Month: January 2009

Jan. 31 league standings update

“The Pin Pals” fell to 5th place this week as a result of taking only one point from “The Badgers.” “MT Bed” is the hot team right now, having only lost one point so far in the second half. My team faces “Backyard Bowlers” this week, about the only team we have a disadvantage in handicap against.

On a related note, the Brunswick Mixed League is now a LeagueSecretary.com league, as the league voted to purchase the CDE league secretary software earlier in the season to comply with coming USBC standards. I will continue to link the standings as found on Bowler Express on the sidebar (“Author’s links”), however, for the sake of continuity.

EDIT: After seeing how detailed the standings sheet on LeagueSecretary.com was (it’ll give everyone’s scores for each week, and shows the highs in each average class, among other things), I decided to link both, and the sheet on LeagueSecretary.com has been added to the sidebar under “Author’s links.”

Opportunity knocks

My brother called me around 10 this morning and told me he would be available for another bowling outing, so I took full advantage of the opportunity to get some practice work in, focusing on keeping my backswing short. To put it in brief, I had the best series I’ve had in a while, a 656. I still need to be consistent on my spares, however, as 2 open frames (a single 6 and a single 10) ruined a game in which I had the front 6 for a 234. I finished all 3 games (first a 217 and then a 205) strong, however, so that can be taken as a good sign.

Killing two birds with one stone

I was looking forward to this lesson with Ray today, as I felt I’ve been losing it the last few weeks, not just in my spare game, as I’ve documented, but on first ball, as well. Ray spotted something in today’s “before” video, however: my wrist would flex at the top of my backswing, making my hand come on top of the ball through the downswing and driving my release into the floor. I forgot what one of the two options Ray presented me for fixing this problem, but I chose what seemed to me to be the most comfortable one…shortening my backswing, as I appeared able to stay behind and under the ball until my backswing got up to shoulder height.

The practice work after this involved the usual towel on the lane, but this time I focused on keeping my backswing short. It appeared to be the ticket; at one point, I had 7 strikes in a row, and early on, I was resetting the full rack when I left something, as ball reaction is usually one gauge (in my mind) of how I’m doing. I did work on doing the same thing with my spare attempts eventually, and even then it seemed I couldn’t miss, getting one clean game (a 235) in the bridge between my solo work and Ray taping my “after” video. As an added benefit, I was also playing further inside (standing around the 24 and 25 board) than I’m used to and still getting to the pocket, something I’ve wanted to learn. The next few practices will, of course, focus on keeping my backswing short.

Local tournament note: The Brockton Foxvale & Tri-City Women’s Bowling Association will run their 21st annual mixed doubles tournament on Feb. 21 & 22 at Westgate Lanes. Entry fee is $41/team, with the prize fund being returned to about 1 in 10 entries at 70% handicap and 30% scratch. Handicap is 80% of 220. Squad time is 1:00 PM on both days. See entry flyers at all area centers for further details. Entries close on Feb. 11.

Still in a funk

With the early-day weather putting the buses on a snow schedule, I had to take an early bus to be sure I was at the lanes on time (the weather improved later in the day, so the league didn’t postpone). I ate dinner there, then got in a couple of games of warm-up, mostly to get the newly-rejuvenated ball broken in.

My Week 20 bowling (BowlSK)

This was the third series in a row on the low side of the 500s, and this week was very similar to last week, in that I made enough spares to stay somewhat in it, but couldn’t get anything really lined up until the third game. I am not sure what I will have Ray work with me on tomorrow, but the original plan was to shore up my spare game. Hopefully, the lesson will help me get back on track, however.

Result: 169-159-175=503
Average (60 games): 179 Last 9 games average: 171
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 584

As has been the case all season against “The Badgers,” we were fortunate to get one point, which came in the first game. “The Badgers” have a couple of thumbless crankers, so I related to my teammates a story that “CoachJim” told me about how his team once beat a whole team of thumbless bowlers by pushing oil into the thumbless bowlers’ line, which would make their balls turn late and not enough, getting them frustrated all night. Unfortunately, my team is not as sophisticated as “CoachJim” and his teammates, and we really didn’t have the styles and/or equipment to pull off that strategy.

It’s that time again

I was just getting no backend reaction during my practice session today, and I had to go slow and outside in order to have any chance at getting a strike. I’m thinking now that it might be time to take the ball back to the pro shop for the usual oil removal, which will probably happen tomorrow. On the bright side, I got progressively better at picking up my spares as the session went on, so that was probably the highlight.

Jessica Lowe shoots 278 game, 733 series in TNBA league

Congratulations to Jessica Lowe of the Friday night TNBA league, who fired a 733 series in that league’s latest session, which is the highest series for a woman at Westgate Lanes to date this season. The series was paced by a 278 game, which ties Melissa Peterson (Westgate Mixed) for high game by a woman at Westgate Lanes this season. Good bowling, Jessica! 😀

Jan. 24 league standings update

The updated second half standings presented a surprise: my team now has a 6-2 record rather than the 4-4 record I was expecting. I called Shawn to ask him about this, and he notified me that we were bowling in a forfeit situation; a five-man team needs three bowlers in a legal lineup and “8 Is Great” was only bowling with 2 bowlers. Therefore, we only needed to bowl within 50 pins of the team’s average to earn points by forfeit, which we barely did the first game. As a result, “The Pin Pals” now stand in third place behind “MT Bed” and “The Mustangs.”

