win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?  (Read 2338 times)

splendorlex

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4484
So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« on: May 24, 2006, 12:20:43 AM »
Am I missing something?  I read in another thread something about them using sport patterns on the PBA for a bit, but it was embarrassing for the players or something.  What's the scoop?  Are sport patterns more difficult than PBA patterns?  Why would we subject ourselves to such torture if that's the case?  
--------------------
Check out my bowling journal!
http://www.allbowling.com/journal/public.php?uid=1792&leagueid=912

Stop trying to impress others people, people mostly care about what your saying about them not you.

 

kayoung08

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 659
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2006, 08:26:59 AM »
as far as i know a sport pattern is more difficult than pba patterns. some people call the pba patterns sport patterns bu i beleive there is no real pattern to a sport shot, just a whole lot of oil and maybe a dry board or 2. http://www.bowl.com/downloads/pdf/sb_techmanual_05-06.pdf
love to hear from some lane guys to know what the real difference is between the two.
--------------------
www.myspace.com/gotti13
www.myspace.com/kayoung08
www.myspace.com/ferengata
www.eggoman.com
www.trackbowling.com
www.startabowlingrevolution.com

Fluff E Bunnie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5617
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2006, 09:29:40 AM »
That's what I'm saying.  I would want to bowl on whatever the pros play on.  If sport conditions make you a better bowler, then why not?  

Really the way I look at it, if you are scoring low but everyone else is scoring low then you aren't really scoring low comparatively.
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III

kayoung08

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 659
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2006, 09:36:23 AM »
not everyone wants to be a better bowler. many people want to see high scores and think they are good. i know of many guys around here that think they are great bowlers but only bowl in one house, on an easy house shot. never going to tournaments or ever bowling when there is a harder shot.
--------------------
www.myspace.com/gotti13
www.myspace.com/kayoung08
www.myspace.com/ferengata
www.eggoman.com
www.trackbowling.com
www.startabowlingrevolution.com

shelley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9655
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2006, 09:41:17 AM »
quote:
Why would we subject ourselves to such torture if that's the case?  


Because that's what "real" bowlers would do.  Because sport bowling is about accuracy and consistency, and that's what "old-school", "real" bowlers like.  Because that's what you had to have "back in the day".

SH

Fluff E Bunnie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5617
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2006, 09:45:14 AM »
So you are saying PBA bowlers aren't "real" bowlers?
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III

njv29

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2006, 10:09:00 AM »
quote:
So you are saying PBA bowlers aren't "real" bowlers?
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III


The PBA bowlers don't decide what they bowl on. That decision is up to the PBA tournament directors and lane maintenance crew. They bowl on slightly easier conditions than sport shots because the people in charge of the PBA feel it is more exciting for the audience to watch the bowlers that are supposed to be the "Best in the World" shoot big scores than to shoot 190 on TV. It is a marketing decision.

I'm sure that PBA bowlers would not care if the lanes were oiled waist deep for 60 feet or blocked up like your local house wall. They can score on anything, and I've never heard of a PBA bowler complaining about a shot being too hard / easy.

The difference between a sport shot and a PBA shot is that a sport shot requires that there is at least a 2 to 1 ratio of the amount of oil from boards 17L-17R to 3L-7L and 3R-7R at 22 feet and 2 feet before the end of the pattern. In other words, whatever the average amount of oil is between the 17 board left and right of 20, there must be  at least an average of half that amount between the 3 and 7 boards on both sides of the lane.

PBA shots do not have any requirements at all, and are instead determined by the lane maintenance crew based on whatever they feel the lanes should play like. PBA patterns range from a high ratio (Cheetah pattern, Regional #2) such as 6:1 down to almost sport shot ratios of 2.5:1 (such as Regional #4 and the Chameleon pattern).

Just as a side note, all of the PBA Majors (US Open, Masters, TOC, and World Championship) are held on official sport shots.

Edited on 5/24/2006 10:07 AM

Fluff E Bunnie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5617
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2006, 11:55:27 AM »
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing pro bowlers bowling 190.  It's just a number.  All they would need to do is have the announcers hype up the difficulty of the lanes constantly.


--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Parker Bohn III

Scolai

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13129
  • Seeker of Knowledge
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2006, 11:58:52 AM »
quote:
So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?


Yes.  In some cases, the PBA shot is scary-easy (Cheetah and the short Regional/Senior shot).  I've never been able to say that about any sport shot.  Ever.
--------------------
Nut
...
/|\

None are more hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free....


"My Karma Ran Over My Dogma"
Jesus is coming!  Look busy!
Scolai

I will never become another piece inside the paralytic construct I hate.

Splitz

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 306
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2006, 12:41:20 PM »
PBA patterns are not even close to sport shots for the most part.  They are designed more or less to force players to use certain lines which in theory are determined by the wear on the lane surfaces.  In theory they make use of the least worn parts of the lanes to give a "fairer" shot.

Then there is the U.S. Open.  Now that's a true shot.  No hold, no recovery, you just get what you throw.  I like it!  It is the sport shot of sport shots.

