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

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 30

Team is tied for 5th with one other team. No 'real' shot at #1-#2 finish, but we still got a shot of #3-#5 if we can keep from totally collapsing.

566 Series: 179-201-186

Switched to the Fireball after 3 frames. I mean, when you start out with a couple pocket 10s and a 1-2-8...not gonna fight that uphill battle. Finally settled in and salvaged at least a 'non-disasterous' score...but fortunately the other team faltered in a major way.
9 -, 7 /, 9 /, 8 1, 9 /, 7 2, X, X, X, 8 /X.

After a minor miss left me a 2-8, I decided to ball down to the Endeavor. It wasn't "smooth sailing", but at least I ran a few strikes together early. Switched to the Force Pearl in the 10th.
8 /, X, X, X, 9 /, X, 7 1, 9 /, 8 /, 9 /9.

The Force Pearl was just crushing the pocket (as it usually does). I pushed my shot in the 6th and left a 1-2-8-10. Then it was a combination of me self-destructing and slight transition. Managed to at least salvage a 186.
X, 9 -, 9 /, X, X, X, X, X, X, X 9 /.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.00
Strikes: 42%
Spares: 55% picked up

Single Pin spares: 66% (6/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Also left a single 4-pin and 7-pin (2x each).

Makeable spares: 58% (10/17)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (4/8)
Most common multi-pin leave: 2-4-5 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 188.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 198.00.

Positives
- It wasn't terrible...not good, but not terrible.
- The team took 3-4 points from a team of youngsters.

Negatives
- Gotta relax. It's hard when I can't buy a corner-pin spare and leave far too many of them...but getting all ticked off just makes it worse.

Front 5....this year I've had my first two 290+ games and 2-3 700+ series...so it just feels like I'm "almost" there...its gonna happen. As long as I don't blow out a knee or a shoulder...I 'should' eventually get that first sanctioned 300.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 29

Still holding onto 1st place, by a slim 4 points (other team still needs to make-up bowl one week).
This week we bowled the last place team and they are either the only or one of the 1-3 teams in this league that aren't competitive.

669 Series: 190-212-267 (clean)

9 /, X, X, S8 /, 8 /, 9 -, X, X, 9 -, X 9 -
Once again, questionable carry and abysmal spare shooting.

X, 9 -, 9 /, X, X, X, X, 9 -, X, X 8 1.
After yet another pocket 10 in frame 2, I decided to make the move to the Ebonite Fireball, which I had just resurfaced to 360/2000/Step 2. Was able to string some strikes together to mask the continued spare struggles.

X, X, 9 /, X, X, X, X, X, X, X 9 -.
Stuck with the Fireball for game 3 and it was performing perfectly with the new Step 2 finish.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.55
Strikes: 63%
Spares: 41% picked up

Single Pin spares: 33% (3/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x)
Also left a single 6-pin, 8-pin, and 7-pin. (2x)

Makeable spares: 36% (4/11)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (1/2)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 100% (1/1)

Average over 3 games: 171.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 180.67.

Positives
- Clean game in Game 3.
- A 600+ series is always acceptable.
- Gained confidence in the Fireball.

Negatives
Despite some great hands, could not win even ONE poker pot.
The team lost Game 3 despite my solid performance.

Next week its #1 vs #2...so, with only a handful of weeks left...a split or better would go very far in our race for 1st place.

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 31

We come into this week tied for 6th. We're bowling the 3rd place team, which is probably the highest positioned team we have a chance to catch by season's end. They only have one bowler that is any good, and he's an older guy, 200+ average, but he he thinks he's a lot better than he actually is. So, my goal was just to have a better series than their "ace". And if the rest of my team can just do 'okay', that'd give us a chance to take 2-4 points.

617 Series: 209-174-234

I started with the Fireball out of the gate. I just wasn't going to deal with the Black Widow Hybrid 2.0 making it nearly impossible for me to stay right of the headpin. Wasn't the greatest game, but I managed to run just enough strikes together and pick up just enough spares to salvage a 200+ game.
9 - 8 /, 9 /, X, X, 9 /, X, X, X, 6 /6.

Stayed with the Fireball for Game 2...but probably shoulda balled down to the Endeavor. I mean, I hit the pocket 8 times and only had 4 strikes to show for it. And it wasn't just the number of strikes...it was the spacing. Never ran two together and thats not good given the way bowling is scored.
X, 9 -, X, 9 -, 8 /, 9 /, X, 9 /, X, 9 / 9.

Once the Force Pearl gets unleashed...its probably gonna be a bad night for whomever we're bowling against and tonight was no different. This ball is INSANELY good. I was leary of it given its higher RG...but its just a beast. It is so smooth through the fronts and mid-lane and just takes an aggressive dive into the pocket right at the perfect moment. The backend reminds me a lot of the Melee Jab but it has the length and front end performance of the Scandal Pearl. Only mistakes were a couple pulled shots...and those were the only ones that didn't strike.
X, X, X 8 /, X, S6 3, X, X, X, X 8 /.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.12
Strikes: 51%
Spares: 71% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (6/9)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (5x).
Also left a single 2-pin, 3-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 76% (10/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 100% (5/5)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/1)

Average over 3 games: 205.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 216.00.

Positives
- Easily defeated their 'Ace' 1:1.

Negatives
- Carry continues to be an issue at this 'dry' house.
- No clean games.
- Once again, if I have a bad game...the team can't carry me.

Next weekend no bowling (Easter), then position round. We'll likely either bowl this team again or the team we bowled last week.

[J Anderson]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 29
Splits: 100% (1/1)

Average over 3 games: 171.67.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 180.67.

Positives
- Clean game in Game 3.
- A 600+ series is always acceptable.
- Gained confidence in the Fireball.

Negatives
Despite some great hands, could not win even ONE poker pot.
The team lost Game 3 despite my solid performance.

Next week its #1 vs #2...so, with only a handful of weeks left...a split or better would go very far in our race for 1st place.

How do you average 171 with a 668 series

Nice scores. Always frustrating when you make the splits and miss the single pin spares.

by the way, a number of sport league bowlers insist that if you only strike on the first ball in the tenth you need to make the spare for it to be a clean game.