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

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 27

Team is still in 5th place (actually tied for 4th). One half point out of 3rd and 4 points out of second. We were playing the highest average (214.8) team in the league with the highest average (234) bowler in the league....so we got some handicap (we average 186.6) out of the deal.

547 Series: 165-199-183

X, 9 /, 9 /, S8 1, 9 /, 7 1, X, X, S8 -, X 9 /.
Didn't feel too terrible. Not the score I wanted, but two splits ...with one being in the 9th...it is what it is. Best shot of the night left me a stone 8 in the fill frame of the 10th.

X, X, X, 7 /, X, X, S8 1, 9 -, 7 -, XXX.
Switched to the Endeavor and had a good line. Ran into a string of opens in the 7th, 8th, and 9th. Had to strike out just to salvage the 199.

8 /, 9 /, 9 -, X, 8 /, X, X, 9 -, 9 -, XXX.
Stuck with the Endeavor through 5. Got a good reaction from the crowd when I threw a great shot in the 3rd, only to leave a stone 8 that "migrated" over to the 10-pin position and stayed standing. Just couldn't pick up the corner pins.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.20 pins
Strikes: 51%
Spares: 47% picked up

Single Pin spares: 55% (5/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 4-pin (3x).
Also left a single 6-pin (2x), 7-pin, 8-pin, and 10-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 57% (8/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 60% (3/5)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-6-10 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 182.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 196.33.

Positives
- Team took 2 points from a very good team.

Negatives
- Pretty much every stat.
- My speed was off...down in the 11.9-15 range instead of the 13.9-16.9 range.
- Spare shooting was, once again, abysmal.

The new spare shooting method (thanks to Joe Slowinski's bowler's reference manual) is helping. Its just gonna take some practice. I still miss far too many single-pins, but at least I'm close to them when I miss them.

[J Anderson]

Those late in the game splits really hurt. My team had a chance to sweep today and I left a 4-6-7-9 in the last frame🤬

Sometimes it feels worse to miss a single pin by a millimeter than to miss by several boards.

[Aslan]

Those late in the game splits really hurt. My team had a chance to sweep today and I left a 4-6-7-9 in the last frame🤬

Sometimes it feels worse to miss a single pin by a millimeter than to miss by several boards.

Case in point....

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 30

Team is 14th out of 16th. Would like to move to a different team/league next season, but not sure how I pull that off without hurting feelings.

574 Series: 206-223-145

Recovered from a bad shot in the first frame. After 5 frames of struggling with carry with the Vintage Gold Rhino, I made the switch to the Endeavor in the 6th and probably could have struck out. But pretty much ruined my score with a gutter on the 1st shot of the 10th. Missed WAY right.
5 4, X, 9 /, 8 /, 9 /, X, X, X, X, - /X.

The Endeavor was doing well, still striking except for a pulled shot in the 2nd. Tried to adjust my line in the 7th, but made a bad shot and then missed a friggin FIVE-pin...of all things. Finally lost the line again in the 10th.
X, 8 /, X, X, X, X, 9 -, X, X, 9 / S7.

Wanted to stay with the Endeavor, but a horrible 2-4-5-7-8 leave in the opening frame made me switch to the Force Pearl. Just a hodgepodge of pulled shots, pushed shots, bad carry, and maximum penalties for slight misses. Not good when your first "good" shot is the last shot in the 10th.
5 2, X, 9 /, 6 /, X, 8 1, S7 1, 9 /, S7 2. 7 /X.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.55
Strikes: 48%
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 83% (5/6)
Most common single-pin leaves: n/a
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 3-pin, nor 6-pin.

Makeable spares: 71% (10/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-6 and 2-4-5-7-8 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 191.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 195.33.

Positives
- Endeavor was very strong tonight.
- Spare shooting was better, for the most part.

Negatives
- Disasterous Game 3.
- A couple disastrous shots in the first 2 games cost me a 600+ series despite the bad game 3.
- Team lost at least 1 (Game 3) due to my abysmal Game 3.

