Tonight was our first night of the winter league. This was one of those nights where things went well but didn't at the same time. I bowled well, but the carry just wasn't there. It may have been the new pins, but I can't blame it on that. It was a good night in the fact that I didn't have a single open frame, but I had a lot of trouble stringing strikes. It was still a good way to start.

Game 1: 208 - Clean game.  I was working on an all spare game when I finally threw a strike in the 8th frame to break it up. Threw a double - 8 in the tenth to tie the first game.                              

Game 2: 228 - Clean game. Threw a no tap in this game. Got every ball in the pocket, but just had trouble carrying strikes

Game 3: 207 - Clean game. Again, no carry. Made some adjustments at the end as the lanes really went away and was able to find a shot to finish strong.

Series: 643 - It wasn't a bad night, but if I could have carried. Anyway, I will take it. It was a good start. Once the new pins break in they will have a lot more life to them. We'll see what happens.

This is a late post for the PBA league. Been extremely busy and just haven't had time to post. Now I am getting ready to leave for vacation, so I thought I should post while I have a minute. Here is everything in a nut shell.

8/12. Games of 165, 153, 179, 182. Had a real problem with the approaches. I'm not sure what they did, but it was like I was on roller skates. It was a big problem because I had to keep pulling up on shots to keep from having my foot slide out from under me. I wasn't the only one to have this problem. Made it tough to get agressive.

8/19. Games of 166, 166, 191, 225. On the first pair of lanes, I just couldn't carry. I threw the ball well, but just kept getting stung. The tough thing was I got beat by my apponent when he had 2 shots that were dead on the headpin, and got strikes, while I got burned on a good hit. They are the breaks of the game, but I hate losing like that.

Pre-bowl for 8/26. Games of 183, 224, 139 ouch!!!!, 237. While I threw a lot of strikes in practice, I could not carry once the game started. It took me till the 6th frame of the 2nd game before I got a strike on the right lane. I was throwing the ball the same way, but they just wouldn't go. The left lane was no problem....... After changing lanes, I just couldn't make a spare. It was either chop or pick in the third game. In the 4th game I got real agressive with the shot and it paid off. The only bummer in this game was that I was going for 6 in a row, and I left a 9 pin the looked like it was sideways on the lane, but somehow managed to stay up. I got the next 2 after that, It would have given me 8in a row and a game in the 260's....Pesky 9 pin.

Anyway, that is how I ended the PBA league.. Overall average is 186...missed 187 by 4 pins. I'm ok with that, though I think it could have been better. I'll be ready for next season.

Well it's off to Myrtle Beach.....wooohooo!!!!  vacation.!! Winter leagues start when I get back . I'll be ready. Will post then. Take care all.

Tonight was the first night on the Shark pattern. This was the shot I was looking forward to. Especially after I finally figured out the Scorpion pattern last week, so I wanted to give the Shark a good effort. The night went pretty well, but I did make a few mistakes, and it kept me from having a better night, but I was still please with the outcome.

Game 1: 186 - Started with the first 3 then got a 6 split. After that it was all 9 spares, but I opened the 10th and it killed my shot at 200.

Game 2: 199 - Started with 2 open frames, then went clean fro the rest of the game. Again the opens killed a 200 game. And they were easy spares I missed.

switched lanes

Game 3: 211 - Had 2 open frames in this game as well, but was able to shoot a deuce.

Game 4: 221 - Had 1 open frame. Left a split in the 7th, and broke a string that I had going at the time. Still came back and went double - 9 to finish the game.

Averaged 204 for the night. I was very happy with that, and I won all my matches. Looking forward to next week.

Last week (7/22) on the Scorpion pattern,, I had a decent night with the exception of the 3rd game.

Game 1: 196 - two open frames

Game 2: 194 - two open frames

switched lanes

Game 3: 143 - the lanes were different from the ones we came off of. It took me 8 frames to find the adjustment.

Game 4: 220 - opened the 10th. But now I have a starting point for the last week on the Scorpion.

This week, (7/29). This was the last week on the Scorpion pattern. I started on the same line where I finished up last week.

Game 1: 222 - clean

Game 2: 231 - clean

switched lanes

Game 3: 215 - two open frames

Game 4: 224 - clean

This was a great way to finish off the pattern. Including tha final game last week, that is 5 200's in a row, with only three open frames. I wish I would have found this shot the first week of the Scorpion, but I will take what I get. Now it's on to the Shark, for the final 4 weeks of the league.

Well it was a night of ups and downs. It was the first night on the Scorpion Pattern.  As usual, I was throwing strikes in practice, but when the game started I couldn't buy a strike. As a result I threw a lousy first game. I kinda got it back in the second game, but missed a couple of easy spares. In the third and fourth games I should have shot 200 games, but again I missed a couple of easy spares and I had to settle for back to back 190 games. A decent night overall, but I was really disappointed in myself. I was looking forward to having more oil, but I just didn't bring my A game.

Game 1: 158 - Not what I was hoping for

Game 2: 175 - Better, but just  couldn't seem to hit my spare shots

switched lanes

Game 3: 196 - Had two opens. Missed a 6 pin and it cost me big.

Game 4: 194 - Had two opens in this game as well. Missed 2 really easy spares, and again it cost me. No one to blame here but myself.

On to next week. Turned 48 on Saturday. Time to kick some butt. We'll see what happens