This weekend, i.e. today, 27 Feb 2016 and tomorrow 28 Feb, I'll be bowling at the Warren AFB bowling lanes in the Women's City Bowling Tournament.
I was entered with a 148 handicap.
This is shaping up to be a disaster.
I bought a new Storm Hy-road about three weeks ago, and had it drilled finger tip. I made the big mistake of going up a pound in weight - it's a 14 pound ball and simply too heavy for me.
I have a 13 pound Brunswick Mastermind, and I had it drilled fingertip and got it back yesterday - but did not have a chance to practice with it.
(After deciding to give up on my Storm Hy-road until I could do some finger- and forearm strengthening exercises, I had the impression that I wasn't able to control my other bowling balls properly because I was trying to do a finger tip thing with them. This might have been my imagination - but it's too late now! Oh, how I wish I hadn't decided to go fingertip in the middle of the season!)
Anyway, starting at 3 pm I'll be bowling doubles and then singles with my Mastermind which I haven't had a chance to practice with. The guy who drilled it dropped it off at the bowling center in the morning and never told me it was there, so I didn't get it until the evening, and the thumb hole seemed a bit tight to me but there's nothing I can do about it now.
So, I need to think positive thoughts, bring all my bowling balls, and just bowl the best I can.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
1971 Ebonite Open: Earl Anthony vs John(ny) Petraglia and Skee Foremsky
As far as I can tell, this is the earliest video of Earl Anthony bowling in a tournament that is available on YouTube.
It's the final few matches of the 1971 Ebonite Open which took place at the Saratoga Lanes in San Jose, California.
It starts halfway through Earl Anthony's game with John Petraglia (looking extremely young!), which he wins. It then proceeds to his game against Skee Foremsky, which he loses by 40 or so points.
This is apparently an "infamous" tournament because the top 16 bowlers to finish were all left-handers.
Earl looks great with his crew-cut. His bowling motion seems to be the same as in future years - I don't think he changed it at all until around 1997 or so when he started using a slightly higher backswing to increase the speed of his ball.
A triplicate I wouldn't have been proud of...
I had intended to share photos of the scoreboard for all my league games going forward, but all the photos I took with my smartphone yesterday - during Happy Moose league - were all blurry. So I'll have to be more careful in future to make sure I get clear photos.
I had a 126... then a 122 and then another 122.
Could not do anything right with my Storm Hy-Road.
I don't think it's a problem with the ball itself, just the fact that I very foolishly moved up to a 14-pound ball and it's too heavy for me.
I have a Brunswick Mastermind that is only 13 pounds, which I can handle quite nicely. I'm going to get it re-drilled for a fingertip grip tomorrow, Tuesday, and see if I can do better with it.
Because frankly at the moment I don't really notice any difference between the two grips as far as aiming and control are concerned - although again that may just be because at 14 pounds its just too heavy.
We were 1/2 point out of first place yesterday. But the folks in first place took 3 points and we took only 2 (partly thanks to me), so we are now 1 and a half points out of first place with seven more weeks to go... the league ends the last week of March.
Sunday Happy Moose.
My average until yesterday was 141.I had a 126... then a 122 and then another 122.
Could not do anything right with my Storm Hy-Road.
I don't think it's a problem with the ball itself, just the fact that I very foolishly moved up to a 14-pound ball and it's too heavy for me.
I have a Brunswick Mastermind that is only 13 pounds, which I can handle quite nicely. I'm going to get it re-drilled for a fingertip grip tomorrow, Tuesday, and see if I can do better with it.
Because frankly at the moment I don't really notice any difference between the two grips as far as aiming and control are concerned - although again that may just be because at 14 pounds its just too heavy.
We were 1/2 point out of first place yesterday. But the folks in first place took 3 points and we took only 2 (partly thanks to me), so we are now 1 and a half points out of first place with seven more weeks to go... the league ends the last week of March.
