Boatmans 2024-2025 season

[boatman37]

Well that turned out to be a 1 week wonder...lol. We were on the end pair (39-40) that I usually do decent on. Last week we were on 37-38 and 39 kept breaking so they ended up moving that team. Tonight 39 kept breaking again so near the end of game 3 we moved to 37-38. I started out with the Pi in warmups and looked great. Felt great too. Timing, footwork, release, everything. Did good the first 4 or 5 frames then lost it. I was still hitting the pocket pretty consistently but no carry. Game 3 switched to the Ember and had to move in a couple of boards cause I was coming in way too high. Ended up finishing strong. We lost the first 2 games but won the 3rd. Our team is really struggling. Game 1 only 1 of us hit our average. Game 2 a different one was the only one to hit their average. Game 3 me and another guy beat our averages and a 3rd was right on their average but as a team we didn't hit our average any of our games. In the end I threw quite a few strikes but just couldn't string them together. Opening in the 10th the first 2 games didn't help either.
Still seeing tons of splits by all teams.

Game 1: 189 (5 strikes, 3 spares, 2 opens-1 split)

Game 2: 156 (5 strikes, 1 spare, 4 opens-2 splits)

Game 3: 223 (8 strikes, 3 spares, 1 open)

Series: 568

Average: 189.33

Running average: 194.53

Last seasons average: 202.61

First ball average: 9.16

Strikes: 56% (18/32)

Spares: 50% (7/14)

Single pin spares: 66% (4/6)

Splits: 0% (0/3)

7 pins: 75% (3/4)

7 pins season: 65.95% (31/47)

[boatman37]

Well I still suck. Started with the Altered Reality only cause it only has about 50 games on it and is one of my freshest balls besides the Ember and it has a similar shape to the Ember. My spare shooting sucked bad but that was because I was using a completely different part of the lane than I'm used to and my usual spare adjustments didn't work. Example, 3-5-6. I usually move 2.5 boards left. Did that tonight with the ember and it never came back in. But for the 10 I stand at 20 and target 20 normally. But with the Ember I need to stand at about 22-23 otherwise it crosses right in front of it. 4 pin I usually throw my strike ball standing and targeting the way I do with a 7 pin and my spare ball. Sometimes I'll use my spare ball but I can make it either way. Well tonight did that with the Ember and it hooked right in front of the 4 pin. For my strike ball I usually stand at about 13-14 and target 7 or 8 but with the Ember I have to stand 23-24 and target 12-13. So now when I throw at my spares I'm throwing right through the heavier oil. So I think it will take so getting used to before I start getting better but I do seem to have more miss room from further inside.

Game 1: 180 (5 strikes, 4 spares, 2 opens-3 splits)

Game 2: 206 (5 strikes, 4 spares, 1 open)

Game 3: 178 (4 strikes, 3 spares, 3 opens-1 split)

Series: 564

Average: 188.00

Running average: 194.07

Last seasons average: 202.61

First ball average: 9.09

Strikes: 42% (14/33)

Spares: 64% (11/17)

Single pin spares: 77% (7/9)

7 pins: 100% (2/2)

7 pins season: 67.34% (33/49)

[Aslan]

Lets address a few issues...

Well I still suck.

You shot a clean game AND would have shot a second clean game...you only opened on splits. So, two clean games...even if they aren't high scores...is well above the "I suck" range.

Next...if you really, really want to improve your spare shooting...especially for the corner pins...you GOTTA get a plastic spare ball and shoot straight at them. I know, I know...some really good bowlers throw their strike ball...even at corner pins. However, they make up < 2% of the professional bowlers AND...the ones that do...are still throwing 16lb balls. So, unless you want to start throwing "man weight"...ya gotta throw straight at them with plastic. It takes all the condition stuff out of the equation and just leaves it to your accuracy...which is a strength for you.

As for the multi-pins...I feel ya. I really do. I think I'm < 50% picking up 3/4 buckets on the left side (2-4-5). I move over 4 boards...it doesn't make it across the heavy oil in the middle. I move over 6 boards, I chop the 4-pin off. I hate that leave. I hate that I used to be able to pick it up almost automatically and something 'changed'. Whatever. It happens...if I'm really concerned about it I need to stop missing right and leaving it.

For my strike ball I usually stand at about 13-14 and target 7 or 8 but with the Ember I have to stand 23-24 and target 12-13.

Again...I feel ya. I have routinely stated how much I hate having to move inside because the closer I get to targeting 15...the more my game goes in the toilet. RobM and I used to debate this constantly. He'd say I needed to develop an inside game and I'd argue that the 2nd arrow works for most bowlers for a reason and I'd rather stay outside and change balls than develop additional lines. But, like many things RobM talked about...he wasn't wrong. Don't tell him I said that.

Yes...developing multiple releases, multiple lines, multiple approaches....these are all great tools to add to your toolbox...especially if you want to take a stab at tournament play. But I'm just not ready to run until I'm confident I can walk. My game isn't quite where it was at it's peak in 2017 and I need to get it back there...fix the little things...pick up makable spares...hit my mark consistently. THEN, I can adopt some advanced techniques.

But, I think your problem is your arsenal. It 'seems' like you have 2-3 balls that all play the same. That means you either have to maintain surface differences to separate them...or you have to hope there's not a ton of transition. But even if I'm right and your arsenal isn't ideal...you're still averaging 188 on a bad night. Thats not terrible. You could probably find 10-15 examples (this YEAR) where you've had an "off" night and then came back the following week with a high 600/low 700 series.

Keep your head up.

[boatman37]

Appreciate the pep talk but no...lol. Only have 3 600's this year. Week 1 was 607 then about week 8 or 9 had a 610-ish then a few weeks ago a 640. Just not gettin' it this year.
As for the arsenal, I had success using my Pi and Xponent. Both have over 125 games and the Xponent just stopped striking so I picked up the Ember but it's a complete different ball and shape than the Xponent so taking some getting used to. I went from averaging 19 strikes a night to only averaging about 13.
As for spares...I use my spare ball (plastic) for 7 pins and usually 4 pins. I tried using it for 6 and 10 but was literally making maybe 1/3 of them so went back to my strike ball and got much better. Just that Ember just turns right when it sees friction.
Thinking about getting a new asym but it seems like everyone is making hockey stick shapes now. Thought about the Viking and hitting it with maybe a 3000 to tame it down on the backend but not sure. Also, thought about hitting the Ember with a 3000 but if I get the Viking I don't want both at 3000. I'd rather have the Viking play straighter and the Ember a little more backend