Author Topic: Sport patterns - the bowling way of being woke (Read 23264 times)

Impending Doom · « **on:** September 06, 2019, 09:16:52 AM »

So I started my scratch sport league last night. I honestly don't know how people don't enjoy this. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment, but so be it.

I figured I'd share my experiences with my BR friends so my insights may be of help to you if you find yourself facing a similar situation.

I haven't bowled league in years. Honestly. But the center in town was offering a sport scratch league, and those are 2 things that make me happy. So let's shoe up and see what's up.

I had just moved, and hadn't gotten myself out of storage yet, so I went to pick out some equipment to bring. Not going to mention balls by name, but by response times. This way you can use your company of choice and draw parallels.

Pattern was the long JR gold pattern from this year. 43 feet, 26 ml, 2:1 ratio. I knew this going in, so I thought to bring a fast response assym, fast response sym, medium response sym, slow response sym. No surface changes at all. (First mistake)

I stretch, get warm, my legs still feel like jelly all thru practice. Start with the fast response assym. That was a bad idea. Not enough surface, too fast downlane, felt like I had no room. Bag it.

Then I grab the high RG high diff fast response sym with 1500 polished on it. Still too fast downlane.

Then I grab the medium response sym. OK, not too jerky off the end of the pattern, but not too smooth. I'm already at 126 for the first game, let's give this a shot for second game.

(BTW, that 126 was 6 opens, 3 spares and 1 X. Make your spares, kids)

I take the medium response ball, struggle bus to a 179 second game. Meanwhile, my whole team is using charcoal.

End of second game, medium response ball starts to get a little too slow downlane, so back to the fast response sym. Now, I actually had some hold and shot 198 with back to back opens.

What did we learn from this, friends?

1. I need surface on the fresh. No ifs ands or buts.

2. I need to play further right to start so I don't shimwreck myself.

3. I need to learn to control change of direction with my hand downlane. (This has always been a big issue for me.)

If anyone would like to know the balls I used, please feel free to ask, but I didn't do this as an advertisement. This is more of a PSA.

SVstar34 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2019, 05:34:48 PM »

Quote from: Steven on October 18, 2019, 05:10:04 PM

There is another aspect of disappointment here. Once you do a sport pattern league, things never seem the same. Any illusions you have about being a skilled bowler based on THS scores get crushed. The experience exposes all your flaws, and can kill any ambitions about achieving great things.

Svstar34 can tell you about how sport shots are a reality check -- especially the Sphynx pattern he's currently bowling on. To his credit, he's had his moments. But for others in the league, it's hard to watch 230 avg THS bowlers confront the reality of their performance. It's painful. $:-\$

This is very true. I love the challenge on tougher patterns and know I can hold my own most nights. I know my repeatability isn't the greatest but I've had some improvement bowling every week on it vs the last 2 years of being 90% bowling on house shots. Sphynx is an interesting pattern, who you bowl with/against and who you follow makes a big difference.

Medium length patterns are still a struggle for me to get the right angle. Looking forward to our next pattern (Dick Weber 45') as longer patterns are my favorite.

avabob · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2019, 08:29:58 PM »

It is the transition that is a killer on sport patterns. I also like the longer patterns because the trsnsitions are easier to predict on long patterns

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2019, 08:19:36 AM »

Sport patterns are tough because of their inherent lack of room for error. You have to hit your breakpoint consistently (incl. revs and speed) in order to stay in the pocket - plus an certain anticipation of condition changes as traffic starts to mess with the oil.

Totally agree: it's a reality check, and a very good physical and mental training, too.

rocky61201 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2019, 10:28:12 AM »

Quote from: dizzyfugu on October 30, 2019, 08:19:36 AM

Sport patterns are tough because of their inherent lack of room for error. You have to hit your breakpoint consistently (incl. revs and speed) in order to stay in the pocket - plus an certain anticipation of condition changes as traffic starts to mess with the oil.

