My 2011-12 season, by the numbers

As I usually do at the end of my winter bowling season, I dedicate a post to breaking down my league performance with the help of the BowlSK reports. First, the first-ball numbers (numbers before the pipe | character reflect last year’s performance):

Strike percentage: 46.4% | 36.4%
Pocket shots: 78.2% | 64.0%
Carry percentage: 58.6% (529/903) | 53.7% (392/730)
Double rate: 49.1% (250/509) | 37.2% (149/400)
Average first-ball count: 8.9 | 8.7
Average first-ball non-strike count: 7.9 | 7.9

As has been noted in many of the league night recaps, I had more of a struggle with my shotmaking this year, which is reflected in a noticeably lower overall strike percentage as well as the percentage of my pocket shots.  The thing that helped is that my carry rate was only slightly lower, but I couldn’t really string them, which is reflected in my double rate.   My spares continued to be fairly manageable, as my average non-strike count remained the same.

Now, breaking down my spare game:

Overall spare percentage: 51.4% (303/589) | 55.9% (384/687)
Single-pin spare percentage: 70.9% (183/258) | 68.7% (184/268)
Multi-pin spare percentage: 56.1% (110/196) | 60.9% (179/294)
Makeable (non-split) percentage: 64.5% (293/454) | 64.6% (363/562)
Split conversion percentage: 7.4% (10/135) | 16.8% (21/125)
Washout conversion percentage: 26.1% (6/23) | 16.7% (5/30)
Percentage on single 10 pin: 63.6% (68/107) | 53.3% (49/92)
Percentage on single 7 pin: 71.4% (20/28) | 56.3% (27/48)

Overall, I did show a bit of improvement in my spare shooting, but most of that was improvement in making my multi-pin spares (including splits).  My single-pin percentage went down slightly, and most of that was not picking up my corner pins; I wasn’t leaving as many 10s, but I left a lot more 7s (20) while only making 7 more of those.  What may help is work not only on picking up the corner pin spares, but trying to learn to adjust so I don’t leave as many of them (I think the increased 7 pin leaves were ones where I left shakers coming in light).

To test my overall split improvement, I ran both this year’s and last year’s spare percentage reports and looked for my 3-10, which is one of the easier splits.  I found I actually made it one fewer time, but left it two fewer times, so my percentage remained the same (50%), so I shouldn’t count on making splits at this rate, as the improvement was probably picking up one or two of my tougher ones (indeed, I picked up both the 2-4-8-10 and the 4-7-10 for the first time in my recollection this season).

May 2 league night recap (last night of season)

My Week 35 bowling, frame-by-frame (Linked to BowlSK sheet)

I threw my “new” Nano for the first time in anger tonight, but some of my shotmaking and my spare game didn’t match the caliber of the ball. That said, I did like the look it gave me in the first two games. For the third, I decided to shell down to my Reign of Fire (something I didn’t think would happen at one time), and that allowed me to keep my look.

Result: 165-167-185=517
Final average (105 games): 174
Average for last 9 games: 173

We needed to take at least three points from tonight’s opponents to move ahead of them into third place for the half, and we did just that, winning the first and third games handily. We almost had the second game won, as well, however, we couldn’t get marks at the end, while three of our opponents nearly struck out in the tenth, with two of them working on doubles and the third also working on a strike.

It should be said we had our high handicap series of the season on the last night, a 3,136. I believe, however, we’re going to fall short of a team prize, as “Bowling Stones,” by my estimation at the beginning of the night, was in line for the team high handicap series prize with a 3,141. We were also out of the running for the team high handicap game.

From trash to treasure

Being ever opportunistic, and always looking for a deal when I can, I couldn’t help but jump on something I discovered on the forums. “Domokun,” whom I knew well from his participation in the virtual league from the beginning, recently announced that he was unloading all of his Storm equipment, with the exception of one ball that I’ll mention later, in favor of Ebonite, saying that Storm balls weren’t working where he bowls.

A ball he announced he was unloading that caught my eye in particular happened to be last year’s Bowling This Month Ball of the Year, the Virtual Gravity Nano. Investigating further, he told me this ball had a pin-under layout (he had another one drilled pin-over, but that one was autographed by women’s bowling legend Aleta Sill, so he’s saving that ball in a box in storage), which was exactly the type of layout I wanted if I ever wanted a ball for long oil patterns. After confirming that it was a 15 lb. ball, I told him I’d take it, and I received it via FedEx a week ago last Thursday.

