Bowling a 297: Good or Bad?

Last week during bowling league, I struggled through my first game. I could not carry when I threw it good, and I was not throwing it good very often. I finished with a 172, wondering if this was just going to be another night getting me closer to playing golf once a week. Then, all of a sudden it came together. I threw the first two strikes and joked with my doubles partner for that match that we should shoot 600. Well the next thing I know, we both had the first 6! He missed in the 7th frame, but I continued on, the closer I got the more nervous I felt. I have not shot a 300 in serveral years, and by the time I reached the 12th ball, that bolwing ball felt very heavy. I stepped up to the approach, and my mind was clear, until I realized a sdistinct noise....silence. The entire bowling center got quiet, not one other person on the approach bowling, and not one person making a sound. All you could hear was the sound my footsteps made as I stepped closer to the foul line. Then, with my mind filled with doubt, I pulled it so bad, I missed the headpin altogether, leaving the 1-3-6 there laughing at my face, as well as some of the other league bowlers. A 297, which is the third highest game you can bowl and still be disappointed. However, most people will tell you a 297 is a great game. Of course it is, but how would you feel if you were a pitcher on the 27th batter in a perfect game and he bunted and reached on first with a single. Feel free to leave comments. My opinion is that it was a little bit of a dissappointment, but it sure has gotten me excited about tonight!

P. S. - The ball I threw was my Hammer Razyr.

Strengthen Your Bowling Mental Game

I am sure everyone out there has heard cliche comments in all aspects of life, not just sports. But there is a reason this is heard so often, and that is because it is a universal truth. If you want to succeed at anything in life, you must have a good head on your shoulders. Bowling is no exception to this rule. However, how do you keep a strong head game when you are struggling? This question may not be easy to answer, but here are a few tips.

One of the biggest mistakes I see other bowlers make (myself included) is that they do not have a good game plan. Your head needs to be clear of clutter and if you are overthinking every shot, that does not leave much room for confidence and concentration. There will be times when the lanes will transition and you will have to think about your adjustments, but if you are changing balls, lines, etc every shot, most likely you will lose concentration and will not execute as well. Try and put together a good game plan of how you want to play the lanes during practice so you can reserve all that precious brain power on the fundamentals and throwing a good shot.

Another way to keep your head on straight is to smile. I know it is easy to get fired up over that ringing 10 pin, or especially that solid 8 that you just left, but it only makes matters worse to throw your spare as hard as you can and miss it. Remember, no one on the planet averages 300. You are not going to strike everytime you hit the pocket. Just pick up your spare, and make your minor adjustments to get your bowling ball to carry.

The final way is to try and have fun. Many of us out there take bowling very seriously, some may even bowl for a living. But most of us just enjoy the sport. I have always found that my best games and best series have come when I was in a great mood and talking and interacting with other bowlers. If you walk into the bowling alley with any doubt f whether or not you want to be there, chances are you may not bowl as well as you could. Head in there with a smile on your face and confidence on your mind, and if you bowl bad, there is always next week.

Extra Action During Bowling League

One of my favorite nights of the week is bowling night. And sometimes when I am feeling positive, I try and turn my night into a little profit. In many of the leagues that I bowl in, some volunteers run sidepots or card games to give you a shot at making a few bucks. For those of you who know how these work, skip to the following paragraph.

Card games are typically cost a dollar per game, and everytime you throw a strike, you get to pull a card. At the end of each game, whoever has the highest poker hand wins the pot. Sidepots are a one on one match play competition. They usually cost around 5 bucks, and you get lined up in a bracket. If you win against your opponent, you move on. If you finish in first or second, you can make some money. Also, you can run a high game pot where the highest score in each game wins the money.

The above games are very common, but I have spent the last few days thinking of more creative ways of running these small cash events. Here are some of the ideas I have had.

1. One idea I had could be played by 5 players. One impartial person will shuffle the cards, and deal out 10 cards to each player. The two remaining cards will not be played and remain face down, along with the 10 cards you as a bowler will have. Whenever you do not throw a strike, you must give up one of your cards without knowing what you are giving up. At the end of the competition, whoever has the best poker hand wins.