Mrtaz2u300

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 116
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2006, 01:02:46 PM »
Are PBA patterns easier than sport patterns?  YES!  Thats the end of the argument.  I've bowled for many years on both the new and old PBA conditions as well as a multitude of sport conditions in tournaments and for whatever reason, the sport conditions play much more difficult. I know that the PBA has some reasoning behind making the conditions easier than sport (with the normal person not wanting to watch 180-178 on ESPN) but i do think they need to toughen up the patterns a little bit, or at least not tell the bowlers what condition they're bowling on before hand. By telling them what they're bowling on, the pros all migrate to one part of the lane and burn a track and then grab the next ball they brought specifically for that condition and have anywhere from 3 to 8 boards at the breakpoint in some cases...  So the conditions are easier, but the guys bowling on it make it that way, or at least exaggerate it sometimes.
--------------------
I Bowl to win...

BallsDeep

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 870
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2006, 03:46:14 PM »
To my understanding, pba shots don't need to be sport sanctioned shots.  Like has been said, the cheeta pattern and certain regional patterns have a very high scoring pace and do not have the 2:1 ratio that a shot needs to be considered sport.  njv29 gave a good description of this in his reply.  To add a bit, the TOC was bowled on a 50 ft sport shot and had some of the highest scores this season.  This is just a testiment to the fact that while sport shots are taylored to a higher difficulty level, at times they can break down and be easy, easier in fact than shots with a higher than 2:1 ratio.  PBA shots, to me, seem to try to highlight a player's versitility.  They try to force a player to use multiple lines and angles that are out of the normal league shot.  At times one may need a high level of accuracy, in shooting a simple line, a testiment to this is WRW with his 40 titles, but it seems as though the current way of thinking is to go less for this type of dead on accuracy and more towad versitility, a la Norm Duke who probably had the most successful year.  (TJ was just better on TV, which is a crap shoot to a great extent.)
--------------------
four fried chickens and a coke[/size=4]

Rileybowler

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3458
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2006, 04:47:52 PM »
The women pro's were bowling on sport condition before the folded and they seemed to do rather well
--------------------
Carl
Carl
Bless the LORD o my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name

No Fear

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 116
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2006, 05:13:39 PM »
The PBA did the right move in naming their patterns & also posting their patterns on graphs.....the USBC needs to do this also.....I see tournaments all the time advertising sport shots....But what Sport Shot????.....The word "sport shot" can mean just about anything....I'll call on the phone to the tournament director & ask for the lane oiling pattern....they always answer a sport shot but can not tell you how the pattern is applied....Once again the USBC is clueless????If they are going to name a condition "Sport Shot"....DEFINE IT!!!


njv29

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
Re: So are PBA patterns EASIER than sport patterns?
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2006, 06:20:33 PM »
quote:
If they are going to name a condition "Sport Shot"....DEFINE IT!!


What a sport shot is is defined. As stated before, the oil pattern must conform to the 2:1 ratio. Past that, flexibility is allowed. This allows the center to select an appropriate pattern based on lane surface, scoring pace desired, and part of the lane that will be played (just like the PBA, but more modifiable). If you call the alley and are told that the shot will be a sport shot, just expect to have to be accurate.

No, there is no specific "sport shot", but it's for the better of the term. If there was one specific shot then it may be ok at one center and not at the next.

For example:
Lets say one bowling alley has 60 feet of 4 year old Gaurdian. Even on the house shot nothing gets through the heads, and the backends are weak at best.

Another bowling alley has brand new synthetic lanes with sparking backends and slick heads even on the driest conditions.

Now apply a 44 ft light volume sport shot in both centers. At the Gaurdian house, the shot would be unplayable from the start. Hook in the heads with no chance of carrying the corners if you do manage to get the ball to the hole. At the synthetic house, on the other hand the shot would play great and break down in a manner such that some players can migrate inside and other will go to the right gutter.

Conversly, apply a 35 ft. heavy volume sport shot. Now the Gaurdian house is easy and the shot holds up, breaking down into a nice shot where everyone can stand in the middle of the lane and swing the track. Because the backends are tame, the ball is nice and readable for the whole day. At the synthetic house, the ball rolls dead straight for 35' and then takes an absolute left turn. If you keep the ball right of the headpin, you'll be lucky to take out the 4-9 or not leave the 1-2-4-6-10. The shot breaksdown by carrying down into a reverse block, creating an unbelievably over-under reaction.

Obviously, having "a" sport pattern would not work. Even having 3 or 4 or 5 unique sport shots would not work. Even the PBA has 3 different versions of each pattern (e.g. Cheetah 1, Cheetah 2, Cheetah 3 - each of which has a different volume). This is necessary because of the extremely varied conditions at each center. What plays decently in one center may be terrible all day in another center.

As for Saw's theory of 2 units in the middle and 1 on the outside, yes that would be a sport shot. Fortunately for everyone, though, it misses the point. The point is to give a challenging yet playable shot. Making the lanes tough to the point of ridiculousness is not the goal. Making the shots play consistent but tough is the goal. Awarding accuracy and eliminating "area" is the goal.