Totally agree: it's a reality check, and a very good physical and mental training, too.

Yup, you have to accept the fact that ONLY a pure and perfect shot will at least hit the pocket. Getting a strike is just a bonus, not a given. And then you absolutely have to have a spare game that you can throw perfectly straight at just about any spare combination.

Example -It was a good shot but you barely missed the release on your first shot. On a house shot you probably get a flat ten. On sport you get a bucket or 3/6/10 or worse. Why take the chance less than a minute later you might do the same thing and totally miss converting that bucket or 3/6/10. Just throw straight, convert, and move on to the next frame.

Finish the game and take your clean 185 and move on to the next game and be happy about what you just did.

rocky61201 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2019, 10:38:55 AM »

If I decide to do this sport shot league again I've been thinking I might get a low end ball, drill it conventional grip, and go somewhat straight on every shot. Maybe even 13/14 lbs so I can throw it over 20mph. And only take that 1 ball to sport shot league night.

Then hope I can finish the season around 190ish. And never have a week really under average. just consistent clean games, each and every game for the entire season.

avabob · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2019, 12:33:04 PM »

Disagree. Execution doesnt kill me on sport shots. It is how the carrdown, and break down set up that make adjustments guess work. Long flat patterns are easier because carrydown is a non factor. Not saying the margin of error isnt much smaller on sport patterns, just saying the transitions are more random, especially on short patterns

Good Times Good Times · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2019, 01:49:29 PM »

I can throw it bad on anything boys!

Impending Doom · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2019, 03:43:47 PM »

Quote from: rocky61201 on October 30, 2019, 10:38:55 AM

If I decide to do this sport shot league again I've been thinking I might get a low end ball, drill it conventional grip, and go somewhat straight on every shot. Maybe even 13/14 lbs so I can throw it over 20mph. And only take that 1 ball to sport shot league night.

Then hope I can finish the season around 190ish. And never have a week really under average. just consistent clean games, each and every game for the entire season.

Honestly, if you're not going to bowl in it for the growth potential, and just want to maintain an average, just bowl a regular league.

Impending Doom · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2019, 03:49:52 PM »

Quote from: avabob on October 30, 2019, 12:33:04 PM

Disagree. Execution doesnt kill me on sport shots. It is how the carrdown, and break down set up that make adjustments guess work. Long flat patterns are easier because carrydown is a non factor. Not saying the margin of error isnt much smaller on sport patterns, just saying the transitions are more random, especially on short patterns

You know, I have to disagree. Our first pattern was the 43 foot Jr Gold pattern, and I think the ratio was 2.5:1. Everyone was about 11 or 12 at the breakpoint, and I would use a pin down Night Hawk SE. Not too smooth, not too torquey.

Once that ball became too soft because people pushed oil down to about 45 feet, I pulled out the Dream On, jumped 10 and 6 left, and wasn't fighting getting the ball to come in at a proper angle anymore. Instead of the hold making my ball push, I was using fresh head oil to get the stronger ball to the spot where at the beginning of the night I wouldn't be able to use it, and the ball went thru the pins much better.

The shorter patterns are more rough because

1. Urethane is making the end of the pattern a mess.

2. The middles are usually flat, so they're going to be on fire.

Best thing to do there is take something like a Boost or After Dark with a 2 inch pin to pap, find a little bit of head oil, and get up the back of it.

rocky61201 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2019, 06:07:34 PM »

Quote from: Impending Doom on October 30, 2019, 03:43:47 PM

Quote from: rocky61201 on October 30, 2019, 10:38:55 AM
If I decide to do this sport shot league again I've been thinking I might get a low end ball, drill it conventional grip, and go somewhat straight on every shot. Maybe even 13/14 lbs so I can throw it over 20mph. And only take that 1 ball to sport shot league night.

