Bowling Bytes--4/20/10

~ 89-year-old Wisconsin bowler is the oldest to bowl perfect game -- "When Fran Lasee rolled a 300 game earlier this year, it was the fifth time in his bowling career he had thrown a perfect game. But this 300 game had special significance because it came just a few weeks after Lasee's 89th birthday, making his the oldest person to throw a perfect game in a United States Bowling Congress certified league...In December 2003, Lasee bowled an 834 series - 279, 290, 265 - at age 83, which, at the time, made him the man oldest person to bowl an 800 series..."

~ PBA stars offer "Dream Camp" -- "Amateur bowlers looking to step up their games will have the chance to learn from some of the hottest stars in the sport today when the 3rd Annual Bowlers Dream Camp convenes July 8-10 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. Reigning U.S. Open champion Bill O'Neill joins former PBA Players of the Year Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones to offer three days of intensive instruction on a broad range of topics, including lane play, physical mechanics, ball motion, drilling layouts and much more. Coordinating the camp is renowned coach Mark Baker, whom Bill O'Neill describes as "the Hank Haney of professional bowling"...The sheer star power the Bowlers Dream Camp offers is one of several factors that sets it apart from other bowling camp experiences, with three-time Tournament of Champions winner Jason Couch, former Player of the Year Doug Kent, and PBA exempt player Dino Castillo joining O'Neill, Barnes, Jones and Baker as coaches..."

~ Two bowlers roll perfect games at USBC Open Championships -- "There were only six perfect games through the first 55 days of the 2010 USBC Open Championships, but there have been three more in the last four days at the National Bowling Stadium. Tony Woodward of Helena, Mont., rolled the eighth 300 of the year during his team event Sunday night, while Dan Matasek of Villa Park, Ill., tossed the ninth in his final game of doubles 13 hours later. Ron Hosler of Denver had one Friday afternoon..."

~ Dale Traber Leads After Second Round in PBA Senior Dayton Classic -- "Averaging 230 for 16 games, two-time PBA Senior Tour titlist Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis., led second round qualifying Monday in the PBA Senior Dayton Classic at Capri Lanes. Traber, in his third full season on the Senior Tour, had games of 237, 235, 247, 248, 199, 207, 264 and 235 in his second qualifying block Monday to bring his overall 16-game pinfall to 3,680. He holds a 111-pin lead over Bobby Johnson of Chillicothe, Ohio, in second, and a 127-pin lead over Ron Profitt of Brookville, Ohio, in third. PBA Hall of Famer Wayne Webb, now making his home in Columbus, Ohio is fourth 136 pins back..."

~ PBA Southwest Region Leaders through April 19, 2010

~ PBA West Leaders Through April 19, 2010

~ Osku Palermaa in familiar place in European Bowling Tour ranking -- "Osku Palermaa (pictured left), the two-hander from Finland, is in a familiar place after the conclusion of the 4th Qubica/AMF Open, the 7th tournament of the 2010 European Bowling Tour, which was contested April 14-18 at Bowling Center Gladiator Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The 3-time defending European Bowling Tour ranking champion (2007-'09) lost in the semifinals against eventual winner Wendy Kok, Netherlands, en route to finish in third place overall and second in the men's ranking to earn just enough points to pass previous leader Dominic Barrett (right), England, and to stand alone atop the 2010 EBT men's ranking..."

~ Thai bowlers sweep the titles in Asian Bowling Federation Tour Thailand leg -- "Apiwich Watanaphongsakorn (l.) and Angkana Netvriseth (r.), both Thailand, swept the men's and women's titles in the Asian Bowling Federation Tour Thailand leg Monday at SF Strike Bowl in Bangkok, Thailand..."

~ Billy Welu (1953)

~ Questions on grip types, accuracy and adjustments--Feb. 2009 -- "Q: My 12-year-old son is just starting to bowl. Is it better for juniors to start with a conventional grip or a fingertip drilling?...Q: I need a tip or two about what I should do to control my ball at release. I find when I release the ball, it doesn’t always go on its intended path, and usually veers to the left. My normal target is the 2nd arrow, and when I’m bowling well, I usually hit that target and go on to hit the pocket. When I miss, it is always to the left. It feels like I am throwing the ball from outside to in, and sometimes around my waist...Q: In the 1970s, I averaged 200-plus. I quit the game in 1981, and did not return until 2004. I am now 70 years old and throw a big hook with a 14-lb ball at a speed of 10- to 11-mph. I can’t control these reactive balls, though, and my average has dipped to 148. I used to throw a urethane ball but can’t find them anymore. Do you have any help for this aging, formerly good bowler?...Q: I love to watch the PBA Tour on TV. A few tournaments back, Wes Malott seemed to have everything going when he shot 289 game, but then in the title match, he totally lost it and did not break 200. How can a bowler of his caliber bowl so badly after having a great game?...Q: Is there a good method for shadow bowling before league play? Should you try to figure out the line early or what?..."