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

[Aslan]

This series looks remarkably familiar....

I know right!? I saw your recent series and was like, "Yup...been there...recently."

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 19

We're in 4th...playing one of the better teams...virtually even on handicap...I think we got like 2 pins. We're 3 games back of first and they are only 1.5 games behind us.

601 Series: 249 (clean)-188-164

X, 7 /, X, X, X, X, X, X, 9 /, X 6 /.
Got lucky. Wasn't making the solid shots I was making Sunday night when I shot a 267 out of the gate. But, they were falling.

X, X, X, - 6, 7 2, X, 9 /, 9 /, X, X 9 -.
Similar shots...just not as lucky on the pin fall. Switched to the Brunswick Endeavor in the 5th, but I was so far inside with the Perfect Mindset that I had to make a big move right with the much weaker Endeavor.

9 /, X, 8 /, S8 -, 7 /, X, X, S6 2, 8 /, 8 -.
After a pocket 10-pin in the 1st, I figured enough of that and moved to the Outer Limits Pearl. But, the line was just a little off and by the time I found it again, things were transitioning too fast. A pocket 7-10 in the 4th and a Big 4 in the 8th also didn't help.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.75 pins
Strikes: 53%
Spares: 60% picked up

Single Pin spares: 80% (4/5)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (2x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 3-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 69% (9/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-4-5 and 4-7 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 200.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 200.67.

Positives
- Another night with a big game to open.
- Spare shooting was decent (not terrible).
- Helped the team take 1 point in Game 1 when the rest of my team wasn't bowling that great.
- One of only two bowlers (on our pair) to get over 600.
- Another clean game...love those.

Negatives
- Too much "luck" and not enough "skill".
- 1st ball gutter in the 4th of game 2 cost me as much as 20 pins and a 2nd 200-game on the night.
- Open in the 10th of Game 3 probably cost the team that point and maybe total.
- No card game wins despite getting some decent hands!

I chalk this up to mental toughness. I had some work stuff on my mind all night and just wasn't concentrating the way I usually do.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 21

563 Series: 200-165-198

Was leaving 10-pins in warm-up...but I tried the Endeavor and that wasn't hitting well either. Finally decided to use a trick I just learned in the bowling text I'm reading. I tucked my index finger in and spread my pinky finger. Seemed to work well. Unfortunately, I missed right in the 10th and left a 1-2-4-10 washout.
X, 9 /, 9 -, X, X, X, S8 /, X, X, 6 3.

After a weak hit in the first, I switched to the Endeavor. Took me a few frames to get adjusted. Left a silly 3-4-6-7-9-10 split. Guttered on the first ball in the 9th.
9 -, 7 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, S4 4, X, - 9, X 7 /.

Used the Outer Limits Pearl in Game 3. Kept things clean...even picked up a 2-10 split. Unfortunately, couldn't pick up the 4-10 split in the 10th.
7 /, S8 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, X, 6 /, 9 /, S8 1.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.48
Strikes: 41%
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (6/8)
Most common single-pin leaves: 4-pin and 10-pin (2x each).
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, 5-pin, nor 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 71% (10/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2-4-10 (2x)

Splits: 50% (2/4)

Average over 3 games: 187.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 194.33.

Positives
- Team took another 3 out of 4.

Negatives
- Cost the team the 4th point with my Game 2 debacle.

My speed stayed pretty consistent...right around 13.5-13.7. A lot of nice pocket hits that just didn't carry. Best shot of the night left me a stone 8. Gonna further reduce the surface on the Perfect Mindset to see if I can retain some more energy for the pocket. The good news is that changing my pinky and index finger position is a technique I now have in my toolbox.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 20

We're still in 4th...playing the 9th place team that is only 5 points back. They gave us some handicap...they have a couple, younger 200+ average bowlers that obviously bowled competitively in high school not that long ago. They also have a 195-200 bowler and a couple 175-180 bowlers.

Our team is made up of a 195-200 bowler, a 165-170 bowler, and then there's 3 of us in the 185-190 range.

628 Series: 236-191-201

X, X, X, X, 9 /, X, S8 1, X, X, X 9 /.
The new surface on the Perfect Mindset (PM) was working great. Bad luck leaving the 9-pin on a very good shot in the 5th. Only made two bad shots the whole game...the 1st frame I struck Brooklyn and left a 3-10 baby split in the 7th. But, I was pleased with the result.

X, X, 9 /, X, 6 /, S8 1, X, 9 -, 8 /, XX7.
Stuck with the PM in Game 2 until the 10th frame. Most of the shots were good...but there were 4 frames (5th, 8th, 9th, and last ball of the 10th) that I missed way right. Highlight of the game/night (for me) was picking up a 1-2-8-10 in the 5th. According to my extensive Paypal data set...in 3459 games...I've left the 1-2-8-10...27 times and this was the FIRST time I've ever converted it. Granted...my jubilance was quickly dashed when I whiffed on a 5-pin 3 frames later.

