When to know when?

[Blomer]

When do you know it's time to change balls during a bowling match? Yesterday I had problems throwing a ball I usually start off with. I was stubborn and stayed till the third game where I switched. How do you know when it's time to change balls?

[Amyers]

With my asylum I watch the breakpoint if it's to early I know it's going to be uncontrollable for me soon. The euphoria if I see the hook start to roll out it's time to change or move.

[Shaneshu87]

when you cannot control the breakpoint then it's time to switch.

[bubba809]

Which ball did you start off with Blomer, the Optimus or Hy-Road. Was it breaking too early..too late?

[dnhoffman]

when you cannot control the breakpoint then it's time to switch.


This. I change balls when even though I've moved ... the ball is just uncontrollable off the break. That's when I usually switch to my pearl.

[dnhoffman]

Also - uncontrollable [for me] doesn't mean "it hooks more" or goes brooklyn... it means that I can't predict how it's going to react anymore.

[RobLV1]

The most beneficial thing that bowlers can learn to do is to watch how the ball exits the pin deck. The ball should exit straight back between the eight pin and the nine pin. For right handers, if the ball begins to exit to the right toward the nine pin, it means that it is losing energy. There are two ways to contradict this, at least temporarily: either move left to find more oil, or change to a ball that does a better job of retaining the energy down the lane (either a ball with less surface, or one with a higher rg). If you choose to move left to find more oil (a wise choice in most cases), you will eventually run into another bowlers line or a line that takes you too far outside of your comfort zone. This is definitely a time for a ball change, as well as being a wake up call for you to work on expanding your comfort zone.

[dnhoffman]

you will eventually run into another bowlers line or a line that takes you too far outside of your comfort zone.

Can you expound on this a little but more please?

[Stormed1]

By watching the ball go through the pins. When i see my ball loose energy and hit weak. If an adjustment of hand position or line does not help I will then change balls

[MICHAEL]

One reason I like polished balls it that the polish seems to help SAVE the energy going down the lane especially if the track is a bit used up.
I know some will disagree with me, but MY VERY best games and series have all been with highly polished balls,,, symmetrical or asymmetrical! Both on house oil have worked great for me! I do have a spinner which does a GREAT JOB of putting the polish on the balls!

JUST today I pulled out two of my older balls, The Virtual Gravity Nano, and IQ pearl butterscotch by storm... On the seniors league had a first game of 233, and then a 216 with the IQ the third game... ( would have been higher but had a strike in the 7, 8, 9, and then threw a FRICKEN GUTTER BALL,,,, then a strike, for a spare in the tenth, and then a ringing ten pin for 9.

POLISH gives my balls a GREAT look at most houses around here. It suits my style of bowling anyway! Without the polish I don't get the great angle needed for entry into the pocket.

I have experimented with solid balls, 4000 surface, but POLISH is my friend, balls go into the pocket with lots of energy only when I use the polished!

[got_a_300]

Can you expound on this a little but more please?

I think what RobLV1 was saying was you might get in and on top of another
bowlers line that they have already dried out and then getting out of your
comfort zone is say you only like to play 2nd arrow and you have to move
inside of 3rd arrow or maybe even 4th arrow to find oil then you just wouldn't
feel comfortable playing in there.

I personally have no comfort zone I'd just as soon play the 1st board on the right
hand side of the lane or loft the left gutter cap and play some where inside the 7th
arrow or some where around the 3rd or 4th board on the left hand side of the lane
and belly the ball out as it makes no difference to me I play where the shot is and
where the lanes dictate that I play.

[RobLV1]

Easy way to evaluate ball motion: the ball should exit the pin deck between the eight pin and the nine pin. If it deflects toward the nine, you need to move in to find more oil, or go to a less aggressive ball to retain the energy. If it keeps hooking toward the eight pin, it is going to long, so you need to go to a more aggressive ball that will hook earlier so that it will roll before hitting the pins.

