Bowled a 240 tonight

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

While I average 130 - 140 each game, my record is only 160. Anyways, tonight started with two 7s in the first two frames. It was an ugly curve leaving the rightmost 3 pins, and I inched by both times in trying for the spare...

then it happened

8 freaking strikes in a row.....

im still :Q

 

[OdiN]

Cool My high game is a 266, missed a 300 game by one strike. Got a damned 7-10 split in the 3rd frame and had an open (DAMNIT) - everything else was a strike.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: OdiN
Cool My high game is a 266, missed a 300 game by one strike. Got a damned 7-10 split in the 3rd frame and had an open (DAMNIT) - everything else was a strike.

ahhh... i need to work on following through on my spares... if i have pins left on the right its really hard for me... i used to just straight bowl those, but even then it's not that good.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: OdiN
Cool My high game is a 266, missed a 300 game by one strike. Got a damned 7-10 split in the 3rd frame and had an open (DAMNIT) - everything else was a strike.

ahhh... i need to work on following through on my spares... if i have pins left on the right its really hard for me... i used to just straight bowl those, but even then it's not that good.

I'm damned good at picking up spares. I rarely have open frames. My 3 games on monday I had...I think 6 opens total. And part of that was because I had the thumb hole on my spare ball enlarged a bit to fix a problem with it sticking and I had to adjust to that.

 

[UncleWai]

*golf claps*

that is really good. My highest is only 183-_-

 

[RedArmy]

My sister bowled a 299 before...that kinda sucked.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: RedArmy
My sister bowled a 299 before...that kinda sucked.

You still usually get a ring for it if you're in a USBC league.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
While I average 130 - 140 each game, my record is only 160. Anyways, tonight started with two 7s in the first two frames. It was an ugly curve leaving the rightmost 3 pins, and I inched by both times in trying for the spare...

then it happened

8 freaking strikes in a row.....

im still :Q

shens...something about this story doesn't sound right.

 

[RedArmy]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: RedArmy
My sister bowled a 299 before...that kinda sucked.

You still usually get a ring for it if you're in a USBC league.

I don't think my sister is in that kinda league. She bowls at college now and started when she was 5 at our sort of local bowling alley. She knows possibly everything there is to know about bowling...she just hasn't perfected it yet. If I was half as good as her I would be happy, but alas, I'm pure suckage.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: RedArmy

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: RedArmy
My sister bowled a 299 before...that kinda sucked.

You still usually get a ring for it if you're in a USBC league.

I don't think my sister is in that kinda league. She bowls at college and has been since she was 5. She knows possibly everything there is to know about bowling...she just hasn't perfected it yet. If I was half as good as her I would be happy, but alas, I'm pure suckage.

USBC/ABC gives out rings for 800 Series 298/299/300 games

If she bowls in pro tournaments or something I dunno what all they do.

 

[virtuamike]

I bowled a 299 in practice. Got stupid on the last ball.

Yah USBC gives out rings. Best I've done in league is somewhere in the 250's. I average high 180's.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: virtuamike
I bowled a 299 in practice. Got stupid on the last ball.

Yah USBC gives out rings. Best I've done in league is somewhere in the 250's. I average high 180's.

Don't you hate it when you do awesome in practice but not league?

Also - I've bowled enough strikes in a row to get a 300 several times...just not all in the same game :|

 

[SearchMaster]

I'm kinda like the OP. I average probably 160 but had one game in college in the 230s. I don't bowl much though, now probably once every couple of years.

 

[SirChadwick]

Damn I'm lucky to bowl a 100-120. I used to just straight bowl and that got old so I started trying the curve... I still don't think I'm doing it just right but its cool to watch and I get some great strikes that way. I think my high is 165.

 

[Codewiz]

Ok, I am joining a bowling league. I used to straight bowl but I have been working on using a hook on the ball. I have gotten pretty good at it for a newbie. On my first game of the night, I usually average around 160. Yeah not that high but pretty good for me. I usually go downhill from there because my arm gets tired and I don't follow through. My biggest issue is picking up spares at this point.

