It has been two months since I’ve thrown a shot at a bowling alley.

Today I had the luxury of time to sit down and reflect on all the things going on.

There are many things that I want to do, many chores to complete, and a lot of reading to catch up on.

But one thing I really miss is the bowling alley.

Oh my bowling alley darling, here are ten things I miss about you:

1. I miss the smell of the equipment and the lanes
2. I miss the sound of the bowling pins falling down
3. I miss the elation of throwing a strike
4. I miss my bowling ball, and also miss peeping at other girls. Oops, I meant other cool bowling balls.
5. I miss how I can release stress by channeling negative emotions into hitting the pins
6. I miss the anticipation of a few hours of uninterrupted bowling
7. I miss the times I forget everything else, when I am focused on bowling
8. I miss the opportunity to improve my skills
9. I miss just sitting there, dreaming of one day owning a bowling alley of my own
10. I miss the satisfaction of an improved score, or the agony of a lousy score

I guess I’ll have to make do with bowling on my Nintendo Wii now (yes, I wrote that post on Squidoo).

How about you? Do you miss an activity because you don’t have time? What was that activity and when was the last time you did it?

Any other bowling fans out there who miss bowling?

Photo By: Magic Madzik / CC

The first time I saw a skull bowling ball was in the movie Mystery Men. One of the characters, the Bowler, had a skull bowling ball embedded with her father’s skull.

Ever since then, I have been watching out for skull bowling balls. I always imagined how cool it would be to walk up to the approach with a skull bowling ball in my hand and making a ten pin spare with it.

In this article, I have compiled 12 pictures of skull bowling ball designs you can purchase from your nearest pro shop.

But why would someone want to get a bowling ball with a skull embedded inside, or a bowling ball with skull designs? There are a few theories out there (though I suspect some of them are just marketing ploys):

1. To intimidate your opponent

Honestly I don’t think a skull bowling ball would really be useful if you don’t make the shot. I would be more intimidated by someone who can convert a split. Even if he was wearing pink bowling shoes and using a Barbie doll bowling ball.

2. An excellent conversation piece

I have to admit that it would be really cool to have one of these balls. It certainly attracts attention. I can imagine other bowlers staring as the skull bowling ball is rolling down the lane. I can imagine all my friends wanting to try bowling with such a ball.

3. To make a statement

Some bowlers just love skulls, tattoos, body piercings and all related designs. Having a skull bowling ball just suits their image.

4. Collectors and novelty seekers

Did you know that production for the skull bowling ball was stopped a few years ago, and these bowling balls were sold at $500 on eBay? Thankfully you can find manufacturers producing skull bowling balls again.

There are two kinds of skull bowling balls. The first type is an artificial skull placed inside a clear coated polyester coverstock. The second type is a regular bowling ball emblazoned with skull patterns and designs.

Okay, enough talking. Here are the 12 skull bowling ball designs I found. Which is your favorite?

Cranium Tribe Skull Bowling Ball

Ebonite Skull Bowling Ball

Brunswick Skull Bowling Ball

OTB Grunge Skull Bowling Ball

OTB Punisher Comic Skull Bowling Ball

OTB Baby Blue Punk Skulls Bowling Ball

OTB Screwed Skulls Bowling Ball

OTB Dagger Skull Bowling Ball

OTB Iron Cross Skull Bowling Ball

OTB Skull King Bowling Ball

OTB Winged Skull Bowling Ball

Pirate Skull Viz-A-Ball

Technorati Tags: Skull Bowling Ball, Skull Pattern, Bowling

Yesterday I told you that I was close to buying my first bowling ball.

After calling my wife to discuss about it and thinking through the whole day, I made my way to the Endah Parade bowling pro shop to buy the ball.

I walked in to the shop and was immediately stunned. Standing there was our Malaysian bowling team head coach Holloway Cheah!

A very nice lady (I assume it is his wife Joy) explained to me the bowling balls they stocked, and I selected the Brunswick Power Groove Urethane Black Purple Solid (what a mouthful!)

The shop had a package deal. RM450 for this ball, a bowling bag and a pair of shoes. I didn’t add another RM100 to upgrade to a two ball bowling bag with rollers.

Too bad they didn’t have any skull bowling balls, which would have looked really cool!

I paid another RM49 for thumb and finger inserts.

I selected a 14 pound ball because the 13 pound ball was in pink.

