and leave an 8-pin yet the 93 average bowler next to me throws a ball 6mph spinning sideways and she gets a double. We lost 4 damn points tonight…we're in last or near last place…yet every single week it's been a parade of 100 average bowlers that somehow magically shoot the best game of their lives.

I have two 185 average bowlers on my team and one had a 138-168-128. I have an average 20 pins lower than him and I beat him every game when I wasn't even bowling well.

Ughhh… I've become what I didn't want to be…a bowler that can average 180-200 in a super easy house but on tougher conditions can barely bowl 160. But how can I conquer a condition that's main flaw is it's not freshly applied before league play?

Okay, rant over. I hate this sport.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Aslan, you have no business shooting 474....With as much time and effort you have put in this game that just should not happen. Like you said you are a 190-200 average bowler and based on your more recent videos i would agree. You are over complicating things in your mind and translating that into your lane play. You have enough knowledge in your equipment to find a way in practice to just hit the 1-3. Don't even worry about striking, just find a way to knock down 9 and get comfortable. Maybe try one of your less aggressive balls that has a good controlled motion and just get it to the pocket somewhere. I don't care if it is ight or half pocket just find a way in practice to hit the 1 & 3 pins and then adjust after. Try keeping it simple for a change.

[Amyers]

I don't know I go though crap like this from time to time just finished one where my bowling has been all over the place. Throwing some of my best and worst series. I finally figured out I've been pushing the ball out too far on the push away and that seems to have fixed the problem. I do agree with Ftlob especially in this house you just have to find a way to consistently hit the d*** head pin. I know easier said than done.

[NewToBowling]

Try not tracking your stats for one night. Just go out there and play on instinct. Go ahead and still line up your arrows and boards but just think of the pocket and toss the ball. Sometimes over thinking it is just as bad. Relax and take a deep breath and start your approach.

To me when I think too much about my form and approach I usually end up stiff and robotic and it just doesn't "flow". You want flow.

[RobLV1]

Good points all, however one thing you wrote really stuck out to me: "I was trying out a new outside line." If nothing else, remember this one thing: the lanes tell you how they want to be played. You don't tell them, ever! Not listening to what the lanes are telling you is kinda like not listening to your wife; it will bite you in the butt more often than not.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low oil synthetics

615 Series: 171-247-197

No pre-league warm-up or anything this time because I was at the alley when it opened to watch the Red Wings vs. Lightening hockey game. I waited till about 5 minutes before practice time to go down there.

Since my game is in turmoil…and we read lots of stupid ***t about how the game is all mental, etc…; I want to start off my stating my mental status at Game time…because maybe it actually is a bigger factor than I presumed. So, before Game 1 I was desperate and eager to avenge my previous league night and prove to myself that at least in the easy house I could bowl well. So I felt more pressure than usual. I also may or may not have still been a little high from a half a doobie I smoked in the parking lot during the Wings 1st intermission and a little buzzed from some giant cocktail I drank in the bar.

So, game 1 I X, X, 9/, X to start. The 9/ was a shot that got a tad too far left. Then another shot too far left that leaves the 6-10. So I make an adjustment on that lane. Then on the next lane a 5-10 split which I can't convert. So I make an adjustment on that lane as well. I then hit pocket a couple times for a X, 9/ but in the 9th I miss right and leave the 2-5 but I chop it on my second shot. In the 10th, my release flattens out and I leave the 2-4-5…no bigee…but I chop it. So things start out disappointing.

Now I'm feeling better physically (the high and alcohol are probably out of the system at that point) but mentally I'm fearing that I'll end up sub-500 on the EASY house and then I might as well pack it in. Game 2 I opened with a light hit leaving a 2-pin but then put a 5-bagger together before missing a single 6-pin. I spared and then struck out for my highest score of the season; a 247.

Now I'm happy. Now I've got my confidence back. But I'm also pressuring myself to actually REPEAT a game like that.

Game 3 I chopped a 4-7 in the 3rd frame but was otherwise clean through 9 before completely choking in the 10th and whiffing on the 6-10 leave.

So now I have mixed feelings…I'm happy with the series…I like that our team took 3 points…I was happy I was winning at the poker hand…BUT….but…I was haunted by the 660 sreies (188-255-217) that coulda been had I not chopped or missed some very make-able spares.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.22 pins
Strikes: 59% (1 5-bagger, 1 4-bagger, 4 doubles, and 2 singles)
Spares: 53% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (3/4)
Left the single 9-pin twice.

Multiple Pin spares: 44% (4/9)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 205.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 208.33.

Thumb stick was a HUGE issue AGAIN tonight. It must be the warmer weather. I had thumb stick issues in my VISE IT drilled Bullet Train. I actually used my 3rd smallest IT insert of the 6 which I haven't used since probably Thanksgiving time 2014. I've taken alot of tape out thest past couple days…not sure if thats a good things or a bad thing.

So I wrestled with all kinds of ideas on what to try next to snap out of the funk…and finally I decided on simplifying things a little. No more worrying about how low I am. Stance, push away, no muscling whatsoever, focus. The key was the swing. I needed to relax the swing even more. I just tried to let the ball and gravity and kinemetrics do all the work while I just focused on my mark. And that worked.

But back to this mini-mental evaluation…what is really befuddling is this. I just bowled my highest game in this league in Game 2. Didn't win the damn men's sidepot because TWO guys shot 278 cratch…but I digress. I just bowled my highest game in the league…AND….highest series EVER. Yet, I wasn't happy with my performance. Looking at the numbers compared to last week…I should be ecstatic. And now I've yet again bounced back after a bad Tuesday night. But I wasn't happy that I left 46 pins out there on simple silly misses like the single 4-pin or 4-7 or 6-10 or 2-5. And I was unhappy with the new thumb challenges.

So for those of you keeping track at home…and especially those skeptics out there that still are holding onto the notion that different centers don't vary that much… Last night my league average on Tuesday fell from 163 to 162 and lowered my USBC composite from 173 to 172. After tonight, my Wednesday league average has moved from 183 to 186 and bumped my USBC composite back up from 172 to 174. So I predicted a 30-pin difference this season between these two houses…one that floods their lanes and doesn't re-apply before league play…and another that after getting too many complaints about their former shot has created the easiest THS pattern ever. The current tally is = 186-162 = 24 pins.

Mudpuppy Cliff Notes: I hate bowling less today than I did yesterday.