Missed by 8 pins!!!

We just started the second half of bowling last week and I'm really glad to put that first half behind. I started the year with a 182 average and had it up in the 190's after the first couple of weeks. Then began my loooong slide back down to mediocre. My ball wouldn't hook anymore for some reason and I all of a sudden I was blowing 130's, 140's and if I was really lucky a game or two would break 160. So I finally invested in a new ball in the fall and struggled with that just as much, trying to learn how to throw a finger tip ball and take some revs off of the ball. Well I am happy to say that I think I am getting the hang of both balls now and have seen my scores go back up. I am starting off the second half with a 160 average (low on the year was a 158) and I have already bowled two games over 200 (204 and a 225) and this week I just missed my 600 series by 8 pins... If only I had picked up that spare!!! It will only be a matter of time before I can check that one off of my list.