BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: joeyyant on December 15, 2015, 01:06:34 AM
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I know another loaded question but just curious as to what people think. Getting some extra practice in before team USA trials. Sydney seems the hardest if not lined up with proper equipment but I suppose a lot of shots are going to be like this. I thought Montreal played fairly easy after i broke it down. Was maybe thinking about either Mexico city or Paris. Just curious to what people think. Thanks.
The WTBA patterns are on the website Worldtenpinbowling.com.
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I usually find the shorter patterns the most difficult only because of how different they are compared to normal league and tournament bowling. Short patterns require the most change from normal approach since not many competitive bowlers play near the gutter anymore.
With that said, I wouldn't worry too much about specific patterns to practice on. The trials will be on a different lane bed and the conditions will be different than what you have practiced on. Worry more about the progression of your equipment and how you will adjust to changes you expect. Knowing what to do ahead of time when your shot breaks down will take a lot of pressure off of you during the actual bowling.
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I agree that most people find shorter tournament patterns the toughest, although everyone has a comfort zone that is usually most closely associated with the length of the pattern. For me, the medium length patterns ( 39-40 ) are often the toughest, not sure why, but probably because I can square up outside on the short patterns, and can also play straighter inside on the real long patterns.
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Thanks for the responses. I like shorter patterns because I have a lot of speed but I think most people hate short. I think personally for me I struggle with patterns around the mid 40 feet range. Any longer and I can adjust easy but I get in mental block on the medium patterns. Not sure why.
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I struggled on Athens at the Orleans in Vegas, but when I put it out at our house it played more how I expected where in Vegas it played really wet
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After thinking about it, the reason I often struggle on the 40 foot patterns is there can be too many potential options on how to play that length for me. I get caught up in trying to find an optimal line and sometimes don't execute. Also, transitions are tougher because carrydown in conjuction with breakdown in the heads can force bigger adjustments quickly. On longer patterns carrydown is not an issue, and on short patterns you can usually deal with it by making changes that don't involve moving to a different zone.
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short patterns are the bane of bowling existence. I am not nearly comfortable/consistent enough playing outside of 5 board, which is where a lot of the short patterns would play best for me. I tend to have a lot of over/under.
I love the longer/heavy patterns. that is my sweet spot.
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After thinking about it, the reason I often struggle on the 40 foot patterns is there can be too many potential options on how to play that length for me. I get caught up in trying to find an optimal line and sometimes don't execute. Also, transitions are tougher because carrydown in conjuction with breakdown in the heads can force bigger adjustments quickly. On longer patterns carrydown is not an issue, and on short patterns you can usually deal with it by making changes that don't involve moving to a different zone.
This is perfect. I should always assume to start with my A game. I always used to try and play different lines and had several games that were either B- or B. Very well said avabob.
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We need a like button like Facebook for this post. I get some coaching from Ron Hatfield at times and this is a topic of discussion for us when we are brain-STORMing. Ron feels the 39-41 foot patterns are starting to be the "tougher" pattern lengths and one of the reasons that Bob states is the hugest.
I know when I warm up, I try a couple of shots out and in and the 39-41 patterns "trick" my eyes because I usually see ball reaction both in and out. I can think of a couple of times where I got fooled into thinking the look was out when the field was just balling down and playing left more and striking more.
Good question and even better discussion!!
After thinking about it, the reason I often struggle on the 40 foot patterns is there can be too many potential options on how to play that length for me. I get caught up in trying to find an optimal line and sometimes don't execute. Also, transitions are tougher because carrydown in conjuction with breakdown in the heads can force bigger adjustments quickly. On longer patterns carrydown is not an issue, and on short patterns you can usually deal with it by making changes that don't involve moving to a different zone.
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My favorite movie line ever Mike.
As for pattern length, I had a conversation about this maybe 15 years ago with an ABC lane man who set up patterns for nationals. Typically the nationals pattern was always about 38-39 feet in those days. We talked about it and he said that over 40 feet, and the shot set up too easy after the transitions. They weren't oiling every squad in those days so it was a squad equity issue. Note that the Nationals team event was very high scoring in 2014 when they buffed 43 feet, a historically long buff for nationals.
Finding hold area is an under used strategy in the modern game where so much friction is usually available, but it is the reason scoring can be so good on long patterns.
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The WTBA Athens pattern (40 feet, 2.5:1) was my lowest scoring pattern in 2014.
The WTBA Tokyo (43 feet, 2.7:1) is my lowest scoring pattern in 2015.
I have a good bowling friend who recently bowled on the WTBA Mexico City pattern (45 feet, 2.32:1). She and several others have sworn off bowling on sport compliant/flat patterns after that experience.
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I have a good bowling friend who recently bowled on the WTBA Mexico City pattern (45 feet, 2.32:1). She and several others have sworn off bowling on sport compliant/flat patterns after that experience.
Lol it's tough when you go in expecting to score like a house shot. Mexico City was one of my favorites, I think I just had a better idea for it because I had bowled a lot on Kegel's Route 66
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My favorite movie line ever Mike.
As for pattern length, I had a conversation about this maybe 15 years ago with an ABC lane man who set up patterns for nationals. Typically the nationals pattern was always about 38-39 feet in those days. We talked about it and he said that over 40 feet, and the shot set up too easy after the transitions. They weren't oiling every squad in those days so it was a squad equity issue. Note that the Nationals team event was very high scoring in 2014 when they buffed 43 feet, a historically long buff for nationals.
Finding hold area is an under used strategy in the modern game where so much friction is usually available, but it is the reason scoring can be so good on long patterns.
I never knew much about nationals because I have never bowled it nor have I ever really followed it. Very interesting. And I agree that in today's game it seems everyone heads towards the free hook or friction of the lane. I remember one league night on the scorpion (2014-2015 version) I had a great line inside but the ball barely hooked two boards. I followed everyone and the track was well burnt but I had over under like crazy. Stupid me liked seeing the ball hook more. Who cares about score when the balls are hooking.
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The short patterns have been the toughest for me - which is frustrating because I like playing outside. The short patterns tend to be the flattest though, so fairly unforgiving. The easiest by far is Paris. Despite being 47 ft, it plays very easy, even for lefties.
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One thing to realize is it matters what the environment is for the competition. What I mean is, a sport shot league with any pattern will play differently than a multi-day tournament on the same pattern.
Lanes have memory. Pumping day after day of 10:1 ration THS will have an affect on the lane. You have the track area and you have the memory. Oiling a sport compliant shot over THS will not give you the true sport shot. Because of this, where people think the shot is based on theory isn't always where it is best played. This is why I would always try a line near the track area of a center if it is a sport league.
As for longer duration tournaments, each subsequent oiling of a sport shot will get it closer to what the intention is. This is why people will see a significant difference between practicing on the USBC Open patterns at their home center versus the actual venue.
Be open to new lines and be watchful of what the successful bowlers are doing.
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A good example of what we have been talking about was on the show last night which featured a 41 foot pattern. Tackett came out, and probably had free hook during his practice shots because there had been no traffic on the right side. He immediately starts going light leaving 2-8-10's when the lights came on and the carry down started to develop ( cant count how many times that has happened to me in local tourneys ).
Carrydown on fresh back ends is the hardest transition, and it is most apparent on medium length patterns.
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Sydney has been tough for me not so much because its hard but because of the transition made by bowlers throwing their dull balls up 2 arrow regardless of the pattern. Most long patterns break down nice because of these people, but its the short that can become nasty.