My “glamor shot”

It’s easily been about 10 years since I posted a video of my own bowling, so I got together with my bestie for a recording session. I may not have beautiful form, but the goal for the final video was all ten back. You can see for yourself below:

A copy will be on the Facebook page for comments.

May 22 practice session

I threw another two-game practice session today to spend some more quality time with the redone Alpha Crux. I started near where I wanted to be on the lane, but Stephen (and, to a lesser extent, Bob Hamilton) helped me get lined up.

When I finally did find the pocket, I left a flat 10, so that was a good time to try the Art of Bowling tip on finger position to help carry the flat 10. The strikes started coming when I tucked my pinky in, so I knew the next flat 10 would require a move. I threw my best shots near the end of the second “game” (I kept resetting to full racks.), one mixer and the other three dead flush with the carry.

I’m really preparing for something special this weekend, which will very likely feature the Alpha Crux.

2019 Brunswick Mixed prize note

I had to miss my league’s banquet to cover NEBA, but Si brought my prize money Sunday. I won high scratch game in men’s “C” (with my 255 on the last night), and the team won 2nd high scratch game (not including the usual point money). I don’t know what individual prize Steve won, but I knew Si was high average in his division, as well as most improved male.

Hope to see everyone in the fall. 🙂

Billy Trudell wins 2nd NEBA title at Westgate

Following a thrilling tie at 236, Billy Trudell defeated Jalen Scott-Jones 49-40 in a 9th & 10th frame roll-off to claim his 2nd title (first singles) at the NEBA Westgate Lanes Open. The title match punctuated a fun match play portion of the tournament, which also saw 16-year-old Nate Purches take down New England bowling legend Mike Lichstein in the first round, as well as a sibling “rivalry” match in the semifinals (Billy Trudell vs. his sister Nicole).

The videos of the final match and winner’s interview may be found on NEBA’s Facebook page.

Westgate’s cashers were Aaron Major & Kevin Thibeault, who both reached the quarterfinals, along with Alex Aguiar & Shawn Hagan; Jim Ferguson was high senior out of the money.

Sunday’s qualifying was highlighted by Eric Copping’s 264-300-290 for an 854 (first three of five) on the 12:30 PM squad, and a 290 by Bill Webb and a 299 by Brian Boghosian on the 9 AM squad.

Blanket congratulations to all, and thank you to the NEBA tournament staff for running another great tournament.

2019 NEBA Saturday notes

A couple of notes/observations from tonight’s NEBA squad:

  • Jim Savasta had the high game on the squad with a 299, with a 9 pin spoiling the perfecto.
  • Both lefties on the squad, Westgate’s Aaron Major along with Jalen Scott-Jones, made the squad cut. With PBA Tour champion Anthony Pepe, also a lefty, due at Westgate in the morning, tomorrow will be really interesting.

Art of Bowling added to sidebar

I found a YouTube channel, Art of Bowling (not to be confused with Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty’s International Art of Bowling), which belongs to New York City-based Silver coach Arthur O’Connor. The channel has lots of good tips, so I decided to place the sidebar link under the coaching category rather than the general one for videos.

“Roll” reversal

I’ve been having second thoughts about my Alpha Crux, which was originally a pin-down layout for an early roll. However, I roll a slower ball, so the early ball was not optimal. I had Kevin redrill the ball pin-up, with the thought that the surface will make it go harder off the spot.

My axis (PAP) has changed a lot since I learned a modern release, and is now 5.25″ over, 1.125″ up. The resulting layout is 75° X 4.5″ X 30° (if you want the older notation, 4.5″ X 6″ X 2″). The weight hole is also gone, as I wanted the ball to still be legal when weight holes become illegal in the 2020-21 season.

Trying out the ball today (thanks for the oil, Bobby), the ball does indeed go longer, but I wasn’t getting the back-end move I was hoping for, so Stephen took the ball surface up to 4000 Abralon. I found I was carrying a couple more mixer strikes, and my last shot on 57 was dead flush and carried all ten. I’ll need more practice, but the change looks promising.

Aaron Major posts 804 in His & Hers

As announced by the BPUSBC above, Aaron Major threw 279-268-257 for an 804 series tonight in the His & Hers league. Aaron actually needed a 266 third game to break Jim Ferguson’s association record average, but Sean Richard reported to me that Aaron left a stone 8 pin in the penultimate frame, which cost him the record.

