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Author Topic: My OC trip report 2017  (Read 24103 times)

Gene J Kanak

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My OC trip report 2017
« on: May 12, 2017, 11:46:04 AM »
If you've read my posts in the past, you'll know that I'm long-winded, so if you're not down for that, turn back now; you've been warned!

Travel - I still think that Southwest is the best option for bowlers since you can use the two "free" checked bags to account for your equipment. All in all, other than waking up mid-flight to find a strange woman's head on my shoulder as she napped, I have no complaints regarding travel. In fact, I like that Southwest now has kiosks for you print your own bag tags before going up to the counter (at Chicago Midway). It seemed to save time.

Hotel - I stayed with a buddy of mine at Mandalay Bay. Obviously, it's quite pricey. My share for the two nights I stayed was roughly $250. Still, it's a nice hotel, and if you're looking for a quality pool scene during down time, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better spot.

Gambling - Why do I bother? You know how Dick Allen calls himself THB (Typical House Bowler)? I'm going to call myself NBL, Natural Born Loser. I should've given them half of what I was going to bet, gone out back and let them kick me in the nuts and then called it a day. I don't think Syracuse is known for casinos, so maybe I can save a few hundred bucks next year!

SouthPoint - We've all heard that getting around that facility is something of a pain, and I can't say I disagree. Getting your stuff from the entrance to the regular bowling center for practice, from the regular center to the arena for the event, and then from the arena down to the sports book for bracket payouts is less than fun.

Now, with all of that being said, the arena itself is a very nice center. I king of like the back-to-back layout as opposed to having 60 lanes all in a row. I had zero complaints about the actual center. The racks were good, the approaches presented no issues, etc. The only think I didn't like was the march out. They march everyone out one way. If you're on the other side, you have to basically do a lap around the arena to get to your starting lanes. I did that with a 3-ball tote in each arm and my carry-on suitcase (since I had to go straight to the airport from bowling). That wasn't fun!

Squad room/weigh in - Everything was pretty much status quo there. Nothing really jumped out as being better or worse than previous years. One thing that I think was different was that each scale operator had a drill press behind them. I assume that would've allowed them to make subtle adjustments to balls that came in out of spec. In the past, I know that I had to run out and hit a booth when that happened to me, so I thought that was convenient. One oddity though was that I saw 2-3 bowlers have balls double-checked or disallowed on Day 2 after having been sent through without issues the day before. I guess it just depends on the scale operators day to day.

Team Practice - It's held in the main SouthPoint center, and, as always, I think it's a great benefit. It really gives you a handle on the shape of the pattern, ball choices, surface adjustments, etc. To me, they hooked a bit more in practice than they did in the arena, but the difference wasn't drastic.

Team
Scores - 173-136-160 - 469  - 2545\
Balls used - Hyroad (1000); IQ Tour Solid (2000); Black Widow Spare (Box)

I started out like we did in practice trying to go up 4-5. The shot was there though, as I said earlier, I felt like that area played tighter in the arena than it did during practice. As advertised, the shot is tricky. Playing up the extreme outside like that is difficult. You have to keep the ball in front of you because if you get it moving away, it's going in the ditch all day long. The plan was to stay out as long as possible and keep the moves as subtle as can be by balling down so as not to have to mess with the middle of the lane, which was really hooking. Sadly, our group lost its discipline as we had guys moving in pretty quickly. As you can imagine, that made things quite difficult. Now, I was surprised at how far left I was able to eventually get on that pattern, but the look was never great because there was no hold in, and I had over under getting it back to the pocket.

However, the biggest issue was right-side spare shooting. Knowing that the oil at Nationals is usually way slicker than what I see at home, I thought I could get away with bringing my Black Widow Spare, a cored spare ball. That was a mistake. There is a lot of friction in the middle of the lane, so that ball picked up just enough to make 6 pins, 10 pins, and the like trickier than they should have been. I should've just brought my Target Zone. That's probably my biggest regret. Now, if you're throwing end over end, you can get the ball to the right. However, if you're used to being able to throw your plastic the same way you throw your strike ball and have it glide to the right, be wary. If you have some hand, that won't work here.

