Good read in game 2.

You'll find that playing straight will nearly always be your best play, especially with the number of games the lanes will see. The pros may end up deep, but they rarely get to where we see them by even a 4th game. Combined with the fact that most people will not play the lanes in the right area (except maybe for the scorpion, because it will play similar to a lot of house shots), you can usually have the "best" line all to yourself, so it won't break down too quickly.

The Viper usually plays at a breakpoint in the 5-6-7 board area.

I start my summer sport league tonight (finally). The put out a pattern that is similar to the USBC shot for week 1 but I think that there is more oil on the outside. This house has a huge 9-tap tourny and it is the pattern that they use for that. Last year, I want to say for the 18 bowlers that was in the league (small league), there were (2) 200 games shot the first night. Not an easy pattern. We start a week later this year. Last year, I was able to get in 2 weeks before the USBCs. This year I only get in one.

Yeah I started off swinging ever so slightly and the ball didn't really react well to come back even with only a 1 or 2 board swing. Most of the people I saw were using a fairly aggressive ball, throwing fairly slow and swinging way out with very inconsistant results. I tried a few different things in practice with my NSane LevRG, Cell and Neptune and noticed the Neptune had a good read on the outside so I switched over and had a much bigger margin of error. So I switched to a less aggressive ball, sped up and moved outside. When I hit my mark and had good speed and power behind my shot the pins would just explode when I hit the pocket. The research I did in the weeks leading up to the start of this league looked to have paid off. I'm not looking to be a 210 average in this league, but starting off with a 183ish after the first week isn't too shabby.

We don't bowl next week and I have no idea what pattern will be out for the next night.

Monday- Travel League

510- (202, 140, 168)

That 202 was not something to brag about as I did not shoot that well that game. The others obviously showed. Missing spares definitely hurt.

Tuesday- PBA League Chameleon

550- (189,213,148)

Unbelievable. The wild thing about it was the first two games were CLEAN! Never shot two clean games in separate weeks on a house shot yet I shoot two clean games straight on a tougher shot. Hardest non split spare I had was the 1-2-8 and picked it up. Of course you're wondering what the hell happened that last game Guns? First frame, 6-7 split. Missed 3 makeables after that. I wasn't sweating it though cause I was happy with the first two. Winded up making the cut for match play.

I bowled a pretty good 163 against my opponent. I will be honest and say I outshot my opponent getting to the pocket more consistently than him but he carried two brooklyn hits. Two makeables I could have had would have kept me clean. One of those would have won me that match but making match play was bonus to me. I was nervous as a mug. My first four shots were in the pocket high high high. I moved up on the approach, I tried throwing it harder. I moved left a couple of boards and it hanged. I even moved right and tried to play more oil through the front. Nervous, nervous, nervous. My first real match play type setting. Moved left on the fill ball and got it to the breakpoint, and boom ten back.

I will say I saw my coach earlier yesterday and we worked on some things. That helped a lot. After today I forget about bowling for a week as I'm going to Costa Rica for memorial day weekend. Good bowling to all.

Nice weekend. Relax!

I will bowl tonight for my first Summer night. And, since my house e-mailed me some free passes for the weekend, I may even bowl. In between 2 graduations and barbeques.

Last night was the first night for my Summer Sport league. I am bowling with a buddy of mine that I bowled with in college and another friend of ours. Neither of them has ever bowled on a sport shot (my buddy from college bowled at Nationals once and didn't fare too well). This is my first time bowling on a tougher pattern since last summer. We started out on the Cheetah. I was using my Paradigm throwing it from 7 at the arrows out to 5 at the break point. I was throwing the ball pretty good. I ended up shooting aroudn 580something but I had 5 opens. That is the one part that concerns me. I had 0 splits, they were all makeable spares. I just flat missed them. As a team, we won 2 of 7 points. I am not too concerned with the record though. I am more looking to get better than to do well in the league. If they go hand in hand, great.

During the meeting, the guy told us that if we are bowling in Nationals, that he would allow the person to pre-bowl on his own. I mentioned that I was going this weekend and would like to pre-bowl. He told me that 2 of the lanes were already dressed with the pattern and go ahead and bowl. So, I shot 3 more games. Shot 588 with 5 more open (1 split). I think that my footwork is a little fast on my spares. I need to make sure that I keep everything at an even pace.

He gave us the patterns too. We are bowling on all 5 named patterns and 2 NCAA patterns. The #3 and the #4. Does anyone know what those are? I need to do some research. The house is also hosting a Regional event next month. All bowlers who are members in my league get a free entry into the Pro Am. Problem is that it is the same weekend as the bowling expo. PDW normally comes to all of the Illinois tourneys but can't due to his obligation to Storm. Rhino was going to come but he has the same obligation. Jeff Carter is going to be there as well as Jaros and Eugene McCune. The Regional Pro who is sponsoring it mentioned a few other names but those are the ones that stood out. Should be a good time. We will be bowling on the Scorpion for that. They are going to put that pattern out for the 2 weeks prior to the tourney.

Good bowling GP, averaging 195 for 6 games on two different patterns is pretty darn good and if you had your spare game tightened up you would have been over 200 for the night.

Good Luck this weekend.

Jim:

That is exactly what CG said in the chat room this morning. I think that I was just a little rusty last night. I may try to get a couple of games in on Saturday when I get into NM just to stretch out. I'd hate to bowl one of the side tourneys just for practice though. We'll see. Thanks. I will try to update my trip on here. Hopefully the hotel has free wireless.

Right on GP, nice bowling! Hope all fares well in Albucoocoo.

Have a good trip Guns, and GP, Good Luck!