After last weeks 670 series (not bad for 6 opens - 5 were splits) I finished off the season with a disappointing 594.

Needing to win all 3 games to qualify from our group we were up against a team that wew were giving 44 pins a game to, and in doubles that is a lot. As I was peppering the pocket for 9's our opponents (well the one with the 41 hdcp started 5-in-a-row, spare , double with possibly 3 pocket hits). By the 8th frame we were done for so I messed about with different balls to see out a 163. The other guy finished with a 231 scr => 272 hdcp and hence the end of our season.

The final 2 games were soul destroying. I rolled 24 frames, nailed the pocket 21 times and got rewarded with 12 strikes and 9 nines. Meanwhile our awesome opponent was hitting ultra thin, through the nose and just about anywhere but the pocket for his strikes..ughhhh!!!

Unfortunately I missed a 7-pin and a 10-pin in the 2nd game for a 198 before finishing the season with a clean 233.

So no money this season and our worst finish for years but, although my average dipped, I feel that I have improved my appraoch and release since christmas and roll on 08/09!!

Tonight was the last week of our league before next weeks final position round. Conditions were tough - very patchy and very light oil. I shot 205,236 & 176 for a 617. Although not great I was really pleased as I only opened twice (split in 1st frame of 1st game and washout in 9th of 3rd. Middle game could easily have been better with a bit of luck as I went 9pin - turkey - 10pin - turkey - 10pin -4pin - strike. Plenty of spare practice in the 3rd but not bad overall.

After last years 2nd place finish we look like finishing no better than 7th and the league pays to 6th which sucks. My paramedic training and shiftwork haven't been kind to my bowling and I'm not bowling as often as I would like.

Still, there is always the end of season knockout to go for and you just never know.

My 2008 stats, although low in games, improved this week with a 671 series. However, it was one of those 'should have been a 700' nights. I had 19 strikes and 8 nines from the 31 frames I rolled but managed to leave a pin on each of the three occasions I left a 7 count- twice in the 10th (2nd & 3rd games) didn't help.

I was playing the usual line of down and in over 7th and started with a clean 246. This game included 2 solid 10pins. The second game was starting well - double, 9-spare four-bagger but then I pulled a 10pin and opend in the 10th for a 212.

The third game started with yet another 7-2 count before a brace of 7pin spares and 5 in a row. Another solid 10pin in the 9th put the brakes on another good game and chopping the 3-6 of the 3-6-10 in the 10th gave me a 213.

All-in-all I was happy with my bowling but pissed that another 700+ went begging. Hopefully I can continue the form through to the end of the league and get my average back up to where it should be.

After 9 weeks without bowling I returned to league play last night with a respectible 607 series comprising of 208, 200, 199. It was a case of steady but unspectacular with a fine margin of error on the lanes. Playing over 7-8 board was the line but pushing out made it skid and inside made it flip, hence 20/36 strikes and several splits. I even managed to squeeze 4 doubles into one game! Still, it has taken me until mid march to bowl my 1st sub 200 of 2008 - but I've only bowled 6 games!!!!!

Wednesday night saw my first series of 2008 - 226, 205 & 221 for a 652. However, I was disappointed as I missed four spares and the last game should have been far better. Out of the 35 frames I bowled I had 19 strikes and 10 9's. My approach has improved greatly and it has led to more accurate bowling.

GAME 1 -  8/ X X 9/ 9/ 9- 8/ X X X X X    -   226

In the first I was pushing the ball out a little too far and was coming back light hence two of the 9's being 2pins (one of which I managed to miss!). An adjustment in the 8th ment I struck out for a 226.

GAME 2 -  X 9/ 8s1 81 6/ X X X X 9/ X    -   205

Having started where I left off, in the 2nd frame I went slightly light again resulting in a 7pin. One baby split and one chopped spare later and things weren't looking good. But it was just me holding on to the ball too long trying to compensate for throwing wide. I sorted myself out and the strikes came back.

GAME 3 -  9/ 9- X X X X 9/ 9/ 9/ X X 6    -   221

This was the annoying game as I should have been standing on the 12th looking at a possible 300. All balls had been flush and, even though I made tiny adjustments, the first four 9's were 10pins (can't remember what I left in the 9th as I was soo pissed off).

 All-in-all not a bad start to the year but unfortunately I will have to stop bowling for 12 weeks just as I am getting happy with my game. Hopefully I can get the odd practice game in here and there at the weekends but, as I am going on a residential course, league bowling will just have to wait.