Over 13 shots between Game 1 frame 6 and Game 2 frame 6...struck 11 times. Essentially would have shot a clean 248 had it been over the course of one game. And really, it was better than that because one of the two misses was a gutter ball...so that cost me like 30 pins. Could have been my highest ever game at 278...but instead that stretch just propped up Game 1 (where I was struggling to find a good line with the Vintage Rhino) and gave me a good base to score well in Game 2 despite a missed 5-pin in the 7th.

Disappoint night for the Force Pearl....which is usually incredibly effective. But, a ball can't make good shots for you and I was just "off" in Game 3...struggling to play near 3rd arrow.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 28

Team moved up to sole possession of 4th place...within striking distance of 2nd and 3rd, but I think the 1st place team is a bit out of reach. We're bowling the team we opened the season against...2 of the 5 guys on that team are 2 of the 4 on my summer team. We were down a bowler, so lost 10 pins per game.

619 Series: 189-256-174

X, 9 -, X, 7 /, 7 /, 8 -, 9 /, X, X, X, 8 /.
Mixture of some bad breaks and some bad shots. Finished strong enough to salvage a score that was at least close to my average.

X, 9 /, S7 2, X, X, X, X, X, X, XXX.
Lanes transitioned a little in frames 2 and 3. Made the right moves and struck out. Was tempted to change balls around the 6th/7th...but was too afraid to mess up the roll I was on. I just moved my vertical targeting to compensate for the lanes transitioning and that seemed to work. Only open frame was a 4-7-10 split in the 3rd.

9 -, 9 /, 8 1, 8 /, X, 8 /, X, 9 /, 9 /, X 9 -.
Switched to the Force Pearl in the 4th...but my line was very tight. A small miss right or left would go through the nose. Solid first ball average, but couldn't run anything together.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.21 pins
Strikes: 52%
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (5/8)
Most common single-pin leave: n/a
Left a single 4-pin, 6-pin, 9-pin, and 10-pin (2x each).

Makeable spares: 66% (10/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 206.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 214.00.

Positives
- Team took 3 much needed points.
- I won a card game.
- 256 was my 2nd highest game in this league, this season. And, it was my 5th highest score this fall; highest score since 1/12.
- Overall, spare shooting was improved...although still a work in progress.
- A 600+ series is always a good night.

Negatives
- Missed my average 2 of the 3 games. Had to rely on one big game to save me.
- Despite how good I was doing, I got beer framed twice!
- Missed the Strike-A-Mania pot thanks to the pocket 10-pin in the 2nd frame of Game 3.

Overall, can't complain. The Force Pearl was a little "erratic" tonight...but I think that was just the line I was playing. This is the closest I've been to the Strike-A-Mania pot. In order to win it I have to strike in the 3rd and 9th frames of Game 1, the 1st and 5th frames of Game 2, and the 2nd and first shot of the 10th frame in the 3rd. Struck in all those frames except for a nice pocket shot in Game 3, frame 2 that left a ringing 10-pin. Dang it!

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 31

Team is still 14th out of 16th. We're rolling against a team that has 4 bowlers and their highest average is 152...so should be able to get at least a point or two.

528 Series: 210-105-213

Things seemed to be working. Pulled a few shots, but everything else seemed fine.
9 /, X, X, X, 9 /, X, X, 7 2, 9 /, 7 / 9.

Switched to the Endeavor in the 10th frame of Game 1. And even at a polished 4000 surface...I struggled to keep the ball right of the headpin. And when I did hit the pocket, I left a 9-pin, a 7-pin, or a pocket 7-10. Threw the first shot of the 3rd frame in the gutter. Got the ball a little too far right on a couple shots and left a 2-pin and a 2-8. Switching to the Force Pearl in the 8th didn't help much as I had to adjust my line slightly to the new ball. Not one strike the entire game. Can't remember the last time that happened.
S7 2, S8 -, - 7, 9 /, 9 /, S8 -, 9 -, S8 1, 9 -, 8 1.

Finally got the Force Pearl dialed in a bit. Pulled 3-4 shots...but much improved results versus Game 2.
X, 8 /, X, X, 8 -, X, X, X, 9 /, X 9 /.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.72
Strikes: 37%
Spares: 47% picked up

Single Pin spares: 77% (7/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 2-pin and 7-pin (2x each)
Never left a single 3-pin nor 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 60% (9/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 33% (2/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 176.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 182.00.

