Had the initial meetings last night followed by bowling and can say that we all had a blast! I'm really enjoying what a league's all about and plan to do this right away again when fall starts up. I shot 186, 187, 189 with my newly drilled Toxic and met some great folks in the process.

Yeah, he'd come close to beating me a few times. He finally pulled it off. Heck if he would have gotten at least a spare in the 10th he would have shot just over a 200. He was working on a turkey from 7th to the 9th frames.

It is really great watching kids grow and develop. Especially, when they start to understand bowling.

I haven't really checked in since the States tournament and since my Fall/Spring leagues wrapped up. I didn't have a strong finish as I had hoped in my F/S leagues based off my performance in the tournament, but I'm really enjoying the summer league I started two weeks ago.

For some reason, I decided to volunteer to be the league treasurer when no one else stepped forward. I didn't really think that one through, but it feels good to be more involved in a league than just "a bowler". My girlfriend also started working at the alley on weekends and some week nights when she gets off her first job, and since she doesn't like to bowl over the summer.. I get to cash in on her free games too.

My goal for this summer league is to maintain a steady high 180s /low 190s average. I started with a 180, and I've pushed it to 187. Only a few more pins to the goal, but the real challenge will be to hold it. I think my BWS is starting to die out. It's just not breaking like it used to (especially after the tournament). This is with constant cleaning, some deep soaks, etc etc. I know the BWs have a reputation of "dieing out", but I feel it's a little too early. Going to tinker with the coverstock to see what I can do.

Well, thought I'd post since I haven't in quite a while. Glad to see some are enjoying some summer leagues just like myself. The 25th of this month, I have to go to the States luncheon down in Meriden, CT to be presented my award for finishing first in Handicap-All Events. Our team also finished first, and I cashed out with about $800 total. Pretty good considering I wasn't even thinking about doing States in the first place.

Summer. Time for bowling. Time for golf.

Had the Viper again last night (apparently my league goes A-A-A-B-B-B-C-C-C-D-D-D-E-E-E so next week is also the Viper). Started the same way I ended two weeks ago, standing on 17 and throwing at 7. Worked really well again, started with 203, 203. Had the first 4 or 5 in the first game then doffed a couple spares, second game didn't have a strike till late, like 8th frame but made all my spares. Third and fourth games were squirrely, the adjustments I made to counter the carrydown didn't really work too well, but I also kept pulling everything left of my target, so I can't really set a basis for judgement.

Good night for me and my teammate last night, we took 21 out of 25 points last night. We were 6th out of 16 teams, so it was nice to have a big night that could possibly move us up higher, but I don't know how the teams in front of us did.

Personally, I had a good night too, shot a 269, 248, 225, and 217 for a 959 series, which I was happy about. Unfortunately, since we rerank averages every 3 weeks and last night was the third week, I did bloat my average a little bit higher than I would like it to be, so I'd better keep it up there.

Mark

Nice rolling! 21/25 is hard to beat

We have a guy that is shooting 950s on the Viper, he just tears it up, can't miss with an old EPX that's been plugged so much I don't think there's a core left. No one else broke 800.

That is really good! I personally didn't like the Viper at all. This coming week is the Scorpion. At the moment I just don't have the equipment for the PBA patterns. Down and in is my game as of now. I guess I just have to work with what I have. Sucks being a poor high school student.

I think that older equipment with more tame reactions can sometimes be a slight advantage for the sport/PBA patterns. We all know that the patterns exist to put a premium on accuracy and speed control such that if you make a mistake either way, you are going to pay for it. A ball that does not overreact when it catches too much oil or too much dry, in my opinion, is desirable for tougher conditions like the sport/PBA patterns.

Mark

He just got a Sidewinder, his first new ball in 5 years or so. He actually used to bowl regionally, but stopped, and hadn't bowled since until the PBA league last year. He hates house shots.

He also played every shot outside of 5 last year, just adjusting surfaces on one of his old balls. He has a ton of hand though.