I'm happy to say...this week went far far far better than last week. The number of opens went down, and I don't have official numbers, but my scores are proof that my spare % increased. I went from a 690 series for 4 games last week, a 172.5 average, to a 762 for this week...190.5 average.

In game 1 I was outside again...the lanes were a little bit wetter than last week so I had to change my line to straight up 9. I started game 1 the exact opposite of last week: 2 strikes instead of 2 opens. Then I sent one wide and left a 2-8-10...awesome. I covered a single pin spare the next frame, but then missed one after that....then left another 2-8-10, missed a multi pin spare, and missed another single pin spare....4 opens in a row...though in the 8th frame, I made a significant move would prove to help me for the rest of the night. I moved deep inside and started playing between 4th and 5th with my Ego. I closed out the 1st game with a strike in the 9th, and XX9 in the 10th for a 163.

Game 2 started off with a spare, but then I swung one wide for yet another 2-8-10. I threw 4 in a row after that, but then opened in the 8th and 9th frame. Ended up with a 189.

Last week, switching pairs after changing sets is when I started falling apart...but this time, I kept my composure and didn't start making a bunch of mistakes. Game 3 was a 212 with 1 open, Game 4 was a 198 with 1 open. I made an amazing 5 spares in a row at one point in game 4...yes, I know...AMAZING.

Today I left knowing that I have a few options when I play on that pattern, but playing inside seemed to leave me a little bit more area....and it really helped that I was the only person playing that line on my pair in both sets. I haven't calculated my stats for this week yet, but I will post them as soon as I do.

Spares, spares, spares. Why can't I make them? Without the 12 open frames I had today, I would have averaged a lot better. I was 80% on single pin spares...I missed one 10 pin and missed an easy 4 pin as well. Every split I left today was a direct cause of missing right and leaving a 2-10 or 2-4-10 so none of it was bad luck, just my own mistakes.

Today was the Scorpion Pattern. I shot a 690 through 4 games...a 172.5 average...a very humbling experience indeed, since I carried 211 on my Thursday night house league. I attribute tonight's series to my own lack of accuracy and lack of consistent execution. I was able to find a line relatively early in the day...I was able to throw my Ice from 12 out to 7 and bring it back in to the pocket.

I started Game 1 trying to play farther outside...around first arrow, but I came out with two opens, both multi-pin spares...both left as a result of pulling the ball horribly inside of my target. I did the same in the third frame, and barely even covered that spare. Finally in the 4th frame I moved to the 12 to 7 line and I stayed there for the remainder of game 1...I was only able to pull a 162 out of it. Second game though, I came out with 2 strikes...then I sent one wide and left a 2-10. After that, I caught fire and finished out the game with only strikes and 9 spares. 225 on the Scorpion pattern...not bad at all for my second game ever on it.

Then we switched Lanes for the second set and that's when I got stung. The second pair hooked a little bit less than the first, not to mention that I wasn't hitting my mark anyway. I wasn't as loose as I was in game 2 and I just started sending everything wide of target...I ended up with 153...ouch. Game 4 started like it would be better...but then the same began happening. I made a ball switch to my Columbia Ego...I had a decent line with it, but I kept pulling this one inside of target instead of sending it wide. I threw a few decent balls with the Ego, but it was just too late to salvage the game, not to mention I closed the game with 2 opens for a 150.

My thoughts so far....bowling on these conditions, EVERYTHING becomes more important. Axis Tilt, amount of revolutions, targeting consistently, SPARES...my room for error goes from 5 boards to about 1 board at the arrows, so I'm going to leave a lot to shoot at...my spare % has to improve majorly. 80% of single pin spares needs to rise...but it's already a lot better than the atrocious multi-pin spare conversion % I had tonight.

What I noticed in particular about bowling tonight was that I only had to adjust a few boards overall...but the better shots I threw were before the lanes broke down more. Breakdown is supposed to be better on the PBA shots, since generally breakdown helps with area on them, but my best bowling was when I found my zone during the second game. I was loose, and began to relax once I was able to throw a few strikes, and that made it easier to keep doing it. I think the short break between sets really threw me off and I tensed up again, which contributed to the decline during the second set.

More to come next week as I challenge the Scorpion again. Next week I'll be a bit better prepared ^^;