Hooking is Fun!!

[MICHAEL]

Hooking is fun! Ask any hooker! But on Sports patterns, it seems to me standing right, and aiming second arrow into the pocket, with plastic might be a much better way to bowl for the average to even better than average bowler! Eliminate the oil! Have any studies be done in that regards!
For the first time this last year I bowled some sports patterns, and it’s a whole new ball game! I didn’t think of this idea then, because I didn’t have a good plastic ball like I do now! I notice guys that were big hookers, having all kinds of problems getting average scores.
Standing Right, (for a right hander), and aiming second arrow, seems like a decent angle for throwing a plastic ball, and I wonder if most bowers, (other than professional bowers) would have better scores using a plastic!
One thing I discovered with the Sports patters, is even simple spares can be a very difficult shot due to the oil! So why not take the oil out of the equation, and perfect your straight game with a good fitting plastic ball. I know the new one I have now works great! It’s the storm 1 ball, and it was drilled PERFECT for my hand/style! I am now deadly on 10 pins!! I have also learned to use tape to make a Vise thumb twist insert fit even better! ( thanks to the Dude in that regards)!

[Greenday]

Well, I know on very heavy oil patterns, a lot of good bowlers will throw a straight ball to pick up all spares since you can't rely on the ball to hook enough.

[MICHAEL]

Why not use plastic for strike, since MOST don't do well with big hooks, on SPORTS OIL ect!! Hey in the old days they had some GREAT scores throwing low performance balls, using a more streight approach! I will give it a try next time I bowl sports.

[JaMau24]

Why not use plastic for strike, since MOST don't do well with big hooks, on SPORTS OIL ect!! Hey in the old days they had some GREAT scores throwing low performance balls, using a more streight approach! I will give it a try next time I bowl sports.

I've already explained this to you... Throwing a straight ball in the pocket wouldn't give you the entry angle like hooking the ball into the pocket. You wouldn't get the pin action required to get a lot of strikes. There's a reason why they started hooking the ball -- To get more strikes! Throwing a straight ball into the pocket lowers your percentage of a strike by a huge margin.

[MICHAEL]

Dude,,, you have no idea what a remarkable angle I can throw a plastic ball into the pocket!! I am deadly with that new storm 1 plastic ball!! As poorly as most scores are that I have seen in person, I can't imagine a good angle straight ball woulden't work as well! Pro's a different story for sure, Iam talking Joe the Plumber bowlers, or Mike the Ironworker! Most average bowlers, don't do well at all with sports patterns with big hook balls!! lol

[Greenday]

Well, if you are talking about inexperienced people who don't know how to play a very oily lane, yes, a person bowling a straight ball might beat out the person with the hook as you'll hit the pocket more often. But if two experienced people go on an oily lane, the person throwing a hook is still going to be able to throw a hook. It just won't be a huge sweeping hook. They'll still score higher in general.

[striker12]

i suck on oily lanes i just cant throw the ball streght up i have to cross a min of 3 broads and sometimes when i do that it will slid out to far and go into the gutter and not hook but im getting tought right know how to change the surface on a bowling ball beore the league with out a spinner but by hand soo i cna adjsut to the lanes.

[J Anderson]

The sport league that I bowl in triples in size during the summer. Most of these extra bowlers figure the short season is a good way to test themselves on more difficult conditions. There are usually a few for whom the shock that they just took 4 games to roll a 600 series is too much and they quit. Others, much to the dismay of the better bowlers follow the Iceman's advice, and start throwing plastic on every pattern after their first split or washout.

[MICHAEL]

If I am bowing on sport's, and for MONEY, I am going to do what ever wins! I can't wait to try out my theory! For the same reason all GOOD BOWLERS use plastic for most of their spares on sports patterns, why not take the oil out of the equation, and use it for Strike balls!! I am looking forward to bowing Sports again, and givning it a try, NOW THAT I have a very comfortable good fitting plastic ball!! Now when bowling (SPORTS) for fun, I agree, go with the big hook, even if it's not that effective for MOST Average/Good Bowlers! Hey,,, I've seen the scores, and most bowlers have a hell of a time getting their balls in the pocket. And for the same reason the Best Bowlers use plastic for spares, why not on strike balls. (( NOW I am not talking straight shots on the head pin, I am talking standing right, and hitting right in the 1/3 pocket, good angle! Sure its not a hook, but many good bowlers years ago used that angle for some darn good scores!!