Friday, February 19, 2016
My Leagues Snapshot, Friday, 19 February 2016
All data is from LeagueSecretary.com, a site which enables people to track their leagues, or any other leagues across the country they want to check on. Bowling centers purchase this software, and then league secretaries upload the data for their league on a weekly basis.
The "week" is the last week we bowled on each league, which was, well... last week.
My average has dropped a couple of points on Tuesday Shoppers and on +55 in the last two weeks, since I acquired my new Storm Hy-Road and had it drilled finger tip. I've been getting used to it, but this upcoming week dare to hope that I *will* be used to it and it will result in better scores going forward.
Sunday
League, Happy Moose
Team: Chaotic Chaos
Total teams on league: 12
Position: 1/2 point out of first place
Week: 23 of 29
My average: 141
Monday
League, Senior Pioneers.
Team:Peppy
Total teams on league: 16
Position: 6th place, 6 1/2 points behind 1st place
Week: 26 of 34
My average: 141
Tuesday
League, Shoppers.
Team: Lefties R Right
Total teams on league: 15, plus a bye
Position: 12th, 24 points behind 1st place
Week: 23 of 34
My average: 146
Wednesday
League, +55 .
Team: 4 of Us
Total teams on league: 17 plus a bye
Position: 16th, 17 1/2 points behind first place
Week: 26 of 34
My average: 139
Note: (I've been a permanent substitute on this team, for the 2015/16 season, since approximately week 6 or 7)
The "week" is the last week we bowled on each league, which was, well... last week.
My average has dropped a couple of points on Tuesday Shoppers and on +55 in the last two weeks, since I acquired my new Storm Hy-Road and had it drilled finger tip. I've been getting used to it, but this upcoming week dare to hope that I *will* be used to it and it will result in better scores going forward.
Sunday
League, Happy Moose
Team: Chaotic Chaos
Total teams on league: 12
Position: 1/2 point out of first place
Week: 23 of 29
My average: 141
Monday
League, Senior Pioneers.
Team:Peppy
Total teams on league: 16
Position: 6th place, 6 1/2 points behind 1st place
Week: 26 of 34
My average: 141
Tuesday
League, Shoppers.
Team: Lefties R Right
Total teams on league: 15, plus a bye
Position: 12th, 24 points behind 1st place
Week: 23 of 34
My average: 146
Wednesday
League, +55 .
Team: 4 of Us
Total teams on league: 17 plus a bye
Position: 16th, 17 1/2 points behind first place
Week: 26 of 34
My average: 139
Note: (I've been a permanent substitute on this team, for the 2015/16 season, since approximately week 6 or 7)
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Upcoming Tournaments: Cheyenne, 27-28 Feb 2016 and Las Vegas, 4-9 June 2016
I've got two tournaments coming up - one in Cheyenne from 27-28 May, and the other in Las Vegas from 4-9 June.
Obviously I want to do well in the City tournament, but my main goal is to be a success at Nationals - and I've got got a little bit less than 4 months to perfect my game and get it up to that 200 average (for all that my "book" average going in to that tourney is 146).
I can do that!
Women's City
Warren Lanes is located on Warren Airforce Base, and so I've had to give them my driver's license and birthdate. Everyone going on to the base has to be on a list and the security guards will check our driver's license when we go on base.
Warren Lanes is about half the size of the Two Bar Bowl Lanes. I have bowled on there before - I went there for a tournament about three years ago and didn't do well. I intend to do better this time.
I would have preferred to just bowl Singles - but you can't just bowl singles. At the very least you have to bowl Singles and Doubles.
The only reason why I get to participate in this tournament is because a woman bowler couldn't find someone to be her teammate for doubles. She asked a friend of mine, with whom I bowl on the Sunday Happy Moose league, who asked me.
I let her take care of everything, so now not only will I be bowling singles and doubles, but also the team event. I've also got into a "side pot" for all events (highest score for all events wins something), and also, since I'm over 50, for the "senior side pot" - so that was an extra $5 each.