Doubles
Scores - 169-144-203 - 516 - 1026
Balls used - Edge Solid (1000); IQ Tour Solid (2000)

This set was really frustrating as I really threw the ball well that first game and a half despite the terrible scores. I attempted to start off playing them the same way we had the day before, going as straight as possible up 5-7 or so. Being that I'd heard minors was a bit longer/heavier, I balled up to an Edge Solid at 1000 grit. I really focused on keeping my speed soft and going up the back of the ball to keep it from going crazy off the spot. The look was good, and the ball read beautifully. Sadly, I couldn't get it to carry. I went flush pocket 7 times and only carried three of those hits. Add in more pitiful spare shooting on my part, and a game that felt like 220 resulted in another sub 170 game.

I stuck with the Edge until I blasted a pocket 7-10 in about the third frame of Game 2. From there, I started creeping further and further left with the IQ Tour. Sadly, I found several opens and very few strikes before finally finding a home. Game 3 was better as my look was getting better as I continued slowly migrating left. Despite another gaff or two, I managed to grind out a 203 for my first decent score of the tournament.

Singles
Scores - 157-243-217 - 617
Balls used - IQ Tour Solid (2000)

One of my biggest struggles when I bowl no-thumb is maintaining consistent axis rotation. This game epitomized that because although my look was still good, release inconsistencies caused varying reactions, some splits, and very strikes. That led to another solid -43 start. To my credit (I deserve very little), I actually stayed composed and just focused on making better shots, and, for the most part, I did from that point forward. I started Game 2 with a four-bagger before a shaky release led to a partial bucket. I thought I made the spare, but I left one behind. Other than that, only a solid 8-pin and high-flush four pin kept me from striking. Still, 243 is a good score in that environment, so I was happy to take it.

As I had been, I just kept moving slightly left as I went on to Game 3. By that point, I was basically playing 20 to 8-9 or so, and the look was pretty good. The extra length of this pattern gave me a touch of hold if I was in, and I had no problem getting the ball back with authority as long as my release was good.

All told, I finished with 1602 for all-events, which is the third lowest effort I've had in my 8 years at the tournament. Still, considering I didn't shoot anything above 175 for the first five games, I guess I can't complain too much when it was all said and done.

Like always, this tournament is tough. There are no magic bowling ball or inside tip that is going to get you to a big score. You have to be a good player, one who can repeat shots in regard to accuracy, rev rate, axis tilt, etc. If you're capable of doing that, you'll do just fine because both patterns are more than playable. If you're a normal house hack like me who is somewhat inconsistent in the aforementioned areas, you're likely to struggle at various points because these conditions are far from forgiving. Then again, that's what this tournament is supposed to be about, showing us all what it really means to be a good bowler.

If you have questions that I have failed to answer during this manifesto, feel free to send them my way. Thanks for reading.

 

billdozer

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2017, 12:30:33 PM »
I feel about the same. Worst look was during team.  I shot 1601 AE. Tough as nails...But whatever lol.

Vegas seems twice as expensive as it was in 09...
That's the only reason I don't care, that it HAS to be in Vegas anymore.   Too Expensive $$$.  We had one meal under $30 at in and out Burger. 
In the bag [Infinite Physix, Volatility Torque, Night Road, Phaze III, Burner Solid, Hustle AU]
*Now Testing* IQ Ruby, Renevant, another IQ Tour solid
Coming soon...???

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2017, 12:31:45 PM »

Thanks for the detailed report!   You made a "flight buddy"?

« Last Edit: May 12, 2017, 12:34:59 PM by notclay »

billdozer

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2017, 12:32:27 PM »
And I tour Solid oob was my best look... Everything else didn't have a chance!
In the bag [Infinite Physix, Volatility Torque, Night Road, Phaze III, Burner Solid, Hustle AU]
*Now Testing* IQ Ruby, Renevant, another IQ Tour solid
Coming soon...???

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2017, 12:35:54 PM »
And I tour Solid oob was my best look... Everything else didn't have a chance!

Is that due to the more smooth reaction?

Gene J Kanak

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2017, 01:32:56 PM »
Yeah, flight buddy...or something. To this moment, I don't know if the woman was the wife of the guy she was sitting next to or his daughter. I'm kind of creeped out either way!