I am looking to get my own ball. Anyone got a recommendation for someone that is just learning to spinning the ball? Fingertip holes or regular holes? I am just tired of going bowling and using a different ball everytime I bowl. What type of ball? Reactive coverstock, urethane, etc?

 

[stevent76]

Good job on the 240. I remember the first time i got a score that high. That was a great feeling. It took me 5 years after that before i got a 300.

I have 1 299 ring and 1 300 ring. The 299 ring looks better than the 300 ring to me.

 

[Jeraden]

That happened to me once. I average about a 140. Then one game I was just getting strike after strike and ended up with a 249. Next game I was back to 140s.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Ok, I am joining a bowling league. I used to straight bowl but I have been working on using a hook on the ball. I have gotten pretty good at it for a newbie. On my first game of the night, I usually average around 160. Yeah not that high but pretty good for me. I usually go downhill from there because my arm gets tired and I don't follow through. My biggest issue is picking up spares at this point.

I am looking to get my own ball. Anyone got a recommendation for someone that is just learning to spinning the ball? Fingertip holes or regular holes? I am just tired of going bowling and using a different ball everytime I bowl. What type of ball? Reactive coverstock, urethane, etc?

If you're just getting into learning to throw hook, I have a few suggestions that helped me when I was getting started (just my $0.02, others may have other suggestions):

1) Drill fingertip - it's pretty difficult to hook a ball drilled conventionally (at least at first)

2) Use a wrister - it'll help you keep your wrist from breaking and increase your revs

3) Don't buy too much ball - it's pointless at this point to go out and buy a Paradigm, Action Max, or Infinite One. It's too hard to control and if you're just learning, you need to develop consistency rather than trying to generate maximum hook.

4) Start slow - don't go out and expect to be able to crank it coast-to-coast in your first session. The basic line that many bowlers start out at is standing 20 (center dot) and throwing over board 10 (2nd arrow from right). It's a nice stroker line that will help you get the ball into the pocket on most house patterns.

5) Footwork is key - good footwork is the key to good bowling. If your approach is inconsistent, your average is going to hit a brick wall at some point. Start with a one-step approach and add steps consecutively until a consistent approach is ingrained. 4- or 5-step appproaches are both good--anything more and you're really just taking extra steps for nothing. I use a 4-step approach, but some bowlers use a 5th step to increase velocity or improve their timing.

6) Start with a plastic ball - there's a lot of debate on this, but I believe that starting with plastic is beneficial because it teaches accuracy and consistency. Plastic won't hook very much, if at all, but you can work on your ball rotation, and once you step into hooking balls, you can keep the plastic for spares (straight shots). Some suggested plastic balls:

Columbia White Dot
Ebonite Maxim
*I would advise against purchasing Brunswick Viz-a-Balls--the graphics get all scratched and faded quickly (less than 60 games)

7) Some suggested entry-level hooking balls - all of these balls are reactive resin, I believe. They're all controllable and good for learning.

Brunswick Groove
Columbia Scout Reactive
Ebonite Tornado Warning
Ebonite Tornado
Storm Tropical
Storm Hot Rod

Hope this helps.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: stevent76
Good job on the 240. I remember the first time i got a score that high. That was a great feeling. It took me 5 years after that before i got a 300.

I have 1 299 ring and 1 300 ring. The 299 ring looks better than the 300 ring to me.

Very nice :beer:

I'm still a long ways away from those milestones--I'm still trying to get my first 700 series...

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Ok, I am joining a bowling league. I used to straight bowl but I have been working on using a hook on the ball. I have gotten pretty good at it for a newbie. On my first game of the night, I usually average around 160. Yeah not that high but pretty good for me. I usually go downhill from there because my arm gets tired and I don't follow through. My biggest issue is picking up spares at this point.

I am looking to get my own ball. Anyone got a recommendation for someone that is just learning to spinning the ball? Fingertip holes or regular holes? I am just tired of going bowling and using a different ball everytime I bowl. What type of ball? Reactive coverstock, urethane, etc?

