Well its been a busy few weeks for me and its not getting better.
PBA Experience - the US OPEN pattern we were supposed to bowl on turned out to be the USBC OPEN pattern from last year, scores were a little to high (except for mine 8).)
139,207,157,190
More PBA Experience; This last week was the final night of the 2nd half and Flat Earth was hanging around in 4th, we were short a member but we managed to squeek into the roll-off. My scores were not as good as the previous Cheetah, but not bad. I used my Spit Fire and Trauma. 181 (open 10th), 156 (3 splits) 229 (better) and 195 (never missed the pocket, but missed 2 spares). 761 series.
So we ended up bowling on the Cheetah 3 times - 1/15 - 791 (166, 215, 195, 215) // 3/18 - 840 (181, 219, 194, 246) // 4/1 - 761 (181, 156, 229, 195) - 199 average for the 3 weeks.
Lots of practice.. preparing for the PBA Doubles event in the NW @ Go Bowl. Pete Weber is scheduled to be there, I am sure that the cut will be 250+ for 12th. Some of the NW Regions greatest bowlers will be there. Chris Warren, Kevin Croucher, Ernie Schelegel, Tuholski & Rogers are all bowling.
Leagues are winding down. So more practice time unless they keep me busy in the shop. I am considering the addition of one of the NEW STORM BALL FACTORY MACHINES.
This is always been a good house for me, Desert Lanes is a 16 lane center in Hermiston Oregon.
The CWO was held there on March 2nd. The house condition was laid down.
I am crossing with Mike Postlewait of Walla Walla (Posty), Evan Nash of Kennewick, and another younger bowler. I don't remember because I was extremely focused Sunday.
Game 1 246 using Storm Sure Fire. Game 2 276 again with the Sure Fire. 122 over and leading the field after 2 games, I just wanted to not loose any more pins. Scores all around me were high and I just wanted to keep the wheels on the bus. We turned the corner and heading for the low end of the house - Lanes 3 & 4 this end played faster then the upper end and I switched to my Storm Spit Fire and managed to shoot 204. Game 4 195 ... a couple of mental mistakes - open frames cost me. Game 5 235 moved deeper with Sure Fire and then fired a 195 on lanes 1 & 2. 151 over for 6 games, I am happy with the way I bowled, not many mistakes... many good shots executed and very few opens.
Posty made a heck of a run the last game and shoots 230 something to get to 114 over but its not enough .. He gets the last check and doesnt bowl. Evan pounded the hole most of the day... I think he over-powered the pocket and never got good carry.
Finals - qualified 6th and bowled Kyle Stemhagen from Moses Lake. I tricked my self into thinking I could play outside 5 but failed to score and Kyle ran off with the match. I only shot 173 and drop towards the bottom. Next match is against Steve Young of Wenatchee. I have moved deep inside with my Special Agent and shot 223 and get the 30 bonus pins. Next match is against Kyle again.... he has my number (atleast that day) I struggle with carry and begin fishing.. I shoot 160. Last match is against Tony Trethewey of Spokane. We have a close match all the way - 3 pins seperate us. I don't carry the 2nd strike in the 10th and finish with 210. I get nipped by Steve Young and drop to 11th.
Just happy to make the finals and get more match play experience.
The gravity shift has a new blend of the R2S coverstock (I think they added and X in there), great eye catching color and a chocolate cherry scent. Reduce the size of the shape-lock weight block.
The one I got from Storm came with a low top weight and big pin (4+). I drilled it similar to my #2 Shift. Pin is slightly right of grip line and above the fingers. Key is kicked to the right 1" from grip line. This ball has given me some confidence that I can bowl. I have been bowling so bad and the new ball was the ticket to release me from a 7 week slump.
The Rapid fire looks to be a great ball as well, it will be added to my arsenal soon.
Pictures/Videos to be posted sometime soon. Please stay tuned.
Thursday, February 7, 2008, 12:36 AM PST [General]
When a person resurfaces a ball what is the proper way to do so? Compound with the grit or abralon pads/sandpaper? The T-Road Pearl was resurfaced just recently with sandpaper of grits that are not known by us and we were wondering if this is the appropriate way to go with resurfacing this particular ball.
This is the way I see it, a professional pro shop will have a Resurfacing System, have ability to find the factory finish specifications.
Proper.... well that is really a tough one to answer. There are 3 abrasives used: Sand-paper(wet-dry),scotch brite, and new abralon pads as well as specially designed wheels with a cutting edges.
A Haus Resurfacing system has diamond cutting rings (similar to what the factories use), then sand paper - in various grits, typically expressed in microns. Scotch brite pads are common (like the kind you get in a Storm maintenance kit), and the lastest abrasive that is used is Abralon (some bowling balls manufactured by Ebonite come with these pads). And of course there is a regulated water flow as well as 3 motors that turn at a moderate speed.
Cook's Sphere machine is very similar to the Haus system.
