Well, I finished off my 3rd year at ABC nationals and I figured I should post a little bit here (no ballreviews for a few days, eek). I found the shot this year to play a little bit easier than the past 2 years I have bowled, but maybe it's just me. We bowled the team event Thursday night, S/D last night late shift.
In the team event, I had a really nice look on the lanes. I started standing at 22 hitting around 16 at the arrow and 10 at the arrows with my El Nino(layout in profile). The first game, I struck in the 1st and 2nd, then threw the 3rd frame in the face for a 3-6-10 which I converted. I then took it off the sheet for 277, my highest game at nationals. In game 2, I struggled with carry, and I let a pocket 7-10 rattle me for a bit, 202. In the 3rd game, I wasn't making the moves fast enough to stay ahead of the transition, and blew a 10 pin I shouldn't have-211. The 690 in team was by far my highest series at ABCs.
In doubles, I had a very similar look to where I finished in the team event. I was standing at 26 hitting 18ish at the arrows out to around 13 with the El Nino again. My shot held up for a little bit, but I did make the right moves in. I went 247-218-225 for another 690. My dad shot 607 with a 156 start so we shot 1297 together.
Singles was not this pretty. I started where I finished doubles, but this time it was ugly. The doubles pair was fairly dry, and when we moved we found more oil than we knew what to do with. I really struggled trying to force the shot to happen, but my ball wouldn't move. I really lost my cool for a bit and started blowing makeable spares, 135 to start. I swichted to my Rock Star and threw it on the same line as the El Nino. This ball was turning earlier than El Nino, but was still unpredictable. I'm still acting like a fool and getting rather hot headed, but I managed to pull out a 173. The last game, I went back to where I was playing with the El Nino, but I pulled out my Impulse Zone. I finally was able to get the crap out of my head and focus. I found the shot, actually executed, and scored. I pulled out the stops this game and shot 237, giving me a 545 for singles.
All-Events Total- 690+690+545= 1925. If I wouldn't have melted down like I did in singles, it could have been much better, but hindsight is 20/20.
This year was a much better year for me than the last few, but the same trend holds true. I saw more people scoring inside than out, spare shooting was HUGE. The carry was much better than I have seen before which was nice. I really am looking forward to next year down in Corpus Christi.
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Dan Chambers
Winona State University Bowling
I'm Dan and I approve this message.
