Monday Roundup

Well, a little late but here it is.

This past weekend was the JBT stop down in Beaverton, OR at Sunset Lanes. I think Sunset had Pro anvilane, synthetic approaches, AMF Pins, Brunswick A-2, vector scoring and a Kegel machine.


On saturday, the pattern was route 66. Now, this pattern and i have a rough relationship. I bowled very well, going +205 or so for the 5 qualifying, missing top seed by seven pins. I had some errors, but got every pin i could. Missing top seed was a big deal because the top seed got to choose all the heads up elimination matches. So naturally, he chose me and Tristan, who was right behind me in third, to bowl each other to start. Tristan beat me last time we faced on this pattern. Well, he ran me over, shooting 530 to my 420. That score doesnt show how i bowled. I had two 7-10 in three frames in the third game to seal my fate. If those carried, i would have thrown a 7 bagger at least and wouldve put mountains of pressure on Tristan. Oh well, thats bowling.

On sunday, we contrasted with a 35ft short pattern. I played around with different balls in practice. Naturally, my first choice would have been urethane, but for some reason couldnt get mine to read the friction that well. If i moved out to the gutter with it, it would hook instantly and split. When i inched towards the middle, the ball would labor and hit light. This was shown in my first four frames of game one (split, strike, roll 2, 2-8) and with that i switched to other reactives. I eventually settled on my Aura for a strong hook-stop motion so i could stay right and be firm.

This look stayed with me the first 4 games, then knowing i was firmly out in the top five, i switched to my versa max to find a more consistent ball reaction. Threw this all the way through stepladder. I was able to move in and hook it a bit more, moving my break to right around 4-5.

My two stepladder matches were, in my opinion, the most important aspect of the weekend. Ive found myself to be kind of down about my ability to bowl and win. So, my first match i was able to coast to a win. But the second one, my opponent would not stop striking. I think just a week ago, i would have probably been in the mindset where i cant win, but i pushed myself to keep making good shots. He got a few breaks, so that didnt help me mentally (lol). But basically, it came down to the first shot in the tenth, where i need a strike and some decent count. There was no way i wasnt striking. I felt so in that "zone" that so many people talk about. I wanted to throw that shot. I knew i was going to strike. That feeling i have been missing. I was so in the "zone", i didnt even notice i threw the back 9 strikes to win by about 15.

That mentality is something that i will be working towards this summer. I know i have it in me, there were flashes of it this weekend. Even though i lost to tyler boe, i feel like i won knowing what that feeling is like and know that i still have it in me.

The other important thing that happened to me this weekend is i believe i got tired. physically. I pride myself on having high endurance, especially in bowling, but i really think that i started to lose energy, causing me to have a let down after my big win and then throw a 180 (after a 250 mind you). So time to get myself back in the gym, or at least conditioning myself (hoops, anyone?)

That was a lot longer than i thought it would be. Hopefully i can get something else up this week, if anyone is still reading.

Thanks
-Cameron