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

[Aslan]

Sunday Night Established Mixed League

Week 33 - Position Round (Finals)

Our team came in tied for 6th. We had a chance to maybe move up a spot or down a spot, but that was about it.

489 Series: 181-135-173

Switched to the Fireball after the first frame when I threw a perfect shot and left a flat 10. But, carry didn't improve...so it was going to be one of those nights.
9 /, 8 -, X, 9 -, 9 /, X, S7 2, 9 /, X, XX9.

Moved to the Endeavor for Game 2...hoping maybe I could get something going with a ball I don't usually throw...but the combination of abysmal carry and ***-poor spare shooting led to an embarrassing showing. I mean, COME ON!! A pocket 8-10 in the first, a pocket 7-pin in the 3rd, a pocket 10-pin in the 4th, a stone 8 in the 6th...???
S8 1, X, 9 -, 9 /, 7 -, 9 -, X, X, 9 -, 8 1.

Figured I could at least have one strong game with the Force Pearl...but nope. Couldn't keep it right of the headpin. Just diving through nose. If I pull the shot...through the nose. If I get the ball too far right, I leave a 1-2. If I miss right with some hand...it goes through the nose. Just miserable.
7 /, X, 8 /, 8 /, S8 1, X, 9 /, X, S7 2, X 9 /.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.94
Strikes: 36%
Spares: 45% picked up

Single Pin spares: 60% (6/10)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x).
Never left a single 1-pin, 5-pin, nor 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 56% (9/16)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (3/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/4)

Average over 3 games: 163.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 177.33.

Positives
- ???

Negatives
- Carry
- Spare shooting
- Too many pulled shots
- Completely POOed the bed like Johnny Depp's girlfriend...at a time when my team needed me to perform well.
- 4 splits

So, its likely we'll finish 7th (out of 19). Not a terrible finish...but I'm disappointed that my average dropped to 191 to end the season. I guess the only positive is that my average in this league has went from 185 to 190 (last year) to 191. So, I guess thats improvement...sort of.

[Aslan]

Wednesday Night Established Men's League

Week 33
Position Round

Once all the post-bowling was completed...our team clearly was in first place and ended up with 90 points won and 38 points lost. The second place team finished 79-49. 3rd through 12th were still up in the air subject to position round bowling. And, of course, the 2nd place team didn't bother to show up. I believe this was our 4th time where we were scheduled to bowl them and they didn't show up. Lame.

588 Series: 233-156-199 (clean)

X, X, X, 9 /, S7 2, X, X, X, X, 9 / 9.
A solid start to the evening. All pocket hits except the split.

X, X, X, S5 3, X, 7 1, 9 /, 8 1, 9 /, 6 -.
After switching to the Fireball on the fill shot previous, things seemed to be 'clicking', but I just made some bad shots...a few pulls left and a push right. Add in a couple pocket 10s and it was just not a good game overall.

9 /, X, 9 /, X, X, 7 /, 9 /, 8 /, 9 /, 8 / 8.
Game 3 I switched to the Force Pearl...but it was very difficult to keep that ball right of the headpin. That combined with a couple more pocket 10s. My primary goal was to strike in the 2nd and first shot of the 10th...because I would have won a decent amount of money in the 'strike-a-mania' pot. So, I was really disappointed when I pulled the shot in the 10th.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.91
Strikes: 43%
Spares: 68% picked up

Single Pin spares: 100% (8/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (6x)
Also left a single 2-pin and 6-pin.

Makeable spares: 78% (11/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (3/6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 6-10 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

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

Positives
- Obviously, finishing 1st place is awesome. This is a really competitive league.
- Strike rate was just as bad as last week, but the improvement in spare shooting really helped keep me keep my head above water.

Negatives
- Our #2 bowler was acting like an idiot again. He usually is loud and boisterous when he is bowling well, but when he starts to do poorly...which he almost always does in Game 3 and sometimes Game 2...he just pouts and acts like a baby.
- Obviously, I'm not happy with my performance in Game 2.
- Second time I missed strike-a-mania by one frame.

