~Mrs STORM~
Revless Wonder...
My 2nd US tournament was held in Howell, New Jersey in a centre owned by Parker Bohn III. It is probably around 2.5hrs south west of where I currently reside.
The trip there however took far longer because the day before departure I was in California. I decided to not go to San Fran just so I could bowl.
Who does that?
Jen Jones does that.
Friday 12th December we departed for this event.
WASA Tournament of Champions.
I was in Cathys car again with her and Juli, this time without Diane and Louise as 3 days earlier Dianes father passed away.
All the bowling we were doing was for him.
Sheila and Helen led the way in Sheilas car.
Upon arrival to the hotel we all ended up in Sheila+Helens room keeping track of the matchplay scores from the PBA.
Good news come from this. [explained later].
We got to the bowl with about 25 minutes to spare.
This was because we went on a tour of the freakin county trying to find a Dennys or Perkins to get breakfast at.
But we were there and thats all that mattered.
Needed practise because I hadnt thrown a ball in two weeks, with the exception of the previous evening where Me+Cathy had a game at White Plains...not that I gained anything from that.
Felt good throwing the ball once I got over the approaches that were like ice skating rinks.
I found 3 board and this was the key to todays tournament.
The lanes were far harder at this WASA event than at the last one.
This shot that was layed down was similar to that of the PBAs Viper pattern.
The lane draw looked like this:
Me - Lane 23.
Juli - Lane 24.
Sheila - Lane 26.
Cathy - Lane 27.
Helen - Lane 28.
Nice.
The lane changes were to be the same as last time, with the whole pair moving two pairs right after each game.
Game 1 - 206.
Was feeling good with this game.
Missing left caused the ball to skid and not make a move to the pocket.
Missing right was occasionally alright, but missing too far right caused overreaction and roll out assuming you didnt throw it in the gutter.
Felt smooth throughout this game and made silly mistakes.
I tried really hard to make note of any transitions that were starting to take place.
Game 2 - 200.
I was now on 27+28 which were playing a little differently to where Id come from.
Again, more silly mistakes cost me.
Missing either way was the same as the previous pair, though personally I wasnt missing often.
I was dying for another ball but what was I to do?
Throw plastic?
I think not somehow.
Game 3 - 214.
31+32 are the last pair in the house.
I liked this pair.
They seemed easier than the previous two pairs of lanes Id been on.
I made possibly one mistake in this game, which was missing a 10 pin.
Shame on me.
It was during this game though that I noticed that the thumb slug in my spare ball had sunk into the ball, which changed its feel.
I can sit here and blame that on the spares I missed, but I wont.
I know that I missed spares because I rushed and/or threw a **** shot.
Game 4 - 183.
Down to 11+12 we go.
I caught the end of Helens game on this pair.
She managed buck 50 odd.
She warned me about this pair but I tried not to worry as last WASA everyone bar me had issues with 1+2.
Striking seemed impossible on this pair.
Splits seemed inevitable because they were being left by the other 3 bowlers I was with.
I did however, manage to get a turkey together in the 10th frame.
Game 5 - 258.
Onto 15+16 and I reassured myself this pair would be better.
I also told myself that a big game here would get me right into the cut.
All I remember is a small parallel move and lots of strikes.
I liked this pair.
Game 6 - 209.
Upon moving to 19+20 all I wanted was a reasonable game to keep me in the cut.
I was determined to make this cut after last months 226.1 ave and not cutting.
There was a combination of issues on the approach and lane transition that held me back from a bigger game.
My ball was dying and small moves were not helping.
Wrapped alot of corners and couldnt trip the 4s [which is something Ive personally found out about the ball I am using here - its often trips my 4 pins].
Made my spares and dealt with it.
After that game all I could do was hope that 1270 was enough to cut.
Turns out it was.
Averaged 20 pins less than last time and I cut.
What a change when the shot is harder.
There were to be 6 games of matchplay and thr format is like this:
Odds play evens until the positional round where 1st plays 2nd, 3rd plays 4th and so on and so forth.
The magic of this was that the four of us who bowled the scratch division [Me+Sheila+Helen+Juli] all cut.
We all come in being an odd number [Sheila 1, Helen 5, Me 7, Juli 9].
This meant we didnt have to play each other.
Game 1 - 160 [L].
This game was on 25+26.
The lane was ripped up, my ball had no drive and I was getting tired.
I tried to bear with it but nothing worked.
I accepted it as a bad game and moved on to my next game.
Game 2 - 175 [W].
