Two weeks of leagues have passed and there has been a mix of good and bad when looking at scores. When evaluating overall bowling, it is all good. The long loose armswing is back and I am much better staying aggressive at the line. My adjustments are getting quicker and better and best of all I don't dread going to the center for league. I haven't quite got the desire to practice back yet, but in time that will return.
For those of you who have followed my blogs, you know breaking 500 has been an accomplishment this season. I have changed my focus andbecome less concerned with scores as a measure of success. I do look at the scores as confirmation of what I am seeing as success. So two weeks ago Sunday I bowled my second week in the league. I started with a 173. Game 2 I was not converting my spares and settled for a 142. I didn't let it get to me. My spare shooting improved combined with carrying a few more strikes for a 217 and 532. A far cry from the 398 of week 1.
Monday I went to league exhausted. I taught all day and tutored until 4. I had some things to get done before leaving school causing me to get home about 5:15. I had just enough time to change and head for the center. The fatigue factor present and showed in my bowling. I was not getting through the ball well and carry was sacrificed. I ended with 125-147-172 and a 444. Positives were each game got better, probably caifine induced, and I did not lose my cool.
Wednesday I went in with no expectations. We were bowling a team with 2 of my Monday teammates. I started well 170-181, then I couldn't make the right adjustment for transition and finished with a 142. Fatigue may have played into it also as I noticed my ball speed was down somewhat.
This past week I really felt like before the knee problems. I felt good rolling the ball in all three leagues. Everything felt natural. I didn't feel like I was having to think as much about what I needed to do. Sunday my first game was low - 145. I couldn't get out of my Blue Dot cleanly when shooting spares. I gave up on it and went to using the same ball for everything. It was a good decision 191-168 and a 504.
Monday our team captain kept tellin me it was Wednesday. He was on the Wednesday team we had bowled the prior Wed. I started with a 147 and told him I did bowl like Wednesday, game 3. Spares were a problem and I was quicker to switch from the Blue Dot to using one ball only. Obviously I figured things out 206-205 and a 558. One big difference this Monday is the MLK Holiday and no work/ no fatigue.
Wednesday things continued well. I was even able to use the Blue Dot for my left side spares. We were on the dreaded 1 & 2. I started with the Whirl Wind, but it was too much over/under. A friend suggested going to a more aggressive ball. I went and grabbed the GameBreaker and finished the game with a 158. After the change I had a total of 4 opens, 3 splits and a 1-3-6-9-10 which I picked the headpin out of. I wasn't getting many strikes and shot 174-169 for the last 2 games. I did not shoot under 500 all week!
We'll see what next week brings - more improvement and fun!