Positives
- Didn't feel terrible about games 1 and 2.
- Team at least took 2 points.

Negatives
- As bad as game 3 was last week (145)...rolling a 105 is nightmarish. More below.
- Every stat was terrible.
- Rare night where the "team" didn't bowl too awful, so our loss of 1-2 points is squarely on my shoulders.

To put Game 2 in perspective...bad perspective...since starting to track my stats in Pinpal (January 2014)...over a decade...Game 2 was tied for the 8th worst game I've thrown. The last time I bowled this badly (or worse)....was August 2018. And that was when I was trying to get back to bowling form after taking 12/17-8/18 off working two jobs. AND...that was open bowling...so who knows what diasterous pattern I was bowling on.

IF you remove open bowling from the statistics...the 105 I bowled yesterday was the lowest score I've EVER bowled in league or tournament play. EVER. Now, realize, that includes two seasons bowling on PBA/Challenge patterns in a sport league out in California. And, it includes the one summer I bowled in a league on challenge patterns. The last time I bowled this low of a score, in league play, was a 106 in a sport league on the WTBA Mexico City pattern.

I'm hoping this was just a 1 off...because the Endeavor has been rolling very well for me...far more reliable than the Vintage Gold Rhino or the Yeah Baby Sinful. But, how dry are these lanes? When you can't keep a Brunswick Endeavor with a 2.54 RG and a 4000/polished surface right of the headpin......with a 12.9-15.9 mph and 240rpm release...there's not much weaker I can go. Moving left doesn't help...because the middle is flooded and the ball won't come back. And if I get too far right, it slams back through the nose.

Only 3-4 more weeks. I'll probably use the "dream team" arsenal over the summer....Fortera Exile, Radical Outer Limits Pearl, and Force Pearl. Maybe that'll give me more backend when I move inside to avoid the dry....but they won't burn up the way the Trident Odyssey, Zen Master Solid, and Perfect Mindset seem to.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 29

Still in sole possession of 4th place. Still within striking distance of 2nd/3rd. Bowling a team that is very hot/cold. Their lowest average bowler usually doesn't do that well, but he's been known to throw a high game here and there. And they have a 2-hander that usually is in the running for high handicap game awards because he's not very consistent, but can pull a 270+ game out of his backside from time to time. This team is in 6th place, 4 games back, so we just needed a tie to keep em behind us in the standings.

586 Series: 176-261-149

X, 9 -, X, 8 /, X, X, 6 3, X, X, 8 -.
Too many opens. Just not a good spare-shooting night.

X, X, X, 8 /, X, X, X, X, X, X S6 1.
Very similar to last week. Last week, in game 2, I had a spare in the 2nd and a 4-7-10 split in the 3rd. Otherwise all strikes (10). Last night it was a spare in the 4th and a Big 4 on the second ball of the 10th....struck 9 times.

8 /, X, 8 /, 8 -, 9 /, 7 1, X, 6 /, - 8, 8 /X.
Just could not find my line again once I lost it in the 10th of Game 2. Finally switched to the Force Pearl in the 6th. I thought I found the line in the 7th, but then went to the bathroom, washed my hands, and when I came back I lost my thumb fit/release...which is why I try not to use the restroom when I bowl. And dumping the ball in the gutter on the first shot of the 9th pretty much cost me 20 pins.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.72 pins
Strikes: 56%
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 50% (1/2)
Most common single-pin leave: n/a
Left a single 5-pin and 7-pin.

Makeable spares: 53% (7/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 54% (6/11)
Most common multi-pin leave: 3-6, 3-6-9-10, and 4-7 (2x each).

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 195.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 199.33.

Positives
- Bowled my highest game, this league, this season.
- Bowled my 3rd highest game (between both fall leagues) this season.
- I won TWO card games!
- Finally nabbed another clean game.
- Given how poorly I bowled in game 3, and to a lesser extent game 1...I was relieved to come away with a 550+.

