BallReviews
General Category => USBC Tournament => Topic started by: mrwizerd on May 04, 2021, 12:27:05 PM
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I was planning on using a Halo Vision or Sync (both at 2000 and 4x4x1 layout) for S/D, but after seeing clips from the 300's shot this weekend, I'm thinking about making a ball change. I'm thinking of dropping one of the above and replacing it with an IQ Tour Solid with the same layout and surface prep.
Thoughts?
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D/S is in the regular South Point bowling center that has a lot of friction
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Yep that center has a ton of friction. Much more than the Plaza. I also some leaky shots come back. I would wager if the D/S pattern was in the Plaza those leaky shots would be buckets. Or worse.
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Looking at the early scores one would think the Open is using a house shot this year.
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I bowled this past weekend. The shots are definitely not house shots, but they're much easier to navigate (in my opinion) than what I've seen the last few times out there.
Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.
Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here. It makes sense given the nature of the surface in the main bowling center. Nevertheless, they were playable all the way through.
I wouldn't call this year's patterns easy per se, at least not for the everyday house hack. However, I fully expect the guys and gals who understand ball motion and who can execute/repeat shots to shoot some huge numbers this year.
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Looking at the early scores one would think the Open is using a house shot this year.
Maybe for S/D, haven't heard anything about Team.
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I bowled this past weekend. The shots are definitely not house shots, but they're much easier to navigate (in my opinion) than what I've seen the last few times out there.
Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.
Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here. It makes sense given the nature of the surface in the main bowling center. Nevertheless, they were playable all the way through.
I wouldn't call this year's patterns easy per se, at least not for the everyday house hack. However, I fully expect the guys and gals who understand ball motion and who can execute/repeat shots to shoot some huge numbers this year.
Thank you for the report. It definitely gives me something to think about.
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Gene, thanks so much for the intel! I go out next week and bowl Fri/Sat. I'll have a report prepared as well.
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I bowled this past weekend. The shots are definitely not house shots, but they're much easier to navigate (in my opinion) than what I've seen the last few times out there.
Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.
Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here. It makes sense given the nature of the surface in the main bowling center. Nevertheless, they were playable all the way through.
I wouldn't call this year's patterns easy per se, at least not for the everyday house hack. However, I fully expect the guys and gals who understand ball motion and who can execute/repeat shots to shoot some huge numbers this year.
Thanks. I'm heading out tomorrow, my squad bowls Thurs & Fri (5/6,7).
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Looking at the early scores one would think the Open is using a house shot this year.
Maybe for S/D, haven't heard anything about Team.
Scores are posted on Bowl.com
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Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.
Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here.
Think there may be a tad too much friction on the gutter for urethane? Always take one and double as a spare ball, but was considering taking two as I have an open spot in the bag. I have had good success in both venues with urethane in the past.
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S/D is much easier. I haven’t bowled in a year, just started a month ago. I shot higher than my previous two years when I prepared for the tournament.
Did I leave washouts and buckets, yes but this time it’s cause of me missing my release. If you catch it and Miss right, it’s gonna hit the headpin.
Even with only four to a pair, the shot still transitions quickly. That and carrying the corners was the only tough issue. And I’m not that good. Scary when the top bowlers get on it.
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We bowled Monday and Tuesday (5/3 – 5/4).
Most of our team members are 70+ so ball speed has become an issue for several of us plus in my case my knees are shot. I go in for a right knee replacement on Monday 5/10 and the left knee is being done in mid June.
That being said.
I will echo a lot of what Gene said.
I felt there was much more free hook this year than in the past few years. Particularly in the team event. My guess is that the patterns are 3+ feet shorter than in the past.
In team a couple of my teammates that still have decent ball speed were playing around the 7 board with some recovery right and they don’t have a lot of hand. I started around 12 with a little belly to the marker board. My misses were better if they were right. We are in the standard division in team. Several members of the team had spare issues but I think we maybe in the bottom of cashing. I used a venom shock new with out of the box surface.
Doubles and Singles had even more hook. But again there was recovery if you missed a little right. Again we didn’t shoot spares particularly well but with my partner in doubles we are currently in the top 25 in the standard division. I used a roto grip hustle ink shined up in doubles and singles.
It is far from a house shot but I believe an easier sport shot.
I didn’t watch any of the top guys bowling but I think the shot would play a lot like the old cheetah pattern if you had the speed and hand to get out there.
They are really enforcing the mask policy and mask must be worn at all times even when bowling, gaming, or just walking around.
We do have a left hander on the team and his side looked similar.
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We talking throw the ball at the gutter and it won’t go in cheetah?
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Pretty much.
Our lefty threw a shot I thought was in the gutter but it hung on and came back and struck.
There were really bad shots that went in but they where from a righty throwing around 10 and missing 5 right and totally missing their release.
I had s couple of shots that in the past might have hung on but get 3 and they got back and would to at least the 3 pin. If you are down the boards at 5 I don’t think you could hardly throw it in the gutter.
In team you only get 6 minutes of practice to try and carve a shot but I think it might be there from the get go. We just don’t have the skills to utilize it.
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Pinbuster: Good luck in your knee operation on the 10th. I've had several (4) friends who had knee replacements and they all marvel @ how well it is doing in the present day. Hoping yours (operation) goes well and is everything that you are expecting and wanting. Mend well and heal quickly. Best 2 U.
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Are we talking team or singles and doubles. We had one person that threw three gutters in team. But it could of been more. Fortunately he wasn’t playing a lot of swing.🙄🙄
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Jim - thanks I know several bowlers with joint replacement and they have all done well. I hope to be back for the fall season star
rdw - it was both. There is more hook in d/s with extra traction in the league track area. The gutter balls I saw were in team but were really bad shots.
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Thanks pinbuster, that’s exactly how we saw it. Although one member of our doubles group still managed to throw a few in the ditch, but you really had to miss it bad. I see scores really going up for the house hacks.
But it’s the same for everyone. Think usbc softened the shot on purpose to give everyone a chance to have a good time. No reason to sit out a year and pay $200 to shoot 120’s.
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Another 300 posted up today from Singles.
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Just talked to some friends that were out there the past few days and bowled well.
Said they felt like the patterns are very similar to previous years, just less volume, and team has some friction outside right off the get go, thinking it might be a bit softer ratio. Urethane is usable, but probably not the best idea on team. D/S they mentioned the lane surface on the pairs they were on felt like there was a track built in 8-10 area to use as a breakpoint, and just chase in. Be interesting to see how big scores get, as they said it's playable right away, but lack of volume had transition happening extremely fast despite lack of traffic on a pair.
I'm looking forward to bowling this year, we are out there June 1-2, i'll be there a few days before and after if anyone wants to try and meet in person.