bluey

Started a new league at Dandenong last week on a Monday night running sports patterns. A few guys couldn't make it so it was called a practice night and the official start will be tonight, if last week is anything to go by a 200 ave will be tough.

Well the nice start to the season has turned to ****, 641 followed by a 581. A 170 and a couple of 2 0 ? games, didn't string anything beyond 3 and split at least once a game. Darren says l'm bowling like a screaming homo and should go back to what l was doing 3 weeks ago, l want to stick with the changes and hope that long term it pays off, time will tell.

Dunn Sheild roll off today for Boronia, made it in with a 225 ave for 8 games, 3rd behind Steve, 233 ave and Darren on a 230 ave. Andrew also made it and shot 300 in 5th game. Hope we all perform well at Forest Hill.

League on Tuesday l missed before the Open due to my dodgy back, but l sent the missus down to keep an eye on things. Wednesday was social night end of season so l didn't bowl that either.
Tuesday this week was good, 680 series using the Virtual gravity, man that thing hooks like crazy. Had to move inside to pick up some oil which is a little weird for me but good practice none the less.
Wednesday was first night back of the new season and l swapped spots with Darren so he leads off and l am now anchor. We were on lanes 1+2 and they were bloody awfull. Wasn't worth using anything that hooked early, it just rolled out and hit weak. I stuffed around a little in the first game for a 221 before switching to the Hammer Hot Sauce for a 244, 278, 743 series. Nice start to the season.

Matchplay, top 15, 3 way, 7 games. For once l started strong winning with an opening game of 234 that was only bettered by Dale's 235. I had moved in a couple of boards and drifted the 2nd Dimension out through 6-7 board which looked awesome. The next game wasn't as clean but a 203 still got me the win, l'm not sure how high l got up the ladder, but somewhere around 8th according to Darren. Well that's as good as it got, the 3rd game it all turned pear shape with 176, 175, 203, 156, (not the lowest game in that block) and a 216 to finish with some dignity, and what a surprise, like a magnet l finished 14th again. Well with cheque in hand and my ball ***** Darren carring a bag, we left at 3pm and pulled in my driveway at 11pm on the dot. Not a bad weekend but we both expect so much more of ourselves, patience is not our strong point. Thanks for driving Darren, hope your missus sorted out that bad boy you had in your pants.

Sunday morning and 6 games awaited me to try and stay in the top 15. Another slow start with a 183, and a 170, Darren was smiling cause we would get home earlier but l wanted nothing of that bowling 97 over for the next 4 and finishing in that familiar 14th.

We were both in the 3pm squad on Saturday and felt pretty good on what we had found on Friday. I started a little slow but held steady throughout the day and managed to finish +42 in 14th position after 10 games. The highlight of the day was walking in and seeing Belmo ripping the racks, we had a tip off that he would be there, glad it was true.

NSW Open, The drive up was good, l told Darren to sms me when he got up knowing that it could be anywhere from 5am onwards, the first text came through at 4.30am. I managed to get another 1/2 hr snooze before l got up and we loaded up and left just before 6.00. We arrived at the bowl around 3pm and had 4 games before heading out to my mates place near Dural for dinner.

Well missing Werribee cut freed me up for the VSS at Greensborough, made the top 10 by playing up 9-10 board with the Venom, carry was sensational by comparison to Saturday. Next stage of 4 games was just ok, wish they re-oiled but l made a few errors in the last game by going high on the head pin and leaving splits on the right lane 3 times, you'd think l'd learn after the 2nd split. With a 169 game that put me out of the stepladder top 6, pissed off to the max. Well off to NSW Open in the morning with Dagsy, 3 visits this week to the chiropractor so l'm not expecting to much, cheers, Paul.

Went to Werribee on Saturday for the Vic Cup, carried well up the high end of the house and was 80 over for 4, then moved down to the low end and left soooooo many damn 7 pins it was crazy. Tried different balls and lines but dropped to 40 over after 8 and missed cut by 3 pins, awesome. (NOT)
I did win a plastic ball though for having the highest game of the non cutters.

