Greater KC USBC seniors Tournament and ICEMAN

[MICHAEL]

So my guess of 178-196 (374) wasn't so far off, just flip-flopped from the 191-184 (375). What can you learn from this? My guess was based on the tendency of most house bowlers to take to long to adjust to any pattern that transitions differently from the house shot that they're used to. What usually happens is that they see the transition late for a low second game score, and then begin to make the correct adjustment for a higher third game score. Your pattern of declining scores tells me that you were relying on your "gift" and just muddeling through rather than getting out of your comfort zone. Your ability kept your scores from getting really bad, but your lack of making the correct adjustment kept your scores from going back up. The next time you bowl on one of these patterns, keep your eyes open as to adjustments that some of the less talented, but more experienced bowlers are making. Are they moving deeper? Are they balling down? Once you figure out that bowling on patterns involves constant attention to strategy, I'm sure you'll do just fine bowling on them.

where is the first game??? BEST PART..223,,, I thought I had it figured out?? And you are right,,, about making adjustments,,, I did try several different approaches but no luck as for the last game the only thing that really shot that game was the open in the tenth, with a strike in the 9th.

But for that one frame, ( in the 3rd game) it could have been a 220 something,,, I was throwing some strikes when I HIT THAT FINE LINE I had to hit to get a pocket strike.

Is that pattern really that hard,,, NO,,, not really, I would say what kept me from a mid 600 series was mainly lack of Focus on occasion, day dreaming while in the process of ball delivery!

FOCUS is Key to being a high level bowler... knowing each and EVERY TIME where that ball goes after it leaves your hand.

This was my First, but it will not be my last,,,, I AM ICEMAN,,, Man of IRON,,, I WILL destroy this White pattern NEXT TIME! As my knowledge increases, ( Along WITH MY GIFT), I will be something the white patterns FEAR, along with the fricken blue ones too!!!

[Amyers]

really??? what's your average on the red??? Is the RED simple also to you? Have you even bowled the white?? then talk to me about how easy the white is?? LOL There were guys there with 220 averages doing high 400's and low 500s! Most I bowled with and talked to thought it was not only tough, but some what squarely!
Wish you would have been there Amyers,,, then you could have showed us how simple it was to throw a big game on the white.

you are correct it is not an official sports pattern, I have had some good games, and posted one sports pattern I did, Its on here somewhere, the road house 279! I posted the sheet with score as proof.. (

Even throwing at spares is MUCH different, and points out to the fact why its important to be able to throw a (plastic/straight) ball at ALL SPARES.


Throw down 10 arrow like so many bowlers do, and it doesn't come back, so Not sure what sports pattern means, but the White is not a blocked easy pattern like most house have!

It might not be an official sports pattern but its VERY different then the standard dry outsides MOST are accustomed too bowing the easy red pattern.
What makes a sports pattern a sports pattern, and why the white would not qualify, maybe someone else knows, not ICE!

First off Ice I wasn't say this to come off as running you or your scores down. I was responding to Aslan's post where he referred to the White as a sports pattern which it is not. Look directly below my post.

Second I have never bowled on Red, White, or Blue. I have bowled a summer league on a Kegel Challenge pattern and bowled on some of the PBA patterns in practice after leagues. I averaged about 165 on the Challenge pattern which was about the same as my regular league that summer. Each house is different anyway the pattern is just a pattern they play different from house to house anyway. Maybe that house has the most difficult White pattern out there how should I know I haven't bowled on it there. I don't really feel your scores are poor for your first time playing the pattern

Third directly form USBC website "While all three patterns (Red, White and Blue) are “house” shots, they provide a variable range of difficulty. The USBC White pattern is designed to be the medium scoring pattern of the three for a typical USBC member. While the Red typifies the “typical house shot,” the White pattern may be utilized in local or city tournament as it is a step up in challenge level for the average player.