Congrats again, anyway, Aaron! 🙂

My 2018-19 season in review

This post has been the “by the numbers” post in the past, but I decided call it “season in review” since I started bowling in a second league. I went back to bowling only on Wednesday night, so there will be no analysis of Sunday night (which I still had nine games in as a sub).

On Wednesday night, I was about eight pins under my 11-year average in the league (176.14), so let’s see if the BowlSK stats show a trend, first ball first (last season before the pipe):

Strike percentage: 39.8% | 32.5%
Pocket shots: 71.1% | 59.1%
Carry percentage: 53.1% (404/761) | 49.2% (304/618)
Double rate: 40.3% (165/409) | 32.9% (107/325)
Average first-ball count: 8.9 | 8.6
Average first-ball non-strike count: 8.1 | 7.9

I actually felt I was throwing better shots, but not really getting rewarded for it, though I missed the pocket more, as well.

Let’s see what happened on spares:

Overall spare percentage: 56.9% (353/620) | 56.0% (378/675)
Single-pin spare percentage: 67.8% (206/304) | 70.5% (208/295)
Multi-pin spare percentage: 60.0% (129/215) | 58.2% (163/280)
Makeable (non-split) percentage: 64.5% (335/519) | 64.5% (371/575)
Split conversion percentage: 18.4% (18/98) | 7.0% (7/100)
Washout conversion percentage: 11.8% (2/17) | 29.0% (9/31)
Percentage on single 10 pin: 54.9% (62/113) | 56.0% (56/100)
Percentage on single 7 pin: 69.5% (57/82) | 71.9% (46/64)

What stands out here is that I improved on my single-pin spares, including both corner pins. I’d probably like to make 80% of my single pins, and I’m getting there. Note: I left 100 splits and only converted 7 of them, so, when I made a mistake on first ball, I generally paid for it.

If you’ll look at my spreadsheet log (in the sidebar), the 338 was an outlier. Conditions were bad, but I said nothing because it’s my job to adjust to the conditions, and, if I don’t, I deserve to lose, because, after all, both teams are on the same lanes. Also, 39 & 40 continued to be a favorite pair (180 average), but so was “Hakim’s pair” (47 & 48, on which I averaged 183). Final word: I’ll take my 170 composite average.

Hakim Emmanuel wins NAT Over/Under doubles at East Providence Lanes

NAT Over-Under April 28
Finalists of Apr. 28 NAT Over/Under (45) doubles event at East Providence Lanes (L-R): Champions Angel Hernandez & Hakim Emmanuel, runners-up Bob DiMuccio Jr. & Sr. (Photo courtesy of Northeast Amateur Tournament)

The Northeast Amateur Tournament reported on Facebook (must be logged in to view) that Hakim Emmanuel, with partner Angel Hernandez, defeated Bob DiMuccio Sr. & Jr., 499-464 (with handicap), to win their inaugural Over/Under 45 doubles event on April 28 at East Providence Lanes.

This is a first time for the NAT on this blog: Mike Montijo recorded the final match, which is linked here.

May 1 Brunswick Mixed recap

My Week 35 bowling, frame-by-frame

With better carry late, this could have been in the 7s, but it’s still a higher 6 if I make my single pins. It turned out my best game of the season would come on the last night, my 255 in the first game. It was also my only 6 in this league this season.

Result: 255-203-157=615
Final average (96 games): 168
Average for last 9 games: 180

Final composite average (105 games): 170

We were bowling the vacant without Eric all night and Si for the first game, but we easily won all four, with the three of us all making contributions.

2018-19 Week 34 league standings update

After splitting 2-2 with Creeden’s Mustangs, Let’s MixEm Up is in 15th and will bowl the vacant tonight in the position round. Last Empire is the leader, three points ahead of Stacked, 10 points ahead of Sweet Rolls, and 11 ahead of Creeden’s Mustangs.

I had the high scratch and handicap game in my division last week.

Joe Fletcher wins Bay State Open Mulligan Singles at Westgate

As reported by the Bay State Open in the above Facebook post, Joe Fletcher defeated Ken Camille Jr., 300-202 (with handicap) to win the Mulligan Singles event on Apr. 13 at Westgate Lanes. The format allowed one “mulligan” per game on a first ball, including fill shots at full racks in the 10th frame. Note: 300 games where mulligans were used were ineligible for USBC certification.

You may watch the final match below: