FORT RUCKER, Ala. (February 27, 2015) -- Bowling a perfect game is a feat that isn't easily accomplished by many, but for the bowlers at Rucker Lanes in recent times, the feeling of that achievement is becoming well known.
Since September, five bowlers at the Fort Rucker Bowling Center achieved perfect games -- scoring 300 -- and another came about as close as one can get.
Don Solesbee, retired military who achieved his first perfect game Feb. 4., said the feeling is something that can be described as surreal.
"It's just one of those things you strive for -- it felt amazing," he said. "In bowling, there are things you strive for, like your 500 series, 600 series and so on, all the way up to a 900-series, so to be able to get one of my achievements checked off is nice. As a bowler, when you get very competitive you start checking off your little bucket-list items, so you start working your way up the list and now I've got this checked off."
Others who have achieved the perfect game or close to it include Jimmy Evans Jr., who bowled his perfect game Sept. 24; Nicholas Gatewood, who bowled his perfect game Oct. 16 and another near-perfect game Jan. 8 with a score of 299; Osvaldo Roman, who bowled two perfect games two nights in a row Jan. 28 and 29; Tom Reid, who bowled his perfect game Feb. 5; and John Scott, who bowled a near-perfect game Feb. 7 with a score of 295.
Bowling a perfect game isn't only dependent on the skill of the bowler, but the conditions, as well, said Solesbee.
"A lot of it comes down to how the house is maintained, the oil conditions on the lane and how well the lanes are kept," he said. "The oil on the lanes must be consistent so you can come in here and learn how to bowl on it, and to be able to come in every week and be able to bowl the same way on the same oil pattern. That's what bowling is all about -- consistency.
"You have to be able to come in here and do the same thing repetitively over and over. They do a real good job of maintaining that here," Solesbee said of Rucker Lanes. "If your equipment you're bowling with is good, then it makes it more conducive for the people to get in line and make that happen."
Bowling a perfect game isn't something that someone really starts to go for at the beginning of a set, he said, but rather something you realize you can shoot for about halfway through.
"You don't even think about it until you get to around seven or eight strikes, then you start thinking, 'OK, maybe I can do this,'" he said. "I've been there several times. Twice last summer I missed it by one strike and everybody deals with it in their own ways.
"When I got up to about six or seven, I just walked around each time until it was my turn to bowl again," said Solesbee. "For the last three, I was the last person done that night and nobody else was bowling, and that was kind of nerve racking, but my coach always told me when you get that far along to just relax, think and execute your shot, and that's exactly what I did."
Solesbee, who's been bowling on and off since the mid 80s, said when bowling the last frame, for a split second after releasing the ball he felt the ball pull a little off the line and panic set in, but he soon realized that his ball was right on track as he heard the familiar crash of pins and realized he'd bowled his first perfect game.
"It's just a great feeling to be able to share with your friends," he said. "The biggest thing when you're playing this game is you're competitive with yourself. I'm just trying to be the best I can be in this game."
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