I think this is maybe the second time winning a league championship. Our team has come close (3rd-5th) in previous seasons, but we FINALLY pulled it off and it ended up being by a much wider margin than expected. And, we were the ONLY team in the league where each bowler bowled every single night...we never used a sub...and I finished with one of my highest 4 averages ever at 196.

[J Anderson]

Congrats on winning the league! I find the correlation between the seriousness or competitiveness of the league and how ell someone bowls interesting.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 1

New team this year...3 horrible/new bowlers and me. So, its gonna be a LONG summer.

502 Series: 139-192-171

X, 9 -, 9 /, 9 -, X, 9 -, 9 /, 9 /, S8 1, S7 2.
Wow! Was hitting the pocket all game...very little carry. Poor spare shooting, and thats an understatement. And, the lanes decided to transition the 9th...and I received maximum penalty.

9 /, X, X, 8 /, 9 -, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /, X, 7 / 8.
Switched from the Ebonite Fireball to the Brunswick Endeavor. Carry continued to be a problem, but my spare shooting was considerably better.

9 -, X, X, X, 9 /, 9 -, 9 /, 9 /, S8 1, 7 2.
Wash, rinse, repeat. I thought bringing out the Force Pearl would give me some extra carry...but even that ball wasn't carrying.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.94 pins
Strikes: 25%
Spares: 54% picked up

Single Pin spares: 62% (10/16)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (7x)
Never left a single 1-pin, 3-pin, nor 8-pin.

Makeable spares: 63% (12/19)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (2/3)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 167.33
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 189.67.

Positives
- Establishing averages, so its a good night to poo the bed.
- Around the pocket all night.

Negatives
- We bowled the best team in the league, essentially scratch, so it was a slaughter.
- Terrible, terrible carry.
- My new teammates are various levels of 'slow' (mentally) and have some noticeable body odor issues.

Terrible night. So much so, that I'm gonna redo my arsenal. There's no real reason to continue to try and start with the Black Widow Hybrid 2.0. Its just too strong for the dry lanes of this house. I was thinking of replacing it with a Danger Zone, but I think I'll spend the summer determining if this new, low-RG arsenal is going to work come fall or if I need to go back to the drawing board.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 2

Changed up the lineup to start with the Endeavor. Same bad results.

480 Series: 137-176-167

7 /, S8 1, S8 1, S7 2, X, 7 -, X, 9 /, X, 9 -.
I didn't think I could do worse than last week... Three straight splits and a missed 7-pin in the 10th. Yup.

X, 9 -, 9 -, X, 8 /, 9 /, S6 2, X, X, X 6 /.
Stayed with the Endeavor, but it was just not working.

X, 9 /, X, 9 /, 8 -, X, X, 8 /, S7 1, S8 -.
Switched to the Force Pearl, but still no relief to what is starting to look like a LONG summer.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.74 pins
Strikes: 38%
Spares: 42% picked up

Single Pin spares: 57% (4/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 2-pin (3x)
Also left a single 4-pin, 10-pin, nor 7-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 61% (8/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (4/(6)
Most common multi-pin leave: 1-2 (2x)

Splits: 0% (0/6)

Average over 3 games: 160.00
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 171.33.

Positives
- The team probably took 3 out of 4 points.

Negatives
- More terrible carry.
- A sub-500 night is just inherently terrible. Not fun.

Not very confident in my new/improved arsenal. Gotta find the key to carrying 7s and 10s...and I gotta improve my corner-pin spare conversion.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 3

Much better night tonight.

612 Series: 197-216-199

X, X, X, 9 -, X, X, X, S7 1, 8 /, S8 1.
Things felt great...I just made a minor mistake in the 4th and made some bad shots to finish.

8 1, X, X, X, X, 9 /, X, 9 /, 9 /, 9 /X.
Stayed with the Endeavor, but made more mistakes. I was just was able to make my spares...somehow.

X, 9 /, X, X, S7 -, 9 -, X, X, 9 /, XXX.
Probably my best game of the night. After a pocket 10 in the 6th frame, I made the move to the Force Pearl and just crushed the pocket from then forward.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.39 pins
Strikes: 60%
Spares: 53% picked up

Single Pin spares: 75% (6/8)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (4x)
Also left a single 2-pin, 4-pin, 6-pin, nor 7-pin.

