BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS 3-25-22 A Bucket In Bowling Unless you go bowling on a regular basis, you probably don't know what a bucket is, even if you yourself have faced one. In order to understand what a bucket is, it helps to know a little about how bowling pins are set up on the bowling lane. A full set of 10 pins is known as a rack, which is set up in the shape of an equilateral triangle on the deck, or rear of the lane. Each pin is 15 inches tall and must be placed precisely 12 inches from neighboring pins. To aid in scoring and game tracking, each of the pins in a rack is assigned a specific number. If you're facing a rack of pins, the lead or head pin is No. 1. Subsequent pins are numbered 2 to 10, moving front to back, left to right. A bucket, not popular with bowlers, is a special kind of spare that leaves four pins in the shape of a diamond. Most bowlers distinguish between a right- handed bucket and a left-handed bucket. For righties, a bucket is the cluster of the 2,4,5 and 8 pins. For lefties, the bucket is the 3,5,6,9 cluster. The 1-2-3-5 cluster, although less common, is also known as a bucket. Some bowlers refer to these four-pin clusters as "dinner buckets," reserving the term "bucket" for a cluster of three pins such as 2-4-5 or 3-5-6. As with any leave, the goal is to pick up the spare, but clearing a bucket can prove challenging for bowlers. Unless your ball hits the spare just so, not all the pins will fall and you'll leave pins behind (known as an open frame). Most bowlers throw at a bucket using their normal hook shots, adjusting their positioning to have the ball hit the bucket in the same way they attempt to hit the pocket on their first shots. Other bowlers prefer a head-on-shot. Whatever shot you're using, the most important thing to remember is to make direct contact with the lead pin. Both the hook and the straight shot are good strategies on the 3-5-6-9 bucket, with the hook a bit more to the right than the straight throw. For the 2-4-5-8 bucket, even more difficult to pick up, the hook ball is the better shot because it is less likely to be deflected by the 8 pin. One should have fun with their bowling game so try to remember that bucket shots are all part of the game. I like the way one of my favorite PBA bowlers Norm Duke attacks the bucket.....straight on. The Bowling Tip By Mike Luongo Let's look at a couple of key bowling tips. One common mistake is the fact that all bowlers focus on the bowling pins when they are thinking of throwing the ball towards the pin deck. Instead, the right thing to do would be to look at the aiming arrows that are printed on the bowling lane. They are a straight line pointing towards the pin deck and are the most accurate way of making the right shot. Focus on the arrows and you will always get your shot where you want it to go. Another key tip.....while you are approaching it is particularly important that you keep your speed in check. Sometimes over-speeding when it comes to taking your bowling approach can be detrimental if you are thinking a faster approach might help you knock down more pins. Taking the right shot for the right situation is critical to score better and so this means that you need to choose between a straight throw and a hook at the right time. Whether you are a beginner or a professional senior bowler, your bowling sessions are incredibly important. Like every other sport, practice is the key for improvement Mike Luongo is a Certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USSB Silver Level Coach and an Advisor Special Events Assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, email him at mikel@stormbowling.com Local Scores Port Jervis Bowl Monday Mixed J.J. Wilhelm 265, 755, Gene Smith 237, 634, Keith Smith 235, 604, Michele Macedonio 180, Kyle Mathews 257, 656, Steve Fairweather 278, 634, Carena Collura 228, 566, Jaryl Scott 258, 674, Vinnie Collura 259, 740, John Jashembowski 255, 634, Serafin Rodriguez III a 231, 621, Liz Stubits 226, 580, Shane Cunningham 258, 664, Marianna Monaco 211, 542, Paul Minton 279, 739. Tuesday Mixed Edward Jones 255, Kyle Felter 268, 674, TC Conklin 226, 633, Anka Scott 248, 627, Robert Jahn 231, Lincoln Ranich 244, 679, Chris Morgan Sr. 248, 671, Fran Luzzi 207, 563, Josephine Zych 236, 615, Wayne Sniffen 300, 731. Port Jervis City Kyle Stevens 268, 753, Joe Biccum 255, Pedro Agapito 236, 686, Will Townsend 235, 628, Chris Morgan Sr. 233, 603, Brian Pastor 235, 677, Brittney Morgan 199, 564, Shelly Morgan 247, 600, Chris Morgan Jr. 246, 659, Francis Luzzi 215, 618, Derek Delaney 278, 690, Tom Hinkley 213, 607, John Ewanciw 256, 617, Gary Kinne 248, 653, Neal Bensley 258, 651, John Dietz 218, 610, Matthew Terwilliger 216, 624, Jeff Brown 221, 603, Shrek B 226, 649. Thursday Night Women's Erin McDonagh 213, 578, Michele Macedonio 202, 546, Stephanie Freeman 192, 514, Kristin Banse 190, 504, Kim DeGarmo 178, 464, Carol Flynn 198. Minisink Memorial Jaryl Scott 230, 623, Jordan Drew 259, 655, Gary Kinne 236, 618, Jerianne Baumgardner 177, 501, Steve Knapp 248, 652, Kyle Felter 244, 690, Justin Traynor 218, 612, Ray Willis Jr. 223, 611, Neal Bensley 248, 654, Makayla Csencsits 185, Brooke Csencsits 205, 548, Kyle Matthews 256, 661, Jason Csencsits 266, 681, Matt Shauger 222, Doug Romer 235, 666, Brigette Willis 192, 554, Jacob Loske 243, 639, Wayne Sniffen Jr. 225, 627. Sunday Doubles Ron Kalin 233, Heidi Willis 210, 574, Sean Pittack 231, 604, Karin Willis 202, 506, Shelly Morgan 227, 569, Brooke Csencsits 245, 550, Chris Morgan Sr. 224, 630, Sherri Laird 181, Bruce Eby 228, 665. Fox Bowling Center Wednesday Independent Andrew Bullis 279, 685, Bucky Bullis 224, 642, Frank Dicostanzo 230, 646, Shane Dirig 258, 635, Paul Gordon 258, 644, Ben Green 246, 644, Pete Green 233, 662, Dan Keesler 244, 644, Donnie Marino 237, 660, Mitch Persbacker 243, 667, Brian Tiffany 235, 605, Scott Wahl 236, 634, Roger Widmann 213, Zuke Wormuth 238, 605. Friday Couples Andy Bullis 244, 630, Shane Dirig 227, 643, Marc Fino 251, 636, Julie Martin 192, 520, Carol McGraw 202, 506, Brooke Rosengrant 224, 592, Dan Wormuth 224, 651. Sunday Youth Mixed Joshua Dunlap 107, 130, 142, Landon Fuller 180, 150, 156, 486, Dylan Johnson 101, Brooke Rajoppi 103, Donavan Rivera 106, 107, Landyn Robinson 149, 143, Livian Robinson 103, 129, Justin Roney 126, 102, Carter Wormuth 140, 169, 160, 469, Cooper Wormuth 112, 182, 120, 414, Luke Wormuth 124. Sunday Mixed Fun Mike Bowker 234, 637, Landon Fuller (youth) 190, 526, Mark Hitchcock 253, 601, Donnie Marino 266, 686, Rick Mills 229, 615. Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the Sport of Bowling and brings over 65 years of sports journalism experience writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series, let Ed know at 845-439-8177 or email at bght75@gmail.com Read this column and see Ed's bowling photos at http://bght.blogspot.com