Back onto 19+20.
It was a clase game with my opponent shooting 170.
I moved again, made more adjustments.
It just wasnt happening.
I needed another ball and thats all there is to it.
If I had the hand to move right and bounce it off 3 I would have...but as everyone knows Ive got next to nothing on the ball.
Game 3 - 215 [W].
Up to 27+28 for this game.
Opened nicely...WHAM!! 7 - 9 staring me in the face.
Helen was on the pair next door and was just as stunned as I was.
From there things went up.
This game gave me hope for the next 3 I had left.
Though I was getting more tired and losing energy fast I wasnt sure how well I was going to go for the rest of the games.
Game 4 - 170 [L].
I moved to the pair next door known as 25+26.
More damn splits.
I had no energy and my ball had no energy.
I was getting tired from trying to throw it faster so it didnt start moving too early.
Wasnt missing spares now...but was leaving ****.
Game 5 - 160 [L].
Found myself returning to 19+20 for the 3rd time today.
Its a pity I wasnt a real fan of this pair of lanes.
This time I was playing the only lefty to cut...fantastic.
Its really hard to bowl when you're feeling lethargic and cant make any more adjustments to your game.
This game, I just bowled...picked up the ball and rolled it over my target.
I was moving left every frame or changing something every frame even though I knew nothing was going to work.
Game 6 - 179 [L].
I hit up 21+22 this time, and played the person I played in Game 2 of matchplay.
There isnt a whole lot I can say about this game.
By now the oil had been ripped up, carried down and was all over the shop.
It was like bowling on lanes after social bowlers have been there all day.
Couldnt play straight up the edge because the ball started rolling at the arrows.
Couldnt play inside because the ball didnt even start rolling.
I was playing some stupid looking shot that was killing me.
My back was hurting and I could feel pain in my arm.
This was not good...I was glad to see the 10th frame.
I ended up 10th and obviously felt disappointment with the scores I had for matchplay.
Even though I did what I could I still feel as though it wasnt enough and that there was more I could/should have done.
But if you move your feet, move your target, increase/decrease speed, change hand positions and try everything you know of without changing balls what more can you do?
Sheila+Helen went 1 and 2 respectively which was good to see.
Juli might have come in at around 7th I guess.
From this event I learned alot more than what I did at the last one.
My only fear now is that I wont know how or when to make ball changes when I get home...!!
The trip there however took far longer because the day before departure I was in California. I decided to not go to San Fran just so I could bowl.
Who does that?
Jen Jones does that.
Friday 12th December we departed for this event.
WASA Tournament of Champions.
I was in Cathys car again with her and Juli, this time without Diane and Louise as 3 days earlier Dianes father passed away.
All the bowling we were doing was for him.
Sheila and Helen led the way in Sheilas car.
Upon arrival to the hotel we all ended up in Sheila+Helens room keeping track of the matchplay scores from the PBA.
Good news come from this. [explained later].
We got to the bowl with about 25 minutes to spare.
This was because we went on a tour of the freakin county trying to find a Dennys or Perkins to get breakfast at.
But we were there and thats all that mattered.
Needed practise because I hadnt thrown a ball in two weeks, with the exception of the previous evening where Me+Cathy had a game at White Plains...not that I gained anything from that.
Felt good throwing the ball once I got over the approaches that were like ice skating rinks.
I found 3 board and this was the key to todays tournament.
The lanes were far harder at this WASA event than at the last one.
This shot that was layed down was similar to that of the PBAs Viper pattern.
The lane draw looked like this:
Me - Lane 23.
Juli - Lane 24.
Sheila - Lane 26.
Cathy - Lane 27.
Helen - Lane 28.
Nice.
The lane changes were to be the same as last time, with the whole pair moving two pairs right after each game.
Game 1 - 206.
Was feeling good with this game.
Missing left caused the ball to skid and not make a move to the pocket.
Missing right was occasionally alright, but missing too far right caused overreaction and roll out assuming you didnt throw it in the gutter.
Felt smooth throughout this game and made silly mistakes.
I tried really hard to make note of any transitions that were starting to take place.
Game 2 - 200.
I was now on 27+28 which were playing a little differently to where Id come from.
Again, more silly mistakes cost me.
Missing either way was the same as the previous pair, though personally I wasnt missing often.
I was dying for another ball but what was I to do?
Throw plastic?
I think not somehow.
Game 3 - 214.
31+32 are the last pair in the house.
I liked this pair.
They seemed easier than the previous two pairs of lanes Id been on.