Total cost to me, $67.
$216 for airfare, and about $150 for entry fees for Nationals and also for a No Tap tournament in Samstown.
(I will explain about No Tap in another post.)
Not sure how much hotels are going to be. Hopefully we'll stay somewhere off-strip that has reasonable rates!
Obviously I want to do well in the City tournament, but my main goal is to be a success at Nationals - and I've got got a little bit less than 4 months to perfect my game and get it up to that 200 average (for all that my "book" average going in to that tourney is 146).
I can do that!
Women's City
Warren Lanes is located on Warren Airforce Base, and so I've had to give them my driver's license and birthdate. Everyone going on to the base has to be on a list and the security guards will check our driver's license when we go on base.
Warren Lanes is about half the size of the Two Bar Bowl Lanes. I have bowled on there before - I went there for a tournament about three years ago and didn't do well. I intend to do better this time.
I would have preferred to just bowl Singles - but you can't just bowl singles. At the very least you have to bowl Singles and Doubles.
The only reason why I get to participate in this tournament is because a woman bowler couldn't find someone to be her teammate for doubles. She asked a friend of mine, with whom I bowl on the Sunday Happy Moose league, who asked me.
I let her take care of everything, so now not only will I be bowling singles and doubles, but also the team event. I've also got into a "side pot" for all events (highest score for all events wins something), and also, since I'm over 50, for the "senior side pot" - so that was an extra $5 each.
Total cost to me, $67.
Nationals - Las Vegas
In June I will be going to Las Vegas with three other women for Nationals.$216 for airfare, and about $150 for entry fees for Nationals and also for a No Tap tournament in Samstown.
(I will explain about No Tap in another post.)
Not sure how much hotels are going to be. Hopefully we'll stay somewhere off-strip that has reasonable rates!
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Bowling Center: Two Bar Bowl in Cheyenne, Wyoming
My "home" bowling center is Two Bar Bowl (http://www.2barbowl.com/), located at 700 E. Carlson in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
2 Bar Bowl has 24 lanes, an adjacent bar and package liquor store, a pro shop, and a cafe.
I bowl on four leagues - Sunday Happy Moose, Monday Senior Pioneers, Tuesday Shoppers and as a sub on the Wednesday +55 Seniors league.
During the winter season, 2 Bar has leagues every day except Saturday. Only one of them is a "scratch" league - the others are handicap.
Here's the sign showing lane assignments for the Wednesday +55 Seniors. The desk clerk had a bit of fun with it...
Each league has lane assignment cards, in a different color, printed out by the 2 Bar Bowl folks. For each league the card for each team is placed on the appropriate lane. When two leagues are bowling at the same time, they sometimes placed adjacent to each other. Since the cards are different colors, the team members don't get confused as to which lane is theirs!
For leagues, each team receives a cardboardish type of pay envelope before they begin bowling on that day. Many people pay an entire month in advance - others pay on a weekly basis.
No more manual scoring. Everything is done electronically.
The Qubica screens. Bowlers can remove frames, correct scores, add bowlers, skip bowlers, put bowlers in "blind", and so on.
Above are a couple of angles of the Perfect Approach pro shop
2 Bar Bowl has 24 lanes, an adjacent bar and package liquor store, a pro shop, and a cafe.
I bowl on four leagues - Sunday Happy Moose, Monday Senior Pioneers, Tuesday Shoppers and as a sub on the Wednesday +55 Seniors league.
During the winter season, 2 Bar has leagues every day except Saturday. Only one of them is a "scratch" league - the others are handicap.
Here's the sign showing lane assignments for the Wednesday +55 Seniors. The desk clerk had a bit of fun with it...
Each league has lane assignment cards, in a different color, printed out by the 2 Bar Bowl folks. For each league the card for each team is placed on the appropriate lane. When two leagues are bowling at the same time, they sometimes placed adjacent to each other. Since the cards are different colors, the team members don't get confused as to which lane is theirs!
