Crab

[jmfargo]

Went out with a few friends tonight to celebrate the college graduation of our youngest friend Laura, and it was fun to see her not be super quiet - she seemed to have a good time which was really cool since the night was all about her*.

First we went to a steak and seafood place called the Boston Hotel Steak and Seafood restaurant. I've been there before, and knew that their king crab was reasonably priced for around here, that the food was good, and that it was a perfect dive atmosphere for the group that we had. All in all, it was pretty nice to me. I hope everyone enjoyed their food as much as I did, but I don't know that they did - I was the last one savoring my food, so my assumption is they stuffed it down to get the bad taste out of the way. People do that, right?

Afterwards we tried to go bowling, and it was closed. Closed so completely that the owner leaving it gave us a look for asking if it was closed and where we might be able to go to bowl since he said it was closed. Ended up he couldn't think of any bowling alley that would be open on a Sunday "this time of year." So we went for ice cream. Yay Dairy Queen!

Following a brief yet messy and satisfying ice cream fight (I won) we decided to try one more bowling place. Earl was outgoing and proactive like normal, and called ahead to see if they were open.

They were, and they had $1 games for the night! Jackpot!

The only part about bowling that will be spoken of is the fact that I won the first game with a 124 - probably my best game, ever. After that, well, we shall not speak of the fact that I couldn't break 100 if my life had depended on it. It was my shoes. They were sticky. Or sliding. Whichever is worse.

Great night. I'm always happy to hang out with good friends and get in some good times. I think everyone had fun, and that means a lot to me. I just like it when plans work out for everyone. I'm strange like that.

Now? Definately bed time. I've had a long day, and I don't even know if I have work tomorrow.

*Well, her and good food. What? Good food goes with everything.

Comments

Here's a Tip [Part 1]

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Ok, having dated a near-bowling goddess, I've managed to pick up a tip or two. I figured, I'd pass on an easy one for you. You know, because I'm cool like that.

Anyway, if you're using a house ball (I'm guessing you're not the type to have your own bowling ball and/or shoes like some people like me...looks up and averts eye contact, err...yeah...) here's the best, easiest tip to drastically increase your score. Follow these easy steps and I'll guarantee you'll raise your score by 20 pins easy.

Note: These may sound hard, but it's actually fairly simple. These tips will increase your immediate score but are not widely suggested if you want to improve your game over a longer period of time. This is just what I suggest to people when I know they won't be playin league or not following their hearts into the PBA. If that were the case, I'd tell them to hire at the very least a bronze-level certified coach. With that in mind, I now present the steps.

Step 1) Pick a bowling ball that is comfortable for your hand. Don't always go for the heaviest if it doesn't fit your natural grip. Too many times people *guys especially* will go for the 16 lb. balls because they think bigger is better. Not always the case. Not only is this bad for your hand/wrist (having to grasp with full strength to keep the ball held), but the ball's weight drastically increases in weight the more games you bowl. It's a rarely talked about occurrance.

Step 2) When you pick up the bowling ball and place your fingers in the appropriate holes, you're index and pinky finger should not be in any holes. Yes, I know this seems obvious but I've seem some people bowl strangely in the past and therefore always include this now as to avoid confusion.

Step 3) Flair (spread) your index and pinky finger out as wide as you can on the ball as you can, comfortably.

Step 4) When you swing the bowling ball don't rotate your wrist or elbow. Keep both in, and throw the bowling ball under-handed.

By keeping you're wrist and elbow facing the lane, and by flairing your index finger and pinky, you'll throw a much, much, straighter ball. Again this isn't suggested if you've got a custom-drilled bowling ball, but works great for house balls. Just sight down the (I'm taking a guess here for you) the second arrow on the right side and that should bring the ball directly into the pocket for you. Which should, if you follow these instructions, knock down a good seven to eight pins.

Re: Here's a Tip [Part 1]

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

The only thing in this part that I never really thought about was flairing the fingers - it's a good idea and I can definately see where it would help.

I too have seen people use their pinky or index fingers when bowling. People are weird. :)

There was a girl that couldn't have been more than 10 at the alley last night who was playing bumper bowling but never once hit the bumpers. She got over a 100 every single game. Her method? Two handed from the chest throw. It was the strangest bowling game I've ever seen.

Re: Here's a Tip [Part 1]

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

The girl I dated, the near-bowling goddess status, her father has a very, very, strange bowling style. He hops sideways as he releases the ball. He looks like he's off balance, and probably is half of the time, but he typically gets strikes.

