Today, I'm now frustrated with the league.  I joined the PBA Exp. League and last night completed week #3. When I signed up and set my scheduel at work around so I could bowl this league, I thought it was going to be a good thing. It started out being 15 weeks. 3 weeks on each pattern. Well, now it has been cut to 12 weeks and I think that sucks! My thoughts were that this was controlled by the USBC and had rules and scheduel laws and stuff. Evidentlly it doesn't. I really thought that this was a national program...

The first two weeks were on the Cheetah. Well, I've bowled many tournaments on the Cheetah and a few here at this bowling alley, and I can say it definately was NOT the Cheetah. My previous exp with a ball that works well was not the same as this. I understand that this year's patterns are a foot longer, but the fact remains. The ball rolling down the 4-5 board, next to gutter, should at least come close to the 1-3 pocket...this was not the case. The ball never moved. Anywhere from 5 to gutter, the ball would barely make it to the 6 pin. Even the 'crankers' and high rev rollers couldn't get the ball to move outside the 5 board. On the other hand, rolling the ball down the 8-10 board, rightside, the ball would 90% of the time go 'Brooklyn'. Yeah, I'd call that the Cheetah... NOT!!!! It's so frustrating. I also understand the sport shots are challanging and you should be able to move, but, at least when most organizations tell you what the shot is, you know where to start. And having the right and left lane 5 boards of play different, I don't understand that either.

Last night, we were on the Viper. A lot better results. The ball acted the way it should and reading the lane matched the Pros advice on where and how to play the Viper. I shot well my first game. 222. Amazingly on the first frame of the 2nd game, the shot changed. It broke down a little, my guess is cause both teams were playing the same area, and I lost my line. I changed balls to a less absorbing cover and still couldn't keep it out of the crossover. I struggled on adjusting to the 'new' shot. ...  So after league, I bowled a couple of games on a different pair. Shot well the first game and on the second game, I got the same 'breakdown' reaction. Hopefully next week I can make the adjustment when needed.

Just to clarify some more, I used to work at this center as a lane mechanic and pinsetter mechanic. Sadly enough, thier lane machine needs an experienced mechanic to work on it and fix it. The head mechanic don't even understand most of it cause it's still new to him. I think that the company should just get a new machine. They can definately afford it! I mean, what good is  a machine that never runs properly over half the time? It worked good last summer, but this year, it sucks!

On May 26th, I managed another victory. It was a "king of the Hill" match. I got there late, as usuall... I bowl league on Tues. nights and afterwards, I rush out the door to the next bowling alley for the Tues. Night King of the Hill. It's about 7 miles away from where I bowl league, but I make just in time. Anyways, I showed up just as practice ended, paid my entry and put on my shoes. My first shot was ugly and went Brooklyn, but it was a strike. My second shot, I moved left, and another cross over shot but still carried. I got adjusted by the 4th frame, locked in, and fired away for a 259. Moved a pair to the right, and went sour on the 9th frame, but I finished with a 222. Made the #1 seed. Waited my turn knowing that I wouldn't go home with anything less than 2nd place prize money.   :-)

In the final match, the lanes wore worn down. That's just an excuse though. I couldn't get my ball right after moving my feet left. Then, when I managed to get it right, I had bad releases. To my advantage, my opponent seemed to be struggling too. We both finished at 163. WOW! But, thanks to some handicap it was a win for me.                 :-D