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Author Topic: Humbling experience!  (Read 2138 times)

michael.willis9

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Humbling experience!
« on: January 15, 2019, 10:23:39 PM »
So I finally had a chance to bowl on something other than a house shot, and all I can say is wow that was rough.

On the base I work on, they’re doing a league where different military bases are putting together bowling teams for a sport shot league. Each house will put out the same shot for their team and we’ll submit our scores for competition amongst them.

Tonight was the tryout and it was on what they said was a competitive shot. But they said it was closer to a sport shot. And we had to go in blind for the tryout. We weren’t allowed to be given any information on what the pattern is.

They had 8 lanes set up for this. And it ended up being 1 pair for a 5 minute warmup, and two games on each of the other 3 pairs. And to make it worse, I was the only one who showed up to this days tryout, we have 4 different days.

So practice never showed me anything, I spent the time throwing the ball to get loose and I was trying to figure out a line in the process. I had an idea of my line but couldn’t quite hit it. I was using my after dark pearl because it’s my go to ball for league and from what I had gathered, outside of 5 was a flood and there seemed to be a decent amount of oil in the middle but it was a short pattern. I figured the after dark pearl would be good for controlling the back end. It was when I hit my spot but not if I missed by the slightest. I tried playing up 10 with it but I wasn’t finishing strong in the pocket, a few weird leaves.

So anyways I started off horrible, I’m a 200 on house shot average, so I go 170 to start then 130(ewwwww). Switched pairs but kept trying to square peg round hole. Went 150 then 175 but that 175, I finally made a switch and went with my dare devil trick with out of box finish. I played up 6 with less hand and finished well.

Then I switched pairs again and finished with 20something then 245.  Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, they drop your high and low game and come up with your average based on the other 4 games.

But I was humbled and ended up proud that I was able to bounce back doing different things to end up shooting a 245 game.

And luckily for me, there are 4 tryout dates, this was the first one, and we can try out multiple times. I can’t do Thursday or next Thursday due to regular league so I should be able to come in next Tuesday with a real game plan in mind. I’m going to use the practice to try a couple other things, I’m gonna try to cover some boards in the middle and maybe that will give me another look that works for me.

But tonight really showed where I’m really at and what I need to work on. I can’t wait to do it again.

 

MI 2 AZ

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2019, 01:32:53 AM »
Nice recovery with the 245.  Some bowlers get too frustrated on sport and end up getting worse each game.

You have a good attitude, embracing the challenge.  Sport does show you your weaknesses - spare game (and I mean hooking the ball not going straight at them), speed control, or accuracy.  All three of those can be covered up by the house shot.

Which branch?

Army had a TRADOC Telegraphic Bowling tournament (team) similar to what you describe. Our team finished runner-up.  I don't remember if it was a sport pattern or any other details about it, this was back in 1999.

Sport conditions will seem like the outside is flooded because the oil is out to about the 2 board with enough units so you can't really swing the ball out as much, there is no dry to help the ball recover.  If it is a shorter pattern, you have to play closer to the gutter.  Longer patterns, closer to the middle because the ball doesn't have time to hook.  I usually played up the boards or with a very small 2-3 board swing, depending on the condition, when I bowled in sport leagues.

I found that on sport I preferred more controllable balls or surfaces.  An old Lane#1 particle ball worked well for me on some of the longer patterns.  I wanted a ball that would not severely magnify my target misses on a sport pattern.

Good luck.

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BeerLeague

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2019, 06:55:15 AM »
I went thru the same thing when I was first introduced to sport patterns.  STRAIGHTER IS GREATER until the pattern develops.  A sport shot will turn into a house-like condition IF BROKEN DOWN PROPERLY.  I figured out real fast that I wasn't as good as I thought.  It made me learn to shoot all spares by throwing straight at it, and repeating shots in a must.  It also teaches you about ball motion and what the real differences are between all the equipment out there.  A house pattern can make any ball look good.

I love it now ... I would rather bowl on sport/challenge/PBA stuff than house walls anyday.  600 is still considered a good series on a sport pattern.  Hopefully you will stick with it.

The cons for me are I now struggle on house conditions.  The wet/dry makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes.  I don't have a lot of patience for it anymore and I find myself throwing in the towel after a few 10 pins, followed by the 4 pin, then the 2-10 that comes after.  It's predictable as the sun setting in the west !!
« Last Edit: January 16, 2019, 06:58:12 AM by BeerLeague »

chrisleftwich

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2019, 07:44:47 AM »
Are you bowling the Navy league?  Usually all the patterns that they are using are either US Open patterns, Nationals Patterns, or Masters Patterns from different years.. 
All Navy bowling team 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015

michael.willis9

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2019, 08:03:23 AM »
Are you bowling the Navy league?  Usually all the patterns that they are using are either US Open patterns, Nationals Patterns, or Masters Patterns from different years..

Yes that one. I’m trying out for the north island team on Coronado

Good Times Good Times

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2019, 09:31:05 AM »
I give OP kudos for getting off the China and swimming in the deep water. 
GTx2

chrisleftwich

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2019, 02:07:30 PM »
Sounds good, hopefully see you at All Navy trials in July.
All Navy bowling team 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015

Impending Doom

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2019, 03:00:05 PM »
One of the toughest things about a challenging shot is how you see the lane. On a house shot, we're taught to play the lanes left to right, but put out something harder, and you have to learn to play them front to back.

Good for you. Keep it up!

michael.willis9

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2019, 11:19:42 PM »
Took that humbling sport shot experience back to house shot league and shot 758. 267(front 9 ten pin missed), 236(front 7), 255(strike spare next 7). All with my after dark pearl. 

MI 2 AZ

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2019, 11:41:39 PM »
Congratulations.
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michael.willis9

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Re: Humbling experience!
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2019, 09:43:25 PM »
Following up with the second week of tryouts, I averaged 195 this week across 6 games. I didn’t have the big 245 game but I was consistently between 187 and 204. I got to bowl all 6 on 1 pair tonight and damn did I have transitions. Between games 4 through 6, I started with a no rules pearl(1500 grit) up 3, slowly moving left every 5 frames. For a game and a half. Switched to my dare devil trick (box surface) up 3 and after about 8 frames (last five first 3) and a few boards moving left, switched down to my after dark pearl (box finish) and went back up 3 to complete the set. Never had to deal with any transition like that before.