Max Garrido Jr. has one perfect game and an 800 series to his credit.
A longtime member of the Amateur Bowling Tour, the 56-year-old Stockton resident is proud of those accomplishments.
He rolled the 300 in 1994 at the Lodi Bowl. However, Garrido’s 800 series took place a few years earlier at the familiar West Lane Bowl, his home away from home.
“Not too many people can claim an 800 series,” he said Thursday at West Lane.
By that, according to www.bowlingball.com, a bowler must average 267 or better during the three-game set, in turn, taking in three times the frames compared to that of the one 300 game.
Garrido, incidentally, fell shy of a perfect game to kickoff his 800 series. He kept it pretty consistent while finishing with a total 842 for the three games.
At one point, West Lane was among three bowling alleys in Stockton. El Dorado eventually closed and the place was remodeled and converted to the state-of-the-arts Teen Center.
“Even though I learned to bowl there, I didn’t like El Dorado Bowl,” said Garrido. “I remember sometimes your bowling ball would come back damaged (from the ball feed).”
He’s played in all of the area bowling alleys, including Pacific Bowl and Tracy Bowl currently the West Valley Bowl.
Spacing coupled with the products used to condition the lanes matter, Garrido said.
“To me, Pacific Bowl (lanes) feels a bit too packed in and the Tracy Bowl is too dry,” he said.
For Garrido and others, the proper bowling lane oil can help out with ball speed, velocity and break.
At West Lane, a medium oil viscosity is applied to the lanes, providing Garrido with the right feel. “This helps in keeping a break in the lane for my ball,” he said.
In addition, Garrido once bowled 150 points above his average and twice went over 100 past his average. He has multiple 700 series and numerous league titles to his credit.
But all that were nearly distant memories as Garrido suffered a debilitating stroke several years earlier. Two year ago, he began his comeback, averaging 150 scores per game.
During recent winter league, Garrido, who is currently bowling in a Monday league at West Lane, bumped that up to 170. “I’m slowly getting it back,” he said.
Here are a few tidbits on some of the bowling alleys:
WEST VALLEY BOWL
Location: 2365 East St. Tracy. WHAT: Monday, noon to 10 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cosmic Bowling (with DJ): Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., $12 per person / Saturday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., $10 per person. Regular cost per person: $4 per game / $2.50 shoes, Saturday and Sunday; seniors, $1 per game / $1 per shoes; Dollar Day ($1 for game / $1 for shoes), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: Ph. 209.835.5262 / www.westvalleybowl.com.
PACIFIC BOWL
Location: 5939 Pacific Ave., Stockton. Hours of operation and rates: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. (adults, $3 / youth $2.75 / seniors, $2.75 / all ages, $3.25); Monday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to close (all ages, $3.75), Sunday through Saturday, 6 p.m. to close (all ages $3.75); Rent-A-Lane: Monday through Thursday, $19 for the first hour and $10 for every half hour to follow. Shoe rental: $2. Information: Ph. 209.477.0267 / www.pacificbowl.com.
WEST LANE BOWL
Location: 3900 West Lane, Stockton. Weekday open play (per game / per person): $3.25 adults, $2.75 youth (16 and under), $2.75 seniors (age 50 and over). Happy Hours Special (Monday through Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.): $2 per game. After 6 o’clock: $4.25 (everyone). Rental: $2.50 shoes, $2 socks, $30 locker (per year). Open bowling hours: Sunday, 4 p.m. to close; Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to close; Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. / 9 p.m. to close; Saturday, 9 p.m. to close. Information: Ph. 209.466.3317/ www.westlanebowl.com.