So I was shaking there and really nervous as Mr Cheah came to measure my hand.

He kept telling me to relax. At first I wanted to drill the ball with a standard grip, but he recommended a fingertip grip instead.

If you remember yesterday’s post, I was so nervous about getting the ball drilled properly. I had Malaysia’s bowling ball specialist / head national coach doing it for me!

He spent 15 minutes drilling the ball while I sat there and read magazines (on my best behaviour I tell you)

After drilling the ball, he came over to have me test it out. It fit perfectly, and the 14 pound ball felt more like a 12 pound ball.

And then… he gave me a quick tip on how to release the ball to throw a hook. O…M….G!!!

That in itself made everything worth it. A lesson from the national team head coach is priceless!

In the end, his wife even gave me a complimentary ball cleaner.

Thank you! (I think I must have said that to them ten times)

I walked out of the shop cradling my new bowling ball like a baby. I was so happy because of the friendly people, great price and because I finally had my own ball.

The story doesn’t end there.

Later that night I was excited to try out my ball, so I made a trip to the 1 Utama bowling alley.

I couldn’t stop smiling. I lined up my first shot at the second arrow and the ball hit the mark perfectly. Then the ball started to hook… and hook… and hook… and hit the 7 pin (the last pin on the left).

So I spent the night just adjusting, trying to find the correct line to use.

I was trying to get used to the heavier weight, and by the end of my bowling session I looked like I completed half an hour of cardio at the gym.

The heavier weight also meant that I had to adjust my timing. I kept throwing the ball with late timing.

I tried to throw the ball with more ball speed, and with slower ball speed just to see how it will behave. It was a session of adjustment, of practice, of trying new things.

The ball was everything I thought it would be. I didn’t have to grip the ball anymore on my swing because it didn’t feel like it was going to drop off my hand.

If I threw it just right, I could get the ball to hook without much effort on my part. The ball seemed to send the pins flying (or maybe I imagined it) compared to using the normal house balls.

My average for that night was one hundred…. and…. ten. Okay I know that sucks. But its okay, I’m still adjusting to the new ball, it will take a few sessions.

I’m really happy with the ball. It’s money well spent.

If you are getting bowling equipment, I highly recommend the bowling pro shop at Endah Parade (a.k.a. Carrefour) Sri Petaling.

Technorati Tags: Bowling, Ball, Pro Shop, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I’m so close (like a few hours away) to buying myself one of these:

The Brunswick Power Groove Reactive entry level performance ball.

I asked around, and the price for this baby is RM 400. The online retail price in the US is around $62, so they’re selling it for double the price. However, factor in the shipping fees and it comes to the same.

Here are my (wild) justifications for why I want (need) a bowling ball:

1. I’m bowling regularly now. It’s time to get my own equipment.

2. Using a different bowling ball (with different finger fitting and weight) each time I bowl makes it hard to bowl consistently.

3. I am picking up bad habits and can’t get a smooth release because I don’t have a ball that is fitted for my hand.

4. A ball with reactive coverstock will grip the lane better, which allows the ball to enter the pocket at a better angle, which should produce more strikes, which will improve my average.

5. Honestly I think having my own ball shows I’m serious about the game. And I’m not afraid (though a little ashamed) to admit, I would feel very proud about it.

6. If I do get a high performance ball later, this ball can also be used as a spare ball.

I am choosing an entry level performance ball because is suitable for my current skill level. I might not be able to control a pro level ball.

The only things that cause me to hesitate are:

1. Getting a ball means I have to get a bag (RM100++)

2. There’s extra charges for finger inserts and drilling (RM50)

3. I’m not sure if the drilling will be done correctly or not

4. I’ll probably want to get a pair of shoes while I’m there (RM150++)

5. Still undecided on the ball weight

6. Still looking at other brands (may consider if can get a better deal)

7. The ball is not ‘cool’ enough. Maybe something like a skull bowling ball would be interesting. But then again, a skull ball probably won’t hook at all.

All in all, I’m looking at spending a minimum of RM700 *gulp*

And RM700 will look really nice sitting in my retirement account.

Sigh…

Actually my dad passed me his bowling ball. It’s a (classic) Brunswick Black Beauty rubber ball. It think it was in production 25 years ago.

I love the ball because it fits my hand perfectly, but the problem is it’s too heavy (16 pounds!).

