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

[Timmyb]

Well done!

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 32

The team is in second place. We tied for second place last year. Unfortunately, this is the final week...position round...and there are 4 teams within 2.5 points.

570 Series: 210-177-183

S8 1, X, X, X, X, X, 8 1, 8 /, S7 2, XX9.
Firgures...4 out of 5 strikes in warm-ups...then opwn with a 6-7 split. Wasn't a terrible game, mainly got stung by a 4-6-7 split in the 9th.

X, 9 /, 5 4, X, X, 9 /, S8 1, X, X, 9 /, 9 /S8.
After two frames, decided to make the move to the Perfect Mindset. Pretty upsetting to hit the pocket 9 times and not being able to even get to 180. Pocket 10 in the 2nd, pocket 10 in the 6th, pocket 8-9 split in the 7th, pocket 10 in the 9th, and a pocket 8-10 split on the 3rd ball of the 10th.

6 3, X, 8 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, 9 /, 9 -, 9 /, XX8.
Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl and carry got even worse! Another game with 9 pocket hits and I couldn't break 185! Pocket 7-pin in the 4th, pocket 10 in the 5th, pocket 10 in the 7th, pocket 8 in the 8th, and a pocket 10 ion the 9th! Abysmal!

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.97 pins
Strikes: 42%
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 88% (1/2)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (6x)
Also left a single 4-pin, 7-pin, and 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 71% (10/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 40% (2/5)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 190.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 193.67.

Positives
- I won a card game...whoopdie-doo.
- Spare shooting improved...especially single-pins. Made all 8 that I attempted with my spare ball. Only miss was an 8-pin that I threw my strike ball at.
- Health was good. My knee had been hurting earlier in the day, but it was fine.

Negatives
- Just terrible carry. Terrible.

Switched my arsenal back to Arsenal 8.0. I realized that my highest games were with the Perfect Mindset...so maybe switching to the high RG lineup wasn't the best strategy. Well, now I'm not so sure. How do you hit the pocket as often as I did and leave that many 10-pins and 8-10 splits? Was I too far inside? I dunno. Some people think you should go to a symmetric core ball to drive through the pins closer to the 8-pin. I can't take any surface off the balls...they're all polished. We'll see. Maybe give it another month and if I'm, still leaving insane numbers of corner pins...maybe I just need to throw higher RG balls at this THS. Ughhh!

The team lost all 4 points...dropped down to a tie for 4th. So, there goes any chance at extra prize money. My 570 series was the highest of our team. In other words, our whole team stunk it up...not just me. Oh well....we finished in the top 5 in a competitive 14-team men's league...I guess thats not terrible.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 34

Position week. Team is still 14th out of 16th. Unlikely to move more than a position up or down.

586 Series: 166-183-237

A couple bad misses right. Probably 4 pocket hits that just didn't carry. Just too many opens and not enough strikes.
6 /, X, 9 -, S5 -, 9 /, X, X, 8 -, 3 /, 9 /X.

Stayed with the Zen Master Solid for a couple frames, but a pocket 10 in the 2nd frame told me it was time to make a change and I switched to the Perfect Mindset (PM). Had a few bad misses. Still had a chance to salvage a 200, but the lanes transitioned in the 10th and I ended up with a split on the 2nd ball.
X, 9 /, 7 /, 9 /, X, 7 /, X, 6 1, X, X S5 3.

The line with the PM was super-tight...and eventually I just couldn't make it work. Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in the 5th frame and struck out.
9 /, X, S7 2, 9 -, X, X, X, X, X, XXX.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.74
Strikes: 52%
Spares: 56% picked up

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

Makeable spares: 69% (10/15)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 4-6-7-9-10 split (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 195.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 201.33.

Positives
- Won 3 points, so maybe we move up to 13th in the final tally.
- The Outer Limits Pearl was dominant.
- Three straight weeks bowling over my average.

Negatives
- Still made 2-3 bad shots per game which are unforced errors.

Still struggling with this arsenal. It forces me to start the night about 1.5:4.5 left of where I was with the weaker/higher RG arsenal. Its not a big deal until the lanes start to transition and then I'm aiming at the 13-14 board and standing about 10 boards left of center. Thats a tough line for me to play. Very little miss room. A miss a couple boards right and I barely get back to the pocket...1-2 board miss left and I'm lucky not to get a split.