[MICHAEL]

Easy way to evaluate ball motion: the ball should exit the pin deck between the eight pin and the nine pin. If it deflects toward the nine, you need to move in to find more oil, or go to a less aggressive ball to retain the energy. If it keeps hooking toward the eight pin, it is going to long, so you need to go to a more aggressive ball that will hook earlier so that it will roll before hitting the pins.

I have seen a number of young pups that throw the ball with high speed, and incredible revolutions, but don't have great averages. What their ball looks like to me is a car spinning its wheels going toward the pocket, with no ROLL phase!!

A well thrown ball, as you have said needs to go through the 3 phases. Skid, Hook, and ROLL! I have seen many young bowlers skip the Roll part, and they don't get the total devastation due to the sliding of the ball. It's like a runner in baseball, sliding into home, or running over a guy! Sure both can get the job done, but ROLLING over a guy at home plate, does the most damage! (:)

ICEMAN knows a lot about skid!!!! Make sure that ball rolls, and as always, don't walk on thin ice, or heavy oil, leave that for the pro's!

[Amyers]

I am always working to expand my comfort zone and try and increase my option for how I deliver the ball. The more area you can cover the more options you will have.

[Aslan]

I use a complicated spreadsheet to determine when to ball down or ball up. I highly doubt anyone is interested in learning about that.

My only concern with watching the ball exit the pin deck (which I agree IS the best way to evaluate ball motion, power, and ball change determinations) is that it requires hitting a consistent target and having a consistent release. So for a beginner or early intermediate, like the OP…that advice isn't going to work and the correct answer is balling up or down is probably not a good idea at that level. IMO.

[RobLV1]

I use a complicated spreadsheet to determine when to ball down or ball up. I highly doubt anyone is interested in learning about that.

My only concern with watching the ball exit the pin deck (which I agree IS the best way to evaluate ball motion, power, and ball change determinations) is that it requires hitting a consistent target and having a consistent release. So for a beginner or early intermediate, like the OP…that advice isn't going to work and the correct answer is balling up or down is probably not a good idea at that level. IMO.

One thing that many bowlers don't understand about matching up with the right bowling ball is that it's not just getting to the pocket. It is also creating miss room so that you get better results when you don't hit your target, or when your release is not perfect.

[dnhoffman]

One thing that many bowlers don't understand about matching up with the right bowling ball is that it's not just getting to the pocket. It is also creating miss room so that you get better results when you don't hit your target, or when your release is not perfect.

I try and tell my teammates this but they don't seem to get it. My best nights are not when I laser slice every shot.....but when I find a nice sweet spot that let's me miss a board or two either direction.

[circlecity]

This wednesday I shot very good but left four 9 pins. What is the cause and what should I be looking for when the ball hits the pins?

[J Anderson]

This wednesday I shot very good but left four 9 pins. What is the cause and what should I be looking for when the ball hits the pins?

I think the cause is that your ball is still hooking as it enters the pocket.

Obviously, when the ball hits the pins it should be in the pocket. Just barely touching the 1 or the 3 doesn't count. The ball only needs to hit the 1,3,5,&9, and should exit the pin deck between the 8 & 9 pins, The ball doesn't hit the 8 because the 5 has already taken it out. My brain is too slow to actually see every thing that happens between hitting the pocket and exiting the deck.

[RobLV1]

This wednesday I shot very good but left four 9 pins. What is the cause and what should I be looking for when the ball hits the pins?

The ball should exit the pin deck between the eight pin and the nine pin. If it goes toward the nine pin, it is losing energy and deflecting too much. If it goes toward the eight pin (leaving you the nine pin), it is beginning to hook too late. Remember that the ball cannot roll until it has finished hooking. Losing energy = move more into the oil. Hooking too late = go to a ball with a lower rg or a little more surface.

[dnhoffman]

I threw 16 strikes in a row ( open bowling, no 300 :(, but a new personal record ) last night, and part of the reason why is adjusting a half board when I saw the ball exit towards the 9 pin. Thanks Rob!

[Sourtower]

It's threads like this one that make you appreciate how awesome it is for experienced bowlers to offer up information to us less experienced bowlers. Thanks for all the info! You guys are great!