I tried using it once, but I’m not as strong as daddy. I couldn’t release the ball smoothly (imagine a loud THUNK) and I ended up really short of breath after a few games.

So here I am again. Should I buy the bowling equipment? Should I save the money? Should I get an iPod touch? (hey how did that come in the picture).

Bowling, old age. Strikes, sustenance. A game, survival or poverty. High scores, high quality of life. Short term pleasure, long term gain.

* mesmerized…. by… shiny… ball…*

Since I wrote this bowling blog post in January, I’ve been bowling an average of once a week. I’m hooked (get it?).

When I bowl, my mind will usually tune out most of the things happening around me. I am too busy thinking about:

• how my body is moving
• how I can fix mistakes I made in the last shot
• how to get the ball in the pocket
• how to get a spare

But sometimes, there are just some things that disrupt my concentration.

First let me just say that I understand how bowling can be a social event. It’s perfectly fine to have fun and a good time.

There are some unwritten rules and courtesies that should be practiced by everyone.

Courtesy #1: Give Way

If a bowler on the next lane has already stepped on the approach, please let that person complete their throw before stepping on the approach for your delivery.

I can’t believe how often bowlers on my left and right will totally disregard this courtesy and just “cut queue”. This is my pet peeve.

This can really disrupt the focus of a bowler, not to mention it can be dangerous to have two heavy swinging bowling balls in close proximity.

What if you trip or lose your balance, and you fall on to my lane just as my bowling ball is swinging down with full force? Don’t blame me for any missing teeth.

A related courtesy is: If both bowlers step on the approach at the same time, the bowler on the right should be allowed to go first.

Courtesy #2: Get Off the Approach

After you make your delivery, it’s okay to stay a while to evaluate the result of your throw. It’s even okay to celebrate and do a little dance. But please get off the approach in a timely manner once the pins have dropped.

One time I had a kid sitting down at the end of the approach while his sister was bowling. I had to wait until he finished his little bit of mischief before I could resume bowling.

Other times there would be people standing in my way to take photographs of their friends, without even checking with me.

Courtesy #3: Bowling Ball

Please don’t touch my bowling ball.

I’ve had people in the next lane use the ball I was using, and I had to wait for the ball to come back before I could use it.

Put back the bowling balls after you’ve used them. Sometimes I arrive at a lane where there are ten bowling balls left there by irresponsible people.

Please don’t kick the bowling ball.

Please don’t throw the bowling ball from the approach. You will damage the approach (because it is un-oiled). A damaged approach makes it hard for other bowlers to deliver the ball.

Courtesy #4: Don’t Scream Unnecessarily

I understand how ecstatic it could be for one of your team mates to get a strike. I experience the same thrill and excitement. There is always a good reason to celebrate a strike.

But screaming and celebrating when you get a 7-10 split is not cool.

Remember that focus and concentration is really vital for a bowler. Any excessive noise (for no good reason) is distracting.

Conclusion

It’s fine if you make mistakes (like dropping the ball) when you bowl. Nobody will laugh or look down at you because everyone has made the same mistakes before.

It’s when you start being inconsiderate and disrespectful, other bowlers will really think badly of you.

Sometimes I wish I had a skull bowling ball to get others to keep a distance from me.

Please consider these common courtesies the next time you go bowling, so everyone can have a good game.

I hope I didn’t scare anyone away from going bowling with me. And I hope I didn’t come across as too demanding.

My ‘bowling time’ is really precious to me. I really get upset when it is ruined by others. I try not to let it get to me but sometimes it’s hard.

Technorati Tags: Bowling, Courtesy, Rules

Photo By : yumiang / CC BY 2.0

I did it! After sharing with you that I felt like bowling, I actually did it, alone, last weekend.

I parked my car at the 4th floor and walked in to the U-Bowl bowling alley to find a company event taking place.

I was so worried that they won’t open any lanes to the public.

I walked up to the counter and asked the counter staff (who I’ll refer to as Busy Suzy) if the lanes were open on that day.

“Yes, wait.”

So I waited for a while, so happy that I was gonna get some bowling done on that day.

“Berapa game?” (how many games), Busy Suzy asked.

“Tiga,” (three) I replied. I hastily added “kasut size 10″ (size 10 shoes).

I paid RM20 as she activated the bowling system on her console.

I was so excited hearing the bowling pins, and smelling the oil, knowing that I was going to be bowling soon.

