I Should of had the front 26... 3 wicked birddogs missed. 279,268 and the front 2. Next shot I saw my OOB VG hook and stop at the pocket and I left a 7-10 split. Knowing I needed to move in deeper I ended up on top of the heavier handed players on my team and the ball jump through the nose but I made a spare. Now I know I need a differnt ball, so I pulled out my Perl Hammer OOB moved my feet and target right and struck on 1st shot. I have to go out from here to shoot 800 but the next shot leaves a ringing 10. But I go out from there until the 11th and leave a 4/9.
Ok.. I have higheries (I think I shot 780's last night) but they were mostly years ago when I was younger (I am nearing 50 now). What was so encouraging last night is that all the work I put into improving my game toward todays style (more power... rev rate and ballspeed) is starting to pay off. I seemed to keep the ball within 2 boards at 15' and 3 boards at 40'. Granted that is not what I was doing when I was in my 20's but still, this is significant for me with incorparting more power. Here is what I have been changing:
1. Lowering my backswing (to promote more of a flatter swing)
2. Keeping my wrist under the ball during the swing and at the bottom
3. Working the iniside of the ball and not the outside
3. Projecting the ball out toward my target 12 - 18" out onto the lane surface (not lofting but extending toward my target)
4. Relaxing my armswing (letting the weight of the ball do more of the swing)
5. Altering grip to promote above while relaxing hand.
6. Standing more erect in my stance and approach (for the first 2 steps)
7. Shortening my first step by placing more of my weight on my right foot (5 step approach) in my stance.
8. Developing a stronger finish position (with balance) not leaning so far forward.
All of which has led me to increasing my rev rate from ~270-300 to ~375-400 and increasing my ball speed from 18-19 off my hand to 20-21 off my hand. This in effect has increased my entry angle, reserved more power at the pins and provide more strikes on off hits (lighter shots that would typically leave me flat 10's). Bird dogs was something I watched others throw and very seldom me... if I did get one it was a rolldog. But not anymore. I am throw sharapnal all over now when I miss a little. What a great feeling.
So after tonight I am back to averaging over 220 again with the season hitting 3/4 done. I am now extending my goal to 225 but I think it is doable (8 weeks or 24 games and need to average 238.75... hhmmm maybe not realistic). Still left to incorporate into my game:
1. Altering my 4th step to power step
2. Drifting more left and being able to project the ball more right (my limit now is 25-27 and getting the ball out to 10. (I am bigger than most people and ball returns are in my way).
3. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
