Ill give Barnes this---I do believe he is a great bowler, Id be an idiot not to.
Ive always said that he makes ok shots on tv---not professional shots. His off shots are 2 pins or 4 pins that could be 4-9s. Im not saying that he is horrible. Its just how many times have you seen him guide a shot in by 3-4-5 boards and then act dumbfounded as to why it hooked? I know some of us want to believe with is wonderful physical game, that he cant make mistakes---watch the replays in the past. Too many times Ive seen him cave buckets for key strikes to win a match, then he comes back the next game---leaves a bucket, and wonders where it came from??? He just never seems to make the right move on the shows. I remember when he used to match up with Walter Ray periodically he would always seem to try to play Walters A game, even though it wasnt his A game. He would try to pipe it up 10. Walter would shoot 258 and Chris would shoot 225 with 1 BIG MISTAKE. It is what he does.
Shafer was the perfect person for Chris Barnes to draw in the semis---someone who just doesnt win. Its a confidence thing. Everyone is siting when they knew Chris would lose the match---how about when Haugen came back and said "Make him show up at least." That planted a seed in Chris' head. He is thinking at that point, "I just need to show up, just stay clean and I win". And look what happens. People say he rushed, or whatever---he missed. He made a HUGE mistake. As many times as Ive trashed him in the past, I will say this....
He has come back from what I would consider chokes, so many times. Now this is a by definition choke---if he comes back in the same way---even if its just to finish 2nd all the time like he does now, Ill be impressed. Todays loss had to be, at best, disheartening. He is a professional bowler---in the 6th frame he throws a shot through the break and leaves a 2 pin. Then in the 8th on the same lane, he gets it out and throws it soft---he leaves a 4 pin. Then in the 10th frame he throws it through the break again.
Did anyone else find it curious that he hooked at the 2 pin??? I know you all may not read this whole post---but he always goes hard and straight at spares unless its the 2-8 or 3-6-9-10. That just basically said that he had lost faith in what got him there. For most bowlers, that would be the perfect position to do what you need to do, make the spare and stick with the program.
Then he throws his fill ball---pulls it a couple boards---and would have been VERY fortunate to carry.
He just never seems to be able to make that one move. That one adjustment that will win him a tourney. I know he has won. 8 times. I know he has a ton of 2nds. I know he is an incredible talent. Still put his talent with some other guys brains and you have the best bowler EVER.
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Only Losers Feel Pressure
www.thetimekillers.com
