Lost all 7 pts Monday, depressed. 564, 40 pins under average. We are the second highest point total team in the league. And if we stay there, will make a 4 team roll off at the end. But, I don't think this team can do it.

Won all 7 pts Wednesday, happy. 614, 8 pins over average. After a 4 week absence, I came back to find my team 10th of 14 in the second half. We have just swept the second week since I returned.

Friday, I will sub, still holding 202 there. Have only bowled there once since injury. That was the week before XMas. This is a fun league, and in some ways, I miss it. I use it for practice with competition, and haven't hurt any team I have bowled with so far.

Tues was a mess and I shot my lowest series of the season(188-175-180). We were in 2nd by 1/2 a game and wound up splitting points dropping us to 3rd I'm sure. I got inside word something was up with the oil laid down again that's why 75% of the league was WAY under average.

Last night we played the vacant and took another easy 7 points. In the last 4 weeks we've gone 5-2, 5-2, 7-0, 7-0. We jumped up to 9th place before the 7 points last night so we are making a late move. Do we have enough for first? I'm not sure but we'll try like heck. I took over 3rd high average as of last week with a 209. I shot 237-222-193 last night with the BW so that puts me at 210. 2nd high average is 213, I have some work to do to take him down at this stage of the season. It's not so easy to move that many pins either way but it's doable. The 1st place average is 217, if it wasn't for my slow start with the injury I think I'd be right up there battling.

Not my best night; in fact, my worst in a while - 147, 139, and 172 for a 458 series. Still managed to beat my average by about 7 pins, so I can't complain.

The main thing is that we managed another sweep, and we can really use those 7 points. We crept closer last week, but we're still 16 points out of first, pending how the first place team did. Fortunately, we've been hot lately, taking 20 of 21 points in the last 3 weeks. We've had some great all-around efforts, and even though our anchor has had his struggles off and on, he is definitely more on than off.

Next week I'm looking to improve those scores of mine. When I got my spare ball plugged and drilled fingertip, I found that it has been moving much more than it used to. I finally managed some control over it in the third game.

In addition, I'm joining a Practice Plus league that starts Monday night - unless we have a similar debacle like the last time when only 3 people showed up to start the league! I'm really looking forward to this because I want to get more practice on oil, and 4 extra games a week would definitely be of great help.

I feel you Richard. I have been just treading water (save for one great 236 game) for about the last 5 weeks. Pattern seems to be 2 above average games and one bad game. I was very consistient for the first 13 weeks and now I am having that one game where it all falls apart. I am hoping that with that horrid 118 game last week I have got it out of my system.

I did get in some practice this weekend so hopefully that will help. I have to fight through this frustration because had stadily improved to where my average went from 162 to 174 but now I am just staying at that and not progressing.

Fingertip drilling is definitely going to cause the ball to move more, Richard, because you're going to create more lift on the ball if you execute correctly. But this is not a lesson thread, so let's talk about leagues...LOL.

Tuesday night we took three games, I didn't bowl extremely well, though I did shoot 638. My two middle bowlers, the drama queen and boyfriend actually held everyone else up, covering the 88 pins we began each game down by on thier own. I must say that I was thoroughly impressed. She seems to be a bit more focused on learning to throw the same shot each time up and he has stop trying to focus on her game and bowled his game.

Last night in the car on the way to my Wednesday house, I felt extremely good. Don't know why, because as a team we've really been struggling on Wednesday night. But for some reason, I pictured us finally winning some games and getting back on Track.

While I've steadily raised my average over the last 10 weeks (and it's going to go up even more...you'll see in a minute), a couple of my teammates have been going in the opposite direction. My leadoff bowler, much like my Tuesday night leadoff is just consistent, always going to average about 180-185 per night. My second bowler, our 'cap, has actually been bringing it the last couple of weeks. It's our 3rd and 4th bowlers who have struggled big time, entering at 176 and 193, respectively, but down to 168 and 176, currently.

Anyway, like I said, I'm feeling good last night, throw 4 balls in practice with my Thunderstruck and felt like I was OK...I was more than OK.

First game - alternating strikes and spares for first four frames, strikes in frames 5-9, left 4-7 on first shot in 10th, spare it up, strike...238.

Second game - 9/, double, 9/, off the sheet...269.

Third game - 7/ (brain damage...rolled around the side of the ball, left the 2,4,7), next 11...290.

That's right...238, 269, 290...797 series. I was too done...another 795+ series and no 800...that makes 5 of them. I've got a 798, two 797's, a 796 and 795, but still no 800. Good night though, took all three pots, last game super, high game of the night, high series and I broke the men's pot of gold for another $375.

More importantly, I got another 11 in a row plaque coming. Now if only I hadn't decided to roll around the ball in the first frame after shooting the back 8 in the 2nd...LOL. Still a great night though...by the way we took all three games. Turning the corner on Wednesday night also...hmmm???

Glad to hear some one is doing good Show. Sorry you didn't get your 800 though. It sounds like you are closing in on it though and I am sure it will happen for you soon. Keep up the good work.

I bowl in two leagues, and as a team we are struggling in both.

Wed night league, we came in second the first half, but this half ..second from the bottom of a 14 team league. Won one last night taking 2 points. We just seem to bring out the best in other teams. We had a guy on the opposing team stroll in late, (third frame) with a 162 average, and shoot over 700. In one game we shot 1099 as a team and still lost. Sheesh,... what can you do?

Thurs. night we came in second from the bottom in the first half in a 16 team league. We are about in the middle of the pack now. As a team we are just not clicking. When a couple of us bowl well, the others struggle, can't seem to put it all together. There has been a glimmer of that changing though in the last few weeks. Last Thurs. was alot of fun,... both teams were striking. It was back and forth all night, very enjoyable, with us coming out on top taking 5 points. We were congratulating each other, it was just a lot of fun, the other team was gracious in defeat.

Personally I have been hitting em pretty good....for two games.I always seem to get a clunker some time during the night. But still over 600. I got a new ball which I love.. the Roto-Grip SD73 Classic. Just hope it lasts and don't die an early death like my Big One did.

Thanks, Scott...it's definitely one of my bowling resolutions for the year. It may happen sooner than I imagined.

I also want to get a 300 in my Tuesday house (House of Horrors). Actually, I'm really learning how to play in there and it's making my game so much easier in other houses. I've been close in there twice this season...279 (twice) and 287, so I know it's coming. I may pull a Jordan or a Jay-Z and retire right after I shoot 300 there at the top of my game...LOL.

I knew I forgot to mention something. The second game was brutal on everybody. We counted a total of 23 splits in the game between both teams. I had 2 and went 0 for both in my conversion attempts. But I gotta tell you, we saw so many splits I thought we were watching a gymnastics exhibition!

"But I gotta tell you, we saw so many splits I thought we were watching a gymnastics exhibition!"

A comedian!!!