We'll see where I end up. I think I finished with a 191 average which should put me just over the cutoff for top 20% of the league. My main goal is to average 203 or higher and have a few series of 729 or higher. Still nowhere close to accomplishing that. Improving spare conversion rate, especially single-pins, will definitely help...a work in progress.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 33 (FINAL WEEK)

Ended up finishing tied for 5th. Same point total as last year when we finished 2nd.

666 Series: 221-222-223

8 /, X, S6 /, 6 1, X, X, X, X, X, 8 /X.
The Zen Master Solid was abysmal...so I changed to the Perfect Mindset (PM) in the 4th frame.

X, 8 -, X, X, 7 /, X, X, X, 9 /, XXX.
Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in the 10th after a pocket 10-pin.

8 /, 5 4, X, 9 /, X, X, X, 9 /, X, XXX.
Another solid game. Missed way right in frames 1 and 2. Other than that, was throwing it well.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.23 pins
Strikes: 68%
Spares: 72% picked up

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

Makeable spares: 70% (7/10)
Multiple Pin spares: 57% (2/5)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2 (2x)

Splits: 100% (1/1)

Average over 3 games: 222.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 222.00.

Positives
- I won TWO card games at the end of the year level (5x the usual amount).
- Strike rate was one of the highest I can remember.
- 100% on single-pin spares.
- All 200+ games
- Consistent
- Highest series of either team, and the other team had a 200+ average bowler.
- 600 series
- Only 3 opens
- Only one split (and I picked it up)
- Other than a little arthritis in my swing leg foot...health was good.

Negatives
- No clean games.
- Beer framed 3 opponents so I drank more than usual.
- '666' not the luckiest number...especially when my winning card game hands were 4 6s and 5 6s.
- The Zen Master Solid continues to give me problems.
- SO close to a triplicate! Dang.

I don't know why I don't have success with Rotogrip/900 Global equipment. The Asylum, Defiant Edge, Optimus Solid, Special Ops, and now the Zen Master Solid...I just can't find a surface/line/speed combination that works. The only Storm ("brands") ball I've ever thrown that I liked was my old Frantic. Whether its (Zen Master Solid) at 3000 matte or 360/2000/polished....It refuses to stay right of the headpin...until I end up practically on 3rd arrow...and then it doesn't come back. I hate to skip it and start with the Perfect Mindset...but I also hate spending half of the first game, every week, fighting with my ball.

Averages (both leagues) not quite up to my 2016/2017 level (180/185/195)...but I'm getting very close (190/194). Need to work on focus and I MUST get my spare shooting up in that 80-95% range versus the 65-70% I've been in for the last several seasons. I think, before next fall season, I'm gonna buy a new spare ball (probably a Columbia WD) and have it drilled for my VISE inserts. My Maxim has started to crack/chip between the fingers and I think the difference in 'feel' is a contributing factor to why my accuracy suffers when I switch to my spare ball.

Always good to go home with more money than you show up with. Payout ($174) + Card Game Winnings ($50) = $224 minus card game entries ($15), minus bar tab ($10) = + $199.00.

I was dead tired when I got home...and a little dehydrated. Fell asleep almost immediately and kept waking up with bad leg cramps.

[Timmyb]

Nice night!

[Aslan]

Nice night!

Was hoping for a continuation into summer league; but oh well.

Summer League

Week 1

573 Series: 186-213-174

S7 -, X, X, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, X, S6 -, X 9 -.
Apparently my bowling skill can be summed up as, "good enough to get 2 strikes and a spare" because thats what I did. Tried the Zen Master Solid (ZMS) in practice and that was abysmal. Started with the Perfect Mindset (PM) at the new 1500/P5000 surface. But, as usual on these dry *** lanes...it was just a constant struggle to keep the dang ball right of the headpin. Switched to the Brunswick Endeavor in the 8th.

X, S7 2, X, 8 /, X, X, X, 7 /, 9 /, XX9.
Stayed with the Endeavor throughout Game 2. Generally happy that I still hadn't opened on a non-split. Just too low of a strike rate.

