Author Topic: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern? (Read 8481 times)

jjweb · « **on:** December 07, 2007, 03:21:01 PM »

I'm bowling the pro-am in Baltimore, any suggestions for the Scorpion pattern? I subbed in a PBA league for a few weeks, but the scorpion was never drawn. I have an idea where I will play, but any extra help is great.

The stuff I'm bringing:
LevRG - pin down, between the bridge, MB strong, 2000 abralon sanded with the track.
Black Widow Pearl - pin over ring, mb strong, OOB.
Total Shock & Awe - pin over ring, mb in thumb, 320 grit.
Toxic - basic label leverage, 2000 polished.
Tropical storm - pin near the VAL, 4000 polished.

Perhaps some surface tweaks or something? I'm thinking the LevRG will be the better ball to play, but might need a little more surface (2000 abralon sanded with the track).

Stats:
Lower speed (15-16mph) and rev rate (225-250).

Thanks guys!
--------------------
NotifyUSA - Text message marketing using SMS advertising is a highly effective way for any type of business to gain customers, boost sales (up to 30%) and reach your customers any time, any place. Find out more: http://www.notifyusa.com

JessN16 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:45:18 PM »

I'm not one of the better bowlers here (193 avg. right now), so please get suggestions from someone else besides me.

The last time I bowled Scorpion, I was in the process of getting over a wrist injury and had similar speed and rev rate to what you have (I rev the ball higher than that now). What I found was I needed a ball with some surface, but with a pin over the fingers, and I couldn't go much away from the pocket, especially not at first. I found a lot of backend down the lane (brand-new Brunswick AnviLane) but the oil volume was higher up front than I expected.

After the lanes started to break down a little, I could move in and swing it a little, and late in a set, I might be able to back down to a polished solid or a pearl.

My weapon of choice was a Track Mean Machine drilled just like your Black Widow Pearl is drilled now. Of the five named patterns, it was my second-highest scoring pattern. I just had to play straight down the boards more than I usually do.

Jess

REvans284 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2007, 12:17:16 AM »

Is this a wood lane house? If so I would leave the LevRG alone, and if you bring it down I wouldn't bring it down below 800. The Total S&A is too dull. Your ball will burn up its energy too fast and when it gets to the pins it will hit like a turd (you can get lined up quick with a low grit ball, but the carry sucks).

If you got it, I would use a control drill ball. Generally Pin down to get the ball into a roll sooner and MB out closer to the VAL than you pin (and it needs to be out, farther than the Strong position listed on alot of drill sheets), so it will tame down the backend off the dry. It wont hook alot but it will give you the most consistant read.

If your only bowling 3 games (typical pro-am) I don't think you would need more than those 2 you listed plus your spare ball (TS&A and LevRG). I'd keep the toxic around though, you never no. And I'd bring the TS&A up to at least 600-800.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 12/8/2007 1:22 AM

Traumatize · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2007, 01:46:11 AM »

Pro-Ams are usually on a House pattern

jjweb · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2007, 06:26:52 AM »

I was told that we would be bowling on the Scorpion, and when I bowled it last year, we were on Cheetah. I don't see why they would use the house shot, but you never know...

REvans284, the house is AMF HPL synthetics lanes and approaches. I bowl league on the same lane system at home, so I'm pretty familiar with the lanes.

Maybe I should put the LevRG at 1000 abralon...
--------------------
NotifyUSA - Text message marketing using SMS advertising is a highly effective way for any type of business to gain customers, boost sales (up to 30%) and reach your customers any time, any place. Find out more: http://www.notifyusa.com

Bigmike · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2007, 10:01:48 AM »

The few experiences that I have had on Scorpion have been in PBA EXP and PBA regionals. Lane surface will dictate some of your strategy. There is usually good enough volume on this pattern to go "up" the lane at first. If the strip is good, you might even have to shell down slightly to get away from jerk in the back. If you are getting a flat ten/trip four reaction you are either too far right or have the wrong piece in your hand. Once the heads get tracked up, you can get left and get the ball more in the middle of the lane. Your rev rate and ball surface will dictate how far left you jump.

Knowing the charactheristics of the lane surface you are on becomes improtant here. If you are on something low friction like Pro Anvilane, you may even have to slow your ball speed and tempo down when you jump left and use a moderatly stronger piece. If it is higher friction, you may need to use something that gets better length and better recovery.

In a longer format and the right crossing, this pattern cam really open up after 5-6 games in a higher friction environment. Don't be surprised to see guys "spurt" the last couple of games to make the cut or pick up a check.

REvans284 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2007, 10:36:18 AM »

quote:
The few experiences that I have had on Scorpion have been in PBA EXP and PBA regionals. Lane surface will dictate some of your strategy. There is usually good enough volume on this pattern to go "up" the lane at first. If the strip is good, you might even have to shell down slightly to get away from jerk in the back. If you are getting a flat ten/trip four reaction you are either too far right or have the wrong piece in your hand. Once the heads get tracked up, you can get left and get the ball more in the middle of the lane. Your rev rate and ball surface will dictate how far left you jump.

Knowing the charactheristics of the lane surface you are on becomes improtant here. If you are on something low friction like Pro Anvilane, you may even have to slow your ball speed and tempo down when you jump left and use a moderatly stronger piece. If it is higher friction, you may need to use something that gets better length and better recovery.

In a longer format and the right crossing, this pattern cam really open up after 5-6 games in a higher friction environment. Don't be surprised to see guys "spurt" the last couple of games to make the cut or pick up a check.

