Jeff Carter Wins First Career PBA Title

Congratulations is in order for Jeff Carter, who was able to bring home his first career PBA title yesterday at the Geico Plastic Ball Championship. The tournament was unique in the sense that every bowler was on a level playing field, since they were only aloud to use plastic balls, rather than high performance, reactive equipment. After defeating Michael Fagan, Carter went on to face his childhood idol, Pete Weber, whom he ended up defeating in the finals. Great job Jeff, and congrats on your very first PBA win.

Interesting Practice Session

So I went bowling on Sunday morning to practice, as I usually do, since there are many good bowlers there that I can talk bowling with. The lanes are always freshly dressed at 8 a.m., and I usually arrive around 9. The bowling alley is usually packed on Sunday mornings, so I found myself waiting for a lane, along with another guy. After a pair finished about 15 min later, we got those two lanes, with me taking the right one (I didn't want to cross because I just wanted to focus on some aspects of my game).

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I knew only about 5 games were bowled on each lane judging by the time used on the overhead display, and the two guys did not have high rev rates AT ALL, so I knew the lanes were pretty much fresh oil. First game, I played around 20 at the arrows to 5 at the breakpoint with my Cell, shooting 259, while I watched the guy next to me play straight up the first arrow with a Black Widow, and barely get to the hole.

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Midway through the second game, I find myself right up against the ball return already, which is odd because NOBODY else in the house is hooking the ball whatsoever. I ended up shooting 202, with my last few shots coming up high in the pocket.I knew I had to still move left, so I ended up moving in front of the ball return, and using a 1 step approach (basically just swing my arm, stride out, and let it rip). I switched to my Cherry Vibe since I knew it would recover from such a deep angle, played with my right heel in the middle of the ball return, with a slight loft to clear the gutter. Dead flush in the pocket.

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Meanwhile, the guy next to me is complaining to his friend that there is so much oil out there, while I am almost on his lane trying to get the ball to the hole.Does it make any sense that there could be THAT much of a difference, where I would have to make such a drastic move, whereas someone else can't get the ball to move AT ALL?

New Site to Check Out

Hey Guys, I have found a new bowling website, located at http://www.bowlingboards.com. It is a very interactive, forum based website, and it has a lot to offer in terms of bowling related information. Be sure to check it out, and sign up to become a part of it's growing community.

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If you do sign up, please put The Bowling Guru in the referrer/referral box, just so I know that you were directed to the site from here.

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Thank you, and be sure to have a look at the site, you will not be disappointed.

The Guide to Surface Adjustments by Using Abralon Pads

Abralon pads are something that every bowler should carry in their bowling bag. They are small, compact, and can provide you with the opportunity to make minor surface adjustments to your equipment, even if the pro shop is closed. They usually come in a set, with grits ranging from very fine (ex. 4000 grit), to very rough (180 grit). But how do you know what grit works best with each bowling ball you have in your arsenal?

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Lets take for example, Hammer's Black Widow, which comes at 4000 grit from the factory. You are intrigued by the ball, but worry that it might be too strong for your bowling style, so you decide to put a weaker drill on it. However, when you go and toss it for the first time, you realize that it is actually TOO weak, and you are having trouble getting the ball to face the pocket. Here's where the abralon pads come in. With 4000 grit being very smooth, which promotes length, you have the ability to take the ball down to say, 2000 or even 1000 grit, which will make it roll a bit earlier, allowing it to get to the pocket.

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The opposite can be said for a ball that comes very rough from the factory, like say, a Total Inferno. You may find the ball to be reacting too early for your taste, so you can use a higher grit abralon pad to smooth out the surface and give you some added length. Just remember, the higher the grit, the smoother the pad, and the more length you are going to get.

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Now lets say you like the reaction you are getting from your Black Widow at say, 2000 grit, but it is just reacting the slightest bit early for your taste. By taking the surface to 4000 grit, it might go a bit too long, which leaves you between a rock and a hard place. Here's where polish can take center stage. Adding a bit of polish to a dulled ball will give you some length, but you will be able to control how long the ball will go by the amount of polish you apply. A very light coat on a dull ball will add maybe 1-2 more feet in length, which might be just what you are looking for. Looking at it the other way around, if a ball comes out of the box at 4000 grit POLISHED, and it is going a bit long for you, you can simply knock the polish off to reduce the added length.

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Now I am going to use an example that has been brought to my attention. Storm's Gravity Shift comes OOB at 1500 grit polished, and it was brought down to 1000 grit, which smoothed out the reaction. It was easier to control because the ball became more rolly, and reacted a bit earlier at 1000 grit, than it would at a slightly higher grit with the addition of polish. If you were to bring the ball up to 3000 grit and polish it, the ball would go super long compared to how it is now. 3000 grit is very fine as it is, so it is going to promote length, and with polish added on top of that, you may have trouble getting the ball to the pocket, especially if you have a lower rev rate. The person who recommend changing it to 3000 grit polished may have found that it worked better for them, but it might not necessarily work for you because everyone bowls in their own unique way. There is nothing wrong with experimenting with different surface adjustments, but just remember that if it is brought up to 3000 grit polished, you might be better off playing straighter than trying to swing it.

