What are you targeting?
If you are getting a big oil ring on your ball, you may want to move your target and approach towards the outside of the lane. Move 5 boards at a time until the oil ring disappears.

What am I targeting? Umm..man, thinking is not happening for me today lol

Well, it all depends on if I had any powder on my hand or not. When I didn't, I was standing with the outside of my right foot on the 19 and aiming for the 11-13. When I did, I was standing about the 15-16 and aiming for the 8-10. When I'm consistent with my technique and hitting my mark, that line usually leads to the pocket. The oil ring I usually get is to the right of the holes. Usually a tiny one, but occasionally a few concentric rings. I've been notified also that I'm dropping my shoulder on occasion, like my last shot last night. I'm pretty sure if I wouldn't have done it, I might've gotten something around a 144 that last game.

Anywho..I hope you were asking me about my targeting. If not, oh well As an aside, I've finally got some money (mainly because I didn't spend most of my allowance from the state on bills this time around), so on Monday, I'm going to go in to the Pro Shop and possibly get myself a ball. Was going to do it earlier, but the Pro Shop doesn't open until 4. Sadly, I'm leaving to go camping this weekend (although I'd rather go to San Diego).

My question was in response to your 'way to oily' comment. If you are going to target inside of 10, you should expect a fairly heavy oil ring. What oil pattern are you bowling on? 10-10, 5-5 ??? Long or short??

No clue about the pattern. Haven't asked the people at the lanes. This past week was pretty long though. At first about the last 10 feet of the lane was dry, then after about the first game, it was down to about the last 5 feet. It was way too oily compared to how it usually is. It's usually about a medium length pattern.

Anywho, as a side note, I finally got a ball yesterday. An Ebonite Black Ice. Didn't take me too long to get used to it, but I'm still learning how to get a good hook out of it. I messed up on my release and had a screwball going down the lane. I call it a screwball because I screwed up the release. Funny thing is, that was the strike that lead off the second game. Will give you guys more info on this in a week or so when I've had some time to actually play with the ball.

Don't forget to get a lesson. You do not want to develop bad habits when you are trying to learn.
At your lesson, you can ask about oil patterns and how to play them.

Week 4 results

Game 1=160
Game 2=213
Game 3=171
Total=544

Record 11-5
(4 games per week)

I Suck. I think I'm going to get my ball cleaned,
My average was a 195, now it's 192. Till next week.

You don't suck. You said you averaged 200, and now you are at 193. That's just 7 pins. Its not worthy of "suckage". Like I mentioned in a different thread, winter is a long season. Thirty two weeks is a long long time. If you start out a bit lower due to whatever reason, then that's better then coming in and shooting 800 the first week. I mean let's face it. Its easier to build from a 193 then maintain a 250+ average.

Many times houses take the summer as a change to ease up on the shot. The summer averages do not count. So many times the summer shot is less forgiving then the winter shot. Plus a house maybe trying something new. A new type of oil, new pattern, new pins. Maybe even different maintenace program on their lane machine.

Erin

Now is the time for reflection grasshopper! Look deep inside your game and enlightenment will follow.

Now what transpired to make you suck on this particular night (and by the way, don't get that ball cleaned just yet, unless you are referring to normal post competition cleaning). Ask some questions such as: Was I hitting the spot I choose on a regular basis, was my release faulty (grab etc.) As Erin stated did you do some detective work to find out about the environment you bowled in? How about some non-pressure practice time (scoring off please) where you get back to the basics that you obviously possess since you averaged over 200 in the past. Also the beginning of the season is the time to work on adjustments that you will be using all year, Also how many spares did you miss during these three games, if it was 6 then you would have been over 600 if you had made them. Also it is imperative that you put bad series and games and even shots in perspective. We are never quite as good as our best night or quite as bad as our worst night. Refocus oh chosen one and you will again be enlightened. Or go open a can on those lanes next time.

Actually since I never have cleaned the bowl in my history of owning it. It's due. That's a rediculuous amount of time.

I missed five spares. 3 game 1, 0 game 2, and 2 game 3. I wasn't consistently hitting mark although I threw 3 strikes in practice and then the lights come on and I ***K it up. It was also position round week, we were lucky to escape with 3-1, although we lost the 2nd game by 8 pins. It's a 36 week season, There's 3 quarters of 12 weeks each..top 3 winners of each quarter then a wildcard team make the rolloff's.

hopefully we can win 4 next week to right the ship at 11-5 to 15-5.

Sounds like warm ups from a few weeks ago. I threw a few strikes, then I can't do jack when it matters.

Surprisingly, our team is tied for first in our league. I guess bowling unopposed the first week, and winning all but 1 game the last 3 weeks due to the handicap helps. Also helps when you're consistently doing better. Finally getting used to the way my Black Ice hooks and where I need to be on the approach for that sweet, sweet hook to hit the pocket.