My average is down to a miserable 150 on this &^%$! long oil pattern. What on Earth was I thinking when I joined this league? I believe it is what... 44 feet of oil? My ball does NOTHING! OK, the Special Agent does have a little bit of pop to it, but not nearly enough, and my spare game is seriously suffering.

Actually, though, compared to my dad I'm not doing all that badly. Poor guy usually carries at least a 185-190 average, but he is now down to less than 160 on the long oil. "It's just not fun anymore," he says. And I agree. It's too darn frustrating not being able to figure out what the ball is or isn't going to do. I'm missing ridiculously simple spares simply because the long oil totally messes up the angles I need to throw at.

Tomorrow the oil patter is supposed to change. I hear that there have been a LOT of complaints about the toughness of the oil patterns, so maybe they'll make it a tad easier this time around.

Still, it's kind of disappointing to know that, despite being what would be considered an above average bowler on standard house conditions, I could never hold my own in a more competetive setting. Alas.

This past Thursday my dad and I went to see Mark London at Deer Park Lanes in Lake Zurich. We both needed new balls, something that would hook better in the excruciatingly long oil that we're bowling on in our Monday night league. Mark took a lot of time with me, watching how I threw the ball and how my current ball (Storm Fear Factor) reacts.

I have an annoying tendency to come over the top of the ball on my release, resulting in a lot of spinning. Mark suggested one adjustment I could make in my starting hand position that would help remedy this situation. When I tried it out, I could not believe the difference it made in the way the ball hooked.

Mark recommended either the Storm Special Agent or the Brunswick Total Inferno, both of which are basically the same ball. I went with the Special Agent since I have more experience with Storm balls. He drilled it in such a way to give me maximum hook in the oil.

OH MY GOD I love this new ball!!! Plus the change in hand position has my ball hooking like it never has before. I am very, VERY encouraged and am actually looking forward to when league resumes next week.

In our next installment: Will the new ball and new release help to end my mega-oil frustrations? Stay tuned.