CANTON — J.D. Jones started off the 2022-23 winter season well, but admitted he hit “kind of a cold spell” at one point.
“As far as feeling comfortable in my approach and release,” the 28-year-old Massillon right-hander said. “I took a little more time off to practice. Things started to come around a little better. Then I kind of leveled off again with a lot of average nights.
“I told the guys the other night that I hadn’t had that big night, even if wasn’t an 800. Just shooting consistent 240s or 250s. But a couple more nights of practice and league and, bam, it clicked again.”
That click came in the Eastbury Wednesday Night league at Eastbury Bowling Center recently, where Jones set the center record with 875 last season.
This time, he had games of 299, 290 and 280 for 869. Was there a difference from last season’s record score?
“Yes and no. I was a little more prepared with a full 10 minutes of practice this time,” said Jones, a RJ Floor Covering employee. “In my shotmaking, I felt very consistent, very firm. Everything felt the way it’s supposed to be.”
He also used a different ball — a Storm Phaze II after using the 900 Global Zen for the record last season.
He left a 10-pin on his final ball in Game 1, adding “it wasn’t solid … kind of an inside wrap 10.” Jones followed by leaving a 4-pin in the first frame of Game 2 and then a 10-pin in the second frame of Game 3.
What is it about Eastbury for Jones?
“I don’t really know. The way the lanes play there’s an out of bounds outside and it helps me as a buffer to know where I can miss,” Jones said. “The way I throw it, I have more room there than probably anywhere else. I think I moved maybe a board right all night.
“The ball reaction was the same pretty much every game.”