I made possibly one mistake in this game, which was missing a 10 pin.
Shame on me.
It was during this game though that I noticed that the thumb slug in my spare ball had sunk into the ball, which changed its feel.
I can sit here and blame that on the spares I missed, but I wont.
I know that I missed spares because I rushed and/or threw a **** shot.
Game 4 - 183.
Down to 11+12 we go.
I caught the end of Helens game on this pair.
She managed buck 50 odd.
She warned me about this pair but I tried not to worry as last WASA everyone bar me had issues with 1+2.
Striking seemed impossible on this pair.
Splits seemed inevitable because they were being left by the other 3 bowlers I was with.
I did however, manage to get a turkey together in the 10th frame.
Game 5 - 258.
Onto 15+16 and I reassured myself this pair would be better.
I also told myself that a big game here would get me right into the cut.
All I remember is a small parallel move and lots of strikes.
I liked this pair.
Game 6 - 209.
Upon moving to 19+20 all I wanted was a reasonable game to keep me in the cut.
I was determined to make this cut after last months 226.1 ave and not cutting.
There was a combination of issues on the approach and lane transition that held me back from a bigger game.
My ball was dying and small moves were not helping.
Wrapped alot of corners and couldnt trip the 4s [which is something Ive personally found out about the ball I am using here - its often trips my 4 pins].
Made my spares and dealt with it.
After that game all I could do was hope that 1270 was enough to cut.
Turns out it was.
Averaged 20 pins less than last time and I cut.
What a change when the shot is harder.
There were to be 6 games of matchplay and thr format is like this:
Odds play evens until the positional round where 1st plays 2nd, 3rd plays 4th and so on and so forth.
The magic of this was that the four of us who bowled the scratch division [Me+Sheila+Helen+Juli] all cut.
We all come in being an odd number [Sheila 1, Helen 5, Me 7, Juli 9].
This meant we didnt have to play each other.
Game 1 - 160 [L].
This game was on 25+26.
The lane was ripped up, my ball had no drive and I was getting tired.
I tried to bear with it but nothing worked.
I accepted it as a bad game and moved on to my next game.
Game 2 - 175 [W].
Back onto 19+20.
It was a clase game with my opponent shooting 170.
I moved again, made more adjustments.
It just wasnt happening.
I needed another ball and thats all there is to it.
If I had the hand to move right and bounce it off 3 I would have...but as everyone knows Ive got next to nothing on the ball.
Game 3 - 215 [W].
Up to 27+28 for this game.
Opened nicely...WHAM!! 7 - 9 staring me in the face.
Helen was on the pair next door and was just as stunned as I was.
From there things went up.
This game gave me hope for the next 3 I had left.
Though I was getting more tired and losing energy fast I wasnt sure how well I was going to go for the rest of the games.
Game 4 - 170 [L].
I moved to the pair next door known as 25+26.
More damn splits.
I had no energy and my ball had no energy.
I was getting tired from trying to throw it faster so it didnt start moving too early.
Wasnt missing spares now...but was leaving ****.
Game 5 - 160 [L].
Found myself returning to 19+20 for the 3rd time today.
Its a pity I wasnt a real fan of this pair of lanes.
This time I was playing the only lefty to cut...fantastic.
Its really hard to bowl when you're feeling lethargic and cant make any more adjustments to your game.
This game, I just bowled...picked up the ball and rolled it over my target.
I was moving left every frame or changing something every frame even though I knew nothing was going to work.
Game 6 - 179 [L].
I hit up 21+22 this time, and played the person I played in Game 2 of matchplay.
There isnt a whole lot I can say about this game.
By now the oil had been ripped up, carried down and was all over the shop.
It was like bowling on lanes after social bowlers have been there all day.
Couldnt play straight up the edge because the ball started rolling at the arrows.
Couldnt play inside because the ball didnt even start rolling.
I was playing some stupid looking shot that was killing me.
My back was hurting and I could feel pain in my arm.
This was not good...I was glad to see the 10th frame.
I ended up 10th and obviously felt disappointment with the scores I had for matchplay.
Even though I did what I could I still feel as though it wasnt enough and that there was more I could/should have done.
But if you move your feet, move your target, increase/decrease speed, change hand positions and try everything you know of without changing balls what more can you do?
Sheila+Helen went 1 and 2 respectively which was good to see.
Juli might have come in at around 7th I guess.
From this event I learned alot more than what I did at the last one.
My only fear now is that I wont know how or when to make ball changes when I get home...!!