8 /, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, X, X, 9 -, X, 7 / 6.
Finished things off with the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP).

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.15 pins
Strikes: 55%
Spares: 69% picked up

Single Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 5-pin, and 9-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 81% (9/11)
Multiple Pin spares: 100% (4/4)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 209.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 216.67.

Positives
- Second highest series on my team, just 3 pins behind our anchor.
- 3rd highest series behind the two anchors.
- Won 2 card games.
- Helped team take 3 out of 4 points against a good team and when we were down 30 pins due to an absence.

Negatives
- Too many 'pulls' and pushes'...timing still needs a little work.
- Speed control was a little off...usually pretty solid between 13.5 and 14.9...tonight I saw a couple shots in the 15-16 area.

Second time in 4 weeks of this league that I've rolled a 628 series. Fourth time in the past 5 weeks that I've had a 600+ series. Pretty much when I decided to change my rotation and start with the PM (versus the Zen Master Solid)...thats when my series jumped about 125-150 pins in this league. My speed/hand combination just seems to work better with balls that have less surface and can be thrown right around 2nd arrow. When I start getting into solids and adding surface...and subsequently moving left to stay in the oil longer...I just can't make it work.

These lanes are also some of the drier outside/heavier inside than I'm used to. Pulled shots tend to still hit the pocket (although with a likely 4-pin and/or 9-pin result). And there's a good deal of miss room to the right...you'll still find the pocket...just probably not carry the 10-pin and maybe even leave a 2-pin combo. Other house shots I've played have been a little less forgiving. You miss right...you might leave the headpin...you miss left, you might go through the nose and get a 4-7-10 or 6-7-10 for your troubles.

It 'stinks'...because I really wanted to set up my arsenal to take more advantage of an inside line. But it also doesn't make sense to keep banging my head against a wall hoping that I'll just magically develop an inside game. Maybe the Zen Master Solid will be of use if I do tournaments at other houses...but at this point its just an extra ball I'll lug around until I put together another arsenal next fall.

[Timmyb]

Nice night!

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 22
In 8th place and bowling the 7th place team. They are probably one of the top 5 (out of 16) teams in the league with 2 bowlers that roll 200+ and a 3rd in the high 170s. Granted, we got 202 pins of handicap...so it was like bowling 5 bowlers against 4.

540 Series: 180-201-159

Started off okay. Kept hitting the pocket and leaving 4-7s. A couple bad shots where I left a 5-9 and a 2-4-5-7-8. Three opens trying to pick up all the multi-pin spares.
8 /, X, X, 7 /, X, 8 1, 8 1, 5 2, X, X 9 /.

Switched to the Endeavor for the 2nd game and was crushing it. Lost my line in the 6th then left a pocket 7-10 in the 7th. Then a missed single-pin and a shot pushed wide leaving me a 2-10 and I was back to having 3 opens. Had to strike out to salvage a 200+ game.
X, X, X, X, 9 /, 8 /, S8 1, 9 -, S8 -, XXX.

Used the Outer Limits Pearl in Game 3...but I just wasn't bowling well and couldn't get the ball to move like I wanted. I touched up the surface on it and I think I needed to stay where I was after Game 2 rather than make a small move left like I normally would.
X, 9 /, 7 1, X, 9 /, 9 -, X, S8 /, 9 -, 7 /8.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.91
Strikes: 44%
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (3x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, and 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 53% (8/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (4/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 4-7 (2x)

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 180.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 190.00.

Positives
- Team took another 3 out of 4.
- Physically felt good. A little back soreness, but nothing too terrible.

Negatives
- Cost the team a point with my abysmal failure of a Game 3.
- Single-pin spare shooting failed me again.

Not much to say. Bad night. This house plays so dry that its even hard to keep my Perfect Mindset polished enough so it retains enough energy to strike. And the Endeavor is weak enough to give me a decent look, but its just not strong enough to reliably strike. And I don't know what to think about the Outer Limits Pearl. On paper, it should be an ideal ball for my game and where I use it. Yet, its been very hit or miss. Terrible spare shooting.

Position round is next week. Team will be somewhere between 4th and 9th place. The team we beat will probably be in 9th or 10th...so we might play them again.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 21

We remain in 4th...about 1.5 points back of 2nd/3rd. Bowled against the team in the 3rd from last spot so we had to spot them 117 pins.

597 Series: 229-210-158

9 /, 7 /, 7 /, 8 /, 8 /, 9 /, X, X, X, XXX.
Switched from the Perfect Mindset (PM) to the Endeavor after 6 consecutive spares. Once I made the change...I was destroying the pocket. Who'd a figured? I bowl far better with a $110 ball than the $245 ball.

