At times I like to evaluate my game and adjust what I find to get better. Lately Ive found that one area I am the most sloppy is picking a starting point based off of what I see during practice.

We always hear the term matching up, and for the most part I feel Im solid in knowing my arsenal enough to know what piece to use in certain areas of the lane. What I feel my problem is, is when a pattern presents multiple areas of play. Choosing the correct one is critical, and often times I find myself second guessing choices and then finding where I should have been a few games into the set.

This is tough as this is new territory for me, typically Ive been the guy that blisters the fresh then struggles with the transition.

Also, this is not limited to tournaments, as Ive found out last night Ive been doing this at one of the centers I bowl league at too. It took a good friend of mine to point it out, he has bowled with me for over 20 years and he is one of the few who knows my game that I trust. The lanes here have changed from last season to now pattern wise, I havent been sharp enough to realize what it was. From around 8 board and deeper there is little hold, and finding area to the right is tough, rightys get little backend. When you square up around the track there is no hold. So my buddy suggests moving way out and try to play the hold out there, and bingo 248. I would have never thought with my rev rate and speed I would be playing around 5 board straight up on a house shot.

This is the way its went for me lately. So what do you guys think? Should I re-evaluate my approach to lining up? Also, what are you guys approach to picking and choosing where and how you attack a pattern?

I will normally start with my benchmark ball hittin several different areas on the pattern if time allows.

I have a 400+ rev rate, but I also have a straight game too. In tournaments I can get a handle on at least a starting point based on length but heck we know alot of times patterns play differnt than they are supposed to more often than not.

With that said, I would have never imagined Id be able to play as far out side as I was last night in league, perceptions about how patterns are supposed to play have become more important than actual reading of ball reaction for me. Simply put-ive gotten lazy.

I think I have gotten so caught up in that mentality of THS you have to cover as many boards as possible, and tournaments-if the pattern is posted its the bible on how that pattern has to be played. And im not alone because I watched bowlers around me last night all continue to try to play the track area when clearly it wasnt there.

But its just in that center that I find this, as the other center I bowl/sub at I havent had a set under 720 in four weeks? Whatever the center Im struggling at has done pattern wise, it's eating my lunch....