Tonight's Shark was a much better experience than last week. The scores not earth-shattering, but I improved each game, and developed  a good feel for the shot towards the end.

I had a more aggressive ball than the last time I played this shot, and it definitely paid dividends. Unfortunately my shot making on my strike ball wasn't quite what it needed to be, so I had to rely on my spare-making, which was decent.  I would have liked to have a fourth game, as I feel like I was just about ready to break through as the night closed out.

I ended up going 164-167-177 for a 508.  Like I said, nothing amazing, but world's better than last week's 432 on the Viper!

Next week is the Scorpion....completely new shot to me, so we'll see what it yields.  It's supposed to be a relatively long pattern like the Shark, so hopefully I can work similarly to Shark and go from there.....if I'm way off base on how to attack the Scorpion feel free to say "Hey dude, you're wrong!" :-)

Well....I have a few valid excuses for why Week1 was not good.  Some of it, is plain and simple bad bowling. For those of you wanting to bypass the whining to follow, I'll sum it up by this: 133-144-155 for a whopping 432.

I didn't make the proper adjustment until the 3rd game and was trying to force a down and in shot with a very aggressive ball and it just wasn't happening.

Unfortunately, my only experience on Viper was last week when they didn't strip the lanes down before applying the pattern.  What I practiced on, reacted way different than what I walked into blindly last night.

Had I realized my aggressive ball was too much, I would have used my other ball: Which wasn't usable because my fingertips inserts are too tight and need to be swapped out. I had them done the week prior because they were too loose.  Of course, this was just as the pro shop guy is closing up and I felt rushed to say 'yeah that's right' and I should have made him keep tinkering.

Next week is the Shark, so I might use it for spares since it goes longer, on a long pattern.

Well.....I went into this league hoping to learn. I think I put a couple of nuggets in the ol' noggin. Hopefully that'll translate into more respectable scores from here on out.  I saw a lot of people struggling out there, so I don't feel like a complete idiot.

Almost six months after bowling my first and only 300 game, I finally got the ring late last week.

Some lost paperwork prior to the holidays and ignorance on my part on how long it takes to process it, ended up having me late to question what was taking so long......but it doesn't matter now.

The package came in the mail, and I was like a little kid opening it up, tearing apart the package like a pit bull on crack :)

Outside of actually bowling the 300, it was the most exciting bowling-related moment I've had.

Never having worn one (except for my father's ring from the 80's, which is silver)  I was surprised how good the quality is.  It's a heavy ring.  I did go for the upgrade since I figure this might be my only chance to get one.  I'd like to think I have more 300's in me, but I didn't want to look back years from now wishing I had done it, if I never get another.

This is the capper to a great year....gonna enjoy this one!

Went bowling with my wife and son today, not realizing today was a charity event for cancer sponsored by a local radio station.  They had the cosmic lights on, all sorts of people running around, announcements left and right.  Was all for a good cause, and I was just happy to chuck the ball and have some fun.

Well.....after a 200 the first game with a couple of opens, I found myself stringing strikes and had the first 10, despite all the distractions.   I wasn't that nervous because I knew nobody was paying attention to me except my wife LOL.  Still, I tugged the 11th shot, came up high and left the 4-pin, which I missed and had a 288.

Felt good to throw well.  Wish I could have saved this game for league!

Well.....as I mentioned in my earlier post, it was a career year for me, so a quick recap of the festivities....the good, the bad, and the ugly! Drum roll please......

THE GOOD

The obvious highlight for me was 11/28/07.....my first ever 300 game. Previous high to date was 266, and had never sniffed the front 8 previously, so it was a moment I'll always remember!

The above night also was my high series of 756.  I got my first ever 700 four weeks earlier, knocking out a 706.   I would get one other 700, on 2/20/08, a 713.......three 700's in one year after never having one.....not bad!  I also had a 675, so I had my four best series ever this year.

Had a 290 game (last 11 strikes), for my first-ever. Combined with my 300, and a 267 earlier in the year, I had my three best games ever, this year.

Averaged 201.96.....my best, last two years, both times was 196.  New career best there.

THE BAD

Sub 570 series in four of the final five weeks, dropping from 204 to 201.

Plummeted from a 208 average in December, and a 206 in late Feb.

Consistent pattern late in year of 3rd-game misery

THE UGLY

Without question, the 2-27-08....gulp....464 series 160-139-165.  43 pins worse than the very first week I picked up a bowling ball in league, 3 years ago.

Well....looking back, plenty more good, than bad and ugly. I feel I made good progress, but regressed disappointingly down the home stretch.  Still a positive year by far though. Gonna forget the last few weeks, and refocus this summer, and try for my new goal of averaging 205. I got the 200 I wanted coming in this year, so time to set the sights higher and go from there.