[billf]

Mike, The Dude is 100% correct. The lane is 60' long and 39" wide. How do you suppose you can get that plastic to hit the pocket at a 4-6 degree entry angle? You would have to stand to lanes over.
Why do the big hook guys struggle with a real pattern? Because they have never learned to truly control their game. They prefer the falsely inflated ego of house shots versus the challenge of having to be versatile, having to know your strengths and weaknesses. Most 'house bowlers' don't care to improve their overall game, to be competitive at any venue, they only care about having a high average at their home house.
Those guys can beat me any day, any day that isn't for good money. The good money games don't use house patterns and while my average won't drop or only a little, theirs will drop like a mob informant in the Hudson river.

[MICHAEL]

Very funny Bill, (the mop thing lol)! I don’t trust Jason,,,, he is my nemeses! (He just might steer me wrong for the victory)! Lol I am still going to try it for FUN, and see what happens. I still remember that 278 I did on third attempt, fresh Turnpike pattern! That was with my Undefeated. But standing right side, soft delivery! It did hook,, so I do see where your coming from, thanks! Ok Jason you were RIGHT!!!! LOL

[eugene02]

Don't Hook the wrong thing Michael! Hook the ball and not hook up on a hooker!!!

[Stormed1]

The big thing on sport patterns is to develop accuracy!! It isn't how much you hook the ball but how often you can hit a target. Scoring is all relative and the abilaty to pick up spares on sport patterns is more important than striking. You need to learn to take what the shot gives you and work with it. Develop different releases to alter your ball motion to match up. For example in our summer doubles league i had the 10th lowest average in the league but i had the best win/loss record in the league based on the fact i kept the ball in play and picked up my spares. Many a game came down to picking up a spare in the 10th for the win.

[MICHAEL]

Strom1 question: Do you use your plastic for all spares on sports patterns? I know going even for the 7 pin if right handed, it can be missed easily with the heavy oil ect. I know it probably depends on what your shooting, but a 7 pin I would usually use my strike ball, but on sports patterns, and the different oil, I find it much safer just throwing plastic! Do you find you use your plastic MUCH more on the sports spares, that on house patterns.

[Stormed1]

A lot depended on the pattern. I threw my Ascent solid drilled pin down at 4k polished as it only hooks a couple boards (2-3) on most sport patterns we played on which gave me a little "wiggle room" and a slight amount of entry angle to cover sleepers.

[Stormed1]

Also by manipulating my hand position at point of release i can throw my hookingest ball basicall straight if i want to

[MICHAEL]

Also by manipulating my hand position at point of release i can throw my hookingest ball basicall straight if i want to




Storm1, Would it be out of the question to ask you if I could borrow your hand for a few months!! LOL
I have a lot to learn! Thanks for all the good advice!

[JaMau24]

Here's my question to you Mike... If you think it is such a great idea to just throw a plastic ball at the 1-3 pocket every time, then that is going to take a great deal of accuracy. So no matter if you throw a regular strike ball and hook it into the pocket, or if you throw your plastic ball straight at the pocket, you're still going to have to be extremely accurate. So why wouldn't you choose the option that will reward you with more strikes when you are accurate on your mark!?


Ok Jason you were RIGHT!!!!

http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs2/1155639_o.gif

[MICHAEL]

Well Dude, First off, Its much harder, from what I have seen to JUDGE with a hook ball where to put it in order to get it to the pocket, I see balls going all over heck,,, hitting the pocket light, heavy,,, missing completely ect…. ((BECAUSE its harder to ADJUST to the more difficult oil)),,,daaaaaaa!
I am talking SPORTS patterns only! HOUSE patters, you can miss to the right a mile, and still get a strike lol!!
With a plastic ball,,, not just a plastic ball, but Storm1, with a rough buff finish, You go straight for the pocket from the right side, going into the pocket at a nice angle! I can’t wait to try my theory out!
Now I am talking FRESH SPORTS OIL,,,, not broken down oil like I have seen the pro’s bowl on in the finals ect….. lol
I am also talking about Joe the Plumber Bowler, which 95 percent of us are! OOOOO ,,, I am sorry if Iceman stepped on your pride,,,,,(but as good as many league bowlers are, YOUR no match for a PRO)!! LOL
So my theory will be tested against average bowlers!
My plastic, against high performance balls, thrown by JOE’S the Plumbers!!! Who do you think will win!!