To preface, I practiced roughly 25-30 games on varying versions of the pattern in 3 different houses in this area. I know its not the same, but I was just giving myself ideas.
Arsenal I took with me---
Virtual Gravity
Cell
Classic Zone
Flash Force X 2
As a team we tried to break down the 10 board area during practice---well some of us did. As at home, my look off that spot was too much ball if I hit 10, and not enough if I hit 9 or 8. So after 4 shots of practice, I did my typical jump left. I left a 4 pin and felt I was close.
(Note: I used the Virtual Gravity for all but the 10th frame of the 3rd game)
And I was---I shot 214 with an open in the 9th. The first half of the game I threw the ball fine. The 2nd half of the game I started cutting off my shot---left me with a 3-6-10, a 3-6-9 (which I failed to convert), and a 3-6 for 3 of my last 4 shots. Just poor execution.
Game 2 I moved a touch left trying to slow up and just free up my armswing. It took me 4 shots to slow down---but on the 4th I pitched out. As bad as it was, I was marking and even got a double in the 4th and 5th. 6th frame I threw the only shot that confused/frustrated me of the tournament. I let a shot go where I pegged my mark, I thought the release was good. I really felt everything was in line and I was going to have a triple and be on my way---4-6-7. I know what you are thinking---how do you think you pured a shot and leave a 4-6-7? I still dont know. I was baffled. Kind of took the wind out of my sails a bit. I scratched out a 192 that game but I felt it could have been more with better shots and then the 4-6-7 which I still cant figure out where it came from.
The last game I was in jail and was too dumb to get out of jail. At this point I was playing about 24 or 25 at the arrows. If I tried to trap the ball flush, it wanted to 4 pin or 3-6-10. If I leaked it a board right---it wanted to 2 pin (and friends). The last game I washed out in the 2nd and 2-4-10ed in the 6th (same lane of the 4-6-7 in game 2). That lane had me totally baffled. Ended with 174 for 580
My hindsight as to what I should have done will come later....
I came back the 2nd day for the 11:30pm S+D squad. I saw mostly people playing in the ball track area having little success---but at least they werent spraying the ball---nor were they throwing too much in the way of hook monsters/soakers or anything stupid like urethane or plastic. I felt I would have a reasonable chance to score. I was correct.
Started around 22 at the arrows to 13 or 12 with a Classic Zone. Shot 237 clean. As the first game went on into the 2nd, I noticed the same thing I did the night before. The midlane would read quick, but the backends were mushy---force it through it 2 pins, try to trap it (which I shot 2026 last year doing) and it would be a 4 pin. I end up shooting 179 the 2nd game because Im an idiot---I threw an awful shot and left a 6-7-10 in the 6th and then chopped a bucket in the 10th. I left 2 buckets that game---but also left 3 4 pins. Just couldnt get dialed in---but to be honest, I still was convinced that it was me throwing the ball less than 100%. I should really know better.
I started the last game with back to back 2 pin combinations---I believe the 2nd was a 2-8, then I said screw it...I switched to my modified Rico drilled Flash Force. My first Flash Force is a true Rico based on my track (inverted). The 2nd one, the pin is even lower. Rolls quicker but will not go 2 directions well at all. It hooks less in the backend than the Classic but technically should hook more overall. I moved a little to the right and amped the ball speed---basically, I was trying to play the push down the lane assuming I had enough power to carry. I did---I threw a 6 bagger, 2 pin, double-8 in the 10th for 255. I was able to salvage 671.
Then it was onto singles. I mentioned to one of my friends crossing with me in doubles, I felt the singles pair would be hooking more based on what I saw---boy was I right...again...
The singles pair hooked a good 8 boards more for me plus I had to switch back to the Classic Zone that gets down the lane more. I started with a 3-4-6-10 which I converted. Switched balls immediately and banked left. I doubled, 4 pin, then rung a 10 that I then flagged. I had another double later in the game and scraped together a disappointing 194. 2 opens, I shouldnt be disappointed---but if I were going to score on a shot---this is the type of shot Im geared for. Banking left, ball track hooks too much for everyone else---I should be in heaven.
Game 2 I was. Again, stayed clean, made mostly very good shots and shot 245.
Game 3 I suck again. I really felt like I should have shot at least 690 going into the last game. So of course I strike, 10 pin flag, strike, 7 pin flag (I was a little irritated at this point), strike, 4 pin spare. At this point, not only am I not shooting 690---Im on my way to a stellar 160 game and giving away money. I regrouped and made 4 great shots, 1 marginal shot, then 1 more great one---I finished with 216 to end with 655.
So all told...
Team ---214-192-174 580
Doubles-237-179-255 671
Singles-194-245-216 655
All Events 1906
Now to my hindsight. I really felt that you had to decide what look you wanted to play and own it. If you wanted to play the midlane burn, you could do that once it created---but you couldnt really loop to it. If you wanted to play the push---you could to that, but again, you couldnt swing to it. Last year I could swing to both of these areas depending on the ball in my hand and who was in front of me on the pair. This year, I really feel its more important to keep the ball going forward through the heads as much as possible---even for those with excessive hand.
Another BALLREVIEWS member, Keith Frye bowled with our group and shot an impressive 721 in singles. He was using an overseas version of the Cell I believe. He was playing the push like I did---the part of the lane that tracked out, his misses from there turned into weak 10s. He and I both commented that we didnt think it was wise to try to play the hook when they break down. Some people love to do that because they prefer seeing their ball react---I think this will get you in alot of trouble. Play the push---it looks like hell going down the lane and looks like its going to weak 10 or worse---but the pins just seemed to react better from there.
All in all, I am satisfied but not thrilled with my performance. 3 singles pins in singles is what it is---Im not a great spare shooter, but a 7 pin flag should never happen. Otherwise, in team and doubles I was to dumb and stubborn to play up the ball track and play the push that created my 2 pins. So I should have shot more---but I could have had less. To be honest I was just lucky that I threw the ball well---and consistently---to be able to pop a few big games to salvage my Nationals.
I know this is lengthy enough now and if you've read this far, I hope you appreciate the information. Any questions---feel free to ask.
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Chris Barnes is not a choker---he is just a great opponent to draw on TV.
Edited on 5/27/2009 2:25 PM
