It’s been a difficult two seasons for Louisville right-hander Rob Weary.
In addition to suffering through his own injury problems, Weary also had to stand by through his father’s recurring health problems, raise a family and, what he calls, “work a real job.”
And the United States Bowling Congress hasn’t helped by taking away three bowling balls from his arsenal. But that’s a tale for another time.
Weary, who continues to recover from a torn tendon in his right shoulder that stretches to his peck muscle, put together games of 258, 289 and 255 for an 802 series recently in the Wedneday Night Men’s league at Eastbury Bowling Center. It was his 15th career 800 series to go along with 44 career 300 games.
And he did it with three different balls — including two that have since been banned from national competition by the USBC. He started with the Roto Grip Idol Helios, moved to the 900 Global Wolverine midway through Game 1, and then switched to the Storm Spectre during his fill ball in the 10th frame of the same game. The Wolverine and Spectre have since been put on the USBC banned list.
“I had a good look in practice with the Helios. I started with a strike, but almost left a stone 9-pin, but carried it,” said the 38-year-old body shop employee for Serpentine Chevrolet in Tallmadge. “On the left lane, I then left a 9-pin. Then I came back to the right and left a 10-pin.
“I told Don Sprout then that it was probably not the ball, so I went to the Wolverine.”
But despite striking into the 10th frame to finish, Weary still wasn’t satisfied with his ball reaction.
“I told Don I was going to do another ball change, which surprised him,” Weary said. “I just had a feeling.”
The results were proof his decision was correct. After striking on his fill ball, he ran off the first 10 strikes of Game 2.
“I got the 11th one in a little bit and left a 2-pin. Just like me to change balls in the middle of a 17-bagger,” Weary said. “But I had a good seven-board area. If I got the ball in, it held. And if I got it out, it came back.
“With the Wolverine, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would have to start bumping left. But it seems like when I get real deep at Eastbury, I can’t seem to carry 10-pins. The Spectre rolls a lot smoother so I figured, if I had a good look, I would stick with it.”
The third game was more of a struggle, but Weary knew what faced him when he went up in the ninth frame.
“I just told myself, ‘if you make a good shot and strike, you’ve got the 800 locked up,’ ” Weary said. “But I kind of chicken-winged it, got slow and it went through the face and left a 3-4-6. I knew I had to make it to get the 800.”
He converted the split and, needing two strikes in the 10th frame, he struck out for the milestone.
“I told Sprout it was just like me to be dramatic,” Weary said.
Last season was difficult for Weary. After suffering his injury, he had to undergo 13 weeks of physical therapy. But he refused to stop bowling.
“It happened the second week of the season, so I bowled about three-quarters of the season left-handed. It was pretty bad. I think I averaged in the 160s,” said Weary, who averaged 218 and 217 in his two Eastbury leagues. “About the fourth week of the second half I went back to right-handed.”
But the transition to life following the injury has been difficult.
“To be honest, I don’t know if I will ever get back to where I was. I was pretty good when I was younger,” Weary said. “My ball speed and rev rates are a little lower now, and I can get the ball to turn the corner as much. When I want to try to play the dry, it wants to overhook.
“It’s been a real struggle with timing and my backswing. I just stay under the ball as well as I used to be able to.”
Weary, who gives credit to Les and Kim Mann at Bowlers Sanctuary for providing some different layouts that he likes, has also received advice from his father, left-hander Phil Weary.
“He has been working with me on Sundays to get me back in bowling shape,” Rob said of his father, who had to have a toe amputated recently due to health problems. “It’s been tough to get him to go to a bowling center. He maybe bowled two weeks this season, and if he’s not bowling, it’s a chore getting him to come.”
But the work continues for the son, as Rob Weary tries to battle back minus part of his arsenal.
“I know people say it’s tougher to shoot 800 than 300, but I disagree. You don’t have to carry 12 shots in a row to shoot 800,” Weary said. “I’ve had to use a lot of urethane lately. I do have the Black Widow, but it hooks quite a bit and I can usually only get about eight frames out of it.
“Right now, I’m short a couple of bowling balls.”
He may be short of equipment, but the desire and purpose remain.