This comes to mind as I bowled this evening in league. I practice a game beforehand only for warm up, as I know that every pair in the house plays differently. Sometimes one pair will hook more, sometimes they won't hook at all, sometimes the ball will sail back to pocket from the 1 board, sometimes you'll wash out from the 12 board...it's all relative to the pair that you bowl on, what the oil machine gives you and if the owner decided to strip the back ends. The owner is an avid candlepin bowler, and doesn't understand our needs for oil or what pattern to put out there- he just lets it go out to 16 feet, buffs to 32 and goes from lane to lane...
Anyways, I decide to take out my Vortex tonight and try to hit straight up 5 board- instantly gaining a 1-3-7. After picking up the 1-3, I moved my feet two boards left and angled my shot to cross the 6 board with 15 mph speed. I mixed strikes and single pin/ 2 pin combinations, staying clean for a 199 game. By the 3rd frame in game 2 I noticed the ball driving too hard and leaving a 6 pin, I went to the El Nino Wrath, playing the same line. Mixing up 7,8 and 9 counts with an occasional strike, I stayed clean for a 191 game. By game three I moved to my Barbed Wire and stayed with the same shot. Another clean game- 198.
I was happy.
What are some of your best/more memorable performances on grind it out shots? Would love to hear some stories.
Matt
