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Author Topic: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?  (Read 3870 times)

Gene J Kanak

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Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« on: April 04, 2017, 10:15:18 AM »
As I always do around this time of year, I keep going back and forth in regard to what I want to bring. Since I fly with two three-ball totes, I've basically got room for 5 balls plus plastic for spares. The key here is to try to bring the gear that will give me the most versatility, meaning that they can be played on either pattern depending on surface prep. Here's what I'm thinking at the moment (keep in mind, I'm a no-thumb bolwer):

Storm Vivid (2000 for team; 1000 for minors)
Motiv Forza GT (2000)
Storm Byte (2000)
Storm Tropical Heat Hybrid (2000 plus polish)
Brunswick Fanatic BTU (500)
Target Zone

The thoughts is to try to use the 500-grit BTU during the early portion of team and possibly minors while trying to go straighter from the outside. If that ball reads like it should, I may be able to stay with that one for a good while during team. If I have to switch, the Byte or Forza should allow me to go away from the pocket a little more with smooth recovery. Which one to go to will depend on how the front of the lane is holding up.

In minors, I can also consider using that Vivid to help break things down. That ball is very smooth/rolly. The Forza will likely play after when I need something a bit cleaner up front but that can still get to the spot. The Tropical Heat is great once that spot develops down lane because that ball will glide to it and bounce off of it nicely. I figure that ball will be best during minors when it's time to get in a bit and throw to the spot.

I also considered swapping out the Byte in favor of a 1000-grit Tropical Breeze Hybrid. My thought there was that that ball would allow me to go away from the pocket a bit more in team without having to worry about a nasty move on the back. If I did that, it would probably be in place of the Byte.

Thoughts?

 

LookingForALeftyWall

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2017, 10:24:50 AM »
Have you practiced with all of those balls at the stated surfaces you're intending to use on any mid length sport shots as of late?  Thinking you know what they will do in theory is one thing - actually seeing what a 500 grit BTU has done on sport shot is another. 

Other than that, seems like a well rounded and thought out arsenal.  Good luck!

Gene J Kanak

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2017, 01:29:50 PM »
Your point is certainly well taken, and you're 100% correct. I'm going to try to get myself onto different patterns and surfaces as much as possible between now and then, but, in the end, I'm going to have to make my best guesses because it's not easy to find sport patterns in my area. As such, I'm basing most of this off of what I've read/been told and the little that I've seen from USBC's streaming of various parts.

The BTU is a mystery. I use that ball at 500-grit all the time, even on our house shot, because the ball is way too squirty for me at any other surface. My hope is that I can use that ball to play straight. I've talked to some people who have already been there who claim that urethane is definitely an option early on in team. I have a Black Hammer (the new one), but I'd prefer not to throw true urethane due to the propensity for those balls to push some oil. The BTU should allow me a similar look. My worry there is that, for me, the BTU is very clean up front, and it still can come off the spot pretty hard. With that in mind, I'm worried that I'll get the ball down the lane, but it will jump too hard when it gets to the end of the pattern. Still, I know that I should be able to go pretty straight with it to start with.

The other balls are more predictable, so it's just a matter of surfaces. The Vivid is very smooth and rolly for me not matter what, so I definitely think I can use that to burn off some energy and tame down flying backends as needed. If/when I need to start creeping left, the Forza GT gets down the lane cleaner and offers more pop off the spot without getting crazy. The Byte will be cleaner still as a pearl, but that ball tends to produce more of a hook/set motion, which should be enhanced by the fact that I'll keep some surface on it. As stated above, I'm hoping that Tropical Heat Hybrid (Black/purple) will be good once the spot has opened up and you can throw it to the friction. That ball is clean up front and strong down the lane.

In the end, I'll make the best guesses I can just like everyone else does. It comes down to shot-making as much as anything anyhow, so all I can do is try to give myself a chance with reasonable ball choices and then see what happens from there.


HankScorpio

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2017, 07:41:36 AM »
One thing to keep in mind: there is PLENTY of oil.

Two of my teammates are very high rev. One used a SureLock most of the tournament. The other used a gauntlet.

I'm higher rev myself and used the following progression for both sets:
Mastermind -forward rolling asymmetric to start
IQ Tour -smooth and continuous when it starts to open up
Code black - angular to bank it when it really walls (never got to it in team)

Arsenal progression is key. Unless your team doesn't work well together, then the key is a good prayer..


quazyguy

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2017, 01:30:06 PM »
That is awesome to hear HankScorpio.  My lineup this year will be Sure Lock, IQ Tour, and Code Black as well.  I wanted to take my HyRoad Pearl, but don't know if I will be able to without additional cost.
Current Arsenal - Sure Lock, Code Black, Code Red, Hy-Road Pearl, IQ Tour Fusion, IQ Tour, Ride, Ice