X, 8 -, 9 -, X, X, X, X, X, 9 /, 8 /S8.
Pulled a shot in the 2nd frame and missed right in the 10th...but other than that I was hitting the pocket.

X, 8 /, X, 6 /, 7 /, X, 6 2, S7 -, 9 -, X 8 1.
In frame 2, we had to switch lanes due to an equipment problem on one of the lanes. So, that means going back to fresh...which means going back to ball #1 in my progression...but I probably should have just stuck with the Endeavor and moved right. After the open in the 7th...I was mentally spent.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.85 pins
Strikes: 47%
Spares: 64% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (3/5)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x).
Also left a single 2-pin.

Makeable spares: 68% (11/16)
Multiple Pin spares: 72% (8/11)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 199.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 206.33.

Positives
- Highest series on my team (3 of them bowled poorly).
- Second highest series on the pair.
- Got another clean game under my belt.
- Bowled above my average on the night.

Negatives
- Didn't have any clean track pants, so I had to wear jogging pants.
- Forgot to switch the battery in my fan, so it gave out in warm-ups...so I was sweating a great deal all night.
- Team lost all 4...probably the worst I've seen our anchor bowl...ever.
- Due to "beer frames"...I ended up drinking way more than usual...so that didn't help the end of night performance.

Our team bowled good the first game...but they had a 185 average bowler roll a 268...and at least 4 (of 5) of their bowlers bowled above their averages. In game 2, we had a couple bowlers above their averages, but most of the team was bowling poorly. And having to move to fresh lanes in Game 3...messes with my progression system...so that added further insult to injury.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 23 - position round
In 9th place and bowling the 10th place team. One of the very few teams we actually have to give handicap to...but only 6 pins. Nobody on their team average over 140. One of our bowlers and one of their bowlers were absent...so that evened out the absentee penalty.

561 Series: 163-174-224

Started off with the Perfect Mindset, but struggled to stay right of the headpin so I switched a little earlier than planned to the Endeavor in the 6th frame. Pushed a couple shots and had a couple that transitioned in...but mostly pocket hits. Far too many pocket hits to generate just 4 strikes.
8 /, X, 9 -, 8 1, 9 /, X, 8 1, 8 1, 9 /, XX9.

Stuck with the Endeavor through the end of the second game. More of the same. 4 pocket shots and only one strike for the first half of the game. Only opens were a couple of splits...but only two strikes the entire game.
X, X, X, X, 9 /, 8 /, S8 1, 9 -, S8 -, XXX.

Brought out the Outer Limits for Game 3. Suddenly I started getting more downlane movement and power. Hit the pocket every frame except a pulled shot in the 7th.
X, 9 -, X, X, X, 9 /, S8 1, X, X, XXX.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.09
Strikes: 42%
Spares: 55% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 7-pin (4x).
Also left a single 4-pin, 6-pin, 10-pin, and 8-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 66% (10/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (3/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (3x)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 187.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 194.33.

Positives
- Threw a decent 3rd game.
- Glad to see the Outer Limits Pearl is still capable of generating decent scores. It wasn't doing so hot for me this past month or so.
- Physically felt good. Achilles area was a little sore earlier in the day and my left knee had some pain in practice...but nothing major.
- Spare shooting improved over last week.
- Good speed control...13.9-14.7 range on pretty much every shot.

Negatives
- Team lost all 4 points to a team with < 140 average bowlers that somehow managed to throw a couple 180 games and a 200 game.
- All over the pocket and the carry just wasn't there.

Gonna keep trying to knock that surface down on the Perfect Mindset to see if I can keep it right of the headpin. But, I may have to start altering my hand position and throw the Zen Master Solid and Perfect Mindset with more of a 30 degree axis tilt versus 45 degree axis tilt. But, then I'll have to start all over...because I think both balls will need a little bit of surface if I start throwing them at a modified axis tilt. Then, with more surface...will I have to throw them more inside with more axis tilt (closer to 90 degrees)?

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 22

We fell to 5th after dropping all 4 last week. Played the team that is a half a game behind us and is pretty strong.

543 Series: 180-214 (clean)-149

X, 7 2, X, 9 /, 9 -, X, X, X, 9 /, 7 1.
Was doing okay. I think I just got overly annoyed when I missed the 10-pin in the 5th. Took me a few strikes to get back to a decent mindset...then I chop a 2-4-5 in the 10th...which has been the bane of my existence recently.

X, X, X, 8 /, 8 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, 9 /, X 8 /.
Switched to the Endeavor and things started off good. Then I just hit a wall and it was all I could do to convert spares. And they were spares that shouldn't have BEEN spares! A stone 8? Yet ANOTHER pocket 10? Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl in the 8th...but needed to make some adjustments. I'll take the clean game though.

