I average 230 or so in league play. What they bowl on in the PBA is much tougher; I bowl in a different league where I'm a shade under 200. That's what they bowl on...231 as a cut is very high for a pba shot.

What's the difference between what a league bowls on vs. pba? Oil patterns on the lane?

the oil patterns are more variable on PBA patterns. if you miss too far toward the gutter, your ball is going to either come in light or miss the pocket completely. you miss too far to the middle, your ball is going through the face or cross to the other side. you can miss by a board* or two on "house" patterns and be okay. On PBA patterns, sometimes you miss by a half board and you miss.

*if you look down when you're bowling, you'll notice several slender "boards", it's useful for aiming.

I don't even look at the pins when I bowl just the floor but I suck at bowling so maybe it isnt a great idea.

actually, the pins never move, so it may make sense to focus on a closer target. It's like putting- you project the roll, and aim for a spot roughly 1/2 way through the path.

SK790 wrote:the oil patterns are more variable on PBA patterns. if you miss too far toward the gutter, your ball is going to either come in light or miss the pocket completely. you miss too far to the middle, your ball is going through the face or cross to the other side. you can miss by a board* or two on "house" patterns and be okay. On PBA patterns, sometimes you miss by a half board and you miss.

*if you look down when you're bowling, you'll notice several slender "boards", it's useful for aiming.

Actually, on many house patterns these days, a bowlers can miss their target by as many as 5 boards(or even more), and still get the ball to the pocket. One of the reasons why league averages are so high today.

The difference between league bowling and professional bowling is like the difference between slow pitch softball and MLB.

Jason Belmonte won the TOC. He's out of this world.

best run since gump in '70

Had my first real shot at a 300 game last night. Perfect going into the 10th and left a 7-10 split on my first ball. Talk about a kick in the dick.

Damn, sucks. Still a good game. I had the first 8 and first 9 last night and didn't punch it out.

You'll get more chances.

Silence Sarge wrote:Had my first real shot at a 300 game last night. Perfect going into the 10th and left a 7-10 split on my first ball. Talk about a kick in the dick.

OUCH!
(Nice game though!)

Frank Fitzpatrick looks around and realizes not as many people bowl as they did 50 years ago.

Oh, and nice game, Sarge.

That article undercut itself by the end when he noted more people bowl than ever before, just not in leagues. People like bowling with their friends, not random people thrown together. This is why smart centers have instituted 'ghost' leagues so people can compete but come in any time their schedule has an open hour or two. The smart centers are still around; it's the lazy ones that weren't run properly that are gone.

Apparently, Mookie Betts had more scholarship offers for bowling(TN state champ) than for baseball.

Would instantly become my second-favorite Phillies(already my second-favorite non-Phillie)

pacino wrote:That article undercut itself by the end when he noted more people bowl than ever before, just not in leagues. People like bowling with their friends, not random people thrown together. This is why smart centers have instituted 'ghost' leagues so people can compete but come in any time their schedule has an open hour or two. The smart centers are still around; it's the lazy ones that weren't run properly that are gone.

nobody bowls out here. it's weird.

Nationals is tough this year. Complete washout for me. Worst year on record. Ugh.

pacino wrote:Nationals is tough this year. Complete washout for me. Worst year on record. Ugh.

looks like the toughest condition they've put out in years. Scores are low all around.

USBC Queens is airing on ESPN2

Ephrata's Elysia Current won the "new" PWBA's Sacromento Open.