Fun Bowl & Awards, Year End Wrap Up

I suppose I should write an entry about how the year finished off.

The last day was just a 3 game, glow in the dark, family fun bowl. It was 8 pin no tap - if you get 8 pins or more; it's an automatic strike; so of course scores were going to be huge. I don't remember what I scored, except I got a 300 the last game - of the 12 strkes, only 5 of them were from no tap so I still would have had a great game going. It was also an easy shot which was nice to get back to.

Then we had our banquet - free food and awards!! I had highest score for senior girls (267) and my team won high handicap single (812). I also won a draw for a $50 gift certificate to the pro shop. That honestly doesn't cover too much, but not like it matters anytime soon, since I'm getting Joe to pay for anything (he HAD said to keep it under $500 for new balls but now I'm getting one, I had to get two new thumbs done, I have to get my balls certified for the tourney and they will also resurface my balls so I don't see why he wouldn't pay for that stuff too).

So looking back at the season... it was bad. It really was. I only made one provincial tournament and then bowled like crap in it. My average went down. I missed a lot in the beginning because of stupid partying and other things (I honestly don't know what was wrong with me the first semester). I also failed miserably in the first qualifier for CNCs.

There definitely was SOME good though, like the scholarship tourney and making all the money I did. That was the highlight. Also placing 5th in world cup & beating everyone I wanted to beat. And I guess qualifying for CNCs though it wasn't a challenge.. I also started to do some good work in the last month or so. I haven't totally revolutionized anything yet, but I'm getting more lift on the ball and better reaction which if definitely a step in the right direction.

Goals looking forward:
-Place top 25 at CNCs (same as last year but there's almost a guarantee there will be many more women entering) OR just bowl well - be above average.
-Work on my game during the summer. I don't know what the chances of getting Ted out there once a week might be, but maybe Dan would be willing to help.. I would love to have the chance to change some things by the time league rolls around again.
-For next season, see my average close to 190 or up (definitely realistic)
-Make all provincial tournies
-Make nationals or take 2nd place at provies

These are some adequate goals, not sure how lofty they may or may not be, but whatever the case it's always good to have goals. It will also be my last year in youth so I have to make it count.

Tomorrow is organized practice 6-8 which I will of course be attending and it'll be the third day in a row of bowling (good practice for CNCs - 6 games/day, 3 days in a row). I maaaay get my new ball! Also get to chat with Ted and maybe figure out a plan for the summer, but at least maybe talk about a plan of attack for CNCs?

I love this sport.

Saturday Youth League

Bowling hungover is the worst. And yesterday wasn't the worst I've ever been. But because of that I felt totally out of it and bowling wasn't much fun. I couldn't make very good shots, the ball just didn't feel good in my hand. I was consistent enough at least I suppose, but the scores weren't near where I wanted them to be. I averaged 170 with a high of 180. My average is 182, but will drop once again.

I decided to stay after league to practice; why not? I didn't feel like going home to just sit around. Ted also stayed and we got some good work done. One of the things to note that we worked on was a two handed release. I had a lot of trepidation to do that (if you don't know what that looks like, google Jason Belmonte). Compared to the "normal" way it just seemed like it would be really difficult to change.

I was surprised to discover it wasn't!! Of course I look nothing like Belmonte, I have way less power going through the ball. It was also a nice break on my thumb - because of the use of the second hand, there's no need for the thumb to be in the ball to be able to hold onto it, thus you get waaay more rotation and rpms on the ball.

The purpose to get me to do that was to get me extending further over the lane, to end up with more fingers and less thumb. Or at least that's what I felt I got out of it. Now I'm kind of thinking I might like to actually change completely to that style, but we'll see. Ted and Dan had been talking about doing that actually; I think they were only ever half serious, but the fact that Ted got me doing that and then probably went to tell Dan about it, tells me it was more serious an idea than I thought.

So overall it was a great 1.5 hrs of practice and my arm is still sore today. Next up is sparing for the adult league (as in subbing for someone) so I can't practice, but I'm still going to go for the start of practice and warm up, maybe chat with Ted about what he wants me doing coming up soon. We've decided to give me a few weeks to see where I can get in maybe changing things, before drilling some new balls. I need at least 2 weeks to break in new stuff so I have about 3 weeks to figure stuff out.

So while all this sounds very promising for the future, it doesn't make me feel good about CNCs. I think it's really going to throw me off, there are so many different things that I've been trying, that I don't know what to do to be at my optimal best. But at least I'll have those 2 weeks to settle into "normal", I'll ask Ted to come out or even Dan if Ted is busy. Even though I know I can't win, I still want to show everyone that I am a force, and that they should be watching out for me in the future..