We ended the first half of our league this past Thursday. Our team ended up in 6th place out of 13. A very poor showing for our team. Only the 2nd time in our 9 years together that we have finished out of the top 5 in a half. The thing that worries me is we are actually averaging a liitle higher than we usually do in the 1st half. We always seem to bowl better in the 2nd half and it looks like that will have to be the case if we want to get in the top couple of spots. I am pretty happy with my 1st half. I am averaging 223 with a high series of only 734. The shot has been a little tougher this year and I like it when I am consistant. I do have a 300 this year and I would like this year to be my first season with 2.
I may be starting a bi-weekly scratch tournament in my home house. The bowling alley is located at 555 Winthrop Street in Taunton, Ma. It will be a 4 game qualifier with beat the field matchplay with the top 4 bowling a stepladder final. I am trying to keep the price down around $40 or so. 1 in 5 will cash. I am going to try to put out a tougher shot than we have on our leagues to try to make shot making a priority. If interested, shoot me an email at biged803@yahoo.com and I will give you some more info. I would like to start them in February.
Well, after a couple of weeks off due to an old knee injury flaring up, I am prepared to come back this Thursday. Thank God too, because there is nothing worse than sitting on the sidelines and watching your team.
The 2 weeks after my 300 were pretty boring and that is why I did not write about them. Not to mention the fact I was aggravated about the injury. The 2 weeks after I shot 665 and 681 respectively. I have been leaving ALOT of 9 counts the last 2 weeks I bowled. Hopefully this upcoming week will be better.
I will get to the reason for the title in a moment, but, Guess what?!! I had an up and down night again last night.
First game start with a strike. 2nd frame, 1st 10 pin of the night. Throw a 4 bagger and leave another 10 pin. Strike in the next 2 frames, but leave a split in the 10th and end up going 216. Scores were lower last night than usual, so I didn't feel all that bad considering I had opened. Knew I was throwing the ball well, so I really concentrated on a clean release in the 2nd game. Threw 12 great shots and got rewarded for it. My 6th 300 game!!!! At least I know I will get a piece of the high game pot at the end of the year. Probably will have to split 4 or 5 ways, but oh well, its something. Come out in the 3rd game feeling great. Throw a good shot in the 1st frame and.............pocket 7-10, lol. I knew right from there it would be a struggle. Only threw 1 triple in the game and left 4 more 10 pins, but made them all and end up shooting 207. Kind of a crappy way to end the night personally, but my teammates carried me the last game as we ended up winning the last 2 games and total.
We have our association Bowler of the Year tournament this weekend, so this was definitely a good confidence boost going into that. It is at my home house, so I definitely feel comfortable.
A consistent release has not been part of my game this year. Only bowling 3 games a week does get on my nerves sometimes. Especially next week when our association is holding its bowler of the year tournament. I guess I will have to suck it up and practice another night next week.
Last night started out very well. I had the front 6 first game, but then started flipping the ball instead of rolling it off my hand. I converted the 3 spares I left the next 3 frames and struck out in the 10th frame for a 255. The 2nd game was our normal adjustment time. Maybe someday I will remember to actually move my feet after game 1. Start the 2nd game with a split conversion and a double, so I think I am back on track. not enough adjusting costs me a couple of frames and I end up shooting a 217. Last game was good starting out with the front 9, but the 10th frame I tug a couple of boards into the oil and leave a bucket. Only get 2 out of that and end with a 262. Good series overall and except for a couple of shots early in the night I threw the ball well.
Looking forward to league and the Bowler of the Year tournament next week. The tournament is at my home house so I feel pretty comfortable going in. The format is a little weird with only 2 games of qualifying before match play, but hopefully the shots will be carrying for me.
I always like to get the tough night out of the way early in the year. Last night I rolled a 629 series. The number itself doesn't disappoint me as much as how I came to bowl the scores.
First game I came out well with a double, but missed a 10 pin in the third frame. Come back with a strike but miss another 10 pin in the 5th. Stay around the hole the rest of the game for a 183 game. Come out strong in the 2nd game and don't miss any of the 3 ten pins I left and end up with a 247. Last game carry was tough again, but I made the 1 pinners I left. Couldn't make the 7-10 I left after hitting the hole light. Throw a double after that but go through the nose in the 10th and leave the greek church minus the 7. I end up with a 199 game.
The thing that made me happier this week was how much better I adjusted to the lane condition changing. I felt like I paid more attention to the other guys on my team and stayed one step ahead of the drying lanes. Was aggravated with spare shooting, but, it happens.
Oh well, not the end of the world. Try to bounce back next week is all you can do.
