I've been taught that when you're bowling on an oily lane, you need more axis of rotation; on a dry lane, reduce it.

However, according to my experience, I have to do the opposite.

On heavier and longer oil conditions I need the ball to grab the lane sooner. I need it to break as soon as it exits the oil pattern. Therefore I need more forward roll (less axis of rotation) to achieve this. If I have a high axis of rotation the ball is not able to read the lane early and tends to skid past the ideal break point.

When the lane dries up I need to chase the oil line in the middle of the lane (on a house condition). Therefore I need to play a deeper line. But with the same axis of rotation as before I wouldn't be able to get the same entry angle when I move in. So I have to increase the axis of rotation to maintain the same entry angle. The ball would grab the lane a little bit later by doing so but it doesn't matter because the lanes are dry.

Perhaps it sounds weird to you, but any one here has the same experience? Or is it just my misunderstanding?

Thanks in advance.

No, not me.

2 reasons are becuase my town basically has all high quality lanes with 90% of them med to med/heavy synthetics. another reason I'm a lefty ^^ with little transition or lane breakdown. If you come down to las vegas you'll see most of the good bowlers are all rollers and not spinners.
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LG

Edited on 5/13/2006 11:53 AM

Edited on 5/13/2006 11:54 AM

Let me also add something to what Precision was saying, which was dead on.  The best times to use more axis rotation, is when the track area starts to open up where you can get farther inside and bounce off of it.  The axis rotation will allow for more continuation through the pins from deeper, inside lines.  I have realized that more of the down and in shot, the forward roll seems to work the best and when the shot breaks down and forces you inside, a little more axis rotation helps the most.  For me anyway, the more forward roll I get from inside line tend to result in more corner pins due to a flat entry angle.  

Down and in or up the track = forward roll
Inside, deeper lines = more axis rotation
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Steven Vance
Atlanta (Buford), GA
Pro Shop Operator
Advanced Bowling Solutions

If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!

Sn,

not sure who taught you what was right, but readings in BTM from different professional coaches and a few other sources have indicated to me (as well as experience, of course) that a higher axis of rotation in your release is usually needed to help the main factor, ball speed, get the ball through the drier heads and midlane. The fact that it delays the hook is what aids or adds to the angle of entry from the usually deeper inside line.

On the other hand, the more end over end release, with boh less rotation and les tilt, help the ball fight the early oiliness and provide more traction.

Least-wise, this is what I learned. Your learning this proves that whoever taught you otherwise was ... misguided, to be polite.

Soooo, yes, of course, I agree with Precision.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."


Edited on 5/13/2006 9:37 PM