I should note that this is the first ball I’ve ever owned with an asymmetrical core (you can click on “View Core” on the page linked above to get an image of the core’s shape), so there’s an additional position marked on the ball’s surface for the mass bias. I may comment later on how my layout is measured, but I kept the pin-under layout, with the mass bias kicked out. The ball also had a number of scratches on it and it also looked too shiny for a dull ball, so I determined that a full resurface was necessary. When I gave Ray the ball to have the work done Thursday, he told me the thumb would need to be plugged. With grips and a slug, this ball came out to be a $50 job.

I got a quick chance to try out the ball on a pair near the desk tonight (with the house shot) while the Coke league bowlers were practicing, and I must say that this ball is, by far, the strongest I’ve ever owned. I ended up standing around 34 looking third arrow, but if I made a mistake turning just a bit too early and the ball went high, my high pocket hits left a couple of blower 7s. I eventually did throw a couple of good shots consecutively near the end of the test game and carried them both, with a late 10 on a shot that I thought might have left a weak 10 for the last one. I may not use this ball all of the time, but this would certainly be a house shot option for when I want to play the deep-in (which my readers should know from past leagues that I like playing), and I had this ball in mind more for longer oil patterns (like “Route 66”), anyway, so this ball is going to be a good fit in my arsenal.

As a final note, I may make it a summer project to make a post with the pictures of all of my balls (except for my spare ball) so my readers can become acquainted with how I have all of them laid out.

April 2012 TNBA no-tap results

Below are the results of the no-tap singles tournament held on April 21 at Westgate Lanes, run by the TNBA Boston Bowling Senate:

  1. Eric Durden 923
  2. Lourine Brown 918
  3. Rich Brignolo 905
  4. Chris Major 867
  5. Henry Webber 858
  6. Chris Gunn 855
  7. Ernie Goodman 852
  8. Dennis Johnson 852

Of course, Ernie Goodman and Dennis Johnson split the 7th and 8th place prizes.

The reason for the honor score filing of this post is that Tom Hedding related to me that he bowled a natural 300 game in this tournament. Congrats to all who did well in this tournament.

Winter 2012 Week 16 virtual league results (final week)

“Diamond Flush” only won the third game in the position round match against “Executionists,” but the two points won were enough to assure us of fifth place outright. Even if we took at least five, “Dark Side 2.0” won more than they needed to secure fourth place.

“Joe Bowler” earned an individual honor, averaging 237.21 for his 48 virtual league games this season to set the league’s record seasonal average, previously held by “sk8shorty01” with a 234.57 for 42 games in the Winter 2011 league.

Apr. 25 league night recap (includes standings update)

My Week 34 bowling, frame-by-frame (Linked to BowlSK sheet)

If you’ll refer to my BowlingTracker.com stat sheet, you’ll see that I ended up with a 162+ average on this pair (39-40), and the mediocrity on this pair continued tonight, as I could never really get it together.

Result: 160-169-159=488
Average (102 games): 174
Average for last 9 games: 173
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 610

Berta and Brian were solid tonight; unfortunately, two of the opponents bowled well over their respective averages and took all 4 from us. Even with a sweep by either us or them, “The 5 G’s” could clinch the second half with three points, and they won all four tonight, so they’ll be in the roll-off with “The Incredibowls” in two weeks. Meanwhile, “Dee’s Boys II” moved a point ahead of us for third, and we bowl that team next week.

April 2012 People’s Tournament results

The People’s Tournament reported that Michael Williams (AMF Silver Lanes, 191 avg.) was the champion of the event held on Apr. 1 at AMF Silver Lanes. Williams defeated Torrance Wiggins (AMF Silver Lanes, 144 avg.) by a score (with handicaps) of 270-210 in the title match. Westgate Lanes was represented in the semifinals by Dave Chalifoux (206 avg.), and also in the final 8 by Michael Reed (175 avg.).

Winter 2012 Week 15 virtual league results

“Diamond Flush” swept “Kingpins” last week, and are now five points clear of “Executionists,” this week’s position round opponents, in fifth place with one week to go. If my team sweeps and “Dark Side 2.0” takes no more than two points from “Got Wood?”, my team moves into at least a tie for fourth.