Then hope I can finish the season around 190ish. And never have a week really under average. just consistent clean games, each and every game for the entire season.

Honestly, if you're not going to bowl in it for the growth potential, and just want to maintain an average, just bowl a regular league.

I hear what you're saying. Those two posts were the morning after the fifth consecutive week of getting my butt kicked by the current 2019 PBA patterns. The post was more frustration than serious.

Steven · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2019, 06:15:15 PM »

Quote from: Impending Doom on October 30, 2019, 03:49:52 PM

Quote from: avabob on October 30, 2019, 12:33:04 PM
Disagree. Execution doesnt kill me on sport shots. It is how the carrdown, and break down set up that make adjustments guess work. Long flat patterns are easier because carrydown is a non factor. Not saying the margin of error isnt much smaller on sport patterns, just saying the transitions are more random, especially on short patterns

You know, I have to disagree. Our first pattern was the 43 foot Jr Gold pattern, and I think the ratio was 2.5:1. Everyone was about 11 or 12 at the breakpoint, and I would use a pin down Night Hawk SE. Not too smooth, not too torquey.

Once that ball became too soft because people pushed oil down to about 45 feet, I pulled out the Dream On, jumped 10 and 6 left, and wasn't fighting getting the ball to come in at a proper angle anymore. Instead of the hold making my ball push, I was using fresh head oil to get the stronger ball to the spot where at the beginning of the night I wouldn't be able to use it, and the ball went thru the pins much better.

The shorter patterns are more rough because

1. Urethane is making the end of the pattern a mess.

2. The middles are usually flat, so they're going to be on fire.

Best thing to do there is take something like a Boost or After Dark with a 2 inch pin to pap, find a little bit of head oil, and get up the back of it.

If you track the scores in most PBA tournaments, and what I've experienced in my many years of sport leagues, shorter and longer patterns generally score higher than the dreaded mid length 39' - 42' patterns. As Bob mentioned, it's the more drastic carrydown and transition issues that cause problems.

In our sport league, we're about to go from the 40' Kegel Sphinx pattern (nasty) to the 45' Dick Weber Pattern. With all the additional hold, I can guarantee scores are going to spike next round. It's going to be a relief.

bowling4burgers · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2019, 11:36:56 PM »

Practiced tonight after the sport league and I am definitely not ready for that.

ignitebowling · « **Reply #28 on:** October 31, 2019, 05:07:56 PM »

Sport conditions are a lot of fun. It is very different from most house shots. Not sure about most places, but locally most house shots the last few years haven't been that great. Very inconsistent like someone doesn't know what they are doing. Or the opposite and are just very dry.

Most house condition are more of throwing the ball vs rolling the ball. You end up creating bad habits trying to strike on a condition that just isnt that great. Many of the sport patterns I have faced have more volume. They require good shot making, no doubt about it, but that is a lot easier to do when you are able to relax and roll the ball vs hurling the ball.

The more exposure you get with these condition they better you get on them. Then you see a bigger difference your equipment from ball to ball. You also see the importance of ball surface a lot easier with these conditions. Last thing is spare shooting. You see real quick where trying to hook into every spare possible doesn't work so well. How using plastic really makes things a lot easier even when going back to bowl on your normal house conditions.

For me it is a lot more fun. Id prefer to see more tournaments and leagues with these kinds of conditions. It isn't for everyone,but I think many would enjoy it if they set aside their ego to try it out first.

Author Topic: Sport patterns - the bowling way of being woke (Read 23264 times)

Impending Doom

Sport patterns - the bowling way of being woke

SVstar34

Re: Sport patterns - the bowling way of being woke

avabob

Re: Sport patterns - the bowling way of being woke

dizzyfugu

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rocky61201

Re: Sport patterns - the bowling way of being woke

rocky61201

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avabob

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Good Times Good Times

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Impending Doom

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Impending Doom

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rocky61201

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Steven

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bowling4burgers

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ignitebowling

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