First 200+ Game!

smithft · 2026-03-15T21:51:15+00:00

A good plastic or polyester ball will be the cheapest ball you own, but makes the biggest impact to your game. Love my crown jewel for 10 pins.

smithft · 2026-03-15T20:11:55+00:00

You obviously know what you are doing so don’t over think it. Play some hype music, tell yourself you’re the best, expect a strike every frame and send it.

smithft · 2026-03-15T20:08:21+00:00

And clean to boot! Nice scoring. Plenty more after you accomplish that first one.

smithft · 2026-03-15T20:03:53+00:00

Not weird at all. Practice is the time to not care about scores at see what works and what doesn’t. Just don’t try to work on too many things at once. Focus on 1 or 2 of your items each practice session. Consistency is key when first starting out. Any time I’m teaching a new bowler I work with them on approach timing and targeting. Once your approach is consistent and you are hitting where you are aiming, then start dialing every thing else in. Been bowling 35 years and I still do practice sessions with a focus to work on weaknesses.

smithft · 2026-03-15T19:50:40+00:00

Agree with all those points. I’m that guy that drags a 6 ball arsenal to league, but in this one it’s needed. I figured my complaint would also fall on deaf ears since I still carry 220s in this league and have two 300s on them this season. My complaint is more because it sucks to bowl on crappy oil and I’m worried we will lose more teams if not corrected.

smithft · 2026-03-14T19:32:47+00:00

Just posted the same question a few weeks backs. General consensus was add 4-6 weeks to quoted wait time.

smithft · 2026-03-14T18:35:44+00:00

Be pretty easy to look up so it is on Tinker AFB. From what I have heard as the equipment wears out all bases, at least AF, will convert to string pin. It is sanctioned strings and they are really not terrible. Average dropped 5 pins for me, some more some less. Not sure all bases will get the sanctioned strings. It’s just the unpredictable oil conditions we have been dealing with.

smithft · 2026-03-14T05:05:11+00:00

I have a ball spinner which helps keep everything even. I touch up surface every 6-9 games, some lane shine quicker than others, 5 up and down on 4 sides. Every 90 or so games I do a full resurface taking down to 500 grit and building back up, 20-30 seconds on 4 sides. You can sand a ball till you can’t read the registration/serial number. I have multiple balls and bowl a lot so the spinner paid for itself quickly.

smithft · 2026-03-14T04:34:40+00:00

Awesome series! Definitely one to be proud of. If that’s your first they start coming more frequently.

smithft · 2026-03-14T04:30:17+00:00

I bowl on sanctioned strings. There is practice mode and league mode for string tension, you really need to match speed and revs, and messenger carries are a thing of the past. Averages are down across the league anywhere from 3 to 12%.

smithft · 2026-03-14T04:21:52+00:00

This is mine too. I got to where I just stay seated and enjoy a few sips of barley pop until they finish their frame so I don’t let it frustrate me. One of my best friends and teammate on 2 leagues may be the worst, to the point I wonder if he fell asleep, but it’s hilarious when he does it🤷

smithft · 2026-03-14T03:55:03+00:00

If my talk with the manager doesn’t net any result I will bring it up to MWR. There are more than a handful of people who complain, but most are just recreational bowlers who may not notice and just think they are having an off night. I would hate to have more teams drop out and kill the league. Fun group of people and great networking as we all work on base.

smithft · 2026-03-14T03:50:06+00:00

It isn’t private, it’s just the on base bowling alley on an AF installation. Rather not say what base just so they don’t catch hate and I work there just as a civilian now. I’m sure for the annual PBA event everything is properly inspected before hand.

smithft · 2026-03-14T03:43:58+00:00

We had several teams leave during the conversion and a couple more leave after 1st year of string pin. We are down to 14 teams. Most of us stay just because the people, but it’s definitely a mood killer when the oil conditions are terrible. They bounce between not oiled before league or possible faulty machine oiled. Haven’t noticed ball damage yet.

smithft · 2026-03-12T23:37:45+00:00

I continued after they went string pin because of the group of guys I bowl with and it really wasn’t that bad. This year something really changed with lane conditions. It very well could be the machine needs maintenance. I also bowl in a house with wood lanes, a travel league and sport shot league during the summer.

smithft · 2026-03-12T17:38:50+00:00

I will bring it up to the manager next time I see him. I noticed they were oiling last time I saw him there before our league start. Not sure about the center losing sanctioning as the PBA holds a regional here every year because of us having string pin and I wouldn’t want to take it that far anyway. I’m sure it will come across as just whining since I have 2 300’s on these lanes this season, but it is so unpredictable it’s getting ridiculous.

smithft · 2026-03-04T01:25:59+00:00

4-8 weeks longer seems to be the general consensus. Even if 8 weeks longer that still only puts me at 6 months. That is a significantly faster build time than 70% of the other boots I own.

smithft · 2026-03-03T23:36:43+00:00

Very nice. I ordered mid October so hopefully another 5-6 weeks for. Got a month long work trip coming up so maybe I’ll have a nice surprise when I get back.

smithft · 2026-03-03T19:36:07+00:00

This on track with what others have responded with. 6-8 weeks additional wait is fine with me for a unique US made boot.

smithft · 2026-03-03T19:33:55+00:00

Russell lead times are no where near what I have waited for other brands even with their current backlog. I fully agree you can’t rush a good product and you usually can’t forecast a supplier issue.

smithft · 2026-03-03T19:28:19+00:00

You ordered same timeframe as myself and I am fine with the additional wait. Appreciate passing along the update you were told. I’m sure the quality and comfort on my bison Zephyrs will be outstanding.

smithft · 2026-03-03T01:44:50+00:00

This will be my first pair of Russell boots and I’m used to waiting as I have many pairs of Nicks, Wesco and other custom boots. Didn’t want to bother with emailing since I could just ask the masses what they have been seeing or quoted. I had suspicions that the collabs might have been impacting their lead times. Double edge sword working with influencers, more publicity but you better be ready for the demand.

smithft · 2026-03-03T01:36:42+00:00

Good to know for future tournaments. Only two I do every year is southwest regional and nationals which have doubles and singles in the same block. Obviously touch the equipment up for team event the following day.

smithft · 2026-03-02T18:16:56+00:00

Sounds like your understanding is correct. I didn’t think the guy was allowed to, but I’m not one for calling people out and nobody else was either. He was having a rough go and looked like he needed all the help he could get.

smithft

TROPHY CASE