Product Specialists

PBA Tour 

Pro Staff

Ball Talk

News
Top  

Home

    
   
 

 
 
 

Outside
Insiders

Round of 8
Click on category of interest to view details

 


Best Match in the Round of 8
 

Highest avg.
in the round of 8
 

Highest avg. loser
in the round of 8
 

Lowest scoring match in the Round of 8
 

Sweeps
 


Matches with Brunswick balls being used
in the round of 8
 

  
Company vs Same Company matches in the round of 8
 

lower seed victories
 

Hand vs Hand
 

7 Game Matches
 

 

  
     
 

 

  
 

Insider Information from the Round of 8 with Rick Benoit

Qualifying Position Round of 32 Round of 16 Round of 8 TV
 
 

Header

Round
of
8

TV

Staff

Balls Used

 

Balls Used

Staff

TV

Round
of
8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 vs 25

      

 

     

15 vs 26

match link

    

 

 

     

match link

       

 

       

       

 

 

      

                 

21 vs 4

    

 

 

 

    

22 vs 3

match link

      

 

 

    

match link

     

 

 

 

      

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

match 1

 
1 Mike Scroggins Non Staff  
  vs.    
25 Tommy Delutz Non Staff  
  Balls Used Comments
  MS TD
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
ttl    
     
        Whoever drew Mike was going to have a challenge. If the scoring pace was high it was going to be a bigger advantage to Mike as Tommy's previous matches showed more transition challenges and a lower scoring pace through those transitional moves. This proved to be the case as Mike had the superior match-up. Tommy did prove he is on his way back. The match-play environment on Friday is very tiring especially mentally and is part of the rehab he will have to go through.

Mike deserves a lot of credit this week as he proved just how good he is bowling. No other lefty made match-play and he lead qualifying and made the show again.

match 2

21 Mike Wolfe Non Staff  
  vs.    
4 Patrick Healey Jr. Storm Staff  
  Balls Used Comments
  MW PH
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
ttl    
     
        This match was not to be played in the same part of the lane very similar to the Machuga/Collins match. The difference was Mike had gone past 4 games and was more prepared for following late game transitions. He was able to keep his angles under control by balling down. Even though Patrick had a good look he was going to go through quicker transitions and have to deal with a different type of caryy.

match 3

15 Ryan Shafer Storm Staff  
  vs.    
26 Jack Jurek Non Staff  
  Balls Used Comments
  RS JJ
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
ttl    
     
        This was a match that I thought favored Jack early and Ryan late. But as professional bowling would have it. Ryan had the better look late and Jack took advantage of Ryan loosing his look in the end. In the first four games Ryan had one game under 248. In trying to follow transition Ryan's confusion was obvious with games of 218 and 183. The Game 6 tie at 218 turned the tide in Jack's favor and Ryan wasn't afforded time to look for a different look. Jack's look was an easier transition to follow which carrier him to a 244-183 game seven victory and a spot on the big show.

match 4

22 Chris Collins Non Staff  
  vs.    
3 Mike Machuga Non Staff  
  Balls Used Comments
  CC MM
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
ttl    
     
         

This is the story I want to tell about. This is what makes professional bowling so special. This is what makes professional bowling so frustrating. This match was suppose to be dominated by Mike Machuga. In no way was Chris Collins suppose to be able to overcome the superior advantage Mike Machuga had on him going into this match.

After 3 games Mike is up 3-0 on Chris. One more game and Mike is on the show. Then as bowling would have it Mike lost his look on the gutter. At the same time Chris was on a striking spree in the middle part of the lane. Mike had gone 11-0 up to this point using the same ball in the same part of the lane. He was averaging over 260. All of a sudden his ball reaction changed.

This is an extreme case of what goes on during every match. This is the point in the match that makes the new format so special. Who makes the right choices?, who makes the better shots during this transition time?, who gets the better breaks during this transition time?, who is in a part of the lane where transition doesn't seem that difficult to follow?

The answer to these questions usually determines the winner of the match. The answer in this match was obviously Chris Collins.

During the match you can see the thought processes of the players and witness the strategies of the players and their emotions during this time. When you get two animated players like these the match becomes even more entertaining. I have had the opportunity to watch many matches since the PBA started the new format and really enjoy the emotional feeling and the strategic planning that goes on during this point in the match. Not every bowler handles this situation the same.

Some bowlers have more options, some bowlers look more confused, some bowlers like this time, other bowlers freak out during this time, some bowlers see a clearer picture than others, How they handle this period of the match is very important in today's professional match-play format. This is the time in the match that keyed the situation in the match between Duke/Shafer a couple weeks ago. This is the point in the match that makes the "No Coaching Rule" such a challenge.

I saw and felt the same situation in this match. Being involved as closely as I am with the players it is difficult to not try and help. I get very antsy during this time. Wanting to be helpful is a natural instinct but knowing that any type of help, even if it is just trying to keep a player calm and cool during the match is considered illegal. Because of my position and reputation I have to distance myself from the players.

In the end you have to learn from every match so you are more prepared for the next time.

This is a match where you feel for a player such as Mike because he had such a dominate look and has every right to think he is suppose to be on the show this Sunday. Hopefully Mike and others have learned from this opportunity because if they haven't it will probably happen again, and we will have to be prepared for it.

Personally I would have liked to have seen Mike's first option to be balling down in the same zone he was at. He should have been able to make a judgment after about half a game whether he could duplicate the look he had. After that he could have spent some time experimenting with the incredible look Chris had and make a judgment call based on those experiences. Being up 3-0 gives a player plenty of time to experiment. It all happens so slow when you sitting in the bleachers.

But the reality is that things are happening much faster in the bowlers mind. Having a good game plan on how to search during this confusing and frustrating time is just as important as the choices you make. Sometimes you have plenty of time to experiment other times you have to make quicker more bold gambles.

As much time as Mike had to get lined up I never saw him ball down in the zone he averaged over 260 and went 11-0 from. That is not to criticize him, it is to explain how quickly things are happening in a bowlers mind that they can overlook the obvious. He instead chose to chase Chris's look, which was a different zone and different strategy than Mike had used all week.

As the victor in this very exciting match Chris will have his inaugural opportunity to to gain his first title. I for one think Chris is a talent that we will see on TV many times and will win multiple titles. His ball roll is very special and his desire will carry him a long way.