2. My second idea has nothing to do with cards, but more with making something out of a difficult situation. You could run a small side pot for almost anything, so why not for the most spare converions, or the most split conversions. This way if you are struggling to carry, you can still come home with a few dollars and maybe a little dignity if you are picking up your spares.

If you win a couple of the events above, you can make a decent amount of money, maybe enough to enough to cover your bowling expenses, or in my case sometimes, the bar tab.

Bowling League Is Over Early For Me This Year

This past Friday,we had some of the best weather North Carolina had to offer so I decided to get some work done around the house. I decided to burn off some old wood scraps in my fire pit so I could avoid having to haul it off at the landfill. A few of the pieces were a little too big, so I decided to bust them up with a concrete block. If you just said to yourself, "That is a bad idea" then you would be right. Moving on to my second piece of wood, andwith all the confidence in the world, I smashed the wood. In doing so, the end of the wood bowed straight up and my right thumb got caught between the wood and the concrete block resulting in what you see to your left.

Yes friends, that is two stitches and a broken thumb. I was told by the doctor the stitches would come out two weeks, but as far as the hairline fracture goes, no bowling for six weeks.

Two Finger Bowlers: Boy They Tear Up The Lanes

I have struggled thus far in my bowling league, not even able to carry a 200 average. however, last night I walked into the bowling alley feeling like I could grab a piece of pizza off of someone's plate and grab my golden Rhino and tear up the lanes! And then, I saw who I was bowling against. I saw the dreaded two finger bowler!!!

Now do not get me wrong, I can certainly appreciate those who bowl without the thumb in their bowling ball, only using their two fingers. Especially if you can throw it like Jason Belmonte, who throws with over 700 revs, and accurately.! However, most people who bowl in your standard USBC bowling leagues are not near as talented as Belmonte, and only end up tearing the lanes to peices. I found myself constantly adjusting to the breakdown of the house pattern, and everytime I found something, it would go away quickly.

Now be it that I am a professional bowler and not too bad, I should have been able to find a spot on the lanes where he was not playing and get a good consistent reaction, but I just had one of those nights were the only way I could carry was to play over top the line he was playing. If I could give some advice when bowling against a competitor of this nature, you have to find a bowling ball with the right surface that will allow you to play a part of the line they are not. For example, if they are playing deep, you have to find a way to play outside, or you will be chasing it all night. Despite my negative attitude at times, and making bad adjustments, I still shot a 599 which is not a terrible night for me, although I wish it could have been better. If my worst bowling series for the rest of the year is 599, I will certainly be happy. In any event, I had a great time and cannot wait for next week!

Fall Bowling Leagues Beginning: the USBC Needs You

Yes friends. It is that time of year again. Summer is almost over and fall bowling leagues are starting up again. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love seeing all the people I missed over the summer, the competitive atmosphere, and the fun environment that my local bowling alley provides. I love the sound of a bowling ball crashing into the pocket, even if a stone 8 pin is left standing.

Despite how exciting this is for me and many other bowlers out there, the membership numbers for the USBC is on a slow, but steady decline. Many think it is due to the current ecnomic situation we are in, but I think there may be more to this story than people trying to save a dollar. The are many changes going on in the USBC right now, and I think some people are not taking them lightly. One thing I have noticed over the years is the awards given out for accomplishments seem to get cheaper, and some awards now are not given out anymore (like the big four I picked up in league this past week). This does not bother me too much, but it is nice to have our league President call my name before bowling league and present me with an award and perhaps a few claps.

Despite all these changes, the USBC is doing a wonderful job promoting our sport and making sure it is bowled in a fair and competitive nature. We now have great programs like sport bowling leagues, allowing us to bowl on the same conditions as those on the PBA Tour.

In this economic recession we are all trying to save some money, but can we really afford turning our backs on the USBC and on our sport when they need us the most? Let's all get signed up for fall leagues, have fun, become better bowlers, support the USBC, andas an added bonus, maybe win a few dollars! I hope everyone enjoys one of my favorite times of the year! Good luck!