Longer patterns force you to play closer to the pocket. Breakpoint should be around the 15 board give or take a few depending on lane surface and topography

One thing you might want to take into account is that this pattern was designed for the Flex oil machine. With 2 oil tanks and 2 different oils blended together. Without a flex machine and depending on the oil used it might play different than expected or different than other centers with different variables.

Sounds pretty similar to "Paris" from 2012 which was 47' and a light volume.  I generally used a medium strength shiny ball (Nuts Pearl) and played a very small swing between the 3rd and 4th arrows.  Anything too strong/too dull just chews up the head oil and makes he pattern tougher after the first game.

Sounds pretty similar to "Paris" from 2012 which was 47' and a light volume.  I generally used a medium strength shiny ball (Nuts Pearl) and played a very small swing between the 3rd and 4th arrows.  Anything too strong/too dull just chews up the head oil and makes he pattern tougher after the first game.

Yep!

For whatever reason, this played significantly slicker than Paris for me at my center.  Could be a case of not applying the shot in the manner intended.

I agree with the comment about too much surface messing with the head oil.  But depending on the format, there may be a benefit to developing a spot early and migrating in early.

Looking at the graphs - Paris is 21.55ML and SOL is 24.73ML - that's a fairly big jump.  SOL, also looks like it's got more oil further down lane.  SOL in theory, is going to play slicker - which is what you have indicated in your observation - so it does not surprise me that you needed more surface/stronger equipment for SOL than Paris. 

Thanks. I will try to keep these things in mind & report back here in a week or two.

Quote from: avabob on July 19, 2016, 09:53:07 PM

The key on all long patterns is getting comfortable going straighter instead of using surface to over power the pattern

In terms of this advice, at what point are surface adjustments being used to take over the pattern?

for example, in my sport league we played on Badger last year.  52' at 22 or 23 units of oil, IIRC.

you didn't see anyone using a shiny ball, you saw Locks and Nirvanas and Paradoxs and other similar balls.  I used an OOB Lock.  a friend used a lock at 2000, but his was always at 2k surface due to preference. 

at want point in surface adjustments did someone go against this advice and try to over power the pattern with equipment and surface?  1k?  500?  lower than 500?

I totally understand the issue with trying to combat more oil with more surface, I am just trying to understand the threshold at which I might have crossed that particular line.

Thanks

Most bowlers play some level of swing on THS.  There are those that can play either straight up the oil or the dry.

For sport shots, too many people try to play the same swing they would on THS.  In theory, a bowler's initial intent is to play straight up the boards and adjust accordingly.  When you go away from the pocket, you run the risk of not making it back due to the added oil in areas of the lane bowlers are used to seeing friction.

As for surface, for me it depends on the format.  A lot of sport shot leagues have smaller teams leading to fewer games bowled on the shot.  If the goal is to develop the shot in a manner to make it easier, then using lower grits on strong covers can do that.  This can be done during practice and into the first game.  Once there is a defined dry area developed, the going to equipment designed to take advantage of the dry can be used.  Downside to trying to blow the pattern up early is you can run out of options at the end of the block making scoring difficult.  Short format, I will try to blow it up.  Long format, I may try to play it differently to prevent the scorched earth type heads.

All of this is usually done on the longer patterns.  Not everyone has the ability to produce the type of roll that will be able to recover properly at the end of the pattern and score.  They will usually need some help by developing the shot.

On patterns shorter than long, there should be plenty of dry at the end of the pattern where a ball with more typical surface grit can be used. 

Here are fliers produced by Team USA years ago on what type of equipment and where to play for WTBA patterns:



Can't track down the medium pattern one online.