Start with the important stuff...
Bowling:
Only side event bowled was the Sport Challenge. Was tricked into playing right by the inviting look. By the time I realized it, it was too late. Fair, tough shot. Many ways to get to the hole, but not so easy to knock down all 10. Very enjoyable though---and adequate Nationals practice.
Bowled Thursday night team at 830pm. I was on 9 and 10. Racks were fine. 10 hooked in the ball track at the end of game 1, but inside of that went long no matter what. 9 was hooking more to start, but never really went crazy where I was at. I threw a few shots out in practice to see what was there. For me if I kept it going straight up front, the ball hooked early. If I pushed it, even a board, it missed the head pin. After 3 shots, I scratched that plan and went in. Not as deep as I normally am at Nationals (normally I find myself alone in at 22-25 at the arrows) but I was still inside of everyone on my pair. I was fortunate in that regard. I played 18-14. Pretty aggressive with the ball speed. I shot a clean 230+. 2 open 180+. Clean 220+. I shot 646 and my team ended up just shy of 2900. This was thanks to a big last game. Our bottom 3 went 267, 210+, then me. The 2nd game we had a 930ish score with 2 doubles as a team---2 DOUBLES!!! We just grinded out our spares. I used my relatively dull cell the entire set. I moved 1 board (Yes thats right, I said 1 board) all night. My shot just never changed. The 2nd game I had a split in the 1st and a terrible 7th frame (1-2-8, didnt cover the
. I literally moved 1 board with my feet. I carried a jersey in the 10th frame of game 2 for our only double. I carried a jersey for a triple in the 7th frame of the last game. My best carry was half pocket to light---ripped the rack. When it would get just 1 board higher, it was a weak 10. Left 7 10 pins (surprisingly made them all).
Bowled Friday night at 11:30pm for D and S.
I watched the teams in front of me for both pairs. For doubles I had guys who hooked it, starting out in between 2nd and 3rd. By the time I stopped watching, most of them (including their relative straighties) were left of 20). This should set up for me to get in my wheelhouse.
I was on 37-38. I threw 2 shots of practice with my Cell. Switched immediately to my modified Rico Drilled Flash Force---pretty shiny. I started playing 24-14 and I had a board or 2 in that would basically backup and be flush in the hole. If I missed right, it was high---like 3-6-10 high. Shot a clean 225, clean 250+. then a disappointing 190+ with 3 opens. I was clean for 25 frames, then I chopped a 6-10, left a 4-9. I doubled to come back for a chance to strike out for 700---then I rung a 10 pin and flagged it. I was upset with 3 shots from this set. A 3-6-10 early, a 6 pin in the 2nd frame of game 2 that I pulled too much, and the shot where I left the 6-10 which I fed right early. I had a great ball reaction---the pin reaction just didnt necessarily cooperate all the time. Still I shot 676, so I wasnt upset. I moved a total of 7 boards with my feet and 4 with my mark.
Singles pair was 39-40. The Singles pair I saw everyone but 1 playing right of 12. Then only one from the doubles pair playing in. So I figured the inside didnt break down much after what I experienced Thursday night as far as breakdown. I, however, did try a shot with the Flash Force (moving 5 right with my feet and 3 right with my mark from where I started doubles). I still left a washout. I switched immediately to the Cell and converted the spare. From there I grinded a clean 211 playing a line similar to that of my team event, only with a little more room right. At the end of the 211, the 2 guys playing in and myself and burnt a hole in the 12-15 range. The ball wouldnt layoff any more and if I projected it around that spot, it was a 2 pin. To start game 2 I moved 3 left with my feet and stayed soft with my speed (the move I saw work for more than just me---just because the track opens, doesnt mean you can send it to the track and expect wild recovery). I got it rolling from there. I shot 230+ with a missed 10 pin in frame 2. Then a 259---front 7, 4 pin, strike, 7 pin, strike on the fill. 704 in singles. Moved a total of 6 and 4 with my feet and target respectively.
