Well i'm going to try and respond to pretty much everything in this post. If somebody asked something specific and i dont reply, ask it again and i will post an answer. First let me start by saying the i really appreciate all of the comments and support that i receive on here. I'm not on these boards trying to promote myself, i am just trying to give something back to the sport in any way that i can.
Now about the average record. I've stated in numerous articles and interviews that the average record is something that i'm not proud of from the standpoint that it should never have been allowed to happen. The fact that the state of bowling has allowed itself to get this far is totally sickening. My opinion has always been that the best bowlers in the world are on the PBA Tour, and that the highest recorded average should be the Tour average leader. To me thats just common sense. Is there a guy sitting in Cheyene, Wy that is a better hitter than Barry Bonds ? ( no steroid jokes please !!! ). Is there a guy in Battle Creek, Mi that is a better golfer than Tiger Woods ? My point is that the best bowlers in the world are on the PBA Tour, not in some wednesday night mixed league in Smyrna, Ga. So with that being said, the average record and all of this 900 series nonsense should never have happened in the first place. I have many opinions on this whole "pre-bowled" 900 series nonsense, but i'm going to keep them to myself. My advice to Robert Mushtare is this: whether you accomplished what you say you did or not, you need to admit that the scoring environment is what got you this accomplishment and not your "superior" talent. For those of you that want to see the top bowlers in the world try and shoot 900 at this paricular bowling center, it would never happen. First of all why would they waste their time for something that means virtually nothing anymore. Somebody posted on here about how the majority of guys on Tour wouldnt be able to keep up on house patterns anymore, and he is 100% correct. I for one have a hard time going home and bowling on house patterns, mainly because i try to be too precise instead of playing a "spray" area. Everything that that poster said was dead on accurate. I couldnt have worded it any better.
Now back to the average record ( sorry for the ramble ). Like i said, its not something that im proud of because of the simple fact that it happened. With that being said, there are a few things that i can hang my hat on. First of all the lane surface at the time was guardian. Now if you arent familiar with guardian, its the softest and most unpredictable lane surface made. Brunswick Pro-Anvilane tests out in the 90s on the hardness test compared to sheet glass, where guardian tests out at 4 !!! Second, it was during a five man team league. Most of you already know how the lanes transition during your normal five man team leagues, right
Now pair that up with a league that alternates early to late every week. One week you bowl early, the next week you bowl late following another five man team league ( no re-oil ). My average was actually 264 on the late nights. For me those are the things that i can take from this record that i can be proud of. The 261 is just a number, its not important. What was important is being able to adapt to the environment and make it work. Too me that was the real accomplishment.
As far as how close did i get to 900, i guess i really dont know. It depends on how you look at that. Sure there were nights when i never missed the pocket and only left a handful of ring 10s and solid 9s, but if there is anybody out there that thinks that those "should have been" you are sorrily mistaken. Carry is all about matching speed up with entry angle ( and luck ). I had 830 both of the first 2 weeks, but i wouldnt consider that close to 900. The only 2 times i've been close was my 278-300-300 for 878 ( but thats not very close to me since it was over in the 4th frame of the first game ). The other was the night i started with the front 23, solid 8. Other than that, not even close. I have several 840s and 850s but like i said, i dont consider that close.
Too reply to Mike Austins post ( first of all thanks ), i dont really consider my game special in any way. Its something that ive worked very hard to develop and still do today. My game has evolved a lot since the year that i set the average record ( as a matter of fact, not much is the same ). Mike was right about my swing, i try to make my swing as loose and free as possible. That allows me to focus more on the bottom of the swing and be a little more versatile with my release. The days of having an A,B and C game are long game. Nowadays your B and C game have to be your A game whenever you're using them ( everybody confused yet
). If you are bowling WRW and you have to play straight, you better be good at it. Twice i've taken him to 7 games playing his A game. I lost both times, which tells me i'm just not good enough, YET.
The key to this topic shouldnt be which one of the accomplishments is the bigger feat, but which one is the bigger farse
Under legitimate lane conditions, the chance of averaging 261 or bowling 900 is very remote. In my opinion, neither should have ever happened.
Thanks for giving me the floor for a while. Sorry to take up half of your day reading my garbage
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Bowl up a Storm,
Jeff Carter
www.stormbowling.comwww.jeffcarterbowling.com
