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Author Topic: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack  (Read 2297 times)

Spider Ball Bowler

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My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« on: June 26, 2006, 03:17:16 AM »
So yesterday was the year end tournament for the small series that I bowl in once in a while.  I decided to give it a shot, knowing the lane conditions would be a bit tougher.  I took with me the only 3 balls I own...including a Urethane Beast incase the lanes were bone dry.

While I can't confirm this for sure, but guessing by the ball reaction from everyone..they put down a flat 50' pattern gutter to gutter.  It might have been longer, it might have been shorter.

I can honestly say this was the most humbling experience for me ever.  Also being left handed was a HUGE disadvantage.  I had recently resurfaced my Raw Hammer Doom...and sadly it was the strongest ball I had...so I had to use it.

There was absolutely no room for error when the conditions were fresh..and seeing that there were basically no other lefties...I was bowling on fresh all day. I thought I found a shot in practice that would allow me to compete, but I was wrong.

I had to start with the ball down at my knees to cut down my arm swing and keep the ball slow, but at that same time I really had to hit the ball to get it to move at all.  I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and my scores would reflect that.  We bowled 5 games of qualifying where I averaged about 158...and one game of match play where I lost 149-162 after opening in the 8th 9th and 10th frames.  I wasn't the only one who struggled, but it was just straight up embarrassing.

I tried to do many things, but none of them seemed to work...I had NO CLUE.

I just wanted to say....I have realized I am nothing but a THS HACK...and I'm not fine with that.  It's time for me to step up and learn how this game works...cuz I refuse to be PUNKED out like that again.  

So where do I start?

Thanks for reading.
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American Masters Bowling Tour in Michigan! 206 and Under Handicap, 221 and under Scratch! www.americanmastersbowling.com  
Raw Hammer Doom, Lemon Lime Tropical Storm, Baby Blue Urethane Beast
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KDawg77

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2006, 12:19:50 PM »
Hi Steven.
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Oh splendid! This calls for a sexy party!
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Charles

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2006, 01:13:09 PM »
Start with the Hawgzilla in the Hammer Line or look for a strong particle elsewhere.
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Official member of the Texas Express, 2005-2006 BallReviews.com Scratch Doubles Champions!!!!!  
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Speedburner89

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2006, 05:14:49 PM »
on a shot like that you have to just aim the ball almost dead straight at the pocket and leave makable spares, the straighter the greater because you really have to cut down your margin of error.
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"if you're so special why aren't you dead?" - the Breeders
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Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2006, 10:06:47 AM »
Well they have two seperate divisions....I'm in the Scratch...yes I averaged 158 and I'm in the Scratch Division lol.
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So many Lane Conditions, So Many Balls to choose from....AHHHHH!

Sanctioned Highs:
Game-300 (11-15-97 Urethane Beast)
Series-768(255, 269, 244  Ultimate Inferno)
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Fluff E Bunnie

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2006, 10:35:10 AM »
quote:
Well they have two seperate divisions....I'm in the Scratch...yes I averaged 158 and I'm in the Scratch Division lol.


I was thinking about this the other day... Why not average 158 in the scratch division?  I was thinking...  What's the point of a handicap when you know you aren't the best anyway?
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Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III
Bohn up a Storm!!!
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UCFKnight300

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2006, 10:58:56 AM »
a stronger ball still isn't going to move much on 50 ft.  you're either going to have to point it from the gutter or play like 20 to 15 and keep it real tight.  on a longer pattern a ball with more backend might give you a little better look as long as you don't lose it in the midlane, too much surface will lose too much energy and hit flat if it gets there.
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-Larsen
http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?ms=379&mp=5548&s=2005-2006
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tima300

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2006, 11:22:51 AM »
Stephen, I bowl in the American Masters also and I was at Sunnybrook.  How I attacked the pattern was just to keep my feet slow and play a very direct line off the corner.  This worked very well for the first 4 games, I was +151.  In the fifth game, the pair I was on started to burn up in the heads so I tried to move around on the lane some to find a different look.  A stronger ball might of helped you later in the day, but on the fresh shot your key is to learn how to play very direct and keep yourself out of trouble so you have makable spares.  Keep practicing so the next time you see a shot this hard you will be ready.

Tim
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Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2006, 12:39:53 PM »
Thanks Tim....if you don't mind me asking...what's your last name..if you want send me a PM....are you in the scratch?
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So many Lane Conditions, So Many Balls to choose from....AHHHHH!

