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

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 9

525 Series: 211-159-155

Felt pretty good. The line played pretty smooth until the 9th...which derailed my score.
8 /, X, X, X, 9 -, X, X, X, 8 1, X 7 1.

After leaving two 2-pin combos in 3 shots...figured it was time to ball down. Unfortunately, the struggles continued...just no carry. I did the best I could converting more spares than usual...but ya can't hope to score high if ya only strike twice the entire game.
7 1, X, 9 /, 9 /, X, 8 /, 8 -, 9 /, X, 8 -.

Figured a switch to the newly resurface Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) would cure my ills...but, nope. It was a friggin greek tragedy. Another game with only two strikes...except this time I had to deal with 3 splits...including a pocket 7-10 in the first frame.
S8 -, 9 /, X, 9 /, S7 2, S7 -, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, 6 /X.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.84
Strikes: 37%
Spares: 55% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 6-pin, 9-pin, and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 4-pin, nor 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 64% (11/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 37% (3/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-5, 6-10, and 2-4-5 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 175.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 179.00.

Positives
- Better spare shooting than usual.

Negatives
- Carry continues to be an issue as I try to figure out the best surfaces to use.
- Lost all 4 points to a high handicap team that was bowling out of their minds.

Oh well. Not liking that my average is dropping like a lead weight...but it coulda been worse.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 7

574 Series: 220 (clean)-156-198

9 /, X, X, 8 /, 7 /, X, X, X, 6 /, X 9 -.
Was happy with myself about the clean game and was really dreading the transition and having to switch balls....because the Zen Master Solid (ZMS) with the new 500/Step 1 surface was working incredibly well.

7 2, 8 1, 9 /, X, 8 1, 8 /, S7 2, X, X, 9 / S5.
After starting things off with a pulled shot and then a strike shot that couldn't carry the 2-5...I decided to make the move to the Perfect Mindset (PM). Continued to struggle....so I finally made the move to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in the 8th frame.

X, 9 /, X, S8 1, 9 /, 6 /, S7 -, X, X, XXX.
As the lanes continued to transition....it was maximum penalty with a 4-6 split and a 4-7-10 split. Finally got locked in for a solid finish.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79 pins
Strikes: 47%
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leave: 7-pin (3x).
Also left a single 4-pin and 10-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 71% (10/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-5 (3x)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 191.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 191.67.

Positives
- Won another card game!
- A clean game is always a welcomed sight.
- Spare shooting has improved.

Negatives
- Arthritis in my right foot was a bit of an issue.
- Still not confidant in the Perfect Mindset. It just doesn't seem like a good ball-down option.

Pretty consistent scores thus far: 575-652-562-560-565-574. Averaging 567 (taking out the 652) with every game +/- 8 pins. Not 'great'....but not 'bad'. Thats a 189 average....which would be towards the better end of my expectations.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 10

624 Series: 195-172-257

A lot of good, pocket shots...just couldn't quite get eh carry. Better spare shooting definitely saved the day.
X, 9 /, 7 /, 9 /, X, X, 7 -, X, X, 9 / 9.

After starting Game 2 with 2 straight buckets....chopping them both...it was time to make a move to the Perfect Mindset (PM). Unfortunately, the PM just isn't as strong as the specs would indicate. Maybe its how its drilled...but I end up having to adjust considerably right to get a good line into the pocket. After a pocket 10-pin in the 6th and another deflection mess that left me a 5-10 split in the 7th...I decided to end the madness and switch to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP).
6 2, 6 3, 7 /, X, X, 9 /, S8 1, 9 /, X, 9 / 9.

Solid game. The OLP was just crushing it. A lost of miss room to the right. Only one 'bad' shot and hit struck brooklyn. Two pocket hits left corner pins though...and my streak of solid spare shooting ended in the 7th with a missed 10-pin.
9 /, X, X, X, X, X, 9 -, X, X, XXX.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.15
Strikes: 52%
Spares: 64% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (4x).
Also left a single 4-pin, 5-pin, and 7-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 69% (9/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 40% (2/5)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-4-5-8 bucket (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 208.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 212.00.

