Monday, October 27, 2008

The best and the worst days

The cashes round.

I was in a great position to remain in the top 8. Sitting 4th, with a 50 pin kicker from the top 8. The format for the cashes round is 9 games straight.
9 games against the best bowlers in the world meant if I didnt bowl great, i could easily fall out of the top 8 and if that happened, i would have to play 2 extra best of 7 matches.
I started the day with a huge break in the 10th frame for 234. That single break took all pressure off my shoulders and i felt like i could just relax and bowl.

Bowl I did. I made every single spare, almost every single spilt and threw the ball amazing. I was lofting the left gutter cap a fair bit and was in a part of the lane that noone else was, giving me the advantage of going pair to pair with a lot more confidence.
I shot 418 over for 9 games and ended up leading the field by 240 pins and securing the number 1 seed.

I was extremely excited at the prospect and now i just had to wait for 2 matches to see who I had to play.

Here comes the 'worst' part of the story.

I waited around and watched Chris Barnes come back from 3-0 down to win against Tom Baker.
I was really happy to bowl Barnes. If your going to win a major, you always want to knock out the best along the way.

I started the match GREAT. 236 and 247 to go to a 2-0 lead. Chris wasnt looking good and i was looking great. I felt like i had a great chance to win the match,
The something happened. I dont know what, but all i know is that what ever happened turned me into a nervous and un-focused player.
Chris got a little lucky in games 3 and 4, by going brooklyn 4 times over the 2 games to create 2 four baggers in both those games.
I didnt really get unlucky, i just did strike as much as i could of. The 5th game i gave away, missing spares left right and centre and then the 6th game was practically over by the 8th.

I was more upset with how i spared in the match then actually losing. I missed a bunch of spares, considering the only spare i missed in 27 games of qualifying was a single 3-6-9-10.
Chris was nice and apologized for some of his lucky breaks, but thats how the games goes. Its been there from the beginning and luck will be with bowling till the end of time.

The only positive i can take is over a many games i know i can compete with the best.....now i just need to learn how to break down a pair of lanes in the best of 7 matches.....Patience and practice and i know i will master it.

Cheers for everyones support over the past 7 days. Means a lot

Be good

Belmo

Friday, October 24, 2008

Day 2 and 3 of the PBA World Champs

Yesterday was a little bit of a grind.
I started with a couple bad breaks mixed with a couple bad shots to start the day a little slow. I didnt really pick the pace up to much but i didnt want to push, make a bad ball choice and shoot a couple of low games. I stayed consistent and shot 109 over for my second squad....basically it keep me near the top.
The lanes played much drier than they did the first day and my angle of entry was a little different, hence the solid 9's and flat 10's i left all day.

Today was, well, more like a roller coaster. I played the burn squad and the nick name for the carry down squad lived up to its name.
The left end of the house hooks like 15 boards more and i really didnt know which ball to use. I guessed and like usual i guessed wrong haha
188 out of the blocks and started to feel a little pressure. I struck in the fill shot with a different ball (Hy-Road) so i felt i could string a few together with that ball.
String a few together i did.... I bowled my first ever PBA 300. It was a great feeling. I have bowled 300 in many countries, on TV, but this was one was nice. I was very proud and excited.
The perfect game calmed me down a little and i was much more relaxed. Finished the day with 162 over and am now sitting 5th with a squad to go.

One more big day and ill make the top 8 and get the all important byes into the round of 16.

Will keep you up to date

Belmo

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Day 1

Day 1 - This event has treated Australians ok. Last year my idol and great mate, Andrew Frawley made the show and i hope to copy his performance this year.
The lane pattern is ok, the scores will be high but i think that scores will come from the surface of the lanes, rather than the oil pattern.
Let me explain.
The surface is very old and beat up and a track seems to have been burnt into the lane. Thus making a defined hook spot down lane. The pattern is not on the hard end, combined with the help of the lanes, scores will be rather high.

I bowled my first of 3, 6 games blocks today and bowled very consistent. Low game of 232 and a high game of 247. I had my chances in a couple of the games to get to 250 mark but with a bad shot here and there I couldnt break the 240 barrier. But as long as your low game is in the 230's, i think its safe to say that 247 is a great game.

I used the new Hy-Road basically all day and it looked great. Mix a great ball reaction with good sparing, it equals quite a good day at the office.
The format is long though, so i just have to make sure i bowl equally as good in the next few days.

I finished the day at 227 over and am sitting 2nd behind Sean Rash, he is at 266 over.

I bowl the last squad tomorrow, so i have a few hours between the squad i just finish and tomorrow nights squad, which ill use watch a couple of movies and no doubt watch some bowling :) (isnt that what bowlers do haha)

Be good

Belmo