Howard "Pete" Peterson, Columnist
Two honor score games were bowled for the week, Buck Lease Jr. scored a 299 in his 703 set at The Bowler and Chip Parsons rolled a 298 game in his 735 set at Wilson Lanes.
The area’s top bowler for the week was Erik Prinz, who scored 756/274 in the Friday Gems League at The Bowler. Travis Walters was next rolling 742/279. Prinz topped the list of nine 700’s for the week.
The leader at White Oak Lanes was Joe Mullenax who scored 746/259. Chad Gable followed rolling 738/279.
Parsons’ 735 was highest for the week at Wilson Lanes. Clay Corbin followed with a pair of 700’s, 718/243 and 717/279.
Adam Braithwaite and Randy Likens were the leaders at Rainbow Lanes bowling 673/248 and 667/249, respectively.
Jeremiah McKenzie bowled 653/259 for the lead at Sherwood Lanes. Jeremiah Howsare was next rolling 637/214.
Missy Yates rolled 674/236 at The Bowler and was the area’s top lady bowler for the week. Crystal Uhl followed scoring 596/234.
Autumn Gable’s 594/233 was the week’s top score for the White Oak ladies. Michele Hitchens was next at 575/200.
Sandy Hott bowled 529/191 for the ladies’ high for the week at Rainbow Lanes. Lou Dille was next rolling 504/200.
At Wilson Lanes, Janine Buff led the ladies scoring 522/189. Jessica Judy was next at 519/187.
Amy Rowe bowled 508/192 at Sherwood Lanes.
Helen Uncapher was the area’s top senior for the week scoring 597/235 at White Oak Lanes. Senior George Gilmore rolled 576/202 at The Bowler.
Rainbow’s Charles Abernathy was the Area’s top youth bowler rolling 665/231. Randy Cubbage bowled 595/255 at White Oaks. Corey Lease also scored a 595 set at The Bowler. Justin Boyer rolled 571/194 at Wilson Lanes and Danny Walch scored 521/175 at Sherwood Lanes.
Spare shooting is still bowlers’ most serious problem. Unless you can make single pin spares consistently, your average will remain lower than you are capable of. Most important — learn to throw a straight ball cross-alley at the four and/or the ten pin (assuming a right-handed bowler). Get a coach to teach you if necessary.
The next requirement is to improve your accuracy. The primary ingredient for accuracy is timing and a loose, straight armswing. If you have been bowling for a couple of years, you may not realize this but your ball will seek the target that you are looking at.
You can trick your body to throw at the target you want by focusing on a board that is not your actual target. For example, if you are fairly consistent in rolling to the right of your target, try focusing on a board that is 2 or 3 boards to the left of your actual target.
Gradually your body will correct the difference and come closer to where you are actually focused and you can change your focus back to the actual target.
Good luck bowling and have fun striking out!
Howard “Pete” Peterson covers bowling for the Cumberland Times-News. He can be reached at petesbowling@atlanticbb.net.
