I still need to go see those guys at Highland before it is too late. Might try the Bowlerama next if I can't make myself drive to Austin.
Pondering bowling tonight on my usual bowling night, but my middle finger on the bowling hand got swollen and tender with one of those weird cuticle things. I worked on it a few hours ago and might try to see if I can hold the ball and roll properly.
I'm still bowling regularly. More often than not lately I'm bowling alone, which I almost prefer so I can get a ton of reps, usually rolling 9 to 11 games per session. After averaging 150 for a few months, I felt significant improvement and got up to 160 for a month or so, much more consistency in the average score area and less shitty games. But I still wasn't rolling many 200s, hardly any. Then I started falling backwards again with some really shitty games and not enough over the 180 range. I feel the thumb hole is still just way wrong and its holding back my progress.
Last week a bowling acquaintance was in a nearby lane and we were talking. His grip isn't too far off from mine, so he offered his Ion Max for me to try out. His span was longer and the thumb was much looser, but as I bowled three frames that sucker went right into the pocket every time with a nice hook, from the very first roll, not even being sure how to aim. The middle finger was too small and it was a bit weird, but I was able to release it just fine and get pretty close to my target.
I really need to get a new ball and a new drill that actually fits right. I don't want a big step up, just a notch up from the Hammer RAW, maybe a Vibe or something.
I really don't want a ball that's going to do most of the work if I get it rolling in the right general direction, though that seems to be what a lot of it is about. I want to perfect my stroke before I start collecting a bunch of different balls. I'm not bowling leagues, just beat up house lanes. I'm either following leagues after they are done, or following non-bowler assclowns that don't give a shit, so the lanes are fairly unpredictable, but mostly on the dry side. But I'm still learning about the oil stuff, which can be perplexing.
Anyway, I rolled my best game of 216 week before last, and bowled decent last week, and I'm feeling like I'm creeping back up to the 160 avg range. I think I could be 170ish by Spring if I can get a ball drilled properly, and maybe a slightly stronger ball.