| BILLY "O"'S JOURNAL
H & R Block Classic – Reno, Nevada
January 3, 2007 – Chameleon
Pattern
Happy New Year sports fans! It’s
the second half of the season, and my New Year’s resolution is to win
a title this season. The first half was good, the second is
going to be better. My confidence level is higher, and I feel
great! This week we are in Reno Nevada at the bowling stadium. I have
bowled here at least 10 times. Some good most bad, however, this is
going to be good, I feel it! I decided to drive, and boy was that the
right thing to do. It gave me time to think about how I am going to
approach my bowling this half, and see the country in a way I have not
seen before, up close not from 30,000 ft. above.
Wednesday, January 3, 2006 – 4:00pm.
This week we are bowling on the chameleon pattern. It’s one of
my favorite patterns. Well it definitely beats the shark, hands
down. In the practice session I found my Widows to work the best. My
Pains stored too much energy and my No Mercy’s burned up in the front
too fast. The Widows all gave me the reactions I needed for optimum
score. My Hawgzillas were too smooth in the front and not enough in
the back. When I sanded them they hooked earlier in the front
but lost the hitting power. I had 2 ways to play the lanes. First,
down the gutter, and a little firm with speed. The problem with
this was the ball would push too much and I would leave a lot of 2-7
split combos. My other option is to stand around 20 and start the
ball at 10 at the dots out to 3 or 4 at the arrows and let the back
end bring the ball back to the pocket. It is crucial that I didn’t
throw it too hard, and get a hand full, because if I didn’t the ball
wouldn’t react. So these were my 2 game plans, lets see how they
work.
Thursday, January 4, 2007 - 11am.
Yesterday I drilled up a Widow and a Zilla. The balls of choice are
the Widows. The one with the pin above my ring finger with CG
and Mass bias in a straight line down from my pin, with a hole 2
inches down from my axis point. John May laid this ball out for me.
It gave me the bounce off the outside boards I needed, and boy was
that the right call. When that ball was too much, I switched to my
other Widow with the pin between and below my ring and middle fingers.
This gave me the extra push I needed when the lanes dried up.
First seven games I went 142 over, and finished in 19th
place. Not bad, but I’ve got to do better the 2nd
half.
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Game:
Score: |
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1
221 |
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2
246 |
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3
225 |
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4
192 |
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5
219 |
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6
213 |
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7
226 |
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Total
1542 |
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6:00pm – The lanes are a little
tighter but had the same characteristics from this morning so I used
the same balls but hit them with 1000 abralon pad. I sacrificed
hitting power for control of the pocket. So my plan was to hit the
pocket make my spares and when I ran into a good pair of lanes then
drill them. I mean get as much score as possible, and that’s exactly
what I did. I went 230 over including 3-250 games, in which 2 were
back to back. Great day! I started the year off right, by making it
to the round of 32. YES! Time to celebrate see you tomorrow.
|
Game:
Score: |
|
1
205 |
|
2
235 |
|
3
207 |
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4
256 |
|
5
212 |
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6
258 |
|
7
257 |
|
Total
1630 |
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Friday, January 5, 2007 - 9:00am.
Well, I qualified 9th my highest qualifying position yet!
My opponent is Steve Rogers. He made the show in Hammond, Indiana
and he shot 300 his last game yesterday to go from 43rd to
24th place, so I won’t be taking him lightly at all. The
balls of choice are the Widows from yesterday with my Toxic
sandblasted with 500 abralon, pin under my ring finger CG kicked out
with a crater hole on my axis.
First game - I used my new Widow
and I felt like I was walking up on a escalator going down. I
got spanked.
Game 1
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Steve Rogers |
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Billy Oatman |
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Second game - I switched to my
other Widow, moved in 7 boards, kept my same break point and threw it
slower to allow the lane to bring it back. The only problem with that
was I had to be perfect. A little fast, it would hit light. A little
slow, it would go through the nose. I had no area. Loser again.
What is going on? Am I the beat up guy, the push over, the human
bye? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!! Now get your butt in gear and win this
match.
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Game 2
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|
Steve Rogers |
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Billy Oatman |
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Third game - I decided to switch to
my Toxic, bingo I was off to the races that ball gave me the reaction
I was looking for. Finally shot 247. Loser again. Oh no, I feel like
I am in Baltimore all over again. What does it take for me to
win a game? What is it about me that gives my opponents the power of
Superman when they bowl me? Well Superman here is some kryptonite for
you.
Game 3
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Steve Rogers |
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Billy Oatman |
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Fourth game - YOU WILL NOT SWEEP
ME! If I am bowling anybody else except maybe Steve Jaros I win
hands down. Such as life, oh well on with the match.
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Game 4
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|
Steve Rogers |
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Billy Oatman |
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Fifth game - 269 Yes! Take that Mr.
Rogers. We are not in your neighborhood anymore.
Game 5
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|
Steve Rogers |
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Billy Oatman |
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Sixth game - this match is going
down to the wire. My Toxic is losing its energy, but I dare not
switch balls right now. I have control of the pocket. Just a
little longer. I can put him away with the first ball in the 10th
frame. No, a 6 pin! Make the spare and strike to force him to
double. What? A 6 count!? Not now! Oh well, here comes the red
trolley to take me out of Mr. Rogers neighborhood.
Game 6
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Steve Rogers |
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Billy Oatman |
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It’s like déjà vu. Once again I am a victim to
the 1st round. I finished 19th my highest
finish this season. Not bad, I guess there is a light at the end of
the tunnel, I just hope it’s not a train.
See you next in good ole Medford Oregon.
Don't forget to sign up for the Fan Club and get updated emails and
alerts during the tour. Also check out the photo's from Reno,
Nevada in the photo gallery.
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