So Tommy got a new lane machine and last night was the first night on the new pattern. I saw a lot of people struggle with the new pattern. The length of the pattern seemed to be around 42' and the backends were clean, but not super crisp for me. I did miss a 2/8 when the ball snapped off to the left of what would normally be a routine spare, so it just may be an issue of where you are playing. I also saw a few 3 off the right or left depending upon which side you were on. The volume of oil seemed to be quite a bit more than some seemed use to as well. After bowling I stayed and tried a few things to help give input on tweaking the pattern. I was able to duplicate the hang some people were experiencing as i went 1 off the right and 3 off the right a couple of times, but it was due to being too steep on the lanes. I also tried playing up the gutter...well the best I can do that. I used my Natural (urethane) and was able to get to the pocket with ease as long as I didn't tug it. When I tugged it, it went Brooklyn.

I used my pin down Gamebreaker last night and didn't have to move until midway through the 3rd game when I started losing carry. I didn't make big enough moves and kept 9ing. To make matters worse, I missed a 10 pin in the last game as well. All in all I like the direction Tommy is going...hopefully they keep the maintenance up and we see this week in and out. I know the guy from Classic/Kegel was tweaking the pattern for next week, so hopefully those that struggled last night will see a little less hang down lane as I believe they were reducing the volume down lane on the outside boards.

Late reports, but better late than never right?

Week of Oct 15 - the pattern seemed to be playing a little harder than the week before. The hang was back, but it was down lane inside and not outside. Wound up not shooting too good the first game as muscle memory wanted me to saty where I was the week before. Shot 190 something the first game. Kept trying to find the right look the second game and bounced around all over the place and shot 218. Game 3 I decided to make a big move left and circle the ball some. This seemed to be the shot for the night as I finished with a game in the 230s.

Week of Oct 22 - got saddled with my lest favorite pair - 1 & 2. I always seem to kick the wall on 1 when shooting at right side spares. This throws me off an has me thinking about kicking the wall instead of making my spares, and I got bit by that twice if I remember correctly this night. Game one started out playing like a couple of weeks earlier, nice crisp moves to the pocket with no hang inside. Started with the front 7 before I whiffed a 10 pin on lane 1. Finished out with a 246. Game two was up and down as I was fighting to regain carry and managed to book a 189 game. Game 3 things started to pick back up and I shot a 229 to finish out with a 664 set.

After a couple weeks off...still nothing exciting to report.

197 first game with 2 opens. Missed a 2/8 and then a ten pin on lane 1. My least favorite lane in the house. Made the adjustment to steer clear of the wall and made all my other 10 pins for the night.

223 clean second game.

227 clean last game to put a cap on a 647 series.

Wound up using the Lunatic the whole night. Could have used something a tad stronger to start, so I freshened up the surface last night to see how that will work for me this weekend when I sub at Royal Z Sunday night.

Let a good set slip through the cracks last night. Started out with my Hammer Jacked and went 235, 255. Started the 3rd game 9/, 9/, 9/ with 2 tep pins and then a two pin for my efforts. I tweaked back right and moved my eyes in and struck then spared again. Made a ball change to see if things would get better and things went south after a quick double. I chopped the 3-6, left a 4-10, and then whiffed a 10 pin to end the game with a 172 - 662 series. I would love to have a mulligan for the 3rd game. All I can do is try again next week.

So I missed last week attempting to bowl in the US open...came back this week looking to score some big sets. After a couple of disappointing sets earlier this week, I had high hope for this league. Started off the first 2 games by not missing the pocket for 20 frames and had a whopping 426 to show for it. I missed a single pin in the 4th frame of game 1 and booked a 226. Game 2 i somehow managed to get a 200 out of it. I started to lose my reaction and made a horrible ball change to end the game.

After starting 4-10, greek church, I made a second ball change and went 9/, 8 in a row and 7 to end the game with a 244 game and a 670 set. I somehow got lucky and won the last game high game pot as well. Not great...not bad. Ready to give it another shot next week!