Negatives
- Obviously, 2nd week in a row with a big Game 2 bookended by less than stellar efforts.
- Second straight week that I was close to the strike-a-mania pot...just needed a strike on the first ball of the 10th in Game 3...but, nope.
- The team pooed the bed so bad in Game 3 that we ended up splitting. So, looks like we'll be remaining in 4th or fall to 5th by next week.

Not sure what could be causing the recent trend of very high scores in Game 2 with much lower scores in Games 1 and 3. Between the two leagues, the data is:

Average by Game:

Game 1: 188.61
Game 2: 196.81
Game 3: 189.31

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 32

Team is still 14th out of 16th. Bowling against a pretty skilled team. They are in 15th...but I'm sure thats mostly because opponents get so much handicap against them.

598 Series: 179-180-239

Didn't feel "bad", just struggled to keep the ball right of the headpin.
X, S7 -, X, X, 9 -, 9 /, X, 7 /, 9 /, X S8 1.

Hard to be upset at such a sweet spare-shooting performance. But, for crying out loud! Switched to the Endeavor in frame 2, but that didn't help.
9 /, 9 /, 9 /, 8 /, 9 /, 9 /, 8 /, X, S8 1, X 9 /.

Switched to the Force Pearl and suddenly started hitting the pocket a little better.
X, X, 6 2, 8 /, X, X, X, X, X, X 8 1.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.06
Strikes: 45%
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (8/9)
Most common single-pin leaves: 10-pin (5x)
Also left a single 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, and 7-pin

Makeable spares: 80% (12/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 4-7 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 199.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 203.00.

Positives
- Only 2 of the 4 opens were non-splits.
- Health was good.
- Team took all 4 points.
- Average back up to 190.

Negatives
- A couple points shy of 600.
- Two games below my average.
- Could not buy a strike in Game 2. The ball just didn't want to stay right of the headpin.

Can't remember the last time I ran 7 spares together consecutively. Not much else to say.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 30

Still in sole possession of 4th place. Still within striking distance of 2nd/3rd. We're playing the 2nd place team, so a chance to move up. Granted, they are all 200+ average bowlers except for one guy who was subbing.

566 Series: 172-204-190

7 2, X, 3 6, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 -.
The Rhino Gold was just not carrying. So, I switched to the Endeavor...but essentially the same issues.

7 /, X, 8 /, 6 /, 6 /, 9 /, 8 -, X, X, XX7.
Switched to the Yeah Baby Sinful...but I just have trouble comfortably throwing that ball. Very high RG...I feel like I'm gonna miss right and then at the last minute it makes a little jog to the left. Jogs too much to miss left and not enough to miss right. Finally managed to carry a bit near the end.

7 /, 8 /, X, S8 1, X, 9 -, X, X, 8 /, XX8.
I can't blame the ball. Just wasn't making the greatest shots.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.65 pins
Strikes: 41%
Spares: 66% picked up

Single Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x)
Also left a single 4-pin (2x), 6-pin, and 7-pin.

Makeable spares: 70% (12/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 70% (7/10)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 188.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 196.67.

Positives
- I won a card game.
- The last two games weren't terrible.
- Spare shooting was improved across the board.

Negatives
- Bowled under my average 2 out of 3 games.

The night started out pretty darn bad. The other team had 4 bowlers that all had the front 5. One of them ended up sparing in the 7th, one in the 8th, and one in the 9th. The other one spared in the 10th. Five guys and their total (scratch) for the game was 1341. This team had the high scratch game last week with an 1167. So, if ya do the math, they AVERAGED 268 in game 1. I mean, thats essentially USBC Masters/PBA level scoring.

I think we managed to get one point...but quite a humbling experience. Should be in 4th or 5th next week when we take on a team of consistent, experienced, high 170s-high 190s bowlers. I doubt they can average 268 in a game.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 33

Team is still 14th out of 16th. Bowling against a pretty skilled team. Last week we bowled the 15th place team. This week we bowl the last place team. My Wednesday teammate/captain is on the other team, so I don't want to embarrass myself too much.

598 Series: 212-171-215

Didn't feel too bad. Was just ticked that I had the one open.
X, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, X, 7 2, 9 /, X, X 8 /.