A few random thoughts...
Lane 40 sets up a huge 1-3 pocket about every 3 or 4 shots---at least.
Every adjustment I made worked---I was fortunate in this regard. I had a teammate who made a move right at the wrong time and proceeded to go high 4 straight shots, even when trying to adjust back and more. This is how a clean 190-200 turns into a 140 or 150.
I saw too many fluffers trying to play 10 board as always.
I would have been dead without my Cell. The 2 sets I used it, nothing else I have would have hooked or hit where I was playing.
I had never shot over 1900 before this year---only shooting over 1800 once despite averaging 194 for 8 years (that happens when youve shot 1799 twice with an 1882 mixed in). So of course this year I shot 2026.
I had 6 opens for the event. 2 missed 10s, a chopped 6-10, the 1-2-8 I didnt convert, a 4-9 and a 6-7-10. Previous years Ive missed the 3-6-10 or any spare involving the 3 pin and another pin standing as many as 7 times---this year I may have left 4 or 5 different multipin variations with the 3 pin and made them all.
I did hook at all my left hand spares. There will be those that say you cant---you cant without hand (in my opinion). I trusted that my ball would hook cross lane and it did.
I brought 5 balls with me to NM. Cell, Flash Force, Classic Zone, Impulse Zone, and Clash (spare ball and extreme dry lane option---thumbin for spares). I ruled out the Impulse after bowling the Sport Challenge and seeing how it would roll on a more challenging pattern. It never came in the building again. My Classic Zone never made it out of my bag. My Flash Force was a bit of a hunch---I just know it makes a pronounced early move with the controlled backend from the Rico drilling. That ball and drilling was just what the doctor ordered.
I didnt think the shot was as tight as some have suggested. I didnt think it was easy obviously, but you just need enough ball to play it. If you are going with what you used last year because it worked, you probably wont have enough ball for early on in teams---then youll be fighting it the whole series.
I loved this scenario. Our 4 teams on 2 pairs next to each other both have scoring issues which the lane monitor butchers royally. It takes 15 minutes for each. Then we are warned for slow bowling that we only have X time left in our squad. So then before our singles match the team from Illinois that moved in the top 5 has shot 1100 and 1000 or something like that and are a full 5 FRAMES BEHIND EVERYONE. Its not because they arent striking. WHAT A JOKE. They didnt get warned because they were scoring. They were discussing every shot (which is fine). Giving each other 2 and 3 lane courtesy in their group. They bowled 5 frames into my doubles match. I feel bad for those following them---and yet their shift wasnt cut short. The timed set is a joke if it is going to be implemented on a case by case basis---who cares about them because they are struggling? Oh but if you are successful, take as much time as you need to make the top 5. AN ABSOLUTE COMPLETE JOKE. Probably upset me more than anything Ive ever seen at Nationals. I told my team on Thursday night to not think about the lane monitors and tourney officials and just take care of what we could---and we did. But to watch that the next night was embarrassing.
Food---it was all good, everywhere we went---name the place in town, we ate there and it was good. Maloneys service was slow---but the drinks will pollute you. Try the Queso dip N chips. The cheese sauce is bangin.
I stayed at the Hyatt---saw some complaints about this place. I had no issues with the Hyatt. In fact, I feel glad I was there. Had a scary experience involving my friends and my girlfriends missing at 215am on Thursday night. While they turned up fine, the Hyatt phone staff and employee who came to the door were both able to communicate properly in the situation, but they responded extremely promptly. I was very grateful.
I drive out every year, so no airline issues to report.
Any questions, feel free to ask. Some of this may be very jumbled---that happens when my brain is still going a mile a minute about the whole situation. I still cant believe Im in the top 100 in all events and the top 200 in singles. Its quite a high. I know of at least 1 person who went with my group who frequents the site. Maybe he can give his thoughts on what we saw together---just to either back me up or discount what I saw.
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Only Losers Feel Pressure
www.thetimekillers.comEdited on 5/19/2008 7:56 AM