It is interesting to note that the White pattern can actually be the highest scoring of the three patterns among higher caliber players. While the Red pattern often plays “over-under” for scratch bowlers, the White pattern is blended more evenly while still showing a crown of oil from inside to out and gradual taper from the foul line to the end of the oil pattern"

Like I said wasn't trying to run you down just correct Aslan. I will say I do think you should change your attitude you came off sounding defeated by the pattern. It was your first time bowling on it as far as I can tell. Not terrible scores or anything maybe next time ask your house about putting the pattern out so you can practice it before the tournament if you have a good relationship with them they might do it my home house most likely would.

[MICHAEL]

So the summary of this thread is that Iceman doesn't like sport patterns because they aren't as easy as THS patterns???

Dang it...I got all invested in the thread for nothing!!

YOU ARE WRONG my friend!! THEY ARE SO damn hard to find! People don't seem to like them around here, they all want to bowl the house easiest one. Red

I have searched around and no luck! Maybe I need to purchase that 6 lane ally in Plattsburg so I can run the pattern myself!

If any of you out there know how to find a SPORTS PATTERN close to my area code, 64152, please let me know!!!

There seems to be NO INTEREST in SPORTS bowling around here, probably that was in most cities around the country. Everybody wants EASY, everything, TV dinners, Burger King, ect ect ect!!!!

[vdubtx]

YOU ARE WRONG my friend!! THEY ARE SO damn hard to find! People don't seem to like them around here, they all want to bowl the house easiest one. Red

I have searched around and no luck! Maybe I need to purchase that 6 lane ally in Plattsburg so I can run the pattern myself!

If any of you out there know how to find a SPORTS PATTERN close to my area code, 64152, please let me know!!!

There seems to be NO INTEREST in SPORTS bowling around here, probably that was in most cities around the country. Everybody wants EASY, everything, TV dinners, Burger King, ect ect ect!!!!

They are hard to find sometimes. Get your bowling friends together and ask your bowling center to put a league together for you. If you get enough people interested in it, they will likely be happy to add another league to the schedule. Start from scratch with a grassroots effort to get one started. I am sure you know enough people that you could get a doubles or Trio's league going.

[MICHAEL]

I don't know about that, didn't he quit a league because he pre-bowled on a white pattern?

Sounds like ICE just needs to bowl more patterns to get comfortable.

YES,, I went in to pre bowl with my wife, manager said he had fresh oil and that I was good to go! He didn't know it was a different pattern that was there from that morning when they had a tournament bowling the white pattern. I thought I was in the twilight Zone,, my wife and me both could not get our balls going down 10 arrow to come back!

Long story short,,, Our scores on the pre bowling were REAL BAD! The manager was new, and had No Experience in bowling, and told us he didn't know there was any difference!

He said we could bowl over, since it was not a standard THS.... I knew that would not be right, or even legal to do it over, BUT I WAS so upset that he didn't know it was a different pattern that I bull up and just decided hell with it! I have a temper,,, and I try hard to keep it under control but some things set me off. I was bowing on 4 leagues at the time, so still had 3!

I was pretty new to league bowing at that point my second year,,, but if I had it all to do over again, I would have kept the crappy pre-bowling scores and went on.

I am now into my 4th year of bowling sanctioned and know a hell of a lot more about the game!

I sure their are many ways to attack this pattern, and I will figure it out and conquer it!

[vdubtx]

I sure their are many ways to attack this pattern, and I will figure it out and conquer it!

Now that's the fighting spirit I would expect from ICEMAN!!

[MICHAEL]

It is interesting to note that the White pattern can actually be the highest scoring of the three patterns among higher caliber players. While the Red pattern often plays “over-under” for scratch bowlers, the White pattern is blended more evenly while still showing a crown of oil from inside to out and gradual taper from the foul line to the end of the oil pattern[/COLOR]"


NOT What most were saying about the pattern at the tournament that day! Easier then red? MOST were complaining,,, I kid a lot, but it wasn't that difficult, as I mentioned, I could have easily had a strong mid 600 series with just a few, mental mistakes erased.

maybe that says something about the caliber of senior bowlers at the tournament.