Managed a 704 series on Tuesday last week, lanes were dry before we finished practice so the Storm stayed in the bag and the Psycho joined it before the end of the first. The Hot sauce with polish is great up 7-8 board, just the right amount of hook.
Wednesday was the last night of the season and we had a 16 point lead, we still didn't go easy on our opponents and the missus finished with a 241 in the final game which beat us all! She likes the new 13lb Perfect Rival l bought her. I finished the season on a 227 ave but on the patterns we get in league l'm honestly not sure if that's really as good as it sounds.

When l told Mac that l was joining a league at Boronia he said that if l didn't bowl 650plus each week l would be dissapointed, he was right, although now l think more towards 680+. The last 2 weeks l have bowled 712 and 712 on Tuesday, and Wednesday 708 and 715. The new 2nd Dimension is normally only used in the first game before it gets to big, then the Hammer Psycho for a game, and finally in the last game generally the Hammer Hot Sauce gets a run. Since talking to George at the Melb Cup l have really paid attention to ball reaction and angles of entry, it has really helped. Cheers, Paul.

I was given 2 different reasons for the discrepancy of conditions, whatever the reason though, it still played very different left to right. It was great to see the trouble that Luke went to to try and sort out the machine prior to Saturday but unfortunately even with a couple of re-entries l was unable to post the numbers that seemed to be coming on the right. On a tough condition with very little room for error l was happy to ave 210, hope next year l go a little better.

Melbourne Cup, Darren and l went over to Epping for a practice on the Friday before Qualifying to check out the pattern, Darren could swing any ball off the edge while on the left side l could spare the 4-7 with any ball. At first Tonx said l don't lift it enough then he said l was rolling out? It was no mystery to me, the left side was a heap wetter and flatter than the right. Luke came and taped the lane and confirmed it, the left handers would need about 20pins handicap per game to be competitive. Hope it is a little more even on Saturday.

Well it hooks a ****load and hasn't left any corners yet but l was seriously looking at changing to something a little staighter, Brian said "no you won't" so l stuck with the Storm. Sure glad l stuck with it, moved right and kept sending it out, 9 in a row and l was back to the same feeling as the first game only this time didn't choke, 3 flush in the pocket to finish with a 300, 836 series. Thanks for the Great ball Patrick, l think l'll keep it.

Tommorrow (WED3/6) l should have my new ball, Storm second dimension, hopefully it carries well. The new ball is Great, Patrick did a moulded thumb slug for me so all l needed to do was put some tape in it, l usually have 3-4 pieces in each ball. I sent my son in to grab it as soon as it was finished cause the lanes were already on practice. I only got to bowl one shot with it before the lanes were switched to play but it looked good and struck so l thought l might as well give it a go in the first game. Well l certainly can't complain about the carry, started with the 9 in a row then choked in the 10th and left a 4-6, 266 game. Second game 8/,X,8/,XXXXXXXXX, 270 game.

The Tuesday before K&K was a 566 series and Wednesday a 642, not the form l was hoping to have. The week after, 615 Tues, 737 Wed, this week, Tues 245,257,248, 750 series. Second game of 257 was funny, after finishing the first game with a few corner pins after stringing early l started the second with another 7 pin, ball change, pocket 10 pin, ball change pocket 7 pin, ball change 7 pin, ball change X. 5 different balls and 4 corner pins and only 1 strike then another,and another etc etc, 8 in a row for a 257.

G'day everyone, well the trip to sunny (NOT) Queensland was nice, the K&K classic left me scratching my head big time. Everything sanded did nothing, and the only polished gear l took with me was not overly suited to the condition either. Literally everygame l bowled looked to be a 190-220 in the 5th-6th frame, but by games end that certainly was not the case. I felt like l bowled good shots, people told me l was bowling good shots, but the reaction was kinda weird. Some shots simply went to long and l would wash out or leave 3-7 combos. Ave of 190 was dissappointing but l have learn't more about my game and now know areas that need work.

good luck this weekend bowl well

Wednesday night has also had mixed results, after my 641 l rolled 600 on the nose, bowled 673 the night after the Tuesday 722, then with the minor release adjustment, for the first time this season l didn't bowl a 200. 552, a very disappointing night. This week l practiced Sunday, Monday, League Tuesday, (and a new ball Hammer Psycho raw) and Wednesday some better results, back to back 245 and a ball change to finish with a 236, 726 series. My ave has recovered to 223, I'm sort of happy but always feel that l can do better. K&K coming up soon, hopefully my form is on the way up again, Cheers, Paul.