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

[Aslan]

Thursday Practice: 173-167-171-177

Similar scores, essentially 2 open frames per game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.53 pins
Strikes: 33% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 10 singles)
Spares: 65% picked up

Single Pin spares: 78% (11/14)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (7x).
Only left a 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin and 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 53% (8/15)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10! (3x).

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 172.00.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 180.50.

The lanes were a bit dry, but thats usually the case for practice so no surprise.

I tried to work on a 3-step approach, but as MWhite elluded to; it felt so strange that I abandoned it after 2 frames.

I also tried 2-point targeting when shooting the corner pins…but that didn't work well either. It felt like in golf when you try to keep your head down and eyes on the ball but then lift it up at the last second to see where the ball goes. So I abandoned that after a game.

The rest of the practice I spent trying to keep from bending my elbow before releasing the ball. I made some truly nice shots when my arm was straight at the release point.

And I found a trick to improving my corner pin spare shooting. To keep from psyching myself out…I would simply focus on the release of the ball. It doesn't matter much (hand position) for spares (if you use a plastic ball as I do) but it's just "thinking about it" gives me something for my mind to focus on rather than worry I'll miss the corner pin.

[Aslan]

Sunday Tournament: 32ft pattern

Home center tournament. About 55-60 participants.

487 Series: 161-159-167
Game 1 I couldn't seem to strike much and left 3 straight splits in frames 6, 7, and 8. Midway through Game 1 I realized the Lethal Revolver was just too strong on a pattern that was so dry/short. Switched to the Dark Encounter midway through.

Game 2 I had spare shooting troubles. Missed right at the 6-pin twice, and missed an 8-pin.

Game 3 I switched to the Asylum…but still had carry issues.

Pinpal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.62 pins
Strikes: 26% (1 double and 7 singles)
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, nor 10-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (8/14)
Most common multi-pin spare leaves: 1-2-8 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 162.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 171.33.

Obviously the tournament didn't go well. It was disappointing. I was able to win a couple gift cards in a drawing…so I can get a free lunch at In and Out Burger.


Post-Tournament Practice:

564 Series: 154-202-208 (clean)
Started out with the Asylum in Game 1…but was having more carry problems. I decided to switch to the Le. Revolver and play more of a hook. Lately I've found my lines too tight…not taking advantage of the breakpoint…just trying to precisely float it up the oil line. So, I followed Rob's advice…because he once told me that I'd eventually abandon my 'systems' when I got more confident in my game. So Game 2, rather than standing with left foot on 17 and throwing up the 11-board…I was standing with my left foot about 2.5 boards left and my line about a 0.5 board right. I still couldn't get the Le. Revolver too far right on the dry lanes…but I was doing much better. In Game 3 I tried the same thing with the Dark Encounter. Had to move 1.5 boards right with my feet and a board right with my target, take advantage of more dry…but it worked again.

560 Series: 179-168-213
Continued trying to figure out a good line for the Asylum.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79 pins
Strikes: 37%(1 4-bagger, 2 turkeys, 4 doubles, and 7 singles)
Spares: 69% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (15/20)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Never left a single 1-pin nor 3-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 63% (12/19)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 1-2-8(2x).

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 3 games: 187.33.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 195.83.

As disappointing as the tournament was, the practice sort of made up for it because I got a lot out of it.

[Aslan]

Tuesday League Night: medium-oil synthetics

Practice/Warm-Up Game: 191

Practiced on Sunday, things seemed to be going okay...but the Le. Revolver just seemed a bit erratic.

518 Series: 171-179-168

In Game 1 my struggles with the 6-pin continued. Left it in the 4th, missed right. Left the 6-10 in the 9th, missed right and chopped it. Throw in two baby splits...one of which I picked up....and the rest of the game was clean...but the score was inflated a bit because I struck out in the 10th.

I just couldn't figure out what line to play. 15 minutes of practice and an entire game...and I still couldn't figure out where the heck I was supposed to be playing. I started just right of center targeting the 8-board (at the dots)...but if I got some hand into it...it would go Brooklyn or through the head...but if I didn't have as much hand into it...it would miss way right and leave the headpin.

Game 2 was more of the same...but my spare shooting was strong....but still I missed a 4-7 in the 4th and chopped a 1-2-8 in the 5th....the rest clean.

If I moved my feet anywhere left of center...I'd hit right. If I moved my feet right to adjust...I'd miss left. It just seemed like I had a target of 8 or 9....anything left of that and the ball seemed to just float down the oil river and at BEST hit pocket...at worst go through the head.

Game 3 I switched to the D. Encounter. It allowed me to move back outside a bit...a bit weaker and not as drastic a move downlane. But, one lane played a little drier and I left the 4-6 in the second frame. My only other open was the 4-6-7-10 in the 7th. But the D. Encounter was having the same problem I was having with the Le. Revolver....move to the 10-board...ball floats up the oil line....move to the 7-8 boards....ball hooks through the nose. And in the final 3 frames...I finally found pocket consistently...but the D. Encounter still was hitting soft.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.82 pins
Strikes: 38% (1 turkey, 1 double, and 8 singles)
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 85% (6/7)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, nor 9-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 57% (8/14)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 (3x).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 3 games: 172.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 176.67.

The first game I struggled with the approach. My shoe just wasn't sliding very much so I was almost falling over the line on some shots...didn't get comfortable on the approach until Game 2.