Now Testing - Son!Q
Considering - Pitch Black

Dave81644

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2017, 08:17:07 AM »
Team - not much volume, not much length, changes quickly
Minors, all depends on your tilt in my opinion, if you have a higher ball speed or spin it at all, it will seem like a long pattern. also - it changes fast
there is no certain ball that will be better, each person has something that will work for them
I would have been fine with a sideswipe solid and minimal surface for minors.
Instead - I had it at 1000 and it was a great look for about 6 frames and then the mids went away. had I used something shinier when I saw that, i would have been better off
not much surface need in either event IMO
surface just kills the transition

Impending Doom

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2017, 09:21:37 AM »
Gene, have you checked out Fox to see if they're laying down the USBC shot? They have in years past. Don't know about now.

billdozer

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2017, 09:45:14 AM »
Team - not much volume, not much length, changes quickly
Minors, all depends on your tilt in my opinion, if you have a higher ball speed or spin it at all, it will seem like a long pattern. also - it changes fast
there is no certain ball that will be better, each person has something that will work for them
I would have been fine with a sideswipe solid and minimal surface for minors.
Instead - I had it at 1000 and it was a great look for about 6 frames and then the mids went away. had I used something shinier when I saw that, i would have been better off
not much surface need in either event IMO
surface just kills the transition

I'm taking at DDT and IQ tour both OOB. I think the trick will be perfect at 2000..

Thanks for the feedback.
In the bag [Infinite Physix, Volatility Torque, Night Road, Phaze III, Burner Solid, Hustle AU]
*Now Testing* IQ Ruby, Renevant, another IQ Tour solid
Coming soon...???

Gene J Kanak

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2017, 10:29:19 AM »
My big question is whether or not I'm putting my thumb in the ball or going no-thumb as I have all year. If I go with my thumb in, I'm probably looking at this lineup:

Haywire - pin down at 1000
Haywire - pin up at 4000
Phaze II - pin up at 2000 or 3000
Gamebreaker - pin down at 2000
Frantic - pin up at box
Plastic

vkowalski1970

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2017, 03:11:18 PM »
I just came back....a total disaster and worse than any year Ive ever gone....lol

Team:
Surface up the far outside(3/4) is the only shot I had,but with no one working with me it was total disaster. I started with my Scandal at 1000 and had a decent look but as everyone else sprayed the ball around all over the look disappeared. I had no chance of getting deep or getting the ball down lane, every ball I had literally hooked up instantly.....It was as tough of a shot as I have ever bowled on. My daredevil Trick is drilled pin up stacked and it was way too sharp off the spot even at 1000....

Doubles/Singles:
The shot started well with the Scandal at 1000 straight up 6/7 board. But too much axis rotation and it jumped, miss right and it was a wash out. Same thing happened, people spraying the ball around created many issues. I was totally lost for a full game, then i was able to throw my IQ tour at 2000 around 10 for about 12-15 frames and it looked good but rough carry. Things then started to scream as the opened up and I made the move literally a game to slow. I ended standing 35, 22 at arrows and 10 at break with my Scandal Pearl at 3000 and the look was great for the 2/3rd games of singles. Spares were crazy hard for me this year. I missed a ton and suffered for it.....


If I was to do it again, I would have tried a ton of surface on a very low end ball for the team event if I didnt have people working with me... Without help this shot to me is impossible. Felt very short and very tight.
The D/S events are definitely more capable of scoring well. I didnt practice enough all year and was off all year. In previous years I believe even without help, I could have scored decent. Surface is king to start. The Scandal Pin down at 1000 really had a nice look but my release was too inconsistent. Seeing the move quicker would have increased my score literally 100+ pins over the D/S events. This reminded me more of the shots over the years.....Look for the range finder down lane as soon as the open up a bit and score...
« Last Edit: April 24, 2017, 03:26:27 PM by vkowalski1970 »
Scandal
Daredevil Trick
IQ Tour Solid
Lights Out
Hustle Ink
Viral Hybrid

nycatl

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2017, 06:43:17 PM »
vk1970,

Did you take anything else beside the 4 you mentioned - were those your only options, or, did something end up as dead weight in your bag?
« Last Edit: April 24, 2017, 06:45:20 PM by nycatl »

vkowalski1970

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2017, 04:34:19 PM »
No I only took 4....I should have taken by 2inch pin to pap Pathogen X at 500
Scandal
Daredevil Trick
IQ Tour Solid
Lights Out
Hustle Ink
Viral Hybrid

nycatl

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2017, 06:13:23 PM »
vk1970,

Sorry to hear you struggled - did your team ever discuss working together or was it "every man for himself" right out of the gate?

Dave81644

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Re: Arsenal thoughts/suggestions?
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2017, 10:55:17 PM »
Friend of mine - former eagle winner there
suggested a 2" pin Nitrous for me with some surface
went with it, at 1000
ball was just right for team, 1st 2 games at least
Started out at 3 with 1 other guy, had a great controllable look
214.217 start with 20 or so each game left out there
by game 3 , we were into 10 and that's when it all changed.
mids went away and it wouldn't read, move in slightly and the increase in angle made it treacherous, square up and it checked early, went to a 1" pin Tour Sic with 1500 and it went dead straight up 8
174 finish for 605 with 2 opens.
Should have had a Urethane in my bag and I would have been OK game 3, I think.