Tonight was supposed to be the first night of the Chameleon pattern for the PBA experience league. The only problem was I don't think it was the Chameleon. I was asked by the league secretary what I thought of the shot. I told him how the lanes were so different from each other, and how the second pair was totally different form the first pair. He told me, that a lot of bowlers were commenting on the shot and said that they didn't believe that the shot was correct, and neither did I. The lanes had more hook in the middle then the Viper did, and if you got the ball outside, it stayed there, like a reverse block......I'm confused.

Game 1 - 227 : Good game despite the amount of hook I was getting. Way to much hook for the Chameleon pattern.

Game 2 - 190 : Not complaining about the score, but the pattern is just doesn't seem right.

switch lanes

Game 3 - 189 : still not a bad game, but these lanes are way off from the last pair. It was like the pattern was reversed. The insides are extremely dry, and the outsides are extremely oily.

Game 4 - 152 : Didn't mark the whole game on the right lane until the 10th frame.  By this game, the right lane was at least 10 boards different the the left lane was.

The last game killed what was a pretty good night. I couldn't believe the disparity between the lanes. I know that it can happen, but for the outsides to be blocked and the insides, bone dry didn't seem right to me, or for a lot of other bowlers. There are a lot of people questioning the shot. It's just frustrating to get a shot that doesn't fit the way the pattern should play.

Tonight was the worst night that I have had in the PBA Experience League. Not because of the shot, but because of the lack of a shot. I'll explain later.

Game 1 - 164 : This game started off well. I had the first three and really was liking the shot. It was the same shot that I played last week, but I started rushing myself and just lost my focus on the task at hand. It was a mental thing, and I paid the price for it.

Game 2 - 215 : I got my focus back and started consentrating again. If it wasn't for 2 - 8 pin stingers, this game would have been a lot better. Still I was happy that I came back, and was still thinking that I could have a good night.

switched lanes

Game 3 - 131 : OUCH!!! I must be in another house, because there is no oil at all. This pair was dryer than the Cheetah. I went from a makable shot to bowling in the parking lot. Unbelievable! There were a lot of complaints throughout the league about the disparity between the lanes. I went from the Viper to the Sahara. Bowling on sand is not fun.

Game 4 - 166: I just resigned myself to the fact that there was no way I was going to score on this pair. The thing that makes it worse is that I even polished my ball to cut down on the hook, and on this pair  there was at least 10 boards more hook than the first pair, and I was already against the ball return when I started.

From what I was told, the house oiled half of the lanes early in the afternoon, and the second half about an hour before bowling. They are saying that they want to leave lanes available for open bowling. The first group of lanes lanes were oiled about 4 to 5 hours before we started. Plenty of time for the oil to evaporate. It is being looked into, and the PBA is being contacted ( supposedly) to get their input into this situation. It's not right for any of the bowlers to go from freshly oiled lanes to a pair of lanes that have been sitting for 4 to 5 hours. Especially when it is hot and humid. Just frustrating.

Next week we start the Chameleon. I can't wait for oil. Hope the lanes are all oiled at the same time so they are at least similar to each other. I don't mind moving, but I'd like to think I am in the same house. Sorry for the rant.  I went  Thursday in the jr.-adult league with my daughter and shot 705. There was more oil then there was on Tuesday. Until next week.