X, 9 /, X, 9 /, 9 -, 9 /, 9 -, X, 9 -, XXX.
Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) with a new 500/4000 surface. Carry was a struggle all game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.26 pins
Strikes: 54%
Spares: 53% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (6/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Also left a single 3-pin, 4-pin, 7-pin (2x), and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 66% (8/12)
Multiple Pin spares: 100% (2/2)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 191.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 203.00.

Positives
- The stats weren't terrible...especially compared to what I was doing last summer.
- The team we bowled was so bad that we beat them scratch (with two bowlers) the first two games and nearly the 3rd.

Negatives
- Single-pin spare shooting fell apart in game 3.
- We're establishing the first 3 weeks...so, not great sandbagging by me nor my partner.
- The arsenal is still in question. The ZMS and PM might just be too strong...even at a polished surface...to be effective on these lanes. And I hate to just limit myself to the Endeavor and the OLP...$350 worth of balls just taking up space.

This league has started out as a raging fiasco. I was told we had a full team...then an hour before the league meeting...I get a text message from the captain that reads:

"Its just you and me tonight. Kyle will join us next week. I gotta find a 4th. Can you spot me the league fees tonight?"

For God Sakes! We don't have a full team...one guy isn't gonna show on week 1...and the captain needs me to cover his fee for week 1!! And, then he finds out he needs to pay the prize fund for the vacant spots...so his girlfriend pays that. Then she buys him a bucket of beers and a pizzza. Its like, What the ***L!! Why couldn't she pay his fees ($20) if she can pay $50 for food/drinks and another $10 for the prize fund?? Ughhh!! And, this guy (the captain), his ex-girlfriend is on another team. His former teammate stopped bowling with him because they got in an arguement over the guy taking smoking breaks that last too long. The guy (captain) got kicked off the Sunday fall league because of the drama he had with a different teammate. Not a great start to summer 2025. I can only imagine the drama that will ensue when we bowl his ex's team. She was on our summer team last season and was a dramatic nightmare. And she's dated half the people in the league....nightmare.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 2

527 Series: 204-145-178

X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, X, 8 /, X, 9 -.
Decided to struggle with the Zen Master Solid (ZMS)...even though staying right of the headpin and pocket single-pin leaves were clearly a problem. The score is a bit misleading given the only open was a 10-pin in the 10th.

S8 1, 6 /, 8 1, 9 /, X, 9 /, 9 /, 7 /, S7 -, 8 1.
Switched to the Perfect Mindset (PM) for Game 2. Between losing my line, making horrible shots...I finally gave up and switched to the Outer Limts Pearl (OLP) in the 9th. Just an abysmal game.

S6 1, 9 /, S8 /, X, 9 -, X, X, 9 /, 8 /, X S7 1.
Stayed with the OLP. Less carry problems...but the splits just killed me.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.74 pins
Strikes: 32%
Spares: 61% picked up

Single Pin spares: 80% (8/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x).
Also left a single 2-pin (2x), 6-pin, 7-pin (2x), and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 75% (12/16)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (4/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 20% (1/5)

Average over 3 games: 175.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 183.67.

Positives
- Game 1 felt halfway decent.
- Picked up a 5-7 split.
- I guess this'll assist me with handicap.

Negatives
- Pretty much everything. Couldn't carry, bad shots, team got slaughtered by opponents (best team in league). Terrible.

The team captain found a 4th bowler, but now the 3rd bowler has disappears. I asked him if he 'had me' in terms of paying my league dues since I paid his (team captain's) last week. He responded:

"Oh. Yeah I forgot about that. I'll get ya next week."

So who knows if we'll have a full team and who knows if I'll see my $20.

Gotta get some more length on these balls; especially the ZMS and PM. Gonna try to take off some surface, but if hat doesn't work I may have to move a little back in the approach and add some speed.

[J Anderson]

Back in the good old days the team captain was always the responsible adult on the team🤔

[Aslan]

Back in the good old days the team captain was always the responsible adult on the team🤔

Yeah. I'm pretty much giving up on that with this team. Still ain't seen my $20. I'm not gonna badger him about it. When we get our payout, I'll ask for it then (if he hasn't paid me back yet).