ABRASIVES: A CAB is a specially designed block with velcro hooks - CAB sand pads fits on a 5" CAB. SANDPAPER CUTS FAST. Grits are typically expressed in microns 1800-1500 grit (9 μcron) being the finest and I have seen as rough as 60 grit or 120 μcron. BE CAREFUL, I have watch labels disappear quickly.
SCOTCH BRITE: 4 varieties - Does not cut as deep or as fast as sandpaper. RED - typically for metal 300 grit GREEN - approximately 600 grit GREY - approximately 800 grit WHITE - approximately 1200 grit
ABRALON PADS/GLOVES/MITS - Newest and cuts similar to scotch brite pads. Starts @ 180 and ends at 4000.
Like Sandpaper and Scotch Brite, Polish is available in different grit. Polishes - come in various grits applied to the ball after resurfacing, Storm has a 3 step system; 200-500 grit Step 1, 400-800 Step 2, 800-1500 Step 3. A really nice finish is some water with Lambs wool pads to bring that like "NEW" finish.
Well a new year has come, I have had a couple of weeks off from league bowling and honestly I was glad for it.... Monday Pepsi Classic I have been struggling to the point of dropping the average 12 pins in 4 weeks... The first night back I was able to post a 210 plus average, but the following week I struggled again. I have decided to play them as straight as possible and will spend the next few weeks working on it. Hopefully the scores will come up. The addition of a new ball helped in tournaments but yet to pay off in the house shot league.
Our PBA Experience league started up the new season, we have expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams with a bunch of new faces, we actually follow the pattern schedule as the Tour when possible. The first night back we bowled on the Shark pattern (1/8/08) - 161, 185, 222, & 190.I used my Passion and played very very deep on the lane, just allowing the ball to fade back into the pocket. I have played the shark 2 ways this year, and hooking the ball deep on the lane has provided the best scoring for me. The following week we go from extreme to extreme and bowled on the Cheetah pattern. I have used a couple of different balls on this pattern but went back to an old Trauma with an arcing layout that allowed me lots of room. (1/15/08) Scores of 166, 215, 195, 215 - After leaving a few splits in the 1st game from hitting up on the ball rather than rolling it off my fingers, I played the same spot on the lanes just moved the target farther down the lane as they broke down. This last week we bowled on the Scorpion in lieu of the strips pattern. I used my Shift with pin under the fingers - (see photos for layout). I bowled consistent with the exception of the first game. (1/22/08)156, 182, 187, & 184. I got into trouble in every game leaving wide splits, so I am thankful that I atleast salvaged 180's. This week should be interesting as we bowl on the TOC pattern. 50' of conditioner. The last time I bowled on this pattern I scored well inside. Weber & Schafer played them that way this week. Its a tough condition and I hope I break this 1st game slump I am having ...
TOURNAMENTS - The CWO was held at Sparetime Lanes and I just missed the cut. The condition was a modified Dennys World Championship pattern... which I have bowled pretty decent on .... I started out rough with 156, followed with 3 consecutive 200's then I have that dang 170 game that cost me a bunch and missed the cut. I finished with a 220 but needed another 20 sticks to make the cut. I was pretty happy with the condition and my bowling.... I used my new Storm Shift SLT the last game and probably could have / should have used it earlier in the day. Steve Young of Wenatchee won the tournament.
The next tournament was held at Bowlaway Lanes in Walla Walla and honestly was the most fun I have had in some time. This tournament had the 5 PBA conditions + the house shot + 2 PBA championship patterns. I come out of the gate with a 245 on the Chameleon pattern using a T-Road Solid. The next game was on the house pattern - ouch this pattern played nothing like the house shot when I bowled there previously, luckily I figured out something and managed a 160. The next pair was the Cheetah.... the ball I had brought for this pattern cracked ... so I had to try to make a different ball work ... wish I had brought my Trauma along. I managed to shoot a 170 and dropped below even. The next pattern was the Viper... I only shoot a 180 but not really happy about it, some fine spare shooting cost me. The next pattern was USBC Masters pattern... I managed a little deuce and was happy to move to next pair where the Scorpion pattern was laid down. I shoot a 220 and reduced my deficit to -50. The next 2 pairs were the Shark and the US Open pattern. I shoot a couple of 180's to finish @ -99 for 8 games. I missed the cash by 17 pins and can count the a spare in each game. This was a great tournament, even though I didn't make any cash. The challenge of being able to adjust from lane to lane was grueling and required smart play and moves.
That pretty much covers January.... A CWO was scheduled for today in Ellensburg, but I didnt make the trip.... we received freezing rain on Saturday and close to 8" of snow.. thats a lot for the Mid Columbia Basin.
City Championships and another CWO happen this coming month and then the Regionals start up again. I am focused on regaining confidence in me..... and not hitting the ball on the upswing, staying slow with the feet and trusting the shot.