If you've seen the guys that cork-screw the ball (I'm sure you have), where they twist their elbow out & rip their wrist into a circle as they throw their ball, don't ever do that. It will damage your wrist, elbow, and arm muscles and you'll be in surgery in under two years if you try that with every throw. It's a great way of injurying yourself and ensuring you'll screw something up.

As an aside, the last time I bowled with my right-hand (I'm left-handed) I got a strike. I refuse to bowl with my right ever again. That way I can refer back and say, "Last time I bowled with my bad arm I got a strike."

Re: Here's a Tip [Part 1]

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

You know, I had no idea you were left handed. I'm slowly working at becoming ambidexterous in the sense that I can write legibly with both hands. Some people say that the writing from my left is more legible than my right already. I say "I'm a transcriptionist, not some fancy writing person." Give me a computer and my hand writing is fine no matter what hand I use. :)

As far as bowling wrong handed goes, that's what I do when I'm really really losing so I can blame it on the fact that I'm bowling left handed.

It's not cheating, just changing the playing field!

Here's a Tip [Part 2]

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

I'd like to point out that you should also work on your approach, such that you always take the same number of steps. I go with a three-step approach which sets up like this:

Start: Holding the ball at waist level, just to the side (not in front of you), with the other hand supporting the ball on the side, 90% of weight on back foot, legs slightly bent, back straight and take a deep breath to bring shoulders up and in line.

Step 1: Pushing the ball (gently) out and away, letting gravity take the ball slightly down (45-degree angle), front foot (foot opposite of the arm with the ball) taking a half-step with most (80%) of weight still on back leg, with my shoulders still square to the lane.

Step 2: Shifting (90%) of weight from back foot to front as you step through, ball dropping full into swing and cresting back behind you. Your arm (with the ball) should be at the very least 90-degrees behind you on this step. Opposite arm should come up and out to your side to act as balance. If you were to look directly down from the top your arm with the ball (out to the back) and your other arm (out to the side) would form a 90% angle. Keep body facing the lanes and keep shoulders back, not hunched forward.

Step 3: Foot comes through (should be opposite one of your throwing arm), bending legs. Arm with ball comes down from the arc behind you and past your ankle onto the lane and follows the arc through the ball after releasing. Other foot slides behind your other foot and out to the side. Arm that didn't have the ball still is out to the side (perpendicular) to keep balance.

Now, as far as timing, I typically will do the previous steps to a count of, "1, 2, 3" in a normal breath (which is about half-a-second between each) so fiddle with the timing until it feels comfortable though. Try to end with the opposite foot of the arm with the ball on your last step, keep your shoulders square with the lane, and have fun.

If I was down near you in person I'd show you the basics, but this is the best I've got. So take this newfound knowledge and strike fear into your fellow casual bowlers. ;)

Re: Here's a Tip [Part 2]

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

This sounds very complicated and like yoga. I hate yoga. Therefor, I now hate bowling.

Thanks a lot!

Well, okay, my real comment: I think I understand what you mean and there's not too much complicated there other than the fact that it's nothing like what I do now. I suppose that's a good thing because if it were anything like I do now it would just show how bad I am at bowling since I already have "perfect" form and rarely break 100.

I'll have to work on it, I guess. You never get better if you don't practice! Of course, sometimes practice doesn't work either, and then you just have to learn to cheat.

What?

Re: Here's a Tip [Part 2]

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Well, the step thing isn't necessary, but it'll help your overall game. Which is why I suggested it.

The main point is to end (no matter how many steps it takes) so that the opposite foot of the arm you throw (so if you're right-handed, it'd be your left foot) is the last step you take as you throw the ball. Keeping your shoulders square to the lanes ensures you throw a fairly straight shot.

Another thing. If you do this and/or you throw the ball and it goes into the opposite gutter (thus if you throw with your right, the ball goes into the left gutter), it typically means you figure-eighted the ball behind you. Try to keep the ball straight up and down as you let it fall and swing behind you. The less you let it swing left and right, the more likely you'll throw a straight ball.

As for cheating? Naw. It's so much more fun when you slam down strikes for real. Although back in the day when score was kept by pencil it was very easy.

Re: Here's a Tip [Part 2]

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

It's funny - Maria, who is usually the best bowler in our group (people have been beating her as we play more) always ends on the wrong foot. Always! And yet the time before this one, when it was me, her, and the mysterious TT, she bowled a 190, which is pretty kick-ass!

I'm just saying, it's interesting. She's the only one I've ever known to bowl so "wrong," and yet do as well as she does. When she tries to fix it, she gutters the ball.

[desta.livejournal.com]

Hi uncle miah.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Do I know you?

:)

Glad you're back.

When do I learn what's been going on in life with you?