Stayed with the Gold Rhino through 6, but I finally had to make the switch to the Force Pearl in the 7th. From there it was smooth sailing with the exception of a big miss right in the 9th.
X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, 9 -, 8 1, X, X, S8 1, X 9 /.

More of the same. The Force Pearl is a beast...just needs someone halfway talented to throw it...and I'm only 1/8 talented at best. THREE 7-pins. For crying out loud thats annoying. All the misery of a lefty with none of the benefits.
9 -, X, X, 9 /, X, X, 9 -, 6 /, X, XXX.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.29
Strikes: 52%
Spares: 62% picked up

Single Pin spares: 72% (8/11)
Most common single-pin leaves: 7-pin (5x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 2-pin, 6-pin, nor 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 66% (10/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (2/4)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 199.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 209.00.

Positives
- Beat em scratch the 1st game even though they were giving us 146 pins.
- A couple 200+ games is always nice.
- The Force Pearl is still a powerful beast when I make half-way decent shots.

Negatives
- The Rhino Gold is still struggling to carry consistently.

Two straight weeks with a 598 total.

I think we ended up taking 3 points from them. Not so much because our team bowled awesome....they were all just really struggling in Games 1 and 2. Not sure who'll we face in position round. It won't be the top 6 teams nor bottom 2 teams. So, that leaves 7 potential opponents and a best case 3-way tie for 5th (out of 16). And we'll be off Easter Sunday, so we'll be bowling position round on the 27th. Then final week of play will be May4th...but that will just be for payout.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 31

The team has snuck our way into 3rd place. And, teams 1 and 2 play each other this week. So, a 'chance' to move up to 2nd, but thats about the best we'll be able to manage this season with only one week to go after tonight. The team we were bowling was very similar...we only got 7 pins handicap...so almost even/scratch bowling.

653 Series: 195-204-254

7 2, X, X, S8 1, X, X, X, 6 3, X, X 6 /.
I used the Rhino Gold for one shot and then angrily put it away in favor of the Endeavor. That ball (Rhino Gold) just refuses to move. It just kinda 'drifts' into the pocket. If I put more surface on it, it'll get to the pocket better...but won't carry as well. The Endeavor was a solid upgrade. The other team quickly asked that I go back to using "the gold ball". I barely pulled a shot and it left a 4-9 split in the 4th. Missed right a couple times and left a 1-2-4-10 washout and a bucket. Everything else struck.

X, X, X, 6 -, 9 -, X, X, X, 8 /, X 8 1.
Just like last week, I switched to the Yeah Baby Sinful (YBS) for Game 2. Its a tough ball to throw because a slight miss inside and it won't move enough to go brooklyn. And, any miss to the right it likely won't get back to the pocket. You essentially have to throw it straight at the 3-pin and it'll make a quick 'jerk' to the pocket at the end.

X, X, X, 9 /, S8 1, X, X, X, X, XX8.
Stuck with the YBS until it netted me a pocket 10 and then a pocket 7-10. That was clear indication it was time to bring out the big gun. Once I made the switch, it was lights out right up until the 3rd ball of the 10th when the shot had started to transition a little.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.21 pins
Strikes: 67%
Spares: 30% picked up

Single Pin spares: 50% (1/2)
Most common single-pin leave: n/a
Left a single 6-pin and 10-pin.

Makeable spares: 37% (3/8)
Multiple Pin spares: 33% (2/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 217.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 221.33.

Positives
- I won TWO card games.
- Strike rate was awesome.
- The Endeavor, YBS, and Force Pearl were killing it.
- Form seemed good.
- Team took all 4 points.
- Highest series of my team and their team.

Negatives
- One of my worst spare shooting performances.
- So many bowlers got beer framed, that I drank twice as much as I usually do.
- The Rhino Gold might be going back into retirement. I just can't make it work and the Endeavor is just a far superior ball.

I'm leaning towards switching out arsenals from Arsenal 8.25 (dry lanes equipment) to Arsenal 8.5 (skid/flip). I was gonna wait until summer league starts, but I think I've gotten a good enough feel for what the dry lane balls can do....might be time to break out my mini All-Star lineup of skid/flip balls that I throw so well.