I don't really plan on bowling on this team next summer...because this guy is just a mess. When he's not doing well, he's banging equipment and getting ticked off at people unnecessarily. We bowled the bye this week and he started yelling at one of the other bowlers because he went up to bowl before the captain finished the frame (which is totally fine...and actually encouraged). Ughh.

Summer League

Week 3

489 Series: 185-150-150

S7 -, X, X, 7 2, X, 9 /, S8 -, 9 /, X, XX7.
Three opens...two splits and a washout. I didn't feel "terrible", it just seemed like I faced a maximum penalty for every little mistake. Switched to the Perfect Mindset (PM) in the 9th and put a few strikes together. But, too little too late.

7 2, X, X, S7 -, 7 2, 9 /, 9 /, S8 /, 7 -, 9 /X.
Stuck with the PM throughout, but more of the same. Just bad shot-making. The line was so tight that I either went left of the headpin or missed way right trying to correct. Four opens is never gonna cut it, especially when you only manage to strike 3 times.

X, 6 1, X, 7 /, 9 /, 7 /, 9 -, X, 6 2, X 9 /.
Switched to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in the 3rd. It wasn't moving near as much as usual...so had to move right quite a bit. But, then I was going through the nose or leaving a 9-pin combo...so I had to try to loft the ball more so than usual. Two washouts and a missed 10-pin...and sporadic strikes...just a bad night all around.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.62 pins
Strikes: 38%
Spares: 50% picked up

Single Pin spares: 87% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x).
Also left a single 4-pin, 7-pin, and 9-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 56% (9/16)
Multiple Pin spares: 25% (2/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-4-5, 1-2-4-10, and 1-2-10 (2x each).

Splits: 25% (1/4)

Average over 3 games: 163.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 167.00.

Positives
- Was able to make some spare conversions by tucking my pointing finger...tucking/expanding my fingers has been a technique I've started trying to integrate into my game.
- I guess this'll assist me with handicap.

Negatives
- Missed my target far too much.
- Never really found a line that was optimal.
- Too many splits.
- FAR too many washouts.

I guess the "real" season starts next week...now that averages are established. But, its very disappointing that I've had two very, very rough weeks. I don't want to change arsenals again...I believe I can score well with the ZMS and/or PM...I just have yet to find a line that is really gonna work consistently.

[Aslan]

After last week's debaccle where we managed to lose every point to the bye week... ...it couldn't get much worse. Bowling against a very low average team last night...I think we had to spot them 267 pins.

Summer League

Week 4

568 Series: 203-161-204

X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, X, X, 9 -, X, 6 /S8.
The Zen Master Solid (ZMS) wasn't doing poorly...but it wasn't necessarily crushing the pocket either. I switched to the Perfect Mindset (PM) in the 9th, after a pocket 10-pin leave in the 8th.

X, X, 9 /, S8 -, 9 /, 9 /, 8 -, 9 -, 9 /, 3 / 9.
Seemed to have a decent line for all of 2 frames. Then it was just a carryless vomit fest. Thought switching to the Outer Limits Pearl (OLP) in the 5th might help...but I still make it happen.

X, X, 8 /, 9 /, X, 9 /, X, X, 9 -, 9 /X.
I was able to carry a little more with the OLP at a slightly higher speed...but still nowhere near where I needed it to be.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.00 pins
Strikes: 39%
Spares: 72% picked up

Single Pin spares: 76% (7/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 6-pin and 10-pin (4x each).
Also left a single 4-pin (2x), 7-pin (2x), and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 76% (13/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 75% (3/4)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 189.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 200.33.

Positives
- Much improved over the last two outings.
- Team played well, no unnecessary drama.
- Took all 4 points despite an absent bowler and spotting them over 250 pins per game.

Negatives
- "Tweaked my groin in Game 2...so it was in my head every shot after that.
- I stuck bad on another shot in the 2nd game...which is a problem on this particular pair that is most often used by birthday parties and drunks.
- Carry was abysmal. I'm not nearly a good enough spare shooter to only strike 30-40% of the time.
- My head wasn't in it. Tough, stressful day at work. I was angry and depressed. They say you need to leave all that outside the alley on league night...but its easier said than done.

Gonna have to be better and concentrate better. Start at step 1...gotta stop rushing through my pushaway.