Next week provides a test in “The Badgers,” the winners of the first half. We haven’t done well against this team yet, so I’m hoping I can bring my “A-game” for them.

Link to Kinetic Bowling added to “Equipment Sites”

I learned of Kinetic from my “friend” Glenn Cox, the blogger at Everything Bowling, via the blog, and have been keeping an eye on Kinetic’s site for the official launch. Since it has happened, the link has been added to the sidebar under “Equipment Sites.” Featured is the Solaris, the company’s maiden offering, and the site also has the de rigeur pro shop search.

Link to IBPSIA added to “Bowling Sites”

I’ve been meaning to add this link for a while, but the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association has been added to the sidebar under “Bowling Sites” (as they certify coaches as well as pro shop proprietors). I know USA Pro Shops is not certified by this organization, but the IBPSIA site is a good place to start your search for a qualified pro shop, as you can search geographically.

Playing it tight

My Week 19 bowling (BowlSK)

The lanes got progressively tighter tonight, meaning I had to move more outside as the night went on. For a change, my spare game kept me somewhat in it tonight. I was still missing some, but my single 4 pin was not a problem, and I even made a couple of splits, a 6-7-10 and a 2-7, in the first game. What did me in tonight was missing the pocket often, leaving more splits and washouts than I would like to.

Result: 168-161-186=515
Average (57 games): 179 Last 9 games average: 178
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 547

My team could only take one point tonight, and that was even with three members of the other team (including Eric and Lauren, his girlfriend) absent. It should be said that my team wasn’t entirely healthy, however: Helen was bowling with a bad hip flexor, and Carl’s back was stiff and sore from driving the bus all day.

Jan. 18 league standings update

As you would expect, a three-point night put my team into the top half of the standings coming out of the gate in the second half, but “The Handicaps” swept “Backyard Bowlers,” and it is “The Handicaps” with the early lead. “The Pin Pals” are in 4th after the first night of the second half due to pinfall.

Wednesday night finds us up against “8 is Great,” a team the Sprisslers always look forward to meeting, as their nephew, Eric, is on that team.

Just ordinary

Thought I’d note my bowling outing with my brother today: I was no great shakes, but did have one game (a 187) that was over my league average. He was consistently in the 120s, so he may have had his best series to date (though I told him I thought the one he had the 166 game in back in November might have been his best).

I’m likely not practicing on Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday (kids will be out of school, so the center will be charging their normal rate).

USBC announces changes to Women’s Championships for 2010

USBC to debut 3 average-based competitions for 2010 Women’s Championships in El Paso

I like the new format…it gives the lower-average women bowlers a chance to compete against others with similar ability while keeping the scratch competition available. I think the USBC is wagering on this move bolstering participation in the Women’s Championships, and my philosophy on women’s bowling is that anything that’s good for women’s bowling is good for the game in general.

My new bowling shirt

I could have posted this as part of the last post, but I felt I could devote a separate post to my new bowling shirt. I bought it at the pro shop for $35, but I also needed to take it to the local EmbroidMe to have the back work done, which cost me another $18 (so figure about $2/letter for the work). I wanted the shirt mostly for tournaments, but I figured I’d show it off tonight in league (I’ll have to do it again next week so Ray can see the finished product.). Photos below…

Front view of me in the shirt. I was hoping this shot would show the full front work, but only the large stuff at the top of the left breast is really readable in this, if at all.
Front view of me in the shirt. I was hoping this shot would show the full front work, but only the large stuff at the top of the left breast is really readable in this, if at all.
Detail on the left breast work, showing the pro shop "logo".
Detail shot of left breast work, showing the pro shop logo.
Back shot of new shirt, showing the embroidery of the name.
Back shot of new shirt, showing the embroidery of the name.

Continuing problems

My Week 18 bowling (BowlSK)

Although I was a bit better at shooting my spares tonight (and, indeed, I even made a couple of tougher ones, a washout and a baby split), I still think I’m missing too many for comfort, and good spare shooting could’ve been used tonight, because I couldn’t line up anything in the second game. If I had made all of my makeable spares in the second game, I would’ve definitely saved my average tonight. With an eye on this, I’ve decided not to bowl in any of the upcoming tournaments and spend my money instead on a couple of lessons about spare shooting (hopefully, maybe just one lesson will fix my problems, though).

Result: 182-157-183=522
Average (54 games): 180 Last 9 games average: 178
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 579

Comparatively speaking, however, it was a banner night for my team to open the second half, and the highlight was Helen shooting a 204 in her first game, which she told me was her first since the season before last. Carl also had a second game in the 180s, and those games helped pace us to a three-point night. Good shooting guys! 😀

Learning a new trick

I didn’t make much progress on my spare game in practice today, but I did get something else accomplished: I finally learned how to slow down effectively, and, in my last game, I reeled off 7 strikes in a row, and would’ve had the last 8 if not for a solid 10 pin, for a 236, my best practice game in weeks.

