Eglin bowler rolls 34 strikes in route to county record

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Working at a local Fort Walton Beach, Fla., bowling alley, Chuck Clifford Jr., watched as the Okaloosa County three-game bowling record fell in 2005.

Just five years later, Mr. Clifford claimed that record as his own, bowling an 886 Oct. 22, during Eglin bowling center's Friday night league. He surpassed the old score by 20 points.

The historic night started off "kind of weird" for the 33-year-old Florida native when a power surge shut down the lights and lanes at the bowling center just as the bowlers began to practice. After a minor delay, everything was normal for Mr. Clifford except...

"My thumb," said the tall, thin right-hander. "It was swollen a little, and I was having trouble with the release, but I really liked the way it was rolling."

His father and bowling league partner, Chuck Clifford Sr., suggested wrapping a napkin around his thumb and placing it into the ball.

The technique pulls the moisture out of the thumb and reduces the swelling, allowing for a normal release, according to the retired Air Force master sergeant.

The "napkin technique" was working because Mr. Clifford began to rack up the strikes. Although the pins fell, he said he had some lucky breaks during the first game.

"A couple of balls probably shouldn't have struck," he said. "The ball hung in the fourth and seventh frame - it looked as good as any of the others, but I know I got away with it."

Mr. Clifford felt his swing come to him in that game and he rolled into the 10th frame calm and ready. Another three perfect throws and he claimed his 31st 300 game.

"I just thought to myself it's not over, keep focusing and executing and finish this series," said Mr. Clifford, who bowled his first perfect game at age 16.

The next game started and the strikes continued, but nerves became a factor.

"I remember telling my dad, 'I hate this feeling,'" Mr. Clifford said of the hollow sensation growing in his stomach.

He'd arrived again to the 10th frame having thrown 21 straight strikes.

"At this point, I was nervous," he said. "No shakes or tightness though, just that hollow feeling."

He struck with the first ball in the tenth, but thought the release felt tight on his thumb. He chose not to use the "napkin technique" on his thumb for the next roll and it cost him.

"I did not want to stop in the middle of the 10th frame for any reason, and I wish I would've," he sighed.

On the next roll, his green "Storm" held on his thumb and hit the middle of the pins leaving him with a 4-7-10 split. The streak ended. He took the two pins with his last throw of the second game and left the 10-pin standing.

"I sat down and looked at my dad and said 'I haven't done anything yet, but I'm going to regret that for the rest of my life,'" Mr. Clifford said, angry over not using the napkin. "My dad said 'I'd rather regret it and finish. Stay calm and keep throwing it great.'"

His father's words a motivator, Mr. Clifford got back into rhythm throwing strikes (and using the napkin again.) After nine straight Xs, the dreaded 10th frame arrived again.

A fallen pin had to be reset for the bowler ahead of him, so all Mr. Clifford could do was wait.

"It seemed to take forever to get it set back up," he said.

Mr. Clifford's mother, also bowling in the league, had been updating his sister via text messages throughout the games. His sister and other family, also league bowlers in Ohio, waited together an hour after their league ended to hear the results of Mr. Clifford's last frame.

Mr. Clifford knew he needed a strike on his first roll for the county record, but he said he put that out of his mind.

"I told myself, 'bowling is not about score, dummy, just execute," he said.

As soon as he released the ball, he knew it was a strike.

"It was one of the best pressure shots I've ever had," said the new record holder. "After that, the next two were easy. Honestly, I don't remember much about them other than they were crushed."

Completing his 32nd 300 game, Mr. Clifford set the new record for the county and reached the second highest three-game score in the state of Florida.

As he turned around, he was greeted first with a bear hug from his father, then congratulations from "just about everyone."

It was a proud moment for Mr. Clifford Sr., who'd noticed very early his son had a talent for bowling. As a leftie, he could only help his son with fundamentals, but being a family of league bowlers, he made sure (Chuck) had plenty of practice.

Now he and his son bowl together every week and he was there to witness each frame of the historic series.

"I knew he had it in him to reach those numbers and to really be good, even as a kid," said Mr. Clifford Sr., a former Nomad with the 33rd Fighter Wing.

Mr. Clifford's ultimate goal is to make a living bowling and he is currently pursuing that goal now with some large tournaments coming up in November. After bowling on Air Force base's all his life, it's no wonder his approach and love for the game has some military flare.

"I love everything about the game. The constantly changing variables, different surfaces, different oils with different environments, all combated by different weapons," said Mr. Clifford, who bowls in three other leagues besides Eglin's Friday night league. "It's both consuming and liberating."