Boatmans 2024-2025 season

[Aslan]

Dang. That first game was great. Clean game, mixed in a few spare conversions, high strike rate...

And, the overall series was solid. I have to go pick up some prescriptions after I post this for my own back issue from bowling last night...so I get it.

[boatman37]

The struggle continues. Tonight was position round for the 1st 3rd. 1st place was uncatchable then 2nd place had 43pts then a 3 way tie for 3rd at 42pts (we were in that group). If you took out the first and last place teams there was only 8 pts from teams 2 to team 10. We bowled the same team we bowled last week and went 5-2 against. The kid that had the 300/802 last week had a 258, 190, 259-707 tonight. He is about a 207 average bowler. We won the first 2 games big but lost game 3. We all struggled that last game but we ended up in 2nd place by ourselves. Next week we all go back to 0-0.
Lanes were tricky tonight. Seemed like there was carry down or they didn't strips all the way to the pin deck. I started with the Pi up the 2nd arrow and had a decent shape to the pocket but not a big entry angle. My aim was great tonight. Hit the 2nd arrow probably over 95% of my shots but if I missed outside the ball would skid. If I missed inside it would go Brooklyn. Everyone was having this issue on our pair. After the first 4 frames in game 2 and not striking I decided to try the new Ember. The same ball that I had to stand way inside cause I couldn't keep it on the left side of the headpin. Well tonight it wouldn't hook at all. Ended up throwing it up the 7 board but if I missed outside and it hit that dry then it was Brooklyn. I also tried the Altered Reality in warmups but it didn't look much different than the Pi.
Just can't figure this out. 1 good game and 2 bad ones. Only had 2 600's after 10 weeks so far. My average last year was 202 so you would think I would have had at least 5 600's.

Game 1: 222 (6 strikes, 3 spares, 1 open)

Game 2: 193 (5 strikes, 2 spares, 3 opens-1 split)

Game 3: 178 (3 strikes, 5 spares, 2 opens-1 split)

Series: 593

Average: 197.67

Running average: 195.36

Last seasons average: 202.61

First ball average: 9.13

Strikes: 45% (14/31)

Spares: 62% (10/16)

Single pin spares: 75% (6/8)

Splits: 50% (1/2)

7 pins: 66% (2/3)

7 pins season: 63.88% (23/36)

[Aslan]

Overall a nice night...just can't open in the 10th.

[boatman37]

No words. My worst night of the year by far. And this is one of my better pairs. Tried the Altered Reality, Eternity Pi, and Ember. None worked. Hit the pocket most of the night but left corner pins all night. 1/3 of the way through the season (33 games) and I have 38 splits. Last year through 93 games I had 61. But I was bowling so bad that I decided to stick with the Ember and whatever happened, happened. So all season I have not had any consistency outside the 2nd arrow. Ball just seems to skid, no hook. Tonight I tried throwing just inside 2nd arrow and the ball would hook. According to the center they have not changed the pattern from last year but it's definitely behaving different. May have to start throwing more inside.

On another note...the first 2 weeks with that Ember I couldn't keep it on my side of the lane. I haven't done anything to it except use ball cleaner on it after each night. Probably have 3 or 4 games on it. Now it won't hook at all outside the 2nd arrow. It's not just that ball...it's the conditions.

Game 1: 192 (5 strikes, 5 spares, 1 open)

Game 2: 139 (4 strikes, 0 spares, 7 opens-4 splits)

Game 3: 187 (5 strikes, 3 spares, 2 opens-1 split)

Series: 518

Average: 172.67

Running average: 193.30

Last seasons average: 202.61

First ball average: 8.88

Strikes: 41% (14/34)

Spares: 44% (8/18)

Single pin spares: 75% (6/8)

Splits: 0% (0/5)

7 pins: 75% (3/4)

7 pins season: 65% (26/40)

[boatman37]

So to add...again seemed like alot of carry down. But I'm at the point I have no idea what to do now. I have tried every ball I have and played from the 5 board to the 12 board and no difference. I'm at the point I'm no longer enjoying it and if it wasn't for my kids bowling with me there is a pretty good chance I'd quit now. 3 months and still haven't figured it out. Focused on my footwork and release last night and I don't think that was my issue. Maybe next week I'll try sanding my Eternity Pi with a 1000 and see what it does.

