Popping back in to see how everyone's doing lately

My team's 2nd out of 6 and my teammates have been improving their game(s). As for me, I could be doing better with my spares pick-ups but I'm becoming more consistent overall.

My Summer House shot League is going fine. It's trios handicap. We're in third out of 14 or 16 teams, some of which are missing a person. I'm averaging 201 as of last week with the second high game of 258 and second high series of 251(both scratch). We have 8 weeks left so we have a good chance of winning this.

In my PBAX league, I believe I'm averaging 178 after 7 weeks and I'm in 5th place. Five weeks left so I hope to walk away with a 180+ average.

This years PBAX summer league is going badly for me. I have just not made very good shots so far. I had bowled in two other PBAX leagues the past two summers in another house, and averaged in the mid 170s. This year I'm in a different house but the lanes are similar, older wooden lanes, but my average is well below 170. I have been tinkering with hand positions and trying to "wean" myself of my wrist brace. Probably not a good time to make changes, but when is it a good time? Its starting to come together though and I'm starting to repeat some good shots now. There is still time to turn it around( six weeks). I start on the Scorpion pattern this week, maybe this is the week it all comes together.

The rains came two weeks ago, and my game left at the same time. I threw a 797 (over four games) two weeks ago, my worst score in summer league to that point, and followed it up with a 757 last week--the highlight there was the first game, where I went strike-split-strike in frames 2-4, then spared the rest of the way, losing by count (181-179?) to my 170-average opponent. I think I had about 15 strikes for the night.

In the middle, I averaged 160 practicing on the Chameleon, by far my worst on a PBA pattern so far. The scary thing is, my spares are still going pretty well, but my accuracy on strikes (where I'd been consistently overperforming since the middle of January) is just gone.



Anyway, I finally bought in to the house PBAX league on Monday; a couple of bowlers from my Thursday league had their third in the PBAX league go AWOL, so they invited me to join in. This Monday night we had the Cheetah.

So I show up late, get two practice shots. The Liberator isn't moving as well on the straight shot with extra wax, and when I move right, I start shying away from the ball return on the left lane; my new Sidewinder is stronger, but the shape of the shot is not good. I miss four or five makeable spares in a row in the first game, finish with a 142, and now I'm wondering whether my success on the same patterns in practice is a mirage.

I start hitting my spares and making adjustments, though, and I finish 181-225-192 for a 740, which is about as good as I would have wanted to bowl while establishing a handicap. Next week is Shark, so I'm looking for another good week heading into the Scorpion pattern, which I haven't seen yet.

Tomorrow's THS, on the other hand, I'm just looking to survive, to try to get a little consistency back and not embarrass myself too much.

http://tenthboard.net/2008/07/16/a-good-recovery/

Pretty short blog today, as there wasn't much out of the ordinary either pre- or post-bowling to talk about. One bad game (144), one game just over my average (194), and a great game (220), so I recovered a just-below-decent night at the end. Team got swept, though, with the anchor bowler on the other team having a chance at 300 in the first game before missing a 7 pin (as a lefty) in the 10th to help key their night.

Another subpar night in the books. 181-201-200 for a 582 series. As a team we lost 5 of 7 which hurts because we climbed into 3rd. There is still time left to make a move. Tonight was very dry which is a complete contrast to how its been. I struggle on dry. I had 8 ten pins on the night and I covered them all. Strikes were at a premium. I played every ball, every line I know and same results.

I ended up straining something in my left lower back and my left leg was tingling. Add this to 3 lumps I found behind my left ear which may have to come out this Tuesday and you can say I'm some what distracted at the moment lol The only saving grace is that the 2nd and 3rd highest average bowlers had off nights as well so I may get a slight separation as I'm in the lead by percentage points.

We had some fun tonight, sweeping all 9 points. But, we had fun with the other team, as they bowled hard, but fell short each game. The last game, was a no contest, as we set the team high scratch for our 3 man league of 733. We dropped to 8th last week, but fell farther behind the first place teams. We should move up a spot or 2 after tonight.

I am feeling better about my game. I really believe the PBA practice is helping, especially in 2 areas. I am becoming much more accurate, and I am picking up spares. Beyond that, I still have an occasional glitch in my back swing, but I recognize it and am able to fix it fast.

Forgot again. Here's my BowlSk link http://www.bowlsk.com/games/view-series.html?series=4228

My games were 190, 201, 236, 231 for 858 series. My 231 added to a teammate's 279 and the other teammate's 223 for the high series.

This series felt a lot better than it looks:

http://www.bowlsk.com/games/view-series.html?series=4314

I had a few lines in practice that looked good, and once the lights turned on, I couldn't execute worth [censored]. The last 2 games, where I went 189 170, felt like 200+ games. I am real happy with the way I played those last 2, and I'm going to ride that momentum into next week. I also need to fix up my grip on some of my balls - the spans were drilled a little shorter than they should have been.

Frame By Frame:

http://www.bowlsk.com/games/view-series.html?series=4361

I just been bowling. Bad Last two weeks not up to par. I dont since i bowled that tournment my timming has been off. I need to get this fixed cause i can bowl much better than this. Tonight i started off decent witha 203. Then it went down hill from there. It seemed if i made a bad shot i was rewared with ugly split or open frame. Last two games were 158 and 170 making the total of 531. OUCH!

Well i'm off to Vegas till Monday. Maybe this time away will get me back on Track.

Good luck in Vegas.