9 -, 8 /, S7 2, X, 9 -, X, S7 2, 9 /, X, 8 / 8.
Two missed single-pins just deflated me. Add in 2 splits and a complete inability to run strikes together...just abysmal.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.97 pins
Strikes: 40%
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (6/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, nor 4-pin.

Makeable spares: 68% (11/16)
Multiple Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: 4-7 (3x)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 181.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 192.00.

Positives
- Had a clean game...that's always a positive.
- Won a card game. $5 is $5.

Negatives
- Team lost 3 of 4...to a team that has now jumped ahead of us in the standings. Our team didn't bowl badly...but their team just ROLLED us.

Another night of brining out the best in our opponents. But, honestly, there were high scores all around us as well...so just one of those nights where everyone seems to be figuring it out except you.

Had trouble switching to the Outer Limits Pearl. It just wanted to move so much more...and there just didn't seem like maybe there was enough carrydown to facilitate it. Oh well.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 24
Most of the league members were away watching the super bowl. We were down one bowler and were bowling an absent team.

482 Series: 148-149-185

Same as last week...I struggled to keep the Perfect Mindset right of the headpin...even with a polished finish. Four chopped multi-pin leaves just killed me. One was a Big 4...but the other 3 were very makeable.
X, 8 /, 8 -, X, 9 /, X, 8 -, S6 2, X, 7 2.

Switched to the Endeavor in frame 2...but then switched back in the 6th...because I knew I had moved too far left and I needed to reset. Switched back to the Endeavor in the 10th. But, another game with 4 opens....including a missed 10-pin in the 9th.
7 -, S8 1, S8 /, 8 1, 7 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, 9 -, X 9 /.

Started with the Endeavor, but switched to the Outer Limits Pearl in the 5th frame. Was pounding the pocket...but carry was abysmal. Made more single-pins than I thought....missed another 10-pin and a 7-pin though.
X, 9 /, 9 -, 9 /, X, 9 -, 9 /, X, X, 9 /X.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.88
Strikes: 34%
Spares: 52% picked up

Single Pin spares: 72% (8/11)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (7x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 3-pin, 7-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 55% (10/18)
Multiple Pin spares: 28% (2/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: 4-7 and 2-5-8 (2x each)

Splits: 33% (1/3)

Average over 3 games: 160.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 172.00.

Positives
- No physical difficulties.
- Game 3 my first ball average was 9.45.
- After reviewing the data, did better shooting single-pins than I felt like I did.

Negatives
- A sub-500 series is attrocious!
- Far too many chopped, makeable spares or misses entirely.
- Team probably lost all 4 on our path to bottom dwelling.
- Probably the 1st time this season and second time in two seasons that our anchor out-bowled me.

Struggling with this arsenal. The Zen Master Solid and Perfect Mindset are so dang strong that I can't keep them right of the headpin. The Endeavor does great...when the lanes are worn out. Not so well on fresh. The Outer Limits Pearl was doing great...but only 50/50 on carry...which is different than what I experienced with the Reax Pearl, Scandal Pearl, Foertera Exile, and Pyramid Force...which have similar specs.

I don't know. Part of me is tempted to just stand one board left of center and throw straight up the 8-board with the Endeavor. Seems like this house rewards that 2nd arrow, up-and-in type of shot. And part of me wants to scrap this arsenal and create one with the balls I still have that I had success with in the past (Fortera Exile, Pyramid Force). Or maybe pull out the weakest equipment I have (Yeah Baby Sinful, SpecialOps, Rhino Pro) and see if I can make an arsenal specifically for these dry conditions.

[J Anderson]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Struggling with this arsenal. The Zen Master Solid and Perfect Mindset are so dang strong that I can't keep them right of the headpin. The Endeavor does great...when the lanes are worn out. Not so well on fresh. The Outer Limits Pearl was doing great...but only 50/50 on carry...which is different than what I experienced with the Reax Pearl, Scandal Pearl, Foertera Exile, and Pyramid Force...which have similar specs.

I don't know. Part of me is tempted to just stand one board left of center and throw straight up the 8-board with the Endeavor. Seems like this house rewards that 2nd arrow, up-and-in type of shot. And part of me wants to scrap this arsenal and create one with the balls I still have that I had success with in the past (Fortera Exile, Pyramid Force). Or maybe pull out the weakest equipment I have (Yeah Baby Sinful, SpecialOps, Rhino Pro) and see if I can make an arsenal specifically for these dry conditions.

I would vote for breaking one of your old friends out of the retired bowling ball home and starting with that. I’d go with one that worked well, not necessarily the weakest