Makeable spares: 70% (8/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 50% (1/2)
Most common multi-pin leave: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 204.00.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 211.67.

Positives
- Four more points for the team.

Negatives
- Single corner-pins are still giving me more problems than they should.

Coming in with a 163 average, I pretty much crushed the other team. Should still have an advantage next week given my average will only go up to 177...but still. The team is "an adjustment". I think its a team of me, a guy who doesn't seem like he wants to be there, a mildly mentally challenged captain, and a moderately mentally challenged guy. And to be honest, the moderately mentally challenged guy is the least annoying of them because he loves being there is having fun. The captain is okay, but he's a 130s bowler that thinks he's a 180s bowler...which is annoying.

But, its only a short season...by mid-August it'll be time for Fall leagues to start up.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 4

Another abysmal summer performance.

487 Series: 152-199-136

6 /, X, 8 /, 9 /, 9 -, 7 2, X, 8 /, S8 1, 6 3.
Endeavor felt good in practice, but not so much once the game started. Ended up switching to the Ebonite Fireball in the 7th frame, but things continued to be terrible.

X, X, X, X, 9 /, 9 -, 7 -, S6 3, X, X 8 -.
Stuck with the Fireball until the 6th frame, when I switched to the Force Pearl.

7 /, 8 1, 9 /, X, 7 2, 6 1, 9 /, 8 -, X, 7 2.
Game 3 was just a disaster.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.42 pins
Strikes: 32%
Spares: 38% picked up

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

Makeable spares: 42% (8/13)
Multiple Pin spares: 30% (4/13)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10, 1-2-4-10, and 2-5-8 (2x each)

Splits: 0% (0/2)

Average over 3 games: 162.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 168.33.

Positives
- Absolutely nothing.

Negatives
- The biggest dagger, when you compare tonight to last week...is the number of multi-pin spare leaves.

Its tough. I feel like the lanes are playing very, very dry...so its a constant struggle to use a ball that doesn't have a lot of hook...that doesn't make it's move too soon, etc... I'm further inside than I like to be...but not inside enough where I might be able to use some stronger equipment. And, I always seem to do worse during the summer. Not sure of the heat or air conditioning is doing something to the lanes...or what the deal is. I just struggle over the summer for some reason.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 5

559 Series: 170-145-244 (clean)

X, 9 /, 9 /, S8 1, 5 /, 9 -, X, 9 /, X, 7 / 6.
Carry was miserable. I switched to the Ebonite Fireball in the 6th frame, but that didn't help.

X, S6 1, X, 9 /, X, S8 1, 9 -, 9 /, 6 3, X 9 -.
Just more miserable carry. Switched to the Pyramid Force Pearl, but carry continued to be a nightmare.

9 /, X, X, 9 /, X, X, X, X, X, 9 / 6.
It wasn't easy. I was standing so far left that I was practically on the ball return...lofting the ball over 3rd arrow. Got lucky a few times...but that didn't make up for all the solid hits previously that resulted in 9 counts.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 8.82 pins
Strikes: 42%
Spares: 58% picked up

Single Pin spares: 72% (8/11)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (7x)
Also left a single 2-pin, 3-pin, and 4-pin (2x).

Makeable spares: 71% (10/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 66% (2/3)
Most common multi-pin leaves: n/a

Splits: 0% (0/3)

Average over 3 games: 186.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 194.00.

Positives
- Clean game.
- Nice 3rd game.
- Took 3 out of 4 points.

Negatives
- Two bad games.
- One terrible, terrible game.
- Carry, carry, carry...
- Need to get my single-pin spare shooting higher than 72% if I'm gonna continue to have these carry difficulties.

Not sure what to do. The Endeavor and Fireball are about as low-level, low-hook as you can get. If this continues, I'm gonna probably add a Brunswick Danger Zone Purple Ice and see if I can use that as a first ball out of the bag. Maybe it'll have a low enough RG to improve carry early on. I dunno. If it doesn't work, I may just need to bite the bullet and find a coach to figure out what the heck is going on.

[Aslan]

Summer League

Week 6

Facing off against my fall league captain's team. Four older guys...the team I really wanted to join for this season, but they had a full roster plus a permanent sub. But still, I wanted to perform well against "my peers".