I'm glad I tripped the 4-pin on that last fill ball to edge you out for all-events, Bill! lol

One thing I noticed in regard to ball reaction was that the shorter length in team allowed for much weaker balls to be used. Last year, I started with 500-grit Nirvana. This year, I started with a 1000 grit Hyroad. Granted, I bowled no-thumb this year versus last, but that Hyroad is actually one of the weakest pieces I've got even at that grit. During the practice session, I balled down from there to a 1000-grit Tropical Breeze Hybrid and had a decent look. Had our guys stayed with the plan to play to the right, I might have used that as my second option instead of moving in with the IQ.


itsallaboutme

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2017, 03:07:35 PM »
And the question everyone wants to ask but won't.  Was she hot?

duvallite

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2017, 03:10:21 PM »
Nice report, Gene.  I have a couple of questions on your equipment.  Were you using pin-up or pin-down layouts?  And were your surface grit choices straight 1000 & 2000, or were you using the "skip a grit" surface finish, 500-1000 & 500-2000?  Fresh dull or a lane shine finish?   

I'm still deciding what surfaces to use when I'm in Vegas at the end of the month.  Taking an old Hammer Diesel Particle at about 800 pin-down, and two Syncs which are currently at 500-4000 with slight layout differences, both pin-up.  All work great on our medium THS, but I'm trying to decide if I should change the Syncs to 500-1000 & 500-2000.  Any thoughts?

duvallite

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2017, 03:13:19 PM »
Bill,

Can you give any details on the equipment you were using in Vegas?  Balls, layouts, surfaces, & reactions they gave?

milorafferty

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2017, 03:23:39 PM »
What pair(s) were you on?
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

billdozer

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #10 on: May 12, 2017, 03:38:35 PM »
And I tour Solid oob was my best look... Everything else didn't have a chance!

Is that due to the more smooth reaction?


Yes.  The outsides didn't hook, the middles hooked.

my best chance was play the hooking middle with a smooth reaction.
In the bag [Infinite Physix, Volatility Torque, Night Road, Phaze III, Burner Solid, Hustle AU]
*Now Testing* IQ Ruby, Renevant, another IQ Tour solid
Coming soon...???

billdozer

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2017, 03:44:17 PM »
The understanding I had before going. Team hooked a ton, minors did not hook an inch.

Truth was both patterns had movement start to finish.

I could hit the hole on either shot playing the track with a brand new DD trick. They hooked.  Just couldn't carry.

My best look was a oob IQ tour solid, curled pinky, loaded wrist....Playing a lil soft and rolling it between both range finders at the breakpoint.


I didn't do well lol but I definitely wasn't lost...Just couldn't repeat shots...I was striking 3-6 times a game and most were flush.

If u can practice​ on things... Practice on a reverse block...Hooking middles, slick outsides.

And practice accuracy and spares....

If u really hit it hard, you can seriously hit 1800 AE..
In the bag [Infinite Physix, Volatility Torque, Night Road, Phaze III, Burner Solid, Hustle AU]
*Now Testing* IQ Ruby, Renevant, another IQ Tour solid
Coming soon...???

Impending Doom

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2017, 06:13:42 PM »
And I tour Solid oob was my best look... Everything else didn't have a chance!

Is that due to the more smooth reaction?


Yes.  The outsides didn't hook, the middles hooked.

my best chance was play the hooking middle with a smooth reaction.
I'd like to know what the ratio is. Probably pretty flat.

BigWillyStyle

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2017, 10:16:48 PM »
Great report Gene.

I found that my best reaction for the most part (until like game 5 of day 2) was my Forest Quantum at OOB.

I will also attest to the shot being there. I finished 1670 AE, and am currently sitting 24th in Standard Doubles...but man, had I either used the practice lanes or gotten the shot earlier in team....

Dave81644

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Re: My OC trip report 2017
« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2017, 07:14:36 AM »
When you walk into the practice lanes area..
the lanes on the left side are a bit tighter and closer to the patterns you will see
the lanes on the right side have plenty more friction and aren't all that great of a basis to get good information
these lanes have 4000 league bowlers a month and are approx 13-14 years old.
the tournament lanes are 3 years old and don't have any league bowlers, just tournaments
So, the lane surfaces are far different in terms of the amount of lane friction

guys that missed in- feels like the patterns are short
guys that missed out- feels like the patterns are long
In general: the guys who are bale to score stay much straighter and can get it off their hand better than most.
Soft hand and good targeting is the key to scoring
I'm not saying its easy, but its do-able