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The first think I can talk about as far as the show goes is the difference between bowling at Bowlero and the arena setting. There is no other way to say it except they were no where close to being the same. The scoring environment at the arena setting was much higher for everybody. I thought the scoring pace at Bowlero was higher than normal but that was outdone at Miller Park. Don't consider that complaining, just consider it an observation. Bowling is always about recognizing and adapting. This was certainly the case at the show for the USBC Masters. There was a practice session held on Saturday evening and it was quickly obvious that we would be bowling on a lot more hook than we had bowled on at Bowlero. The ball came back from almost anywhere. And there was very little early hook to contend with. All four bowlers were striking at will. My reaction went from developing strategy to control the pocket to strategy for carry. At the end of practice there was still plenty of very dull balls going down the lane and not looking like they were slowing down a bit. I have to admit I was not in favor of the difference, but it is my job to stay more focused. At the end of practice session I decided Sean's ball reaction was too long and quick. Keep in mind this was a totally different environment. Different lanes, machine and oil. To add to that, there was a temperature factor. The stadium was quite a bit cooler. A different scoring pace, a different look on the lane, and the different physical elements made me decide that I should consider drilling for the show. I was looking for something earlier and smoother to create a longer window on the lane. During the week at Bowlero we focused on length and slower response to the dry. This allowed the bowler to keep their angles closed down and play more of their roll than the lanes. The environment on the show was much more defined...there was easy push and defined hook so we could use different angles and hit. I thought the balls Sean used during the week would not give him a length wise advantage and he would be susceptible to the ring 10 / 4 pin look. Sean had used the Total Inferno and Twisted Fury most of the week so I wanted to focus on those balls, I also had the feeling that the Blast Zone would give me the earlier more continuous look than the Total. I thought we could use more friction than Sean had in his bag, but I don't like to mess with balls that had looked good all week. That is a mental thing in a one game crap shoot. Anything can happen in a one game match and I am not willing to mess with the weeks mojo if you know what I mean. Here is a look at the 3 balls I drilled for Sean
These were the balls Sean used most of the week
I created more friction by increasing the flare potential and created a slower response to the friction by locating the secondary pin closer to Sean's track. All Three balls looked good. The new Total did not stand out but that was not a real surprise. It came off the dry slower than the other balls. Slower was what I was looking for but it was too slow. The Twisted Fury looked very good but was 15 lbs. I only had 4 16 lb Twisted Fury's to work with for the week and I did not have any more to drill. Sean thought it was worth drilling the 15 lb ball so I gave it a shot. The Twisted had looked so superior during the week I also thought it was worth it. The Blast Zone was superior to all the balls, it looked awesome. It gave Sean a much larger window at his break point and got through the pins in all the right ways. When the lanes began to show some wear I put shine on the ball and it still looked great. It was the look I was wanting to create. I took the time to tell you all this to express a point about great bowlers. Sean did not use the Blast Zone. Sean used one of the Total Infernos he had used all week. Why? Because he knew it. He was comfortable with it. It felt good in his hands. He had a history with the ball. I can not emphasize enough that bowling is not about magic balls. Balls are very important but Sean is an example of what makes a bowler great. I tell bowlers all the time. "If a new ball gives you something special it better be really special...if not...use something you know" Too many bowlers and fans don't understand great bowlers are mentally superior to others. Of course the physical game is a huge factor but when you are separating the best from the great it is their thought processes that get them where they want to be. I have helped Sean with many things during his development but Sean is who he is because of the way his mind works. He is wired to succeed. There will be set backs during his career and for all his strengths he to has weaknesses that we will focus on. But the moral of Sean's greatness is "The magic is in the mind" Sean won the USBC Masters with the second and possibly the third best look in his bag, but one of the best mental games in the sport today. This pictures says it all  I love the passion and purpose in you kid. Keep in focused in the right direction.
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