If you don’t believe that a new bowling ball can make a difference in your game and attitude, just ask Massillon’s Dave McLaughlin.
Rolling only the 15th, 16th and 17th games with his Brunswick Zenith Hybrid, the 30-year-old right-hander had games of 299, 233 and 279 for an 811 series during the Wednesday Night Men’s league at Eastbury Bowling Center, his sixth sanctioned 800 to go along with “at least” eight 300 games.
“If you don’t believe a new ball makes a difference, they really do,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve been throwing the ball well all year, but since I got that ball, it’s been a lot better.
“I don’t know if it’s a mental thing with the new ball or what. I really haven’t shied away from throwing it.”
It was not a planned purchase by McLaughlin.
“I actually won it in a raffle during a no-tap tournament at Stonehenge,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin left a 10-pin on his final ball of Game 1 for the 299, and then left a 10-pin in the second frame at the beginning of Game 2 after an opening strike.
“I left a couple of weak 10-pins there, so I decided to move,” McLaughlin said. “I moved left and back a little on the approach.”
It didn’t work as he had back-to-back 4-6-7-10 and 4-9 splits. He then decided to go back to his original position.
“I just moved back and stood up a little more,” McLaughlin added. “I pretty much stayed there the rest of the night.”
After his two splits, McLaughlin was able to run strikes in Game 2 into the 10th frame. He then started Game 3 with four in a row before leaving another 10-pin. He then ran strikes the rest of the way for the 800.
McLaughlin bowls in five leagues weekly, including the Northeast Ohio Traveling League, with averages around the 220 mark.
“It had been pretty much hit-and-miss this season,” McLaughlin said.”But that new ball carry really makes a difference.”
It also paid off later that week with 297 game.
“I’ve been flirting with honor scores,” McLaughlin said, “but that night I finally completed it.”