Positives
- Nearly perfect on single-pins.
- 2nd highest game, this league, this season.
- Team took all 4 points.

Negatives
- SO CLOSE to a couple clean games...but no.
- SO CLOSE to a perfect game...but no.

I think I need to straighten out my line and take some surface off these balls. The form and consistency has come back...spare shooting has been improving...but this whole hitting the pocket flush and leaving 7-pins or 10-pins is just aggravating. I kinda felt bad for the other team...because that 3rd game they pretty much just gave up. They knew I was nearly 70 pins over my average...and they just couldn't compete.

[boatman37]

Nice night!

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 8

658 Series: 187-214-257 (clean)

X, X, X, 9 /, X, 6 -, 9 /, 8 -, X, 9 /X.
Was kinda bummed out. Felt I bowled well, but missed two makeable spares that cost me 25 pins. Switched to the Perfect Mindset (PM) on the fill frame of the 10th.

7 2, X, 9 /, 8 /, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, X, XX9.
Made a bad shot and chopped the spare in the 1st frame...other than that I was clean. Actually had to move to a new pair due to lane equipment problems...so, frame 5, I switched back to the Zen Master Solid (ZMS) I had used for all but one shot in Game 1. Felt good and I was clean to finish...helped the team take a point.

X, X, X, 9 /, X, X, X, X, 9 /, XX9.
Was tentative to change balls in the 5th, but figured it was time given the weak strike in the 3rd frame and leaving the 8-pin in the 4th. The PM was hitting hard...coulda had an even better score....probably my highest sanctioned score ever...but I just pushed the shot in the 9th frame a couple boards right and that was enough to keep me from carrying the 8-pin.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.40 pins
Strikes: 60%
Spares: 75% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (8/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 8-pin (3x).
Also left a single 4-pin, 9-pin (2x), and 10-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 75% (9/12)
Multiple Pin spares: 25% (1/4)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: n/a

Average over 3 games: 219.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: n/a

Positives
- Obviously, happy with the score.
- Two nights in a row (Sunday/Wednesday) where I finished the night with a 257.
- Won ALL THREE card games!! I know that seems like a minor thing....but I've NEVER won all 3 card games. I've won 2 on a few occasions...but never a clean sweep.
- No physical ailments at all.
- I had the highest series of our team and the team we bowled against.
- Ball changes and adjustments worked very well.

Negatives
- DESPITE my best efforts...the team lost 3 out of 4 to a bottom dwelling team that was getting 180 pins of handicap.

You're always gonna play the "what if?" game...I mean, 3 very makeble spares away from a clean series...which would be my first. About 2 boards away from setting a new high (sanctioned) score. But, at the end of the day...I never complain about a 600+ series and at least one clean game. I did my job tonight....my teammates just didn't provide the support they usually do.

We were either in 3rd place or tied for 2nd coming in...might be further down the standings after tonight.

[Timmyb]

Well done!

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 11

The problem with throwing a couple good series in a row is...you start to think, "I FINALLY got this figured out!!"...only to come back down to reality.

555 Series: 168-189-198
Started out with the Perfect Mindset (PM) since I was having some carry issues with the Zen Master Solid in warm-ups. Couldn't run much together. Had a shot at a decent game until I opened on a basket in the 9th.
S7 2, X, S8 -, X, 8 /, X, X, 8 /, 6 3, X 9 /.

Decided to ball down to the Brunswick Endeavor for Game 2. Not my usual progression...so the Endeavor doesn't get thrown much. Actually did great...right up until the 9th frame when I had to pick up a couple single-pins.
7 2, X, X, X, X, S8 -, X, X, 9 -, 9 -.

Moved to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in frame 2. After 3 single-pin leaves...two of them on pocket hits...I was gettin pretty 'peeved'. Had a shot at a decent game, but completely whiffed on a 2-4-8 in the 10th.
9 -, X, 6 /, X, X, X, 8 /, X, X, 7 -.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.00
Strikes: 54%
Spares: 35% picked up

Single Pin spares: 25% (1/4)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x).
Also left a single 6-pin and 7-pin.

Makeable spares: 45% (5/11)
Multiple Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 185.00
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 196.00.

