win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Pro Layouts  (Read 6759 times)

HAMMERDOWN103

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 520
Pro Layouts
« on: June 29, 2007, 10:40:19 AM »
How do pros layout their equipment? Do they drill a ball to do a specific thing on a specific condition? Use the same patterns on different balls to get different results? Do they have special knowledge through years of bowling about special layouts we dont know about? I just really want to lay out my own stuff in a better way so that im not buying the newest thing or wasting my money on something that will have no use for me... Help!!!
--------------------
90 degree cornering at 60 miles an hour. Is that a CORR pro 4 truck, or me rev'n up a bowling ball???
HAMMERDOWN!!!

 

shelley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9655
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2007, 07:39:20 PM »
It varies.  You can see most of Jeff Carter's arsenal on his website.  Most of his equipment has one of two layouts.  Others use layouts specific to the reaction they're looking for, and if you look at all of their equipment at one time, you'll see a dozen layouts.  WRW uses mostly stacked layouts with the pin around 4" from his PAP.

For the most part, you see a lot of layouts with the pin 5" or more from axis, very weak layouts.  Since the lanes they bowl on have very strong backends, they need length more than reaction.

Are there special layouts they're privy to that we aren't?  No, not really.  The ball reps on tour are very knowledgeable and come up with some unique layouts for specific bowlers' reactions (the Pat Girard layout, the Rico layout) that you won't usually see in most arsenals.  But they're not "secret", they're simply uncommon.

SH

BirwinJR

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 203
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2007, 08:40:31 PM »
I drill everything weak 4" from pap is as strong as I go. Shelley is right you see a lot of backend on the PBA patterns at least at regionals and national stops. I am not one of the big boys out there yet, but have learn that balls that have lots of flare tend to be erratic and staying out of trouble is a good thing. I can tell you the most imported ball in your arsenal is a spare ball the bowlers at this level do not miss very many, Layouts help but most high level pros will tell you that the cover of the ball is everything else helps but if you cover don't match up you don't match up. Bowlers can make strong drillings work with things like loft and reducing rev rate ect, But to answer you question. Play around a little to see what works for you. Walter Ray is a good example he uses almost label drills and guy like Tommy Jones use more exotic drill patterns.  Don't ever be afraid to thy something new you'll never know how it will work for you.
--------------------
www.rotogrip.com KING OF THEM ALL

HAMMERDOWN103

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 520
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2007, 05:37:01 PM »
Is there a way i can talk to TJ or see his exotic layouts? I email him through Ebonite's website but it takes a couple weeks and by then it might not be as helpful. We do have the same coach so i guess i can try to talk to him as well... Thanks for all the help!
--------------------
90 degree cornering at 60 miles an hour. Is that a CORR pro 4 truck, or me rev'n up a bowling ball???
HAMMERDOWN!!!

Russell

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5121
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2007, 06:41:45 PM »
Rieck....just keep in mind two very important things....

1) You're not Tommy Jones...probably don't throw it anything like him either.

2) You're not bowling on the same conditions as Tommy Jones.

Just keep that in mind...his layouts are for him on particular conditions.  They are for SPECIFIC ball motions....for HIS ball roll.
--------------------
http://www.myspace.com/rlrussell

The artist formerly known as "jabroni"

Mike Austin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2057
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2007, 03:49:41 AM »
I pretty much use a variation of two different layouts.  Pin over the fingers and pin under the fingers.  I vary the degrees of the mass bias, pins usually 4" to 6" from PAP.  One or two different layouts, not much different.  If I really like a ball, I will try a different layout, and/or different surface.  Only once in a while do I drill a "specialty" ball, a ball for a specific condition and/or pattern.  I don't recommend people using "specialty" or "trick" layouts too often.  Unless you are going to have 15 or 20 balls and you know that the special ball is going to sit in your bag 96% of the time, it is hard to justify spending that money.  I have that luxury, but most people don't.

You gotta use what rolls good for you.  Forget about what works great for Tommy Jones, Parker Bohn, Robert Smith.  We don't throw the ball like they do, bottom line.  They also have the luxury of drilling 2,3,5 of some ball to get it just right.  They bowl for a living, carrying means money.  We don't bowl on conditions that demanding, move your feet or change the surface on the ball.
--------------------
Driller to many "Stars" and Tony Melendez too!

COMING SOON!!!  www.mikeaustinbowling.com
CHECK OUT MY BLOGS!  www.myspace.com/strikes4days
Mike Austin's Bowling Dynamix Pro Shops
Inside Emerald Bowl
Inside Tomball Bowl
Track Pro Staff Member
Vise Grips Staff Member

CoachJim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1044
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2007, 04:51:23 AM »
Like Mike Said, drilling mostly helps carry, if you are looking for a totally different look on the lane, then you should look at a totally different ball.

If you have all of the latest and greatest heavy oil balls that each want to hook early and roll, then look into a reactive pearl, or an entry level ball.

Most Pros have a drill pattern or two that works well for them and they put it on every ball, if they need something different they drill up another of the same ball that they are close with and put the pin closer or farther from the vertical axis line, this is usually at the advice of their ball rep or coach.

HAMMERDOWN103

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 520
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2007, 07:06:20 PM »
Thanks for all the help everyone. Im kind of finding helpful bits in all pros styles but since im better inside i want to work on that. I have good revs but i think i might be tilting the ball too much to play inside. Is there a way to reduce my tilt? Any advice on that? Do you guys happen to have the Email for someone in Ebonite i can talk to about balls?
--------------------
90 degree cornering at 60 miles an hour. Is that a CORR pro 4 truck, or me rev'n up a bowling ball???
HAMMERDOWN!!!

CoachJim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1044
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2007, 07:31:08 AM »
Jeff Ussery is a member of this forum, and can tell you anything you would ever want to know about Ebonite equipment, look up his name and pm him, or contact Ebonite directly.

HAMMERDOWN103

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 520
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2007, 08:29:21 PM »
Ok, a friend of mine is a free agent staffer at this point. I got a layout from his T-Road Pearl that is 5.5" from your pap and puts the cg in a strong position but not stacked. I put this layout on an RXS300 and love the ball. How did he come up with this layout? We are both crankers and play the deeper portion of the lanes and throw the ball with medium-low speed. On a house shot his ball comes flying across the boards. Is there any way to know what type of layouts will really be gems for me or will typically work well for me with the info i gave? High revs, medium-low tilt, medium-low speed. Thanks
--------------------
"Why is the cover cracking?"
"I think you're ripping the cover off the ball!"
"Crankers, what are you gonna do with em?"
HAMMERDOWN!!!

CoachJim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1044
Re: Pro Layouts
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2007, 09:59:32 PM »
High revs, medium to low tilt, low speed = Tall higher rg cores, longer pin to pap measurements and pin above the finger holes should work best, I would guess.