Gary Pidwill - Tenpin Bowler

Also, I'm very proud to announce a new personal best for Ella Crawley who shot an incredible 182 game at Atlantic Bowl on an 8lb houseball only a few days ago!

With today's news, I will be offering my bowling knowledge to Ella to help her master her straight bowling and get that average singing!

Well done, Ella! 🎈🎉

Well, after advice from doctors and such, I've had to retire from competitive level ten-pin bowling, as my safe weight limit to bowl is 6lb - hopefully that will change later.

So, I've decided to still visit the lanes, but I will coach some young bowlers I've recently met.

I suppose I can still go to league nights and watch or do something media-based to do something in touch with bowling.

Hopefully, after a transplant, I'll be back 🙏

I've officially started the Bowler of the Week initiative for ND persons.

Our first winner is Ella Crawley who bowled 111 (houseball) on Monday morning at Atlantic Bowl.

Well bowled, Emma!

If you're interested in joining the initiative, please comment or send your scores (any age, any skill, any location) and let's celebrate our bowling achievements together!

Bowled today after a few weeks out and a medical procedure - so I was just focusing on fitness today.

I chose the USBC Masters 2025 pattern.

I found my strike shot very early.

It was a very straight forward pattern for me. I started to find the pocket quite well and had a few doubles, but single pin spares were bad today.

I aimed for one good game today, which I did - the rest were just practice.

Block today:
112/114/168/114/114

I'd definitely have another go at this pattern, but with my 16lb Scout - I was just lacking a bit of carry today and a straighter ball would do well on it.

Welcome to my latest commercial partner, The Bunker, Orford 🇬🇧🫡

Good food at good prices in the centre of the community in Orford Park, Warrington.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DfdRJSE1W/

Bowling the PBA Chameleon 25 today as per WSOB at Atlantic Bowl.

Let's see if I learned anything from Verity Crawley ✌️🌺🎳

BLOCK:

Game 1 - 186
Game 2 - 179
Game 3 - 150
Game 4 - 150
Game 5 - 141
Game 6 - 117

3 game Avg: 171 (153 over 6 games)

Balls used: Optimum Idol Solid/Optimum Idol Pearl.

I'm still clearly not up to fitness, but Game 1 was one fill ball away from 200 and a clean game.

Game 2 much better on the strike, but my head went on three straight spares. I bounced back with a triple. Easily a 200 game. I

I'll do it one day!

Game 3 - not happy with it at all, but managed a 150. Distractions started winning.

Game 4 - Spares really good again, but suffered on the splits and started to lose carry for 150.

Games 5 and 6 were warm downs/trying new things.

Overall, I bowled really well, but distractions and fatigue started to control my game a bit.

It was great to see a large cohort of ND bowlers arrive and I might even have made a few acquaintances there 😃🎳

Today's practice at Atlantic Bowl saw me try my hand at PBA 2023 Tackett oil pattern (in my AJ Johnson jersey).

Matched games: 144/157/180
Scr. Average: 160
Hdp. Average: 235

I'm very proud of that. I worked out how to attack the pattern, and was rewarded with a few doubles.

Spares very good today in general - only missed some splits and the odd mishap - 60-80% on spares.

I even got a strike and a spare trying 2-handed in the 3rd game 😃

I enjoyed that pattern a lot 🎳

Practice at Atlantic Bowl on PBA 2023 Tackett (44')

Let's see how it goes!

A successful return to bowling today and a familiar face or two.

Today was purely getting back into it after hospital/recovery.

The very first throw of the Optimum Idol (practice) was a strike, so as promised that was for AJ Johnson 🎳

Fatigue was factor today with having been/being unwell, but I kept at it, pacing turns with fellow league bowler (John C) and was rewarded with three consecutive high scores and 62.5% spare shooting and 27% on strikes (improved from last league outing).

I was easily on for 200 in the last two games.

My set today was 121/156/159 (196/231/234) for a series of 436 (661).

I'm excited to try the Idol on fresh/long 🤌

Huge thanks to PBA Tour Champion and Team USA bowler, AJ Johnson for this jersey in the post today.

It'd be rude not to bowl in it this week now, wouldn't it?

First strike on the brand new Optimum Idol is dedicated to AJ and his generosity 🎳

I've not posted here lately, because I've been in hospital this month and spent the last fortnight aiming to build stamina, confidence and general fitness up.

My eyesight seems to be nearly 100% again, but it's diagnosis highlighted a big decline in underlying conditions resulting in some serious and health concerns (impending dialysis).

So, I'm quitting league (for now,) purely because I don't think I can commit to it with such poor health, but I have enjoyed every second of it.

That said, I'm aiming to bowl once a week from now with the same passion I always do and keep going to try to take my mind away from it all.

Bowling has showed me that the bowling community sticks together - and that no matter what happens, I'm welcome in that community 💜💙

I might need some of that warmth and support in the coming weeks and months 🎳

Dom Barrett in the latest PBA stepladder.

Bring it home, Dom!