For leagues, each team receives a cardboardish type of pay envelope before they begin bowling on that day. Many people pay an entire month in advance - others pay on a weekly basis.
No more manual scoring. Everything is done electronically.
The Qubica screens. Bowlers can remove frames, correct scores, add bowlers, skip bowlers, put bowlers in "blind", and so on.
Above are a couple of angles of the Perfect Approach pro shop
Monday, February 1, 2016
Manifesto
I am a left-handed bowler.
If you know anything about heraldry, you know that the right side of a heraldic shield is the "dexter" side. (Dexter is Latin for "the right hand side" and is where we get the word "dexterious" = meaning skilled at using one's hands in manual labor.)
The "sinister" side of a heraldic shield is the left-hand side. Because only a small percentage of people were left-handed, this was looked upon as bad (evil, even) and so sinister came to mean "looking dangerous."
Left-handers have gotten a bum rap since the beginning of time, and frankly it continues to this day.
Read a book on bowling and the instructions given are always for right handed bowlers. Left handers are told to just "reverse the directions."
The crowning indignity was in 1977, when Earl Anthony, the best bowler on the planet, who also happened to be left-handed, wrote a book called Winning Bowling - which not only was written from the point of view of a right-handed bowler but also featured photos of Anthony that had been flipped to make it seem as if he were bowling right-handed! [I'm quite sure his publishers forced him into doing that!]
If it were easy for a bowler to just "reverse the directions" of instructions, then it should be just as easy for a right-handed bowler to read the directions aimed at left-handers and "reverse the directions." Take that, you right-handers!
In this blog, I'll cover the following topics:
1. Tips for left-handed bowlers
2. History of bowling
3. Reviews of bowling centers around the country
4. Things to see and do in cities with bowling centers
5. Adventures of me - a left-handed bowler - in leagues and in tournaments
I am a 150-average bowler at the moment, but thanks to the handicap system, I can participate in tournaments with even the best bowlers, because the goal is simply to bowl one's average.
If I bowl right on my average, and have a 60 point handicap, that gives me a score of 210.
If I bowl someone who has a 210 average and no handicap, and he or she bowls 5 points below their average, with a 205, I win!
My goal of course is to become a scratch, 200-average bowler.
I intend to become such a bowler within the next couple of years.
If you know anything about heraldry, you know that the right side of a heraldic shield is the "dexter" side. (Dexter is Latin for "the right hand side" and is where we get the word "dexterious" = meaning skilled at using one's hands in manual labor.)
The "sinister" side of a heraldic shield is the left-hand side. Because only a small percentage of people were left-handed, this was looked upon as bad (evil, even) and so sinister came to mean "looking dangerous."
Left-handers have gotten a bum rap since the beginning of time, and frankly it continues to this day.
Read a book on bowling and the instructions given are always for right handed bowlers. Left handers are told to just "reverse the directions."
The crowning indignity was in 1977, when Earl Anthony, the best bowler on the planet, who also happened to be left-handed, wrote a book called Winning Bowling - which not only was written from the point of view of a right-handed bowler but also featured photos of Anthony that had been flipped to make it seem as if he were bowling right-handed! [I'm quite sure his publishers forced him into doing that!]
 |
| It's not even Earl Anthony on the cover of his own book! |
In this blog, I'll cover the following topics:
1. Tips for left-handed bowlers
2. History of bowling
3. Reviews of bowling centers around the country
4. Things to see and do in cities with bowling centers
5. Adventures of me - a left-handed bowler - in leagues and in tournaments
I am a 150-average bowler at the moment, but thanks to the handicap system, I can participate in tournaments with even the best bowlers, because the goal is simply to bowl one's average.
If I bowl right on my average, and have a 60 point handicap, that gives me a score of 210.
If I bowl someone who has a 210 average and no handicap, and he or she bowls 5 points below their average, with a 205, I win!
My goal of course is to become a scratch, 200-average bowler.
I intend to become such a bowler within the next couple of years.
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