Positives
- Team took all 4 points (2nd straight week).
- Felt fine physically.

Negatives
- Bowled 2 games below my average and averaged 6 pins under my average on the night.
- Primarily just a bad night shooting spares.

My strike rate wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...so I was getting halfway decent carry. The line just breaks down so awful fast when you're out around 2nd arrow....and it seems like I got no shot inside 13. That gives me a pretty darn small 3-board area to play. Each game was relatively close, so it made for an interesting night anyways.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 9

477 Series: 149-160-168

X, S8 -, 9 -, X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 -, S8 1, 6 2, XXX.
Was very upset. I couldn't get the Zen Master Solid (ZMS) to carry in warm-ups, so I started with the Perfect Mindset. Seven straight pocket hits to start...only 2 strikes!! Two splits!! 50/50 on single-pins and continued my insane tendency to chop nearly every bucket and 3/4 bucket I leave on the left side.

S7 2, S7 2, X, 9 /, 9 /, 7 2, 8 -, X, X, 9 / X
Kinda demoralizing to start a game with back-to-back 4-7-10 splits. Switched to the Endeavor in the 5th frame...after a weak strike and a 7-pin leave in the fourth. The lanes just seemed to be transitioning so fast.

S7 2, 6 3, X, X, 9 -, 9 /, X, 9 /, S7 -, XX9.
A second game started with a split to start things off. And, of course, I had have two more splits to add to the total.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.86 pins
Strikes: 40%
Spares: 35% picked up

Single Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin and 10-pin (3x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 5-pin, nor 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 50% (7/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 0% (0/4)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/6)

Average over 3 games: 159.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 169.67

Positives
- ???? I mean, I was around the pocket all night.

Negatives
- Hit the pocket nearly all night...very bad carry and maximum penalty for a miss inside.
- The Perfect Mindset was rolling out, about 4 feet from the pins...even with the Royal Compound finish.
- Was perfect on single-pin spares last week...not so much tonight.
- Team rolled almost as miserably as I did...we lost all 4 points.
- Splits, splits, and more splits. And we're not talking babies. A pocket 7-10, 4-7-10, 4-6, 4-6-7, etc...

My parents are still in town. Tonight they were a little more distracting than usual because they were bringing up some issues my daughter was having with her job...which just annoyed me and got me in a "funk" early.

Also, I think the struggles had to do with 8-9 bowlers all playing essentially the same line. It seemed like you were needing to move left every frame...especially in Game 3.

Two bad bowling nights in a row...now my week is ruined until Sunday...when hopefully either my team will win or my fantasy team will win...or both. Then I can be in a good mood at least until I bowl again Sunday night.

[Timmyb]

Ouch.....

[Aslan]

Ouch.....

Yeah....no kidding.

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 12

605 Series: 173-247-185

Used the Zen Master Solid (ZMS) for the first 5 frames, but it just wasn't quite hitting right. Move inside and leave a flat 10-pin....move outside and go through the nose and leave an absurd split. Unfortunately...the Perfect Mindset (PM) just didn't have any carry. It was rolling out noticeable before ever getting to the pin deck. A Royal Compound surface helps....but its just such a powerful ball to use on the outside. Wasn't a terrible game, just opened in the 10th after dealing with little to no carry.
X, X, S5 3, 9 /, X, 9 /, 8 /, 9 /, 9 /, 7 2.

Finally I started to get carry with the PM. Bummed that I whiffed on a 10-pin and it cost me a clean game.
X, 9 /, X, 9 -, X, X, X, X, X, XX9.

Stuck with the PM through 5 frames into Game 3. Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in the 6th frame.
8 /, 7 /, X, X, 8 /, X, X, 8 -, - 7, 7 / 9.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.79
Strikes: 48%
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (2x).
Also left a single 5-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 45% (5/11)
Multiple Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-5 (2x).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 201.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 205.67.

Positives
- Team took 3 points (11 of last 12).
- Felt fine physically.
- Spare shooting was improved.
- Had a decent 247 game.

Negatives
- Carry was a problem most of the night.

Kind've embarrassing that I tied our team anchor with a 605. I mean, I came in with a 191 average and he (our anchor) is coming in with like a 158-178 average.