How can I prepare?

[v33dubfox]

Hi bowlers!

I've subscribed to a small regional tournament here. My "problem" is that I don't know the oil pattern used until the morning of the tournament. All I know is that there will be 8 patterns and someone will make the draw. I know that there will be some PBA Tour patterns and some European Tour patterns.

I have never played on any other patterns that THS, so I need some help to "read the lanes".

Thanks a lot!

[noeymc]

i think it should read your ball not the lanes cuz ur ball is going to react different on different oils so just watch ur bowling ball make ur adjustments

[scottymoney]

Another good idea would be to start a notebook for all the patterns. Research each pattern and takes notes on how to attack it. If they tell you the pattern when you get there you can then look at your notes and get a feel for what the lanes "should" be like and possible starting positions and aiming spots for yourself.

[JerseyJim]

The most important thing to know is the length of the pattern. There are a few articles around that will tell you that the length of the pattern - 31 would give you the exit point that you should aim for at the end of the pattern, and that this will give you the best chance of hitting the pocket. Joe Slowinski published a number of articles in BTM on using the "Quiet Eye" and 3 point targeting. Here is the collection from his site. http://bowlingknowledge.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=24&Itemid=64

[Tampabaybob]

V33.... Heres a link for all of the oil patterns currently being used......http://wiki.bowlingchat.net/wiki/index.php?title=Oil_Pattern_Library

This will at least show you what it looks like and then do some research on-line and you'll find out the best way to play each one. Some of these patterns are "VERY DIFFICULT". Don't be dismayed if you have trouble shooting well on some of these patterns, just keep in mind they were designed to keep the scores low.

Good Luck in the tournament, and let us know how you did and what the pattern was like for you.

Bob

[DanielMareina]

I find the key to bowling well on a condition that you can't prepare for is to bring surface changing supplies. I bring a 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 grit abralon pad, storm extra shine, reacta scuff, and ball cleaner. This way I can bring the balls that I trust the most, and adjust the surface to match the volume and length. If it is long and heavy, I hit one ball with 500 grit to throw during practice. That ball will be used to burn a hook spot, and then you can switch to a ball that will play off that dry. If the pattern is low volume or short, I make sure I have a couple pearlised or polished options for when it dries up. It will take some practice to make sure you put a good surface on your equipment, and you have to make sure not to adjust them after practice is over. Disqualifications aren't going to help any ;)

[Tampabaybob]

Good advice, however, many of these bowlers are new, and may not understand that this has to be accomplished "BEFORE" competition. With some of the new polishes, they are approved for use during competion, but you can't sand, change the surface of the ball while you're bowling. Just need to make that point.

Bob

[DanielMareina]

I said "you have to make sure not to adjust them after practice is over. Disqualifications aren't going to help any ". I thought that was pretty clear

[Tampabaybob]

Sorry didn't catch that.

Bob

[AZBowla]

Do you have a smartphone? If so, go to the tourney, find out what pattern it is, then go to the bathroom or outside for a smoke and google it. ;) Yes, I'm evil...

Also , Bob makes an excellent point - some of these patterns are designed to keep the scores low. I'm reminded of the old joke where two guys come across a bear in the woods and one of them tightens up his sneakers. His friend says "Why are you doing that? You can't outrun a bear." The guy calmly replies "I don't have to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you!" Same thing applies here, you don't have to beat the pattern - just the other players. :D

[v33dubfox]

It is quite impossible for me the change surface during practice. In those tournaments, partice lasts for less than 10 minutes with all other bowlers.

[billf]

Which 8? Some patterns are very similar so researching them can definitely help you out.

[v33dubfox]

I don't know which of them. I'll take some informations on that.

[v33dubfox]

They don't want to tell us which patterns can be choosen. The only thing they can tell is that each patterns has a minimum of 40ft lenght

[AZBowla]

Sometimes it's better to just not worry about it. Just show up and bowl. If you overthink it or get too worried about whether or not you'll be able to bowl on an unknown pattern then you'll probably do poorly on it because you're not relaxed and focused on your own physical and mental game like you should be.

I have yet to bowl in a tournament, but plan to start soon. I already know that in all likelihood I'm just going to be donating money to the winner, so I'm going just to get some experience and have fun. The local tourney's out here have a $25 win-a-spot option so at worst I'm out $25 for 3 games of bowling and at best I can turn that $25 into a grand or so in prize money if I were to actually win. I will most likely be paying $25 to bowl three games and give someone else an easy entry into the actual tournament, but meh, who cares? It'll still be fun.

I would just watch some videos about some of the different PBA patterns to get an idea how to adjust for the various patterns and then at the tournament, watch the other players, find one that's doing well and try to do what they are doing.

[Zothen]

For me I try to find out what pattern i'm bowling on and if I can't get the info ,then i'll do the following!

I will bring 4 balls(I know people who bring 6+)consisting of a Heavy oil,Medium-Medium Heavy oil,Light-Medium oil and a Dry lane/spare ball. These balls for me are drilled so I can use them on most lane conditions. If you bowl a lot of tournaments or are in a Sport league,it is a good idea to have at least 1 ball for every lane condition(Heavy,Medium,Light,Dry/Spare)this way your prepared.

Zothen

[v33dubfox]

I'll bring my four balls with me. T-Zone (exclusively for the 7th pin), Nexus pearl (dry lanes), C-System alpha max (heavy oil) and Wild Card (medium oil). The only clue I could find is the rule "pattern lenght - 31". So bowling on a 45' long pattern would make me have my target on the 14th board...

[billf]

The rule of -31 is where you want the ball to exit the oil pattern, that's not necessarily your target.
The longer the pattern the closer to the middle you will want to be.

[v33dubfox]

I got to the tournament today. The pattern selected was the Viper pattern. Ho my god, now I respect the PBA Tour players ahah. We were 32 players and half went to semi-final. The cut has been made at 167. I don't even understand how I could play a 200 game. I am used to play near the gutter and I don't have a lot of revs. So, it happened often that I didn't even touch the first pin.

It was a real great experience to play on a hard pattern. I can't even imagine how it would be to play on the US Open pattern or the WTBA Paris pattern.

[Tampabaybob]

Ok, so now with what you've learned about the pattern, go to that linkI provided you in an earlier post, and see what the oil pattern looks like on paper. Remember which ball you were using and what reaction it gave you and make some notes. Do this for each tournament/pattern and eventually you will have a full notebook on what you have to bring, use, and expect. As soon as you find out the pattern, go to your notebook, check what happened last time, choose the right ball, change the surface if necessary (before you bowl), and set up your starting point based on your last outing on that pattern.
You see, because everyone is different, both in speed, rotation and release and have different equipment, the information you were originally looking for, can only be a guestimate. Now that you've shot that pattern, if you shot another tourney next weekend on the same pattern, you should expect to go in knowledgeable as to what to bring and how to play it. Right? So start you're own "PLAYERS GUIDE" for all of the different situations, and carry it with you just as you carry your regular equipment. Sometimes it may take 2 years or more to get a complete notebook on every pattern, configuration, or circumstance (rainy day, high humidity inside the center, noisy, etc) but this is what the pros do. They come prepared. Good luck, you've just learned some valuable information. Now write it down, study it and figure out what you'll do next time on this pattern.