I was bowling the PBA Western Region Vannessa Brown Homes Open at Yosemite Lanes in Modesto California this passed weekend.
We were bowling on the Viper Pattern. There were 111 entries so they would be cutting to the top 37 for cashing and to bowl semis the next morning.
The lanes played very very dry to start, I started the day using my Pin high Blue Vibe that is about two years old now. i was playing a tight line with a little bounce off the gutter to start, I went 208 , 202, 255 playing this line.. standing about 17 going about 10 to 4.
Then that line started disappearing and the grind began, 192, 177 (open tenth frame with a split and two opens in the game, not good at all) , and then i made a change in the 6th game to the Raw Hammer Psycho.
I knew that the outside line went away, so i took a huge step left and was standing about 25 now, going 20 to 9. I had zero forgiveness in this game, leaving 9 pins 10 pins and if i missed left at all it was going through the face for a 3-6-9-10.
Then we made the turn, and bowling on lanes 3 and 4. I threw my first shot really well and crushed it. Then i threw my second shot, crushed it. I realized I had more room. I took full advantage going front 8 and then getting it in a little and watching it push and leave a 2-8..... spared it up and double in the tenth and shot 276...
i was +24 going into game 7 and then was at +100 going into the final game... I knew the cut would be right around 100 based off the pace of the field and without the next squad having bowled yet... I moved to the final pair 13-14.
The same forgiveness was on this pair, and I took full advantage... I went up in the tenth with the front 9 and crushed the first shot kicking out the 9 pin late, I made a small adjustment and got it out a bit further on the 11th and it came back and mixed up the pins for a strike... so here it was front 11 for the first time on the regionals, and my nerves were high even though I have shot 300 plenty times before... this one meant more... went up and pured it off my hand and split the 8-9 for 300. Was a very cool feeling and also went from +100 to +200 to be sitting in 11th going into semis on sunday after qualifying ended on Saturday.
Then Saturday morning rolled around, and I think I used most of my focus on the 300 I had shot ... the first couple games I was grdining for 217 and 202. Then I just went on meltdown and if i missed right it was in the gutter and if i missed left it was going through the face. I tried to get out of it but I was in quick sand. I shot 140 that game and dropped out of top 16. I had a chance to bring it back with the last two games, but carry was an issue more on sunday and the pins were not falling. ended in 30th place, but still overall a fun trip and really going into the last two games of qualifying the day before, I was happy enough to have cahsed and shot 300 to do it.
So overall a great trip, and the Psycho is a definite keeper and one helluva great piece of equipment!
will be drilling another soon!
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Mason Sherman
Hammer Regional Staff
Vise Regional Staff
"Nothing Hits Like A Hammer."
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Edited on 6/30/2008 2:23 PM
