I bowled 201-235-222 So I had a pretty good day for myself LOL. I was happy for the most part but, I need to work on my acuracy a little more and backswing.

This wasn't from today (from Wednesday league) but I bowled 193 (opened in the 10th, should have been a 210+), 182 (not as bad as it seems, split in the 2nd, open in the 3rd, clean the rest the game just not stringing strikes), then 300 for a 675 series. That's my first sanctioned 300 game.

On the same night in the same game a few lanes down from me a buddy of mine shot a 299 (his first sanctioned - pulled it and left a 4 pin), finishing a few frames ahead of me. Too bad we weren't in brackets against each other.

Congrats TenPin. Awesome...

Tenpin, WOW! A 300 game and, sanctioned 300. Congrats to you and, congrats to your from because 299 isnt to shaby LOL.

Nice game TenPin!


This was the week of the city tournament (for me at least), and I'd been struggling with my form for a week or so. Singles and Doubles were in a house across town; I finally got out there Wednesday, bowled eight games of practice, and stunk up the joint.

Went to league sore on Thursday and didn't bowl any better, finishing with a 558. I'd had the Avalanche sanded to 1000, hoping to be able to play deeper with it, but it didn't work at all--I wound up playing the same area as before, but the ball kept rolling out on me--so I put it back on the rack with a note to change the surface to 2000 at the next opportunity.

Friday I contemplated skipping league to let my body recover, but I was so bad, I reasoned it was more important to try to regain my form. Bowled my first two games with the Liberator, and my form finally started to come back. The third game I changed to my usual in-between line for practice, and had no success, but I finished with a 653 and felt a bit better about my chances.

(to be continued)

Saturday was Singles & Doubles.

195-198-243 636
242-222-253 717

If my 717 holds up, this will be the second year in a row I bowled my best series of the season in the singles set of the city tournament. I was in unfamiliar (and different) houses both years, oddly enough.

This year's lanes have the oiliest house shot in town; my game plan going in was to start with the Black Pearl, then move to the Sidewinder, then Liberator as we wore a Track in. I worked my way through all three balls by the start of the third game, and I was pretty much out of answers.

Finally, I tried the Avalanche--I was casting around for anything that might work for singles, since our doubles team was screwed by then anyway. I immediately found a good line going 14 to 8 and struck five or six in a row to close out the third game.

We switched lanes for singles, and I proceeded to throw almost the same shot for the rest of the day: I had room to miss inside, and as the Track burned out, the burn would help outside shots recover as long as the ball didn't slip outside the Track area to OOB.

With the handicap, I finished with a 798. I had two opens, a 4-9 in the first game and a Greek Church in the second; those were the difference between first place in the upper division and (probably) tenth or twelfth. Still, I got enough breaks that I can't complain.

Today was the team event. Last year I bowled 560 in the team event, costing me standings and money in all-around...my goal this year was 210 average, same as always, and with the easier singles/doubles shot it would probably take at least that much to get all-around money this year.

247-195-192 634

I started with the Avalanche this time, a much straighter shot on the fresh oil, and it worked beautifully. I was screwed after the transition, though, as too many bowlers were playing inside of me, and finally gave up on the ball rather than complete the full death march to a (potentially) better line inside.

The third game, I bowled the Hammer up 5, just trying to gut my way through to a decent finish. By the tenth frame I had strike/spare for 208, which would have validated my choice IMO, but threw a split instead.

+187 for the weekend, very good by my standards. My average for the tournament was almost 221.

Unhappy with my 532 series in league Friday I rolled a few games Saturday. 277-181-238=696. Timing and a better follow through helped. My middle game I drifted left on the approach and lost my accuracy. Once that was pointed out i finished good the last game.

Today I bowled 5 games playing different lines, forcing them to work. 179(deep), 230-225 (straighter @ 10 board), 164 playing deep, 262 playing up 5.

Today hand positions made a difference. Once the lanes were flying my instinct is to move left. I held my ground that last game, kept my speed up and actually got a little more hand in it. I found more hold and more power at the pocket. it wasn't just some of the scores I saw today, it was how hard the ball was hitting. I also have been working on keeping my fingers tight when throwing at 10 pins. I went 5 for 5, this some what washed the taste of that 532 away. It won't mean anything unless I do it on Tuesday.

Last night, bowled some nice practice: 237, 196, 180, 213, 159, 188 average of 195 that night. Tonight I bowled 4 games: 202, 193, 18... oh [censored] I can't remember the last 2 scores. They were above 175 is all I can remember.

I have been working with keeping my hand behind the ball more and keeping my timing in step. Also, I've even out my backswing a bit higher and more consistent. My accuracy is getting better too so I'm still working on it. My spare game is getting more consistent too. Been working with speed control for playing on conditions like my last tournament was on... wood lanes with reverse block and the best look to pocket was taking out the wrist and upping the speed. Plus working with my straight ball release and a weaker release for dry lanes too. If I can keep this up, its feeling better than ever! knock on wood, don't want to jinx myself

We had a bowling party for the music store I work part time for. We've done this before, but this time it was in our brand new center at the south end of town. Brand new Brunswick lanes and machines. Center is typical of all newly built centers today. We had the VIP area with the isolated lanes and meeting rooms (where we had pizza, salad and wings). Food was great.

Now for the lanes. They were dry. They were no oiling since Friday for league dry. And it was Sunday at 9pm. Of the 60 of so of us bowling Mark and I were two of 4 people with their own equipment. It was very clear about 2 frames in that plastic was going to be the only option. And it was hooking, in fact it was rolling out. If you swung it out too far, it just died. Trying to pick up 10 pins and 6, 10s was nearly impossible. Mark being more versital then I, just used his left hand and still missed them. There was no oil in the middle, no oil on the outside, no oil that I could find anywhere. Loud loud music, black lights, cosmic environment. We got to bowl 2 games. First game was 124, second game was 150. I was high in the group at 150. Even with such meager scoring many people commented on how fantastic bowlers we were.

Erin