Author Topic: My Reno Report 2014 (Read 2382 times)

Gene J Kanak · « **on:** April 29, 2014, 07:30:35 AM »

Well, another Nationals has come and gone, so here is my annual reflection piece:

Team - 191-181-235 = 607

The shot played as advertised. There really wasn't a need to break them down or force yourself wide to break them down. As long as you find the down lane range finder or pretty close, you should be okay. I used my Endless Nightmare the whole set and had a decent look. I started off standing 23, sliding 17, and I just kept bumping in and opening my angles as we went. Some of the heavier-handed guys were able to use weaker balls and get it back from further right than I tried.

Doubles - 185-216-169 = 570

Again, what has been posted about this pattern held true for me and my group. I tried to start a bit further right than I did in team, but I soon realized that wasn't the play. As such, I moved back to where I played in team and tried to get it t 7-8 at the break point. I stuck with my Endless Nightmare all the way through because I was in a comfort zone, but I probably wasn't a good choice.

Singles - 176-243-203 = 622

A teammate of mine encouraged me to switch to my IQ Tour Fusion about midway through Game 1, and it was the best thing I could've done. As I moved left, the Fusion just looked better and better. If I were a better shot maker, I really could've put up some scores because I actually had miss room, something I have never had at Nationals.

For those who don't want to do the math, that is 1799 (bummer, I know!), which is a personal best for me. I didn't miss any makeable spares during Team, bu I did miss three (2-8; 8-pin; chopped 3-6-10) during minors. All in all, I was content with my performance. My biggest regret was being tentative. I should've been more proactive in regard to making ball changes, especially during minors. I should've been aggressive in trying to find a good/better reaction as opposed to trying to lay up and save par so to speak.

That's the best advice I can offer. Go after it; don't be timid. Remember, in league you probably average 5-7 strikes per game, and most of your spares are easy ones. Nationals isn't like that. It's harder to string strikes, and the spares are usually trickier. As such, you need to strike as often as you can. If you don't, the bad games the end up 180-190 in league can quickly turn into 140-150 in Reno. Be aggressive, make good shots, and let things fall where they may.

Off the lanes, Reno is still Reno. It's not great; it's not awful. It just is what it is. If you stay at Silver Legacy, be wary of the shower. Our water had two temps, scalding hot or ice cold. It took strategy to get yourself washed up without succumbing to hypothermia or incurring 3rd-degree burns. Gambling also proved unfriendly as I set a personal best by losing 19 consecutive hands of blackjack! lol

I you want any other info, just ask. Good luck and good bowling to all!

Dogtown · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2014, 07:57:07 AM »

Thank you for the report. Very helpful. We are heading out in a couple weeks.

storm making it rain · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2014, 08:04:35 AM »

Did you bowl the BJ tourney? If so did they play about the same as the stadium lanes? We leave in a couple of weeks as well. What was the money back number at the BJ if you did bowl?

Thanks

BallReviews-Removed0385 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2014, 08:45:18 AM »

Thanks for your report, Gene. I will be there in a few days to try my luck.

Cornfed82 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2014, 09:20:02 AM »

Thanks for telling us about your experience... I am heading out Thursday... Bowl Sat and Sun. Gonna try and squeeze in the BJ on Friday.

Gene J Kanak · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2014, 10:57:09 AM »

For those who asked, no, I didn't bowl the BJ, but a couple of my guys did. They said the pattern played a lot tighter on the tournament lanes than they did on the BJ lanes. I didn't pay attention to the number since I didn't bowl. Sorry.

Pinbuster · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2014, 08:35:16 AM »

I did bowl the BJ.

While you cross pairs at the BJ I thought it was similar to the D/S shot. I did bowl the fresh oil squad.

In my case we bowled with a 4 other bowlers not on my team with different styles so they did break down a little differently. But I still feel they played pretty close to the D/S shot.

northface28 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2014, 09:00:19 AM »

Quote from: Gene J Kanak on April 29, 2014, 07:30:35 AM

Well, another Nationals has come and gone, so here is my annual reflection piece:

Team - 191-181-235 = 607

The shot played as advertised. There really wasn't a need to break them down or force yourself wide to break them down. As long as you find the down lane range finder or pretty close, you should be okay. I used my Endless Nightmare the whole set and had a decent look. I started off standing 23, sliding 17, and I just kept bumping in and opening my angles as we went. Some of the heavier-handed guys were able to use weaker balls and get it back from further right than I tried.