If you're just getting into learning to throw hook, I have a few suggestions that helped me when I was getting started (just my $0.02, others may have other suggestions):

1) Drill fingertip - it's pretty difficult to hook a ball drilled conventionally (at least at first)

2) Use a wrister - it'll help you keep your wrist from breaking and increase your revs

3) Don't buy too much ball - it's pointless at this point to go out and buy a Paradigm, Action Max, or Infinite One. It's too hard to control and if you're just learning, you need to develop consistency rather than trying to generate maximum hook.

4) Start slow - don't go out and expect to be able to crank it coast-to-coast in your first session. The basic line that many bowlers start out at is standing 20 (center dot) and throwing over board 10 (2nd arrow from right). It's a nice stroker line that will help you get the ball into the pocket on most house patterns.

5) Footwork is key - good footwork is the key to good bowling. If your approach is inconsistent, your average is going to hit a brick wall at some point. Start with a one-step approach and add steps consecutively until a consistent approach is ingrained. 4- or 5-step appproaches are both good--anything more and you're really just taking extra steps for nothing. I use a 4-step approach, but some bowlers use a 5th step to increase velocity or improve their timing.

6) Start with a plastic ball - there's a lot of debate on this, but I believe that starting with plastic is beneficial because it teaches accuracy and consistency. Plastic won't hook very much, if at all, but you can work on your ball rotation, and once you step into hooking balls, you can keep the plastic for spares (straight shots). Some suggested plastic balls:

Columbia White Dot
Ebonite Maxim
*I would advise against purchasing Brunswick Viz-a-Balls--the graphics get all scratched and faded quickly (less than 60 games)

7) Some suggested entry-level hooking balls - all of these balls are reactive resin, I believe. They're all controllable and good for learning.

Brunswick Groove
Columbia Scout Reactive
Ebonite Tornado Warning
Ebonite Tornado
Storm Tropical
Storm Hot Rod

Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the advice.

I am looking at this ball which I believe is one mentioned but isn't a plastic ball.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GC...45128-4980851?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

 

[BrokenVisage]

Not bad, not bad at all.. not as good as me (250), but not bad.

 

[PinmasterJay]

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Thanks for all the advice.

I am looking at this ball which I believe is one mentioned but isn't a plastic ball.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GC...45128-4980851?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

This would be a good starter ball, mild reaction, easy to control, decent price...

I would also recommend fingertip drilling, it allows more lift at release which increases revs, which in turn increases hook

 

[CellarDoor]

I think I bowled 140 once with bumpers.

I'm lucky to get over 100.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Thanks for all the advice.

I am looking at this ball which I believe is one mentioned but isn't a plastic ball.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GC...45128-4980851?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

That's a good ball, but I would strongly advise against purchasing balls on the internet for a few reasons:

1) If you buy a ball from your local pro, he'll probably be able to give you a pretty good deal on the ball, drilled with inserts--possibly even better than the online price + shipping + drilling/inserts (around $35).

2) More importantly, if you buy from your local pro and he cracks the ball during drilling (not uncommon), he'll replace the ball for free. If you bring him a ball you bought online and he cracks it during drilling, you're SOL.

3) Most importantly, every ball is different in two key aspects: pin-out and top weight. Without going into too much detail, these two characteristics vary from ball to ball within the same model line, and improper values for pin-out and top weight can keep a ball from hooking regardless of the drilling pattern. When you buy online, it is difficult to get a ball with the exact specs you want, whereas your local driller can find you the ball you want with the exact specs necessary for proper hooking. FYI: For a ball to hook properly, look for a pin-out of 3-4" and a top weight around 3 oz.

 

[virtuamike]

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: stevent76
Good job on the 240. I remember the first time i got a score that high. That was a great feeling. It took me 5 years after that before i got a 300.

I have 1 299 ring and 1 300 ring. The 299 ring looks better than the 300 ring to me.

Very nice :beer:

I'm still a long ways away from those milestones--I'm still trying to get my first 700 series...

Heh I remember my first 700. My dad bet me $5 each game and $5 for the series. The first game he bowls a 210, so I bowled a 250. He gets all mad so 2nd game he bowls a 230, and I bowled a 240. Finally he finishes with a 210 for a nice 650 series, and I punched out to bowl a 215 to win the last game and finish with a 705. Felt good to piss him off and go home with a happy wallet