I've come up with a little example to explain to people how hard 800 is, because people seem so much less impressed by 800 than they are by 300. My example was that you can throw 10 strikes a game for 3 games and not shoot 800. 30 out of 36 and fall short.

As I was finishing up tonight I started laughing because if I went off the sheet, I was going to shoot 767 with 30 out of 36.

I've had some long term back pain and I finally figured out what it is and I've been doing some exerscises over the last couple days that have made a huge improvement. It's the first time I've bowled without taking advil all year. I never used to like to take it because I didn't think I got as good of a feel for the ball.

Man, I tell you, tonight I felt like I had total control of the ball. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that this is the beginning of the return to my mid season form last year.

You need a 267 average over three games for an 800. Throwing a 267 in one game is an accomplishment. Throwing a 240 average over three games is great bowling.

Throwing an 800 without at least a 290 or better in the mix is tough.

My high series is 724, with games of 246, 245, and 233. I was "en fuego", 7-8 strikes a game, think I had 1 open the whole night. That was by far my best, most consistant night of bowling ever. I've had several higher games, including a 300 and several 279's, but never that consistantly mid 200's over 3 games. I can't imagine how hard it's gotta be to average 267...

800 series is so tough that most people cannot even imaging averaging, through a set, 267+. I have seen it done with no scores over 278, but not often. Even so, 800 is THE accomplishment I think most elevated bowlers try to achieve. Although with todays lane surfaces, conditions and equipment, it is so much easier as to be immeasurable, then it is today. Even though there are less bowlers in sanctioned play, there are more 800s honored within ABC/WIBC then there were just 15 years ago. It is undeniable that the 800 series is the penultimate goal for higher average bowlers.

I've seen so many 160 - 180 bowlers shoot 300, that its not even a goal I want anymore. It more important for me, to keep the ball in play for the whole set.

If a person cannot appreciate the 800 series goal, then they are not worth discussing this issue with.

Erin

Last year I was averaging 237 in the middle of January (ended up at 231). I had 5 series over 775 (775, 778, 780, 780, 782). Even bowling that good, I didn't manage to land another 800.

I guy in one of my leagues shot 875 this year. that's just inconceivable to me. Even 820+ seems insane.

In the honor awards in my association a couple years back there were over 300 awards given for 300 games, but only 65 800's.

You could bowl 2 300's in one night, but if you don't break 200 on your third game, you miss an 800. As much as lane conditions change over the course of the night, an 800 is a better judge of skill than a 300.

Lefty, what does it feel like to bowl an 800?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Originally posted by cheetah:

Lefty, what does it feel like to bowl an 800? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">I was unconcious for a couple months, bowling better than I ever had in my life. Over the course of 4 weeks I shot my fisrt 2 300 games (with accompaning 790's) and then shot 803 on the last night of bowling. I had my first 300 in a Monday night scratch league. I bowled my second in that same league 3 weeks after. Then on that Thursday, I shot 803.

On to how it felt:

It was nerv wracking, but as I've mentioned before, I adopted an aditude of turning the nervous energy into positive energy.

I don't remember exacly what I had going into the last game, but I know I need over 280. I want to say I needed 284. I think I had a 279 in there as well. Anyway, I threw the first one and left a 7 pin. I picked it and told myself that I needed to go off the sheet. My aditude was "You can sit here and worry about it or you can get it done. Let's get this done."

I then proceeded to throw the next 10. The last one, knowing that I pretty much had it, I dumped and almost lost it. I think I broke for 7. I either left the 3-5-6 or the whole bucket. It came off my hand and I was panicing because I thought I just might have thrown it all away. It turned out OK though. I would have been better off not letting myself feel the relief and going up there and throwing it like I threw the others.

It was a great feeling though. By far the best feeling I've ever had bowling.

i know there fun to watch since ive never been even close (687).i have had the luxury of having 2 800`s bowled agianst me both set the house high.the first was an 814.the second was an 836. both of these were shot by the same guy and a friend of mine.even tho we were getting stomped our whole team was routin for him because it was fun to watch and you knew something speacial was happenin.

as far as the 180 bowler rollin a 300 that is a major accomplishment for them i wouldnt be one of those lucky ones i know it would be the highlight of my career so far.(267)

Erin:

I will give you all a perfect example of how mis-understood the 300 game and 800 series are.

The house I bowl in only has 12 ten-pin lanes...the other 24 are duckpins. So, there are not alot of "scratch" bowlers to be had. High average in the house is 222 (by the manager), followed by 217, 212, and 211 (me). There have only been 3 800 sets thrown in this house since it was built around 1979, and about 45 300's.

Since there are so few ten pin lanes, they still have house awards for high scores. A 300 game pays $100...while an 800 series only pays $50.

Three times this year I have thrown 11 out of 12 strikes in a single game, and not shot 267 (splits = opens). 262, 262, and 264 (I think). Add that up, and you have 33 strikes and a 788 series (if it was on the same night). 92% strikes...no 800.

I think I will get one soon, though...and I wont go to a house with an easier shot to do it. I have had two "clean" series here (714 and 728)...so I know it is just a matter of carrying my shots in the second game.

John

Your house sounds great John. Except that the high average has the ability to oil the lanes to their game. Challenging but not impossible. I don't know of any house that pays out money for honor scores. Not anywhere in CA from San Fracisco, San Jose to Sacramento. The house we bowl in now has about 500 bowlers. We've seen about 6 300s, and two 800s this season.

Erin