I finally have a chance to tell you some thoughts/opinions about the PBA Experience.....I LOVE IT!!!
This is for a number of reasons. The first of which is that you know going in what kind of pattern you're bowling on. This allows you to know what type of shot will give the best chance to strike. Also, these patterns, as you might expect, place a premium on shot making and repeating those quality shots. Even on spares, you'd be surprised as to the concentration and execution necessary to cover those. Hard and straight really does mean hard and straight! Those who try it will learn to do something they don't normally do to score well. If you hook the ball, you'll learn to roll it straight and visa versa.
As a pilot, I'm into checklists. Therefore, I have expanded my preshot/shot checklist from seven to eleven items before I even begin my approach. I've even added a post shot checklist of about five items addressing the shot itself and what could have gone wrong, if anything. If all items were positive and there was no strike or covered spare, then it's a safe bet that the oil has moved.
My favorite patterns are the Viper and Scorpion. Needless to say, I've done the best on those. My high four game set so far is +16....that includes my high game of 248 for this league. I haven't seen the Chameleon pattern yet....stay tuned for that.
Now the job of finding the PBA Experience for the fall begins.....HELP!!!!!
This is a call primarily to the bowlers in the Baltimore/D.C. area, but anyone who knows of folk in that area is encouraged to pass this on....
I am looking for the PBA Experience this summer. I am convinced that I need to get back into a league while at the same time improve my game. Therefore, if anyone knows of a center in the Baltimore/D.C. corridor that is running the PBA Experience, then please send a PM to me with the necessary info!!
I also have learned that a well known coach will be hosting a four day clinic in the Baltimore area in the month of May. PM me if you're SERIOUS about improving your game!
Hopefully, we'll do a NABI event this month because I'm not too keen about not bowling any events in March.
For the first time in a long time, the NABI Baltimore/DC chapter had an event in the Baltimore area. I was quite excited when I saw that we were coming to one of my favorite centers....AMF Country Club Lanes on Pulaski Highway.
That sentiment quickly went away as we started. As is typical for a NABI shot, I tend to play a tighter line....straight up 13-14 with my Big Blue. But there was no breakpoint, even at slower speeds. I got some reaction (emphasis on "some") when I played a closed angle....laydown at 5-6 and hit the arrows at 9. But that was very short lived. On the one pair, 7 and 8, that actually had hook, I found myself moving in and playing an inside line...laydown at 16-17 and hit the arrows at 14-15 with some side roll. Guess what??? That was coming in light or not at all, but when a move out of 1-2 boards was made....the ball overreacted???
Needless to say, I did not make the cut. If you were a leftie, you did very very well. Only lefties made the cut after the Saturday squads. I "cried in my beer" with my buddy Big Bill Kernan....we agreed that when the shot gets like that, just take out your spare ball, stand to the right, and heave it at the five pin.
Now that my head is reattached....we're looking forward to being in VA during February.
The story of this tournament actually begins two weeks beforehand. While I was off from work on the weekend of qualifying, the semi finals and finals were on New Year's Day proper, a day I had been scheduled to work. After shaming the schedulers by noting that I had worked the majority of holidays in 2007 and I currently have no partner, they "suggested" that I schedule myself off.
I had wanted to try to qualify on the first day, Saturday. That was squelched when I was recruited to install my 10 year old son's new PlayStation 2 on a TV entertainment system that was "state of the art" before he was born. What should have been 60 minute project ended up taking half the day. Oh, well....at least Gran Turismo 4 is loads of fun!!
Thus came Sunday for qualifying. I arrive at the Crofton Bowling Center 15 minutes before the 2:00 PM start time. UGH!! It's just enough time to sign in, meet the new owner (more on that later) and shoe up!! By the time I place an order for some lunch (no time to eat before leaving....UGH UGH!!!) it's practice time.
I was using my Hammer Big Blue (pictured at my left in my profile photo) and playing a down and in shot on a tight line, straight up 13-14. My first game was a 197...a good sign, but things tried to go downhill from there. The middle of the midlane had much less oil thus everything was hooking too soon. Playing out (lay down at 6 to 8-9 at the arrows) with my shiny Big Block Diesel seemed to help but the damage had been done...I finished with a 609. However, since I was the high scratch bowler who did not make the cut (which was a 628), I was given a spot in the semi finals. And my 197 game hit a high game pot. Go figure.
Now comes New Year's Day and the semi finals. I drove down to roll in the last qualifying squad as a warm up, getting into some crossover doubles and brackets to boot. Not a good idea. While my partner and I cashed in the doubles (we were the cut) the brackets were a disappointment. The conditions were spotty at best and very inconsistent. Even though the lanes were "re-oiled" for the semi finals, it helped less than anticipated. But after two games, I was only -37 on scratch. I felt that even if I bowled a 180 or better, the finals were a real possibility. Alas, I didn't strike enough when I wanted to and finished at -67 on scratch, +19 on total pins. The only "consolation" was that the cut score for the finals was +25 total pins. One open frame made the difference....
I want to send an online shout out to Teresa Neal who purchased the Baltimore/Washington chapter of NABI, possibly saving it from folding. I wish her all the luck in the world in bringing this chapter back to its glory days!!
Recently, while at a practice session, I found out that bowling for score while practicing is similar to eating candy. It tastes good but it's not good for you in the long run. While I would score above par at practice, I did nothing to correct bad habits that had crept in, primarily regarding my timing. At the same time, I would always extend the practice by "one more game" to get my score above par when I was already exhausted.
Remember, fellow keglers, that practice is exactly that....practice. Why then, do you practice like you're competing? Approach the practice with the mindset of competing and you'll find those little (read lazy) things that can creep into your execution and hurt your delivery, e.g. keeping the fingers cupped for delivering the ball with lift (probably a lost art these days). Another example is walking in time for your approach. Heel to toe actually is heard by you and allows you to adjust your walking pace to coordinate with your armswing.
I will spare you (no pun intended) the details of two messy outings at the Freestate Ten Pin Tour. Suffice it to say that I failed to heed my own advice at Fort Meade and tried to bowl without eating and without rest after a lengthy drive. The result reflected that. The only consolation was at the next stop at AMF Country Club, my wife and son came out with me. I still did not eat and we bowled after a minimal rest. Again, the result reflected that.
I will talk a little about the PBA Pro-Am at AMF Country Club that I took part in. These are always fun, but I was a little disappointed to learn that the house shot was laid out. I was under the impression that we'd have the Scorpion pattern to bowl on. Unfortunately, my squad was after work on a Saturday night. At least I stopped at a Denny's for a breakdinner (that's a breakfast for dinner) while on my way out there but when I got there. I only had time to put my shoes on and then it was practice time. You guessed it, I missed cashing.
Oh,well. At least I got the Brunswick Fury Pearl and I'll get to ask the manager who his makeup guy is after his face time on ESPN.