Update . . .

Sorry guys for not posting any entries for a few weeks. I have been extremely busy and just have not found the time to do so. However, I will be posting regularly again, starting with a post on the Differences Between Abralon Pads, and How Different Surfaces React Polished and Unpolished. It will be up sometime tomorrow, so check it out.

Earl Anthony Medford Classic Results

The "Big Nasty" West Malott was successful in defending his title on Sunday at the Earl Anthony Medford Classic broadcasted from Lava Lanes in Medford, OR. He defeated Tommy Jones in the title match, moving him into sole possession of first place in the Player of the Year points rankings, ahead of Norm Duke. Here are the results of the telecast:

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#3 Wes Malott defeats #4 Patrick Allen, 234-195 (Allen did make his 4th consecutive show)

#3 Wes Malott defeats #2 Bill O'Neill, 255-246 (Malott had front 6)

#3 Wes Malott defeats #1 Tommy Jones, 239-201 (Jones struggled from the get-go)

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Women's Series: #1 Wendy Macpherson defeats #2 Stefanie Nation, 199-184

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Equipment Used

Patrick Allen - Blue and Cherry Vibe

Wes Malott - Cell Pearl, Grand Illusion

Bill O'Neill - T-Road Pearl

Tommy Jones - One Pearl

Wendy Macpherson - Arch Rival

Stefanie Nation - Wild Ride

1/13/09 Practice Session

Since Tuesday at my local bowling center is 99 cents a game day, I decided it would be best for me to get some practice in. I wanted to work on getting my old release back, since I seemed to have lost it after taking a few months off a short time ago. Lately, I have been coming more up the back of the ball, allowing me to play straight, but I have found much more success in the past opening up the lane. To do this, I changed my release to add more sideroll to my ball, allowing for me to get deeper on the lane, while allowing the ball to still recover.

Game 1 - Took a short time for me to get my line down; left 2 baby splits but converted them do to pins bouncing out of the pit. Finished with a clean 199.

Game 2 - Settled into a groove with my Cherry Vibe playing around 28-5. Went clean again for a 235.

Game 3 - My Vibe started to come up high on the head pin, so I decided to switch to my Cell, which would give me a slightly smoother look off the spot. Worked to perfection. Threw a 217 with a missed 10 pin.

Game 4 - Stuck with the Cell for the first half of the game, and then switched to my Bite when I needed a little more snap on the backend. I split twice but got the wood, salvaging a 204 game out of it. It should have been more around 180 but hey, I'll take it.

Just a side note, I have added a new poll, so check it out and cast your vote.

Poll Results and Update

So another poll has concluded, and it seems as if the 10 pin is the most irritable pin of all, followed by the 7 and 9 pins. I for one, think a stone 8 is the worst break possible in bowling, but the 10 pin does bother me tremendously as well.

Also, for a more in depth look at the final match of the National Bowling Stadium Championship, check out http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1384277/pba_bowler_falls_victim_to_terrible.html

National Bowling Stadium Championship Results - Allen Triumphs Walter Ray

The National Bowling Stadium Championship was one like no other. It featured the Shark pattern on the left lane, and the Cheetah on the right, causing the bowlers to have to make constant adjustments from lane to lane.

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Patrick Allen defeats Bill O'Neill 218-200

---Allen won despite leaving a pocket 7-10---

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Patrick Allen defeats Chris Barnes 267-236

---Barnes whiffs the 7 pin in the 9th frame, opening the door for Allen---

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Patrick Allen defeats Wes Malott 268-215

---Allen starts off with the front 7---

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Patrick Allen defeats Walter Ray Williams Jr. 225-223

---Walter Ray leaves pocket 8-10 in 10th to lose by 2 pins---

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Equpiment Used

Bill O'Neill - Hot Sauce Pearl, Magic, One Pearl

Chris Barnes - Power Swing, Arch Rival

Wes Malott - Cell, Silver Streak

Patrick Allen - Blue Vibe, Rayzr, T-Road Solid, Rapid Fire

Walter Ray Williams Jr. - N'sane LevRG, LevRG Response

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Also for the first time in long time they actually mentioned the bowling balls being thrown on the telecast, which was nice for the viewer to hear. The PBA is starting the New Year off on a good note.

My Personal List of Things That Bother Me While Bowling

I have compiled a list of the top 5 things that just bother me to death while I am bowling. Feel free to comment with anything that bothers you as well, so we can see if other people feel the same way about things as I do.

1) When I have to bowl next to little kids whose parents are lost in space and have no clue about lane courtesy.
2) Pocket 7-10 and 8-10 splits. They are unnecessary and undeserving. And I can't forget about the wonderful pocket 5-7-10 I left yesterday. Just wow.
3) When I know the ball is good off my hand, I hit my mark, and wrap a 10 pin.
4) Opening in the 9th frame.
5) Cosmic bowling when I need to practice. I don't might the dark, but those flashing lights always seem to hit my lane as I release the ball.