Author Topic: Attacking the Viper Patterns (Read 8515 times)

Spider Ball Bowler · « **on:** December 20, 2008, 10:33:26 AM »

Just curious how you guys and girls attack the Viper pattern?

Do you find success playing straight, or swinging?

What type of equipment? Solids? Pearls? Polished solids?

Thanks for any information!
--------------------
Ahhh Disco Biscuits!

JessN16 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2008, 06:41:17 PM »

I haven't bowled on the "new" Viper yet, but for the old one, I typically start pretty straight, anywhere from 8-12, and then start going left with my feet as they start hooking more but don't change my downlane marks. If the backends start flying a little, I typically make a hand position change before I'll move my visual marks.

It's worked for me so far. I average higher on PBA Viper than I do on a league shot. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the named patterns...lol

Jess

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2008, 08:37:20 PM »

I've only bowled on the Viper in one house, and I've seen it play differently every time I've bowled on it there. I've had good luck with the following looks depending on how late into a block it got:

1) Crossing 4 at the arrows to 6 at the breakpoint with a dull Cell
1) Crossing 4 at the arrows to 6 at the breakpoint with a polished Total NV
3) Swinging 12 to 8 with a polished Spit Fire

That should give you an idea of how quickly this pattern changes. The heads get blown up pretty quickly and you have to chase it left a lot once that happens.

Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2008, 08:43:28 PM »

So what you're saying is that it should be pretty interesting

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Ahhh Disco Biscuits!

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2008, 08:58:52 PM »

Basically, yep. It CAN be a pretty high scoring pattern, or it can play pretty tricky, whether it's having trouble getting to the pocket or carrying the corners. The biggest key is to not have any preconceived notions about how to play it because it changes so quickly.

Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2008, 09:21:11 PM »

Thank you for the advice. I think I'll just go when we have practice time and work from the 5 board out and see what happens reaction wise.

I'm guessing this will be closer to the old Viper, but not spot on, so I shouldn't be expecting anything haha.

Thanks again!
--------------------
Ahhh Disco Biscuits!

tenpin477 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2008, 12:05:41 AM »

Well the viper is a weird pattern in that sometimes it can play quite dry, and sometimes it is very tight.

Ive seen the Viper at 2 different houses, one I had to point the ball towards the headpin, the other I went straight up the gutter

cheech · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2008, 01:35:19 PM »

i have had success playing up around 5 or like 4th arrow not getting it out past 10 both with my blue vibe. once it breaks down into the 5th-6th games i gotta go back up 5-10 with surface cuz it turns into a reverse block
--------------------
HG:300x2(SR300 both)289(sawblade)280(SR300)
HS:792(SR300)778(SR300)778(SR300/Dr.Jekyll)
2004 NYSPHSAA team champions
2007 NYSPHSAA individual high game(300) and series(1411-6 games)
arsenal: rival arch rival dead flush blue vibe scout SR300 plastic
on the way maybe the sauce or momentum swing.
sacred heart university bowling, frosh. 67th in average 12th for rookies
ave:202.3 sport 218 THS
p.s. go leftys

MI 2 AZ · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2008, 04:41:00 PM »

Thanks to all the posters for the info on here. Had to bowl on the Viper today and did play the 5 board with some success with an Immortal Solid drilled Rico. Too much speed or 1-2 boards right and the ball did not finish strong enough. A bit slow or miss 1-2 boards left and it was on the headpin. Missed two single pin spares (9 and 10) and three splits (7-10 twice, 2-4-10).

I did try a couple of shots in warmup on the ten board and fifteen board, but the ball was reading the lanes too early because of the shorter, flatter pattern (38 ft) compared to our THS 44 ft pattern.

--------------------

I am the Sgt Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"
_________________________________________

New to BR? - Please check this: BR FAQ

JessN16 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2008, 04:53:52 PM »

quote:
Thanks to all the posters for the info on here. Had to bowl on the Viper today and did play the 5 board with some success with an Immortal Solid drilled Rico. Too much speed or 1-2 boards right and the ball did not finish strong enough. A bit slow or miss 1-2 boards left and it was on the headpin. Missed two single pin spares (9 and 10) and three splits (7-10 twice, 2-4-10).

I did try a couple of shots in warmup on the ten board and fifteen board, but the ball was reading the lanes too early because of the shorter, flatter pattern (38 ft) compared to our THS 44 ft pattern.