Jan. 11 league standings update (first half wrap-up)

Bowling the position week was a formality for my team, as we were locked into 9th place going into it, but we finished with 22.5 points, or slightly better than a point a week. As I noted earlier, “The Badgers” were the winners of the first half with 45 points, but “The Dynasty” overtook “The Mustangs” for second place with 40 points (to “The Mustangs'” 39.5), a creditable achievement considering that “The Dynasty” has two vacancies.

The second half of the season begins for my team Wednesday night against the aforementioned “The Dynasty.”

Torn between two tournaments

After learning about the dates of the local association’s tournament last night, I approached Shawn, my league secretary, about the possibility of getting a team together from my league, and he was open to the idea, saying his usual teammate and doubles partner for the tournament (who is usually also a teammate of his in the league) won’t be able to participate due to injury this year. Since the team event is a team of 4, we would need two more people, and Eric Nordstrom (whom some of you have seen in the scrapbook) said he’d also be interested in participating.

I did let Shawn know, however, that I would be torn between participating in the city tournament and the People’s Tournament at Westgate Lanes this month, as my budget only allows for one tournament. The feedback I’ve been getting from the chat folks is strongly in favor of me entering the city tournament, as they think I have a better chance of cashing in events in that. The drawbacks would be that I’d have to rise early on the Sunday my team is scheduled to bowl, get a ride to and from the venue, and I’d also have to talk to other non-bowling people about other matters.

The cost of missing single pins

My Week 17 bowling (BowlSK)

I had 9 single pin leaves tonight (except for last balls in the 10th frame) and only made 3 of them. I missed 3 of them in a row in the last game alone (a couple of weak 10s and a stone 7), and, if I made just those single pins, it would’ve turned out that I shot 600 on the night. I was 31 pins over average on the night, largely on a good second game, but I know I could’ve done much better if I made my single pins. This may be something I’ll have to work with Ray on.

Result: 193-221-157=571
Average (51 games): 180 Last 9 games average: 180
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 558

My team split the points tonight due to winning the second game being enough to take total despite losing close games to bookend it. “The Badgers” won their second game tonight, so they took the first-half title. If a different team wins the second half, the two teams will roll off for the league championship at the end of the season.

Tournament note: The 47th annual Brockton USBC Bowling Association Championships will take place on February 1 and 8 at North Bowl Lanes in N. Attleboro. The events to be contested are 4-man teams, doubles, and singles, with an optional all-events competition. Entry fee is $20/bowler/event (not sure what the all-events entry fee is), and entries must be submitted by January 26. Doubles and singles squad is 9:00 AM and team squad is 11:00 AM on both days. Prize money will be divided 70% for handicap prizes (will update with the handicap basis) and 30% for scratch prizes. Note: If you enter doubles, you must also enter singles, and if you enter singles, you must also enter doubles. Entry flyers available at the Brockton USBC Bowling Association centers.

New acquisitions

I had to wait quite a while for the pro shop to open, and when it did, it was just Brian Frank in the shop and not Ray, as I had hoped. Nevertheless, I purchased two items: a new USA Bowling Pro Shops shirt, which I plan on having embroidered with my name on the back at a local shop tomorrow (expect photos when this work is done), and a KR Strikeforce two-ball tournament tote. I purchased the latter item because I recently joined the Boston Bowling Meetup Group, which meets for tenpins about every other month at Lanes and Games in Cambridge. I see this as a chance to expand my horizons and bowl in a different house and on different conditions than I’m used to. The next tenpin meet is next month, and I hope to be able to join them for that.

Cause to worry

I went back to practice as normal today, but there’s reason to worry about my game, as I couldn’t deal with the lane transition as effectively as I would like. What’s been happening (and you may have noticed it in my league posts on BowlSK) is that my first shots will scream on the back end, making me move inside to around the 20 board on the approach, but then it will progress to a point where the lanes don’t hook at all, forcing me to either move back outside, slow down, or both. My middle game was near my average, but had a number of shots where I missed the pocket in the third game, so I only had games in the 130s and 140s bookending the middle game.

I’m going to the pro shop shortly, so I will be talking to Ray about it. I’ll be posting about that later.

Shaking the rust off

My brother did some stock-up shopping for me today at an area Walmart, and offered the opportunity to go bowling when he delivered the goods. I hesitated, as I normally eat around the time we went, then accepted, figuring I could have dinner later. I used the session as a general “shake the rust off” one, as I had not bowled in over 2 weeks. I’m glad that was what it was, too, as my first two games were well under my average, with me needing a mark and 8 pins in the 10th frame to beat my brother in the first game (getting it). I had a third game near my average, so I could say I accomplished my task for the session. My practice on Monday should be another tune-up for the resumption of league play on Wednesday night.

“The BM Report” added to blogroll: “The BM Report” is a blog that started as a newsletter for a team of self-described bad bowlers in Laramie, WY. Judging from their recent post of “tips,” these guys don’t take themselves too seriously, so this blog should be an entertaining read. The link has been added to the blogroll…welcome aboard guys. 😀