646 Series: 254 (clean)-217 (clean)-175

8 /, X, X, X, 7 /, X, X, X, X, X 7 /.
Finally had a good game...with excellent carry. Pocket shots struck...the only non-strikes were a line adjustment, and two pushed shots. Also liked that it pretty much established me as a "good" bowler for the rest of the night...barring some absolute embarrassment.

6 /, X, 9 /, X, X, X, 9 /, 9 /, X, 6 / 9.
Game 2 the carry was still very good, but the lanes were transitioning a bit. After two pocket hits that left a 7-pin and a 10-pin, I switched to the Force Pearl. Wasn't feeling as good as I was during Game 1, but I still felt good that I was striking and making spares...and Game 3 would all be about trying to get that elusive first ever "clean series".

X, 9 /, 9 /, X, 9 -, 8 /, X, 9 -, X, 7 /X.
Starting with the fill frame of the game prior, I could tell that I had lost my 'carry'. This is the opposite of what I'm used to...usually with the Force Pearl, I start having a stronger and more angular backend and start to carry better. Can't believe I screwed up my clean series with a missed 4-pin! Made TWO 10-pin conversions before missing (badly) on a 4-pin. Wasn't a "terrible" game...a couple pushed shots and a couple pulled shots. It just added a couple frames that were carry. And, those are the games you need that solid spare-shooting just to salvage a 190s game.

PinPal Stats:
First Ball Average: 9.12 pins
Strikes: 54%
Spares: 85% picked up

Single Pin spares: 71% (5/7)
Most common single-pin leave: 10-pin (3x)
Also left a single 2-pin, 4-pin, 7-pin, and 9-pin.

Makeable spares: 85% (12/14)
Multiple Pin spares: 100% (7/7)
Most common multi-pin leaves: 6-10 and 2-4-5 (2x each)

Splits: N/A

Average over 3 games: 215.33.
Average had I picked up all single-pin spares: 222.67.

Positives
- Two clean games.
- One 250+ game.
- 3/3 on 10-pin conversions and 1/1 on 7-pins.
- Team took 3 out of 4 from the 1st place team...should be in the top 3 by next week.
- One of the more enjoyable teams to be around, so that makes the night go faster.

Negatives
- Horrid 3rd game, and usually the 3rd games are my best.
- No clean series, despite how bad I wanted it.

I called the PSO in Wichita to see if he could order me a Danger Zone Purple Ice that I could pick up next week. My hope is that it is a more consistent ball to throw in Games 1/2 versus the Endeavor. Similar balls, similar lines, same manufacturer...so it could just be a waste of $$$. Or, maybe the spec differences are just the right amount to give me more consistent carry. If that doesn't solve it and I want to test my "dry lanes causing Bad carry" hypothesis...I simply would pull the Track 300A out of retirement. Thats the straightest reactive resin ball I've ever thrown. Normally useless except to keep items from blowing away...but on truly dry lanes, it could be just the right amount of terrible to work.

[J Anderson]

Summer League

Week 6

Facing off against my fall league captain's team. Four older guys...the team I really wanted to join for this season, but they had a full roster plus a permanent sub. But still, I wanted to perform well against "my peers".

646 Series: 254 (clean)-217 (clean)-175
Can't believe I screwed up my clean series with a missed 4-pin!

Positives
- Two clean games.
- One 250+ game.
- 3/3 on 10-pin conversions and 1/1 on 7-pins.
- Team took 3 out of 4 from the 1st place team...should be in the top 3 by next week.
- One of the more enjoyable teams to be around, so that makes the night go faster.

Negatives
- Horrid 3rd game, and usually the 3rd games are my best.
- No clean series, despite how bad I wanted it.

Congrats on the two clean games!
With regards to the missed 4 pin, I find that when I screw up a clean game it's usually an 'easy' spare that I miss. I also find that good teams bowl at a steady pace. You don't have to wait for one of their bowlers to get back from the bar, the bathroom, or from gabbing with someone ten lanes away.

Hopefully they will remember your first to games next summer if they have to fill a vacant roster spot.