I'd like to give you an example of the thought processes I go through as I bowl. In a typical night of league, I am constantly trying to find an area on the lane where I have an easier time getting my ball to the pocket. I have shot some scores that many others consider embarrassing but, I do not get discouraged easily. The way I look at it is, "you can stand in the same spot all night and bowl lousy, or you can move around and bowl lousy."

Which thought process, however, may give you a better chance of finding an area where you end up shooting a good score?" As I always tell my friends, "nothing lost but a little pride." You either find the shot or resign yourself to having a mediocre series.

The last time out, I decided to bring back an old bowling ball that I hadn't bowled with in over two years. It is drilled for medium flaring and hooking. I used to break it out when the lanes got a little drier - a "3rd game ball," if you will. Why did I bring it? I don't know, my instinct told me that I should be ready to try something different.

Here's a "Choc-List" of how the night went:

Practice: I usually start with my trusted ball and this night was no different. My first practice throw, however, snapped to the pocket much harder than expected, especially for the start of the league. I watched the other bowlers and the same thing happened to their first shots. Usually, the lanes start out oilier and then break down as the night progresses. Lucky for me I had brought my older ball, so I immediately switched to it. (You should always trust your instincts?). I found a shot off the 5 board.

1st Game: 234. Off the 5 board, hand behind the ball, 3/4 roll. The thumb is at 12 o' clock at the release point. My track is about 2 inches to the left of the holes. There is minimum flare because the track is so high. The middle of the left foot is at the 17 board and I'm keeping my shoulders straight to the five board. I speed up to delay the hard snap to the pocket. I had a "Greek Church" in the 4th frame because I inadvertently took some speed off the ball. For the last ball in the game, I move to the 8 board and I liked the strike that I threw and how the pins reacted.

2nd Game: 208. Off the 8 board, my hand is rotated under and behind the ball, trying to release with the thumb in about a 4 o' clock position at the point of release. Left foot on the 20 board. Shoulders slightly to the right. The track is lower on the ball, about 3 - 4 inches to the left of the holes. The flare has increased. Overall, the lanes were sloppy in transition, 8-pin and 10-pin taps, with one almost leaving the 7-10 in a solid pocket hit. In the last frame, I moved inside to about 13 board and threw a strike, but didn't like the way the pins fell and how the ball entered the pocket (almost left an 8 - 10 split).

3rd game: 266. Off the 4-board because I noticed that other bowlers on the lane moved inside, and they were pushing the oil toward the outside. My hand is back behind the ball but the thumb is rotated to 1 o'clock instead of straight up at 12. The ball track comes back up to about 3 inches from the holes and the flare decreases again. My left foot is on 22 board with my shoulders opened more to the right. I moved my starting position back 3 inches on the approach and raised the ball up 3 inches at the start to generate a little more speed. I make sure that my armswing is freer and looser to get as much of the pendulum swing as I can. This is the 3rd game and the lanes are always hooking more. I used the Dick Weber technique of throwing the follow through out to the right. This kept the ball outside and I ended up having a terrific area all to myself.

234 - 208 - 266 = 708. Will this work next time? I don't know; but, I doubt it. There will be a different set of circumstances. I will just have to go with the flow and play the conditions that show up that night.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)