I think I gotta start looking at speed control and release consistency. I think a lot of my problems tonight were related to shot-to-shot variance. I'd put more hand in the ball...go through the head, then move left...then miss right with less hand in the ball. Then move right... rinse, repeat...

If I go there and practice....drier, less fresh conditions...I can usually do fairly well 180-220. But then they apply the oil before league play...and you're left with a shot where there's just very little room for error...maybe 2 boards at the most. And it's not the common idea about missing....where a miss right ends up right and a miss left ends up left. In my case...a miss left and I either miss left or go through the head...but a miss right from the same spot and I have the same problem...a miss left or through the nose. But if I move my feet left of about center...I miss way right. If I try to move that target left...play 11-15....it either misses right or hits light.

With my new release and lighter arsenal...when I DO make a good shot....1-3 times a game...it's a NOTICEABLY good shot. If you look just at the pin deck...you'd think a poor man's Dick Allen had thrown it. But I don't seem to have the ability (or GIFT) where I can repeat that release and speed shot to shot. I think that's what I have to work on.

On the good side....our team kicked some tail for a change. Even absent our anchor. And it helped that the other team was horrible. And I won a couple poker hands...made $3...can't complain too much I guess. But being stuck in the low 170s is about as aggravating as last season when I was stuck in the low 160s.

[Aslan]

Wednesday League Night: low-oil synthetics, typical THS.

647 Series: 223-224-200

I read an article this afternoon on Bowling This Month by Suzie Minshew and it's from back in March but it talks about the mental side of the game and confidence; essentially. So I got off to a decent start and I guess I just kept thinking about that article and when I went up on the approach I made it a point to try and talk positively or with confidence to myself (inner voice..not out loud….that would have been weird). And when I'd open I'd make a point to try and at least 'notice' some of the things I was saying, negative things, so maybe I could cut those out.

So, Game 1 I started off with a turkey, then left that DAMN 8-10! (See 14lb/15lb thread about my theroy that 15lb equipment isn't carrying the 8-pin or 8-10 as well as the 16lb equipment did). So, I noticed I was pretty hard on myself for the inability to ever get a sanctioned 300…and then I went up and next shot…left a 4-7..then proceeded to chop the 7 off…rather rare for a RHer. But…I talked to myself positively (inner voice) before the next frame….rattled off a 4-bagger.

Game 2 I continued the positive/confident attitude/approach…only really made one big mistake and that was leaving a 1-2-10 washout in the 3rd frame to ruin the clean game. But, I kinda felt like maybe….just maybe…I have found (with Suzie's help) a way to beat the mental side of the game….the part that has continued to plague me as I've developed.

Game 3, the DANG 8-pin…leave it in the 3rd…and I missed it (barely)! THEN…I left an 8-10…same lane…5th frame. So, issue #3 for my top issues to go over with my coach when they're back from the tour….the damn 8-pin and 8-10…because while I love 15lbs so far and actually being able to get better axis tilt and rpms…this is getting annoying!! Those were my only two opens that game…but I couldn't run any together until a 5-bagger to end the game to salvage a 200.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.24 pins
Strikes: 61% (2 5-baggers, 1 4-bagger, 1 turkey, 3 doubles, and 4 singles)
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (2/3)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x)
Other single-pin leave was the 8-pin.

Multiple Pin spares: 55% (5/9)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 4-7 (2x).

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 215.67.
Average had I picked up 100% of single pin spare leaves: 219.67.

The stats were actually worse than last week…but the additional two 5-baggers tend to cancel out the spare shooting which was barely average.

I felt good tonight. At the start of bowling, I got recruited for a team for next season. It felt good that people had noticed me enough to actually recruit me versus just getting assigned to a team. Then I was playing like an anchor should play…confident, solid, with games in the 200-220s. Our team took all 4 games…and I remember getting up there in the 2nd game…and I needed to mark….the other anchor needed to strike…I went first and just had this kinda "killer mentality" (versus the usual feeling of fear and despair). And that was probably one of the 2-3 best strikes of the night.

And then I was talking to a teammate's husband and they were asking me about Vegas and I told them I had a lesson scheduled on that Friday…and the guy seemed shocked that I took lessons….insinuating that I was so good, who could give me lessons and what would we work on??? I know, it''s hilarious and I did have to work hard not to start laughing…but still…it's like when I've gotten asked stupid stuff like, "Are you a pro (bowler)?" Obviously, thats funny. But…it's better than having little kids point and laugh at you because you 'suck'.

It wasn't perfect, it's the easier house/center, on the pair I have done best on, I didn't set any personal or season bests, and at times had trouble stringing strikes together…and the spare shooting was sub-par….BUT…this is what bowling should be…it makes it much more fun. I still kicked my bag…but only lightly and once…I think when I chopped the 4-7…or it was the 8-10 in Game 1…but whatever.

[NYMIKE]

Great bowling

[vdubtx]

Congrats on the nice series Aslan.

Which article from Susie? Thinking about doing a 1 day clinic with her next month.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Nice set with the 647.

[manke]

Good job keep it up!!!

[Aslan]

Congrats on the nice series Aslan.

Which article from Susie? Thinking about doing a 1 day clinic with her next month.

Something about a popoff valve. It's her article from March 2015 if you go into the archives.

[vdubtx]

Something about a popoff valve. It's her article from March 2015 if you go into the archives.

That's what I thought. So, assuming you are using this site as your "journaling".