Timmyb's scores

**Timmyb** · 02-25-2025, 07:11 PM

Monday's scores--

192/224/226 = 642. Same ball, same line, better results. Only left 3 10-pins this week (all made). Its was the 4 opens (whiffed 7, 4-9, 4-9, and a chopped 3-6-10) that killed the night, 2 in the first 3 frames. As long as I kept my backswing up where it belongs, i stay on line. It was the number of shots that I chopped my backswing that didn't go well. No mistakes, and I'd have probably been 700. Average stays 211.

I'll give you next week's scores right now. 201/201/201 = 603, Yep, 5-stand banquet next week, and just didn't feel like throwing 6 games last night. See you in 2 weeks.

**Aslan** · 02-26-2025, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Timmyb

Dude, if I put as much thought into this as you, my head would explode.

Knowledge is my only advantage. I've only been bowling (outside of an occasional trip to bowling alley to roll a 90 with a house ball) for a little over 10 years. I can't out-rev the crankers, much less the 2-handers. My accuracy is nowhere near a Norm Duke or WRW. My only advantages are information and knowledge. I've been informed (coached) by some of the best. Coaching alone seemed to raise my average 20 pins. Then there's the 'knowledge' side. Understanding the physics and ball dynamics gives me another 10 pins.

**Timmyb** · 02-28-2025, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Aslan

Knowledge is my only advantage.

Been bowling 50 years now. As I've said, I bring 3 with me, one is a spare, and rarely does the other leave the bag. If my shot doesn't look right, I usually make a move. I also bowl spots, and look for a break point, so arrows are never in play. I bowl once a week (have for years), rarely practice, and still hold between 210 and 220. I consider myself blessed that I get away with that kind of ****, but it works. It's only silly if it doesn't....

**Aslan** · 02-28-2025, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Timmyb

I also bowl spots, and look for a break point, so arrows are never in play.

I've debated whether its better to bowl the arrows or the break point. There's advantages/disadvantages to each.

Essentially, the arrows are easier to hit. So, if your shot is fairly repeatable, you should have the exact same line every shot (plus/minus lane conditions changing). Thus, you can easily see how the lanes are changing.

The "break point" is the ultimate goal...so the advantage to aiming for that "spot" is you'll probably strike if you hit it...regardless of lane conditions...and you're less likely to mess up your shot at the foul line (see below). The downside is, its harder to repeat a shot where the target is that far away.

I've been wrestling with that regarding corner-pin spares. If I aim for the 18-board at the arrows and have my left foot on board 35...that should pick up the 10-pin. However, if I'm off by even a little...it'll miss the 10-pin. Why? Same reason you can hit a target that is closer to you with a rifle/pistol/bow. You can't miss by as much if the target is further away. If its 5 ft in front of ya...you can just point and shoot.

It's less of a problem with firearms because the bullet leaves the barrel at such a high velocity that environmental factors have little effect on trajectory. But, with bowling balls (or paintballs), the "ball" is immediately and somewhat signifcantly affected as soon as it leaves your hand/barrel. Any small "miss" is going to be magnified downlane. A miss of 1-board is going to be something like a miss of 3 boards by the time it gets to the pin deck...considerably more if you use a strike ball for your spares.

On the flipside...you only need to be within 2-3 boards of the target pin to knock it over...so if you aim further downlane...you only need to hit a 2-3 board target versus needing to be very precise at hitting the arrow/18-board target.

This has mainly affected me trying to (and failing to) pick up 6-pins and 10-pins....where I have a tendency to square up at the line and pull my shot left. So, I've experimented with other strategies (aiming at the pin itself, aiming at the reflection of the pin, imaging the line and picking a spot midway along the line, etc...) to try and convert those spares. I hate to abandon the targeting of the arrows...when I know the solution is just not to square up, but if its not working...its not working. I could easily have a 190-200 average if I could pick up 85%-95% of my corner pins.

**Timmyb** · 02-28-2025, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Aslan

I've been wrestling with that regarding corner-pin spares. If I aim for the 18-board at the arrows and have my left foot on board 35...that should pick up the 10-pin. However, if I'm off by even a little...it'll miss the 10-pin. Why? Same reason you can hit a target that is closer to you with a rifle/pistol/bow. You can't miss by as much if the target is further away. If its 5 ft in front of ya...you can just point and shoot.

There's another way I deviate. I aim at nothing for a 10 pin. Pretty much stand at 40, look at the line, and fire. I've made 123 of 143 left this year. Yeah, ridiculously high number, but as I've said, I'm not alone in this house.

I shoot with a shotgun. Just gotta be close....

**Aslan** · 03-03-2025, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Timmyb

There's another way I deviate. I aim at nothing for a 10 pin. Pretty much stand at 40, look at the line, and fire. I've made 123 of 143 left this year. Yeah, ridiculously high number, but as I've said, I'm not alone in this house.

I shoot with a shotgun. Just gotta be close....

I'm trying a similar approach....primarily for corner pins. Rather than aim at a spot at the arrows that I can likely hit...but if I'm off by just a little I'll miss the pin...OR...aim at the corner pin which is incredibly hard to hit when it is 60ft away...I'm trying to look at the spot at the arrows, draw a line (visually) from there to the pin, and pick a spot along that line to aim at. It gives me a more realistic target, but hopefully will keep me from squaring up and missing.

Last night it had mixed results. I was 4 for 4 on corner pairs (4-7 & 6-10) but only 2 for 4 on corner pins. 75% isn't terrible...but it isn't good either.

**Timmyb** · 03-12-2025, 04:49 PM

Apparently a week off is not what the doctor ordered.

205/175/248 = 628. Only the last game was clean. Just couldn't get any strings going, and the only opens (3) on the night were well deserved splits. Could've been 4, but I picked up a 5-7. Started 3 with 5 straight. Everything hurts today....

Average still 211.