Doubles - 185-216-169 = 570

Again, what has been posted about this pattern held true for me and my group. I tried to start a bit further right than I did in team, but I soon realized that wasn't the play. As such, I moved back to where I played in team and tried to get it t 7-8 at the break point. I stuck with my Endless Nightmare all the way through because I was in a comfort zone, but I probably wasn't a good choice.

Singles - 176-243-203 = 622

A teammate of mine encouraged me to switch to my IQ Tour Fusion about midway through Game 1, and it was the best thing I could've done. As I moved left, the Fusion just looked better and better. If I were a better shot maker, I really could've put up some scores because I actually had miss room, something I have never had at Nationals.

For those who don't want to do the math, that is 1799 (bummer, I know!), which is a personal best for me. I didn't miss any makeable spares during Team, bu I did miss three (2-8; 8-pin; chopped 3-6-10) during minors. All in all, I was content with my performance. My biggest regret was being tentative. I should've been more proactive in regard to making ball changes, especially during minors. I should've been aggressive in trying to find a good/better reaction as opposed to trying to lay up and save par so to speak.

That's the best advice I can offer. Go after it; don't be timid. Remember, in league you probably average 5-7 strikes per game, and most of your spares are easy ones. Nationals isn't like that. It's harder to string strikes, and the spares are usually trickier. As such, you need to strike as often as you can. If you don't, the bad games the end up 180-190 in league can quickly turn into 140-150 in Reno. Be aggressive, make good shots, and let things fall where they may.

Off the lanes, Reno is still Reno. It's not great; it's not awful. It just is what it is. If you stay at Silver Legacy, be wary of the shower. Our water had two temps, scalding hot or ice cold. It took strategy to get yourself washed up without succumbing to hypothermia or incurring 3rd-degree burns. Gambling also proved unfriendly as I set a personal best by losing 19 consecutive hands of blackjack! lol

I you want any other info, just ask. Good luck and good bowling to all!

I didn't know you had the old school "drift right" in your game.

Nice report, your experience is similar to what I saw. I had 641 in team, 628 in singles, and 613 in double (with a nice 146 game). I used 3 balls primarily, a Zero Gravity for game 1 in singles and a Byte in games 2 & 3 in team and a combination of a Zero Gravity and a regular IQ Tour. Suffered some poor carry or else this set could've been much larger. The Byte was the only ball I could get through the front and hit with any authority. My only open was a 49er in team. I wouldn't say they were super easy, but there is definitely room and you have miss room right, theres even a little hold, but its not massive swing and hold like most house patterns.

I started minors with the same Zero Gravity and tried to play further right, bad idea. There was nothing out there, but I still managed a 206 game. I started the next game with the Zero Gravity and left the flattest 10 I think I have ever seen, the ball literally shorted upon hitting the pins. I promptly went to an IQ Tour, this is when the wheels fell off. I struck one time and went on to shoot 146. Absolute dumpster fire. For all the glory this ball gets, it sometimes just reads the lane so awkwardly, thats another discussion for another day. In retrospect, I probably stayed too far right, too long. The Tour just couldn't handle the wet/dry condition we created. Anyway, I went back to the Gravity and moved in to about 14 at the arrows, I had hold and swing again. Do not be afraid to move in and open up the lane. I had from 14-7/8 for the duration of the set and finished up around 16 at the arrows. I wish I had brought some higher pin, cleaner balls, with more downlane reaction. I only brought 4 balls, all which worked at home on the same pattern. I really wish I would've brought my Fusion. Oh well.

No need for "lane carving", hook is there and ready to be exploited. Unfortunately, I bowl with a few oafs who subscribe to using surface and "breaking down first arrow", which is fine, except they think they are hitting 5 when in actuality they are hitting 8-9. Be wary of this as you can create an ugly wet/dry cliff.

Author Topic: My Reno Report 2014 (Read 2382 times)

Gene J Kanak

My Reno Report 2014

Dogtown

Re: My Reno Report 2014

storm making it rain

Re: My Reno Report 2014

BallReviews-Removed0385

Re: My Reno Report 2014

Cornfed82

Re: My Reno Report 2014

Gene J Kanak

Re: My Reno Report 2014

Pinbuster

Re: My Reno Report 2014

northface28

Re: My Reno Report 2014