“Ordinary Average Guys” are 14 points clear of “2-bit Bandits” in first place, so the former team has clinched the championship in the penultimate week. Congrats to the members of that team: “BOSStull,” “Hunter,” “ijohn83,” “RichL,” and “Rocket Jr.” 😀

Apr. 22 Brunswick Mixed schedule note

As a look at the scheduled matches this week for the teams at the top of the second half standings, the big one involves my team, “Pinfall Wizards,” and “Deadwood” with the winner facing “The 5′ G’s” next week in the second half’s position round. “The 5 G’s” will be opposed by “Bowling Stones” and “Dee’s Boys II” will bowl against “The Incredibowls.”

Apr. 18 league night recap (includes standings update)

My Week 33 bowling, frame-by-frame (Linked to BowlSK sheet)

I wasn’t that happy with my first game, but I did make the right adjustments in the other two games, so I was happy with the night overall. No missed single pins, but I couldn’t make anything else, it seemed.

Result: 155-190-207=552
Average (99 games): 174
Average for last 9 games: 181
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 573

Just about everyone had a solid night for my team, resulting in all four points. Looking at the other matches, we pulled into a tie for second with “Deadwood” and are three points clear of the fourth place “Dee’s Boys II,” but “The 5 G’s” won all four tonight as well, so they are now five points in front.

Apr. 16 league standings update

After taking only two points from the first place “The 5 G’s,” “Pinfall Wizards” fell into a tie for third with “Dee’s Boys II,” five points behind the leaders and three points behind the second place team, “Deadwood.” There are three weeks left in the second half, and my team bowls against “Warren’s Girls” this week; “The 5 G’s” go against “Bottoms Up!”, “Deadwood” will be opposed by “Bowling Stones,” and “Dee’s Boys II” will be opposed by “The Mustangs.”

Apr. 11 league night recap

My Week 32 bowling, frame-by-frame (Linked to BowlSK sheet)

My start was promising, but then I just lost it, with the 10 pin betraying me the third game, in which I had to go on a run just to save my 500.

Result: 206-159-156=521
Average (96 games): 174
Average for last 9 games: 178
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 600

My team was following my lead all night, but that meant we lost the bulk of the points to the first place team. To be fair, though, when two opponents put up 250s, which they did in the second game, you know you’re in for a longer night than you think.

Winter 2012 Week 13 virtual league results

“Diamond Flush” managed only the second game against “Dark Side 2.0,” but remain separated from the upper half of the league by only pinfall, as we’re tied for fifth in points with “Executionists.” At this point, it’s not a question of making a move on the lead, as “Ordinary Average Guys” are 25 points ahead of us and 12 points ahead of the second-place “Got Wood?”.

Apr. 8 league standings update

After splitting two to two against “Bowling Stones,” “Pinfall Wizards” fell to third place, but are only three points out of the lead held by “The 5 G’s” and just a point behind “Deadwood.” We are a point ahead of “Dee’s Boys II.” Looking at this week’s schedule, my team has a chance to close ground on the lead, as we have “The 5 G’s,” but “Deadwood” has “Warren’s Girls” and “Dee’s Boys II” has “Outta Da Guttah.”

TNBA tournament note

The Boston Bowling Senate of the TNBA will run a no-tap singles tournament at Westgate Lanes on Apr. 21. I didn’t have all of the other details at press time, but I’m assuming TNBA cards can be purchased on-site, and that the entry fee is $25 (as it’s been in the past).

Apr. 4 league night recap

My Week 31 bowling, frame-by-frame (Linked to BowlSK sheet)

As I said in my comment on BowlSK, the night wasn’t disgraceful, as I made my +1 with all three games over my average. It certainly could have been better, however, if I wasn’t butchering my right side early in the night (I missed two 10s and chopped the 3-6 twice.).

Result: 177-190-193=560
Average (93 games): 174
Average for last 9 games: 180
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 596

Berta returned tonight and didn’t seem to miss a beat, as she was again over her average in all three games. The only problem was that we lost the first game by 84 pins, and that was too large a deficit for us to overcome tonight, even though we won the other two games.