The Shark is becoming my favorite pattern. Very odd considering I've always been an outside-line, down-and-in player on a house shot.  Very rarely have I ever played 2nd arrow, much less inside of that.

While I've been very inconsistent on most of the PBA shots, including the Shark, the success I've had at times, and the confidence that I can play different lines and angles, if I execute, has been huge.  If you have the opportunity to get into a PBA Exp. league, I highly recommend it.  It's frustrating at times, but will show you your game in your face, and really make you aware of your areas that need improvement. A forgiving house shot will give you a nice score, but it's a false sense of accomplishment sometimes.

Anyway, soap box notwithstanding, I was my typical disappointing the first two games last night. I'm not sure why I have difficulty with my shotmaking, but I was missing my line often the first two games, and leaving myself hard spares.  Result?  142, 140.  Hoo boy.

Then.....like Hulk Hogan getting off the mat, I suddenly came alive, ripped off the yellow T-shirt, responded to the chants from the crowd, and proceeded to pile drive my opponent into the ball return..........

Oh wait, sorry.  No violence :)  "Just" a clean, gratifying, 224. X / X X X X / / / X/  My highest PBA game by a wide margin (My previous high was just a 187!)   A pair of crossover strikes, but definitely a quality effort.   I just wish I could be more consistent.  Third straight week of two bad games followed by  a good one to salvage a series.

I could have videotaped last week, inserted it last night, and not noticed much difference. Once again two bad games to start, with a good third game to salvage it a bit.

I've been pretty much lined up from the start after hitting this pattern last week, and it's a matter of release and consistency, and spare shooting.  Game 1 I let my speed down on a couple of spares that really hurt.  First I jumped left of a 4-pin, and then picked the 2-4-8 clean off the 5. Toss in a missed 10-pin and a split, and I had a bright shiny 136.

Game 2 saw us have to switch pairs, as one lane kept breaking down, dropping pins all over the lane constantly.  We moved to the new pair and the foul lights kept coming on. The delays were annoying and interrupted the flow.  I was pretty much locked in on the left lane, but could not figure out the right, on the new pair.  Struck all but once on the left, missed all but one on the right. 143. Super aggravated at this point.

Third game I figured out the right lane and kept the left going.  I was clean except the second frame when I tugged one, and the 10th when I washed out.  186.

I seem to get it together by the third game lately, kinda wish now it was a 4-game set LOL.

A bit late posting this ditty from Wednesday night, my 2nd run at the Viper.  It was the random selection pattern this week, so the good thing is that the regularly-scheduled Viper next week means the chance to hopefully lock it down better next time.

Considering the first time I hit the Viper, I suffered with a 432, Wednesday was an improvement, but not anything good score-wise, though I actually bowled much better than the scores indicate.

I was lined up in practice and then lost it in the game, struggling to a 140.  Just poor release and spare shooting.  The usual.  Second game I really did get it much better together.  I made every makable spare, which is saying something for me lately.  Unfortunately, I had three splits, and a few ringing 10-pins.....not a single strike in the game!  A very frustrating 145.

Last game I put together better shots, and had better results, keeping it primarily clean, for 187.  So a 472.  Nothing to write home about.  Amazingly, I had high series on my pair.

I'd like to think I have the feel for this shot and can break through 500 at least, next week.

Bright side: I think I finally have each ball fitted properly and pretty consistent.

Down side: I still am inconsistent in my shotmaking and I'm paying for it big time.

Last night's Cheetah was the first time I went into a brand new pattern without having practiced on it ever.  So at least I now have all five under my belt.

I started off very well, and found a comfortable line, though it was more inside than I thought would have worked. Standing 25 and a fairly slow roll over 10. I was in the pocket the first five shots, 3 strikes, two 10-pins, which naturally I missed! Inexplicably, I started to lose my consistency from there on out, and struggled to a 157, which ended up as my HIGH game of the night!

I did some playing around with lines, trying going straight up 5 for a while, and for some reason the ball wouldn't come up.  Huh? Isn't the Cheetah supposed to DEMAND you go outside? I had plenty of hand in the ball, and an aggressive ball, and the ball wouldn't come up.  I'm lost.

I went in between, and moved back to standing about 18, and throwing it about 12-13, and that seemed better, but it was an extremely tight line that required precise timing and speed, and I couldn't get it consistently. Threw a few strikes, but also paid dearly with a 4-9, and a couple of greek churches.

At the end of the day: 451.   Man, not what I expected on this pattern.    I'm still not convinced the pattern was laid down correctly, but I have nothing to compare it to.

More issues last night. Had the usual fingertip swelling that made throwing consistent shots nearly impossible, but hung in there most of the night, until a 100% disastrous ending that turned what could have been a good night, into a bad one.

First game out of the gate was a 162. Pretty nondescript. Came up light a few times, but I wasn't far off.  Second game I was much better, but nothing to show for it. Had a 165 due to chopping the 10-pin, and leaving the 6-pin on two 6-10's!

Third game I'm cruising right along with X / / X X in the first five. I'm thinking finally I'm gonna get that first deuce, or at least a high 180-90 game.  Then the bottom falls out.  Missed 5-pin, Missed 9-pin, Missed 4-pin, split, and last ball the ball hangs on my thumb and I pull it past another 5-pin for a whopping 153. ARGH!

Now I firmly believe 80% of my issues are shotmaking, but I've never ever ever had problems with my ball fit like I've had.  I guess it's a summer thing.  I've never bowled a summer league before. I think I would have a lot more confidence and consistency, if I felt like the ball was going to come off my hand correctly.  I don't like this, and every week I keep adjusting the feel to improve it, and by mid-set, it's off again, and I'm struggling against the shot, and the feel.

I should be averaging more than a measly 159, PBA shot or not.  Aggravating.