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Author Topic: Lost While Bowling  (Read 3904 times)

tank38

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Lost While Bowling
« on: May 22, 2023, 11:10:29 AM »
So I bowled in a tournament over the weekend that took place in two different houses, supposedly both houses had down the their typical house shots. The D/S house played pretty much anywhere but it seemed like the more hook you could throw the better the carry and the scores. The team house I was totally lost, I could not find any shot that would produce any kind of consistent look to the pocket. It was extremely wet outside and was much dryer on the inside and was really speed sensitive all over. I'm more of a higher speed low rev player and I like playing a tighter line if possible.

What do you guys do in a situation where you just have no answer for the conditions and everything you try just makes it worse?

 

milorafferty

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2023, 11:35:13 AM »
Stay completely behind the ball and get a good end over end roll. Trying to hook into the pocket never works out for me in this situation, but I can usually grind out 190-200 with end over end roll on a strong (early reading) ball. Be prepared to shoot a lot of ten pin spares though.

Sounds like you ran into a very flat pattern, probably something like 1:1 or close to it.
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justlane

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2023, 02:23:59 PM »
My advice is to throw any pre-conceived ideas of which line you'll find to the pocket, and realize that no matter what you've got to find SOME friction or the ball simply cannot change direction.

In practice try your favorite line first, then start moving inside 2 & 1, or even parallel, until you find a spot down lane with friction.  (Sometimes the move may be outside, so I prefer to start outside first to eliminate the "which direction do I try?") 

The more forward roll idea is also very important, as too much side rotation is the over/under nightmare when you're just trying to get the ball to read the pattern, without over reading what's there, or not reading anything.

With all the different lane surfaces, lane conditioners, and patterns it's going to be trial and error until you find a spot with a little forgiveness so you can pry it off your hand.  Some cover surface is going to help blend out whatever oil pattern front to back as well as side to side. 

There is no easy answer, only ideas that we've tried that have worked for us in our situations.  We have all been there with the same lost feeling. 

Never let the fear of guessing wrong overcome your thoughts.  The way I see it, most of us could literally throw any line to the pocket, and should we miss, still make most spares, so be fearless in trying something different.  Good luck moving forward.

« Last Edit: May 22, 2023, 02:25:38 PM by justlane »
Lane Carter

tank38

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2023, 03:56:59 PM »
Not sure what the shot was but I couldn't get the ball to finish on the outside being that there was a bit of an out of bounds area and the more I chased it inside the more the ball wanted to go left and with more speed the ball would just lay there flat and do nothing. It was one of the most frustrating times bowling I've ever had.

Bowler19525

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2023, 04:14:43 PM »
If this was the PA State Open Championships you were bowling, it isn't surprising that the two centers were playing totally different.  Bowlero centers tend to be that way.

tank38

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2023, 04:22:35 PM »
This was actually the Dutchman tournament and it was the team event at Clearview lanes, Mount Joy Pa... I went to the state tournament a couple of weeks ago and the houses where definitely different but I was able to make some adjustments and I scored pretty good. This was something I just couldn't adjust to and was confused the entire time for 4 games for the team event.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2023, 04:40:19 PM by tank38 »

tank38

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2023, 11:51:31 AM »
So I am thinking that the shot on the lanes may have been some type of sport shot and it got me to thinking about the equipment that I'm using and maybe upgrading. So I have a question.
What four ball arsenal would anyone recommend for a lower rev, higher ball speed player on more challenging/sport shot conditions?

ignitebowling

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2023, 01:54:01 PM »
Usually if the gutters are out of bounds it forces you in where 10 down lane becomes the new out of bounds and you try to stay inside of it. Typically being a little further left and not right on top of the divide.
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2023, 08:18:25 AM »
So I am thinking that the shot on the lanes may have been some type of sport shot and it got me to thinking about the equipment that I'm using and maybe upgrading. So I have a question.
What four ball arsenal would anyone recommend for a lower rev, higher ball speed player on more challenging/sport shot conditions?

Bigger question is what are you using now that nothing seemed to work?  This will give us some better ideas as to which direction to go in.  But either way with only 4 balls you would need a big mix which might leave some gaps depending on what you already have.
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2023, 08:24:36 AM »
Going to add anything thing.  A lot of balls are in the process of being discontinued with Bowl Expo not far off.  Storm has already listed everything so you could get some pretty good deals.  Even though I am not a Storm guy; I am really considering a Super Nova.  But if you go to Bowlers Rant's Youtube channel he has listed everything and sure there is more to come.
Steven Vance
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Former Classic Products Assistant Manager

tank38

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2023, 09:04:51 AM »
What I tried to use was a Zen Soul, Motiv Fatal Venom and a Motiv Trident Odyssey. I could not get a good reaction out of any of these. None of them would hook from the outside and the Zen and Trident would over react in the center of the lane. The Venom couldn't do anything anywhere on the lanes.

TWOHAND834

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2023, 12:59:57 PM »
So I found the oil patterns they used and from basically 13 board to 13 board was completely flat yet the ratio was 5.83:1.  Clearview was 42 feet in length and was 24.5 mL.  The play was likely a ball with surface playing up between 5-8.  It is likely that balls missing outside of 5 was probably OB as topography does play a factor.  With your specs; you likely needed something with around 1000 grit to get the ball to read the lane properly. 

The 3 balls you mentioned are decent choices on most conditions but I think what you need to look at are balls like a Gamebreaker, Phaze 2, IQ Tour more for control purposes as the Zen and Fatal can have some pop down the lane which is what you dont want when playing on the fresh when the pattern plays on the flat side. 

Word of advice moving forward when going to bowl a tournament (in case you did not do this).  A simple Google search allowed me to find the oil patterns for this tournament at both houses.  Palmyra was 44 feet and Clearview was 42 feet and a slight variance in volume and ratio.  If you know the pattern going in; a lot of times your PSO can recommend how to play them and what balls would be good to use.  But IMO......you need a couple control pieces and I would lean towards the Phaze 2 and IQ Tour Solid.
Steven Vance
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Former Classic Products Assistant Manager

tank38

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Re: Lost While Bowling
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2023, 01:38:12 PM »
Wow, thank you for the research and information, I really appreciate it.
My preferred line to play is straight up 10 to 12 so having to play up 5 to 8 would be easier for me than having to swing it to much.

Thanks again for the information and the ball recommendations.