At times during his bowling career, Jeff Matty had it all going. He can recall stretches when he's thrown several big scores over a short period of time.
It's probably happened to most bowlers. Get new equipment, the right frame of mind or maybe a meaningful tip, and the results can be tremendous.
Matty, 43, is again having one of those runs. He bowled 300 on March 10, and then turned the trick again two nights later. The right-hander now has 12 perfect games.
Indeed, the entire year has been good for Matty. After having what he called a “terrible” 2006-'07 season, he rolled 300 in January at Rainbow Lanes. Two weeks later, he shot 299 at Cedar House.
His latest achievements, though, haven't come by accident. After falling into a rut, he received some quick advice from fellow bowler Benny Appleby.
“I hadn't been bowling well. Benny was watching me and said I was running up to the line. I needed to slow down,” Matty said. “Since then, I've been solid and my balance has been there, which is the key.”
In the middle of his scoring barrage, Matty was part of an unforgettable match in the Auburn Championships at Rainbow Lanes. His Pilat Graphic Design team rolled a 1,311 single game en route to winning the handicap title with 3,581.
At one point in that game, Rick Lambrecht (289), Cory Slater (257), Matty (245), Dan Pilat (265) and Greg Spinelli (255) combined for 30 consecutive strikes.
“It was awful; it was a lot of pressure,” Matty said with a smile. He had started the string of strikes, and then ended it some six frames later by leaving a solid 10-pin.
“People were going crazy,” he said. “They were hooting and hollering, and I got booed when I left that 10-pin. But that's the type of thing you look forward to in bowling. It's a great highlight, like getting a hole-in-one in golf.”
And Matty, who also had a 290 game in the city tournament, hopes to keep his momentum. He and 19 other Auburn-area shooters leave March 27 for the USBC Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. They'll bowl in team, singles and doubles events over several days.
To prepare for the difficult lane conditions, Matty and some of his teammates have practiced Tuesday nights on a modified Sport shot at Bowl-Mor Lanes in East Syracuse.
“When you bowl on that condition, it really shows your weaknesses,” Matty said. “We're just trying to get better.”
He's had some good achievements at the nationals. Two years ago in Corpus Christi, Texas, he rolled 707 in the singles event. Matty finished with over 1,800 for all-events, a mark of recognition in the prestigious tournament. It all comes back to momentum. With his recent burst of confidence, Matty entertains thoughts of having off-the-charts success in New Mexico.
“It would be the ultimate to bowl 300 out there, or win an event,” he said.
Realistically, he added, averaging 200 over nine games would be a nice accomplishment, and the feeling he had represented himself well.
Matty, 43, is again having one of those runs. He bowled 300 on March 10, and then turned the trick again two nights later. The right-hander now has 12 perfect games.
Indeed, the entire year has been good for Matty. After having what he called a “terrible” 2006-'07 season, he rolled 300 in January at Rainbow Lanes. Two weeks later, he shot 299 at Cedar House.
His latest achievements, though, haven't come by accident. After falling into a rut, he received some quick advice from fellow bowler Benny Appleby.
“I hadn't been bowling well. Benny was watching me and said I was running up to the line. I needed to slow down,” Matty said. “Since then, I've been solid and my balance has been there, which is the key.”
In the middle of his scoring barrage, Matty was part of an unforgettable match in the Auburn Championships at Rainbow Lanes. His Pilat Graphic Design team rolled a 1,311 single game en route to winning the handicap title with 3,581.
At one point in that game, Rick Lambrecht (289), Cory Slater (257), Matty (245), Dan Pilat (265) and Greg Spinelli (255) combined for 30 consecutive strikes.
“It was awful; it was a lot of pressure,” Matty said with a smile. He had started the string of strikes, and then ended it some six frames later by leaving a solid 10-pin.
“People were going crazy,” he said. “They were hooting and hollering, and I got booed when I left that 10-pin. But that's the type of thing you look forward to in bowling. It's a great highlight, like getting a hole-in-one in golf.”
And Matty, who also had a 290 game in the city tournament, hopes to keep his momentum. He and 19 other Auburn-area shooters leave March 27 for the USBC Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. They'll bowl in team, singles and doubles events over several days.
To prepare for the difficult lane conditions, Matty and some of his teammates have practiced Tuesday nights on a modified Sport shot at Bowl-Mor Lanes in East Syracuse.
“When you bowl on that condition, it really shows your weaknesses,” Matty said. “We're just trying to get better.”
He's had some good achievements at the nationals. Two years ago in Corpus Christi, Texas, he rolled 707 in the singles event. Matty finished with over 1,800 for all-events, a mark of recognition in the prestigious tournament. It all comes back to momentum. With his recent burst of confidence, Matty entertains thoughts of having off-the-charts success in New Mexico.
“It would be the ultimate to bowl 300 out there, or win an event,” he said.
Realistically, he added, averaging 200 over nine games would be a nice accomplishment, and the feeling he had represented himself well.
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