I selected a 14 pound ball, went to my lane and put on my bowling shoes. I keyed in my name into the system, and started bowling.

Disaster.

I think I set too high expectation for myself. The first game after by big ‘comeback’ and I scored an 84. I didn’t even bother jotting down my score sheet.

The lanes were so oily. Oily like they had a hokkien mee party the previous night. No matter what I tried, the ball went straight.

Ignoring the score for the first game, I started to practice those things I read in the bowling book.

For my next game, I switched to a purple grape 12 pound ball.

Now let me pause here. Using a 12 pound ball is a bit embarrassing, especially when there was a lady at the next lane using the same weight.

Immediately I could see better results because I was able to aim the ball better.

A 132 game, which I’m quite happy with, though I know there’s still a lot for me to improve.

I missed the head pin too much and wasted a couple of spares.

Third game, I was getting really tired (now you know how unfit I am). I could only muster up a 118 game.

In the 8th frame I had threw an embarrassing gutter ball that masuk longkang about half way. Really no idea what happened. Maybe I got distracted. Wasted the strike.

My body is hurting a bit. Some muscles are sore as expected, and I am still recovering.

Positive review for myself, is I practiced my approach (but not perfect yet). I managed to pickup a 7 pin spare once, and a 10 pin spare twice.

I’m looking forward to my next bowling outing.

Technorati Tags: Bowling, 1-Utama, U-Bowl

Photo by jonnykeelty / CC BY 2.0

I mentioned on Twitter and Facebook that I’ve just finished reading the book Bowl Like a Pro by David Ozio.

I picked up the book in the library. I was browsing through the sports section looking at books on chess, when I saw this book laying down at its side, calling to me.

At first, I didn’t want to borrow the book. I had seen some Star Wars novels in the fiction section that I wanted to borrow instead.

I also thought that I knew everything there was to know about bowling. After all, I started bowling when I was ten years old, guided by my parents who won many league trophies.

How wrong I was.

The Things I Didn’t Know

One of the thing that struck me was I didn’t have the fundamentals right.

For one, my approach was not right. I knew how to aim at the arrows, but I didn’t figure that my starting position would influence the path of the ball.

I didn’t know that I should let gravity and momentum do the work on my arm swing. I was muscling it, and the ball would go further left as I got tired.

I was concentrating too hard on getting a hook ball, not knowing that the hook ball is impossible to control if you don’t have your fundamentals right.

I found out how having your own bowling shoes and bowling balls can dramatically improve your score. The bowling alley balls do not make use of the latest bowling ball technology.

I found out how you can bowl a 190 game without a single strike, if you can convert all your spares.

Most of all, I found out that those unorthodox  bowling styles you watch on TV may not be the most suitable for you. The reason why those pros can pull it off, is they play more games in a week than we normal people can practice in a year.

I found out that the ‘mental’ game they keep talking about, does not just cover the psychological state of mind, but includes using your analysis and problem solving skills.

I also learned that you should practice with purpose, not just throwing the balls and hoping you will improve. I need to set goals to achieve and a strategy for improvement.

A Secret Affair

Honestly I’ve been a bit obsessed with bowling in the past week.

I’ve been watching YouTube videos of bowling matches, and watching coaching videos too.

I’ve been checking out bowling equipment websites.

I’ve even opened an account at BowlSK.com, a website that allows you to input your game scores and pin fall history for later analysis.

I can’t wait to go bowling again.

Sometimes I feel like I’m having an affair. Not to say I have any experience in having affairs, but you know what I mean.

I have to think of dates and times when my wife won’t notice I’m gone. Maybe I’ll go bowling at midnight. Maybe I’ll go on weekends when she’s having a nap.

I have to think of ways so that my extra expenses won’t affect our family budget.

I have to plan ahead, maybe taking a day off work just to find time to go bowling. I think I know how golfers feel.

I would bring her along, but she’s pregnant right now. Later I plan to teach Rachel to bowl as well.

My First Date

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to visit a bowling alley soon. Maybe this weekend I’ll go alone, and if my sister and her boyfriend are free next week, we might go for an 11pm game (they have happy hour, yahoo!).

Who knows where I’ll go from here.

After all, it’s almost been ten years since I’ve bowled regularly.

I may suck so bad, I’ll give up and forget the whole thing.

I may have a good experience and get hooked again.

I hope I don’t get a heart attack or something. That would really be embarrassing.

Technorati Tags: Bowling