[Aslan]

So to add...again seemed like alot of carry down. But I'm at the point I have no idea what to do now. I have tried every ball I have and played from the 5 board to the 12 board and no difference. I'm at the point I'm no longer enjoying it and if it wasn't for my kids bowling with me there is a pretty good chance I'd quit now. 3 months and still haven't figured it out. Focused on my footwork and release last night and I don't think that was my issue. Maybe next week I'll try sanding my Eternity Pi with a 1000 and see what it does.

I think this is a common frustration. The men's league I am in now...it seems like there are quite a few bowlers who all are very capable of hitting the pocket consistently, but they don't strike every time they hit the pocket...so they get frustrated. I mean, I get it...I get frustrated too.

The problem is compounded because...especially in these more advanced leagues...everyone is an "expert"...but nobody is really an "expert". Like last night. Our lead bowler/captain showed up with both his strike balls dry sanded to a very matte finish. I wanted to tell him...SO BADLY...that he was setting himself up for failure. Why? Because I've already been down that road. Trouble getting to the pocket and/or with carry...sand the balls down to solve the problem. Except...that didn't work. Of matter of fact, it made things worse.

And it comes down to an understanding of lane conditions and ball specifications....and having a strategy for what balls to use...what to look for in order to make an adjustment...what to look for in order to make a ball change...etc... And knowing what things to do/not to do means you need to understand how the lanes change over time and you need to understand ball specifications. Despite being in a 16-team league with half the league averaging over 189...only 5-10 probably have a good grasp of changing lane conditions and I would say (present company excluded) non of them truly understand ball specifications.

So, spoiler alert...our captain started out of the gate with the front 4...opened on a 10-pin...and struck well the rest of the game...had a 225-240 game. I started thinking to myself, "maybe you don't know what you're talking about." Then...the predictable happened. I think he left 6 more corner pins and missed 2/3 of them...and he was upset. Meanwhile, from my perspective...the lanes transitioning were expected. I made my adjustments...I made my usual ball changes...and I finished with a clean 228. The difference?

I have already failed trying the 500 Abralon, dry sanding approach and realized that it 'might' help you line early...but it'll be devastating if/when carrydown happens in later games. On a house pattern...with an amateur ball speed or worse...an old-timer ball speed under 14mph...I've yet to see a bowler having success with sanding. Not that I don't play with my ball surfaces. I absolutely do...I've had 1 of 5 balls or even 3 of 4 balls wet sanded to a 1000-3000 surface. It wasn't until last year that I started to realize just how dry this house's lanes were playing. Thats when I started keeping half the balls polished and half at a Royal compound level.

As to my recommendations:
1. Don't quit. You're too good of a bowler and making contact with the pocket is more than half the battle. Now its just a matter of fine tuning.

2a. Surface your Eternity Pi to 1000/2000 wet sanded. If you're carrying the corner pins during warm-up...start with that. If not, change balls to the Ember and go to 2c.

2b. Once you've made 2-3 moves left, as the lanes transition, and get to the point where you are now leaving 7-pins or 3-pins...change balls and go with the Ember.

2c. The Ember should have a 500/1500/R. Compound surface. You may need to make a 1:2 move right...but thats okay.

2d. Same as 2b...make a couple moves left as lanes transition...then change balls to the Altered Reality (surfaced to 1000/2000/polished).

If this doesn't work, you may be experiencing the same problem I am...lanes that are just too dry. If thats the case, your next arsenal may need to be adjusted slightly so you have at least one ball with a 2.50-2.52 RG...something weaker overall. The good news is....these balls are generally inexpensive. I've found a lot of success with my Brunswick Endeavor and Ebonite Fireball...these are both entry level type balls. Same thing with Tropical Storms, Hyroads, Boosts, etc... Minimal investment. If one of them works (hits pocket AND carries corner pins)...then you have your answer....2.49 RG is just too much ball for that house.

If its more a problem with 10-pins...for a LEFTY...then, that is more of a house issue. "Usually" that would indicate the pins are not quite in the right spot. A slight miss-spotting of the 7-pin and/or 10-pin could cause them to get left even if the shot is very good.

Another recommendation...especially if you don't like my recommendations...is to get a pro to watch you bowl. They can usually see something in a matter of seconds and usually have at least a workable understanding of ball specs. This often makes more sense than getting 10-15 different opinions from 10-15 different experienced bowlers.

Anyway...keep your chin up. A good night is usually just around the corner!!