Greg Kolski is not one to set lofty goals. All he wanted this season was to bowl a certified 600 series. That didn’t seem so out of reach considering he had bowled a 641 in practice and a 591 in league play.
But the 29-year-old Kolski admits that he may consider adding another goal to his wish list.
And that would be a 300 game.
Who could blame him after he recently completed a sensational 10-game practice session that was simply off the charts for someone averaging 165 in league play?
Practicing by himself, the right-handed Kolski made a powerful bid for a 300 game.
Twice.
The West Hills resident averaged a blistering 206.8 for his 10 games and rolled strikes in the first eight frames of his fifth game before settling for a 268.
That was a prelude to his final game when his sharply breaking, explosive hook knocked down strikes on his first 10 shots before he left two pins, converted the spare, and finished with a career-high and pro-caliber 288.
“I wasn’t thinking of 300,” said Kolski about his practice session at AMF Woodlake Lanes in Woodland Hills. “I was hoping for it if it comes along, but it wasn’t on the agenda.”
Kolski allowed that he now believes he “can hit a 300 in my career at least once.”
Kolski has been bowling in league play for less than five years. He averaged no more than 130 when he started and his rapid development may be explained in two ways.
The first is his decision last month to use a 14-pound ball instead of the 11-pounder that he formerly used.
“When I used the 11-pounder, I would hit pins and they would deflect far way from where they should go,” Kolski said. “I’d miss that one crucial pin.
“The weight helps. I thought it might hurt my accuracy, but I’m more accurate with it – and I have more power.”
The second explanation is his sheer dedication. Kolski puts in a lot of practice, best exemplified by his otherworldly 100-games-in-one-day effort in December.
Kolski, the anchor of his Tuesday night league team, said his marathon session was a big help.
“It showed me the mistakes I was making,” he said.
Kolski has improved to the point where he just might be worthy of anchoring his summer league team, which is expected to include the potent Jamie Beeler, a 180-average bowler.
“It’s up for grabs at this point,” said Kolski with a laugh.
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