--------------------

I am the Sgt Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"
_________________________________________

New to BR? - Please check this: BR FAQ

Suggestion -- Next time you try it, try it up 10 with something with a little polish on it or not drilled to roll as early as a Rico drill.

Reason I say that is I feel there's a misconception about the total oil volume of the PBA patterns. I've found them to be lower than a lot of people assume they are, particularly Viper, Chameleon and (sometimes) Cheetah.

The greatest success I've had is when I played Viper with a Lane #1 Tsunami H20 with a polished finish and a pin-up drill. But I've also had success on that pattern with a Track Mean Machine (also pin-up), which is a pearl, and a Strom Dark Thunder with some polish on it.

Jess

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2008, 04:59:22 PM »

quote:
Reason I say that is I feel there's a misconception about the total oil volume of the PBA patterns. I've found them to be lower than a lot of people assume they are, particularly Viper, Chameleon and (sometimes) Cheetah.

Depends on the house and the oil machine. And heck, the house I've bowled on PBA patterns in (both a PBA Experience league and the Kentucky Open final day) put down pretty high volumes on all the patterns this year. I never once used anything polished, unlike last year in the same house when I used a polished Total NV and a polished Spit Fire on the shorter patterns. This year I used a dull Cell even on the Viper just to get any midlane read. Even the Cheetah played very tight.

cheech · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2008, 05:07:53 PM »

44ft house shot? thats insane.....the long shot at junior gold this year was 45 i think
--------------------
HG:300x2(SR300 both)289(sawblade)280(SR300)
HS:792(SR300)778(SR300)778(SR300/Dr.Jekyll)
2004 NYSPHSAA team champions
2007 NYSPHSAA individual high game(300) and series(1411-6 games)
arsenal: rival arch rival dead flush blue vibe scout SR300 plastic
on the way maybe the sauce or momentum swing.
sacred heart university bowling, frosh. 67th in average 12th for rookies
ave:202.3 sport 218 THS
p.s. go leftys

JessN16 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2008, 05:30:15 PM »

quote:
quote:
Reason I say that is I feel there's a misconception about the total oil volume of the PBA patterns. I've found them to be lower than a lot of people assume they are, particularly Viper, Chameleon and (sometimes) Cheetah.
Depends on the house and the oil machine. And heck, the house I've bowled on PBA patterns in (both a PBA Experience league and the Kentucky Open final day) put down pretty high volumes on all the patterns this year. I never once used anything polished, unlike last year in the same house when I used a polished Total NV and a polished Spit Fire on the shorter patterns. This year I used a dull Cell even on the Viper just to get any midlane read. Even the Cheetah played very tight.

I have to used dull equipment on Scorpion. I hesitate to give my recommendation on Shark, because it involves playing way out off the corner with a pro-pin ball that I get a very specific reaction with, as I cannot play deep inside and be successful.

But while I've gone to dull equipment on some Cheetah versions, I have yet to have to play with anything besides polished equipment on Chameleon or Viper -- and on Viper, I've played on it on high- and low-friction surfaces, with both Kegel and Brunswick oiling machines. I find Viper to basically play like a tight THS.

Jess

Jay · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2008, 06:45:17 PM »

Now that you mention volume, Jess, I've got a question. On the Viper, with my 4000 Abralon Counter Strike, I found the most success going almost straight up 5. Just about anything else hooked early or didn't hook up. This is in my PBAX league. Surface is pro anvilane. Now we're on the Scorpion, and something I can't figure out is playing the same line the ball goes through the nose. I've found decent success with my Rival at 2000 Abralon about 12 out to 8 but nothing special. I just don't understand why it plays the way it does compared to their Viper. If it matters, I don't know the oil machine but it's one of those that goes from lane to lane by itself apparently, if that helps.

ek11sx · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2008, 07:45:12 PM »

i play anywhere on the lanes that i can get to the pocket on and carry the ten

Author Topic: Attacking the Viper Patterns (Read 8515 times)

Spider Ball Bowler

Attacking the Viper Patterns

JessN16

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

Dan Belcher

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

Dan Belcher

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

tenpin477

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

cheech

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

MI 2 AZ

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

JessN16

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

Dan Belcher

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

cheech

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

JessN16

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

Jay

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns

ek11sx

Re: Attacking the Viper Patterns