Spare Shooting Woes

After switching to #bowling left handed a year ago, I am still struggling with my spare shooting.  In an effort to improve my accuracy, I tried keeping hand behind the ball, but I was not able to hit my mark consistently.  One week, my spare shooting would be decent, and the next week it would be non-existent.  I got a new plastic ball and had it drilled conventional for my spares.  I worked on my spares using a suit case delivery this week, and I felt like I made a little progress.  I have 3 more opportunities to practice before league in the New Year.  My goal for this year right now is to have a 180+ average in both of my leagues, and I know I wont get there if I can't pick up my spares.

Hope everybody has a blessed New Year.

12/16/11

#bowling
My spare shooting was better tonight.  I didn't miss any spares on the left hand side of the lane (which is a big improvement) but I am still struggling with spares on the right hand side (missed the 6 pin twice , the 10 pin twice and the 6-10 once).  I rolled a 198, 206 and a 161 for a 565 series, and raised my average to a 173.

12/15

At the start of #bowling last night, thought I was going to have one of my better nights.  Started out with a 224, had 6 stirkes and I picked up all 4 of my spares.  At the end of the 1st game, my ball started to go through the nose, and I tried to pick up the speed.  When I did that, it threw off my timing, and I didn't get it back.  (Since switching to the left hand, I have yet to successfully be able to pick up the ball speed when the lanes start to break down.  Spare shooting really hurt me in the 2nd and 3rd game. (I had 4 opens in each game.)  I finished up with a 159 and a 170 for a 553 series.

I got a couple of practice games in today at lunch, and only used my spare ball.  We will see if it helped any when I bowl league tonight.

12/9/11

Picture of consistency tonight.  Rolled a 207, 140, 199 for a 547 series.  In warm ups, my Hammer Toxic was going through the nose, so I switched to my plastic ball.  Going into the 2nd game, my ball stopped making it up to the pocket, so I tried going back to my Hammer.  Wrong move; I ended up with 5 opens (3 splits).  I tried to stay with that ball way to long.  Going into the 3rd game, I went back to the plastic ball and moved an additional 2 boards to the left (I bowl left handed) and I was back in the pocket.  I need to remember when I am in the pocket, and carry down causes my ball to come in light, just move a couple of boards and roll a more direct shot.

12/8

Tonight was a struggle.  I usually like rolling on the outside (1st arrow) but the ball was hooking too hard (Hammer Toxic).  Tried moving inside some, and then I couldn't get the ball up to the pocket.  Along with that, my spare shooting was no where to be found the 1st game.  Ended up rolling a 146 the 1st game (almost 40 pins under my average).  Midway through the 2nd game, I switched to my plastic ball and went a little more direct to the pocket.  I ended up rolling a turkey in the 9th and 10th frames to salvage a 178 for the 2nd game. I was pretty much in the pocket during the 3rd game.  I had a double and a 4 bagger along with 2 opens for a 213 game and a 537 series.  I will take that after the way I started, and I wasn't too far below my average (184).

Hopefully, I can do a lot better in league tomorrow night.

12/2/11

After rolling 600 series in my last 2 league nights, I was back to reality.  Did not carry too well (11 strikes for the 3 games) but my spare shooting was decent in the 1st and 3rd games.  However, I was 2 out of 7 for my spares in the 2nd game (3 splits).  I rolled a 191, 153 and a 181 for a 525 series.  I still averaged a couple of pins over my 171 average, and we won 5 out of 7 points.  We will be competing for the 1st half champions next week (position round).

12/1/11

Rolled my 1st left handed 600 series on my Thurs night league.  Rolled my 1st 600 on my Fri night league right before the week of Thanksgiving.  Can't complain about back to back 600 series.  Tonight my spare shooting was pretty good.  I didn't have my 1st open frame until the 10th frame of the 2nd game, and ended up only having 2 open frames for the night.  Had a total of 12 strikes for the 3 games and had a 1st roll average of 9.03.  I think making the 1st step of my approach a half step (to help slow down my feet) has been a major factor in the improvement of my game.  I rolled a 232, 193 and a 199 for a 624 series.