Sanctioned Highs:
Game-300 (11-15-97 Urethane Beast)
Series-768(255, 269, 244  Ultimate Inferno)
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Ragnar

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2006, 12:48:58 PM »
Others have alluded to this; oddly enough the urethane Beast might have given you your best look.  Since no one can hook the ball on a lot of oil, you might have done better by using the Beast from the corner.  While long patterns often dictate moving deeper, the Beast may well have done as well as anything else, played from the outside.
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"I do desire that we may be better strangers."  Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)
"aroyskrikn zoln dir di oygn fun kop"
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Wyrd bið ful aræd!
(Thought to be a member of something called the PMS club by some.)

Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2006, 01:00:35 PM »
Hey Rag...I did throw my Beast in practice and it didn't move an inch.  

I was standing on 12...and trying to keep it down 10, with slow slow speed and some hand.  That way if I pulled it..it would have sat, and that was the only area I could find all day.  

I tried to play completely down the middle, but I kept pushing the ball left..and leaving some ugly stuff...obviously I left ugly stuff all day anyways lol.  

I think I want to get into a sport condition league....cuz then I can go back to the days of averaging 135 lmao.
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So many Lane Conditions, So Many Balls to choose from....AHHHHH!

Sanctioned Highs:
Game-300 (11-15-97 Urethane Beast)
Series-768(255, 269, 244  Ultimate Inferno)
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Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2006, 01:04:55 PM »
quote:
I was thinking about this the other day... Why not average 158 in the scratch division?  I was thinking...  What's the point of a handicap when you know you aren't the best anyway?
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III
Bohn up a Storm!!!


Fluffie...I think you may have misinterpreted my post...or I did yours.  I am a 215-220 average bowler on a THS...which puts me in the scratch division of this series.  On this shot they laid out...I averaged a 158.  My games were 132, 194, 137, 177, 154 ....I think....followed by a 147 in match play.  I think...I threw away my score sheet as soon as they gave it back to me haha.  This is why I said I'm a THS HACK
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So many Lane Conditions, So Many Balls to choose from....AHHHHH!

Sanctioned Highs:
Game-300 (11-15-97 Urethane Beast)
Series-768(255, 269, 244  Ultimate Inferno)
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Fluff E Bunnie

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2006, 01:08:49 PM »
quote:
quote:
I was thinking about this the other day... Why not average 158 in the scratch division?  I was thinking...  What's the point of a handicap when you know you aren't the best anyway?
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III
Bohn up a Storm!!!


Fluffie...I think you may have misinterpreted my post...or I did yours.  I am a 215-220 average bowler on a THS...which puts me in the scratch division of this series.  On this shot they laid out...I averaged a 158.  My games were 132, 194, 137, 177, 154 ....I think....followed by a 147 in match play.  I think...I threw away my score sheet as soon as they gave it back to me haha.  This is why I said I'm a THS HACK
--------------------
So many Lane Conditions, So Many Balls to choose from....AHHHHH!

Sanctioned Highs:
Game-300 (11-15-97 Urethane Beast)
Series-768(255, 269, 244  Ultimate Inferno)


Yeah I was misinterpreting you.  I was pondering the point of playing in a handicap league just to have a chance to score high with a fake score.
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Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III
Bohn up a Storm!!!
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cnimsk

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2006, 01:20:25 PM »
SGC300.....just chalk it up to experience. Don't feel embarrassed. It happens to all of us. At least you had a 197 game. What did you do differently in that game? Remember...we all learn more from our failures then from our successes. Trust me...I'm an expert on failure. Of course that should make me the smartest man in the world, but somehow it doesn't. Oh well. By the way, I had a similar experience at the NM state Tournament. Heavy oil, no one else bowling my line, lots of problems getting the ball to move, lots of ugly leaves. For me...honestly, I would love nothing better than to have another crack at those lanes, same conditions. I know I will do better the next time. (Oh...anyone notice...spell check is working again.)

Chuck

Edited on 6/27/2006 1:19 PM
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Fluff E Bunnie

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Re: My name is Stephen and I am a House Hack
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2006, 01:35:50 PM »
Hehe...  You can also learn a lot from success too.  Example:

- Why am I so successful today?  What am I doing right?
- I am on the verge of bowling a great game.  Calm down and finish the rest of the game strong.

Etc.
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Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III
Bohn up a Storm!!!
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