Well, tonight I wasnt going there expecting to shoot 500+ at all. I learned right off the bat that my normal shot wasnt gonna work tonight. I already knew that was gonna be the case but I had to try it at least. I usually stand on the 30th board from the right and play 25-8 (Typical House Shot - THS). Took out the 6-9-10. So, I moved my feet 8 boards right and took my 2nd practice shot, made the spare.

Game 1, I was learning what would work and what was pretty much out of bounds. Learning too much ball speed and its gonna skid and sail past the break point. Too slow and its gonna leave you with a nosed spare shot or 4 pin (for those RH bowlers). So in game one, I learned that the break point point is earlier and smoother. Ball speed accuracy is essential. Getting the ball past the 10 board, you can say goodbye to any chance of strike.

Game 2, I took everything I learned from game 1 and worked with it all. Shot much better, Very happy with the score.

Game 3, LOLOL. I now have to relearn how to play a carry down shot.

I shot 485 tonight. I didnt expect to even shoot 450, so 485 is great to me.
Game 1: 156
Game 2: 197
Game 3: 132

I didnt even expect to shoot a 175+ game!! Im happy and I cant wait to get some equipment to work better with sport oil Patterns.
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Mike Zadler
NE Lake County IL
Brunswick Equipment
Sanctioned Highs:
775 Series/288 Game
Sanctioned average (2004/2005)
194

Oh deffinately. Shooting that 197 game really felt good and on top of it, I had to work for it! Throwing a strike on a sport shot put a smile on my face, means I did everything right and it was quality. Joining this leauge is the best thing I could have done to improve my self esteem and overall game.
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Mike Zadler
NE Lake County IL
Brunswick Equipment
Sanctioned Highs:
775 Series/288 Game
Sanctioned average (2004/2005)
194

I had a similar thing last weekend during traveling league. They put down some nasty, crowned oil pattern, gutter to gutter. I had expected this and had brought particle stuff to battle the slick conditions, but it did not work well (Think I was nervous and also hampered by some wrist aches): 155,145 and 167, with a break between them and refreshed lanes before the last 2 games. I have never seen my Fuze Eliminator skid this much before, in my first game I had it sail 6 times beyond the pocket. Very low margin for error, for everyone around. Hell... had an average 20 pins below "normal", but I blame much on me because I did not get the release right.
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X": http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe


Edited on 1/17/2006 2:05 AM

Interesting thing I found after last Sunday's results that, from my notes, I did not play much "worse" than usual concerning spare conversions. I just never got good enough to the pocket to make a strike. I averaged 2-3 open frames per game, and given the difficult shot this was O.K. with me. But I made, through the 3 games, only 8 strikes. That's why the result was 20 pins lower than "usual", and confirms  my struggles with the 1st shot sliding beyond the pocket. Luckily, O only left 1 split in the whole session - a sign that there was much oil out there and my shots went rather straight.

I think I have to work on my mental game and cure my wrist... next start is in 12 days, new lane, new pattern.

Nevertheless, even when scoring is poor, I love to play these difficult shots, because you have to be exact and steadily work on a winning strategy covering equipment, style and line to play.

By the way: a 197 on such a shot is a great score! And the dramatic result change is also understandable because your line can break away within 3 frames. Nothing to worry about - just the proof that there is more than just a THS which works for the player
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X": http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

I have learned that on tough shots it's better to play down and in.  It's also better to not use a ton of revs.  Accuracy and ball speed is a must.  Plus if you play more direct chances are if you miss you will knock down nine and leave yourself easy spares.