I was looking at the scores this week and they were all very high, and like BigMike said about the lanes opening up in a high friction environment (wood is usually always high friction) after a few games. Thats why I figured it was a wood house.

Even if its not wood, if its still high friction having a very dull ball like the TS&A at 320 can create a trap for you at the foul line. You will probably get in a situation where you are leaving flat 10s, and then when you move to fix it you start leaving 4 pins or 9s (exactly like he stated above). I don't think it needs to be below 600 grit. But I would leave a gap between that and the LevRG so that they don't overlap.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 12/8/2007 11:36 AM

Bigmike · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2007, 01:19:26 PM »

I did forget to make a couple of suggestions on the balls you mentioned. I think if you leave your Total Shock in the bag and take you LevRG to 1000, you will be okay on the fresh. The volume on this pattern is usually medium and if you can square up your eyes and target, you don't need crazy sandings to get the ball to start earlier.

Maybe hit the Toxic with that same 1000 abr pad and leave your BW Pearl alone. If you have to make your jump left, the Toxic has recovery potential but you may just need to slow the skid distance down a little bit more than normal. The BW Pearl is nice open em up type ball when you are separating your feet and your target more to the right.

HPL is a higher friction synthetic plate, usually more than the Brunswick Anvillane plates. HPL can be awful easy or just plain awful if someone isn't using there head designing the pattern. With the PBA running the show this weekend, you should have something a little nicer to play on than normal PBA Experience Scorpion patterns.

Knock em' dead kid!
--------------------
Mike Craig-Columbus, OH

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2007, 01:25:36 PM »

I struggled on the Scorpion in my PBA Experience league for awhile until I realized I was using too much surface. I took out my Total NV and knocked it down with abralon to 1500 and used that once the lanes opened up a little after the first game, and had a great look at the pocket. I think I got the front 7 one game doing that. Watch for where the friction starts to develop (usually going to be somewhere between the 7 and 10 boards, depending on surface and who is on your pair of lanes), and use it as a little bounce area to the right, and keep the fresh oil as hold area to your left. Don't try to swing it too much though even when they start breaking down -- speed adjustments might be a good idea.

agroves · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2007, 11:02:46 PM »

I bowled on the scorpion today. I wasn't able to find anything right of 10. All of our pba patterns seem to be higher volume, but it could be the lane beds.

Anyway, I tried a few shots right of ten and if I did get to the head pin it wasn't good. I decided to move in and try a small swing from 17-10 and see if I could get a reaction. I flushed the first two balls and managed 2 more strikes the rest of the game, but I only missed flush once. The second game I got caught in the transition pretty bad, one split and one washout and couldn't put together a string. The last game, I made another big move left and was able to find alittle better look.

I think the people on your pair and the lane surface will dictate how the lanes will play.

Andrew
--------------------
FUFU

agroves · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2007, 11:04:00 PM »

BTW, my best look was with an original inferno in box condition.

After the league I tried my new Hammer Anger and was able to find a look right of 10.

Andrew
--------------------
FUFU

rengawB · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2007, 08:20:24 AM »

quote:
I struggled on the Scorpion in my PBA Experience league for awhile until I realized I was using too much surface. I took out my Total NV and knocked it down with abralon to 1500 and used that once the lanes opened up a little after the first game, and had a great look at the pocket. I think I got the front 7 one game doing that. Watch for where the friction starts to develop (usually going to be somewhere between the 7 and 10 boards, depending on surface and who is on your pair of lanes), and use it as a little bounce area to the right, and keep the fresh oil as hold area to your left. Don't try to swing it too much though even when they start breaking down -- speed adjustments might be a good idea.

Your Total NV probably had 4000 correct. So if you knocked it down to 1500, it didn't have enough surface. Not too much as your stated. If it had too much, you would have taken it from something like 500 and changed it to 1000 or 2000. Also, I would like to know where you get 1500 Abralon??
--------------------
Don't sing it, bring it!!

psaunders300 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2007, 08:41:27 AM »

I bowled in the Baltimore ProAm last night and there is no way it was the Scorpion pattern. I bowled in a PBA experience league so I know what the Scorpion should play like. Last year they put out the Cheetah pattern for the ProAm, but this year it played like a broken down house shot with all the free hook you can imagine. My only open was a big four in the second or third frame of the first game, I shot 784, but it was no-tap

--------------------
Thanks,
Paul Saunders
USBC Bronze Level Coach
InSite Bowling Products webmaster
http://www.insitebowlingproducts.com
(866) 405-bowl

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2007, 12:52:08 PM »

quote:
Also, I would like to know where you get 1500 Abralon??

My pro shop I go to had a pretty well worn 1000 pad that gave me something closer to a 1500 grit finish. A bit too much surface for a house shot, but perfect for higher volume PBA patterns.

Zack Pelton300 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2007, 07:27:36 PM »

I have found playing the ditch, with something that rolls a little earlier. I never moved left of ten. When i get to ten i usally ball down. But I have never bowled more then 8 games on it.
--------------------
Zack Pelton
Olathe, Kansas
Ebonite Bowl 2 Win
Ebonite Amateur Staff

Author Topic: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern? (Read 8481 times)

jjweb

Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

JessN16

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

REvans284

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

Traumatize

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

jjweb

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

Bigmike

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

REvans284

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

Bigmike

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

Dan Belcher

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

agroves

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

agroves

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

rengawB

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

psaunders300

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

Dan Belcher

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?

Zack Pelton300

Re: Any tips for the Scorpion pattern?