I couldn't believe that last game where I missed my mark by 4 boards, and got the split in the 10th with a fricken strike in the 9th,,, could have had two strong 200 plus games, and one 191.

It was just one of those SENIOR MOMENTS!! FOCUS!!! GRRRRRR.....

In reality its not that any pattern is really difficult, it knowing HOW TO PLAY it, and then doing it that gets you those respectable scores.

[MICHAEL]

Well if I can do this, on THS, in league, ICEMAN CAN DO ANYTHING!! I WILL GROW, and get even STRONGER!! LOL


I HAD TO SHOW THIS ONE MORE TIME!!! LOL Hey I am 66!!! LOL

[Aslan]

They are hard to find sometimes. Get your bowling friends together and ask your bowling center to put a league together for you. If you get enough people interested in it, they will likely be happy to add another league to the schedule. Start from scratch with a grassroots effort to get one started. I am sure you know enough people that you could get a doubles or Trio's league going.

I agree. I used to be critical of OLE Ice (very OLE) about him not challenging himself. So I'm DAMN proud that he did enter this tournament. But yes, sport leagues are hard to find. Why? Because Ice...because MOST bowlers can't check their EGOs at the door. Any bowling writer or commentator or blogger will tell you same thing. All these bowlers in house leagues...they don't want to learn how to make spares...or learn how to adjust...or "perfect" anything. They want to throw 7 strikes per game and every few years get a 300-game that they can brag about. ANd thats that.

I know sport patterns are rare. I managed to luck into finding one (i.e. Bunny found it) and it's one of only 2-4 I know of in Southern California...a place with 10 million people! And the league is very sparse! Only 8 teams...I think 7 now...3-person teams.

And to be fair...it kinda depends on what you want out of bowling. I bowl with Seniors that just want to get out and have some food and drinks and fun 1-3 times a week. And I bowl with co-workers or friends that just use it as an excuse to hang out. Some, MANY, of these bowlers have injuries that preclude them from bowling for anything other than recreation. And thats all good and fine and great. The more bowlers, the better.

But for ME...I don't play unless I have goals to accomplish. I my goals are aggressive. Not so aggressive that they are DILLUSIONS...but aggressive enough that if I just end up some 170 average bowler that 1-2 times got a 250+ game...I probably won't bowl much...maybe a league or something if my work puts one together...but I'd pretty much stop bowling under those circumstances. NOT that I have anything against casual bowlers...or 170 average bowlers...it's just not how I'm wired. I don't golf much because I can't get very good at golf. I did martial arts with the goal of a black belt in mind. Once I realized I didn't really want to put in the time/effort/$$$ needed to get to that point...I was done. If I'm gonna just do something for "fun"...purely for fun....I'll play hockey...or paintball...or tennis. Maybe learn to surf. And bowling will become something "I used to do".

So GOOD FOR YOU Iceman!! You stepped out of your comfort zone and came to Vegas...and it was a good time. You now expanded your horizons and have tried sport pattern (regardless of the minutia...USBC Red/White/Blue are different and challenging enough that they aren't THS shots)...and entered a tournament...and you held your own. The next step is to DO IT AGAIN. And then...you'll be ahead of ME! I tried an ABTA tournament this year and haven't been back. I'm just not at that level YET...but YET is the key word. I'll be back eventually.

So GOOD JOB ICE!! Next time...maybe all the scores at once....I mean it's not a Batman movie trailer for crying out loud...but GOOD JOB!

[fortheloveofbowling]

You did well for your first tournament. On a pattern different from most house shots and experiencing some nervousness as expected 598 is more than acceptable. As you stated, there were high average guys that struggled. You should take away from this experience some good thoughts from your performance.