Making Adjustments

[Amyers]

It seams here lately that my first game is my low game. In warm ups I'm fine throwing strikes then when the game starts it seems that by the first or second ball my shot is taking off to the left. One of the leagues I bowl on is only four to a set of lanes. Last night I was matched up with a woman (righty) low revs polished ball so she's not tearing the pattern up, two left handers no effect, and me so I know it's not others. I think I threw 8 warm up shots all in the pocket for 5 strikes. First shot once the game starts left of the head pin. Second shot hits high I make an adjustment left and it doesn't seem to make it back or hits light sometimes then others its on. What causes this am I burning up my own line in warm ups? That's only 4 shots on each lane can I be using the line up that quickly?

I know I wait to long to make adjustments I'm always thinking it's me doing something not the lanes changing so I have a tendency to wait until the middle of a game to make adjustments. Maybe I just need more confidence to make a change as soon as I think something's going on. It could be I'm not finding the optimal line when I'm warming up also just because you can throw strikes from there doesn't always make it the best place. Just interested in everybody's thoughts

[Geneo2u]

Just a thought, Don't move after a bad shot... Only make your moves after a good shot if needed..

[vdubtx]

I certainly agree with Gene. Don't move on a bad shot. Something was up that you crossed over head pin. I would say that you either missed your breakpoint, or you dropped your speed when actual scoring started.

When you hitting high pocket and leaving 4 pins, or start to leave back row pins, then moves are needed.

[J Anderson]

I don't know what your league warm-ups are like, but in my experience the pace is much faster in warm-ups than the actual games. Everyone is standing in line waiting for their turn, and trying to get as many shots in as they can. Then once practice ends there can sometimes be a few minutes before the first game actually starts. Then you have the people who don't even get out of their seats until the bowler before them has stepped off the approach.

If this is happening in your league as well, the change in pace may be having an effect on concentration or maybe even some aspect of your physical game.

[RobLV1]

Some of the new oils burn up very fast, particularly on a fresh pattern. You could very well be burning up your line that fast. One of the centers where I bowl, you routinely get two frames before you have to move, then two more frames and you have to move again.

I hate to disagree with the others (LOL), but I think that not adjusting because you didn't throw a perfect shot is a big mistake. If you don't move and you should have, you leave yourself with a big ugly split. If you move when you shouldn't have, you leave yourself with a two pin or a five pin, or a 2-4-5 at worst and then you move back. You didn't strike, but you didn't open either.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Depending on who i'm bowling with, some nights i have to move a little after practice. Like rob was saying it is easier to pick up a 2 pin combination than the big four.

[Amyers]

Just a thought, Don't move after a bad shot... Only make your moves after a good shot if needed..

I usually try not to move after a bad shot but sometimes its hard to tell. Even the ball that went Brooklyn was within a board of my mark I think I just dropped my speed on that one. What I was getting at with the post is on a regular basis I seem to have 2-5 more boards of hook when we start keeping score vs. warm ups. I wanted to know if anyone else sees this and why this might be. Currently considering maybe I tighten up when we start reducing my ball speed or maybe I'm burning my line up in practice but I wouldn't think 4 shots on a lane would do that.

[RobLV1]

Keep in mind what a typical house shot is. If you miss your mark by one board in and you dive through the nose, you are not lined up and need to move. The idea of a house shot is to have miss room right and miss room left. That's why the condition is so condusive to high scores. If you don't have the miss room, you need to find it. And, four shots on a lane will most certainly affect the shot. I know many good players who, once they find a good strike line in practice, will stay away from it until the lights go on.

[Mudpuppy]

To me it seems like you have to do a mental checklist before moving:

1. Did I hit my mark?
2. Was ball at proper speed?
3. Did I follow through?
4. Did I post the shot?
5. Was my foot speed correct?
6. Was my backswing and stroke smooth?

If you answer yes to all of these then yes I would then adjust if it dove through the nose or hit light or I got tapped or it just did not hit solid. But if I was inconsistent in my shot then why would I move - just like Geno was saying don't move after a bad shot. It would be no different than throwing a terrible shot saying yanking it way left (for a right hander) because your forward stroke was way off and then immediately going to your 50 ball arsenal changing balls because the ball wasn't working (p.s. I qualified 1st in Vegas with a 666 using 1 ball, so buttons, as smithers would say, on the whole arsenal argument). And before you move could you adjust speed or your mark?

[J Anderson]

I hate to disagree with the others (LOL), but I think that not adjusting because you didn't throw a perfect shot is a big mistake. If you don't move and you should have, you leave yourself with a big ugly split. If you move when you shouldn't have, you leave yourself with a two pin or a five pin, or a 2-4-5 at worst and then you move back. You didn't strike, but you didn't open either.

This probably explains why I only average 10 pins higher on the house shot than in the sport league.

[Mike White]

It seams here lately that my first game is my low game. In warm ups I'm fine throwing strikes then when the game starts it seems that by the first or second ball my shot is taking off to the left. One of the leagues I bowl on is only four to a set of lanes. Last night I was matched up with a woman (righty) low revs polished ball so she's not tearing the pattern up, two left handers no effect, and me so I know it's not others. I think I threw 8 warm up shots all in the pocket for 5 strikes. First shot once the game starts left of the head pin. Second shot hits high I make an adjustment left and it doesn't seem to make it back or hits light sometimes then others its on. What causes this am I burning up my own line in warm ups? That's only 4 shots on each lane can I be using the line up that quickly?

I know I wait to long to make adjustments I'm always thinking it's me doing something not the lanes changing so I have a tendency to wait until the middle of a game to make adjustments. Maybe I just need more confidence to make a change as soon as I think something's going on. It could be I'm not finding the optimal line when I'm warming up also just because you can throw strikes from there doesn't always make it the best place. Just interested in everybody's thoughts

This potentially ties into the other thread "Are you a wiper"

The pace most people bowl at in warmup is usually much faster than when the scoring starts.

That means if you don't wipe the ball, there isn't much time for the oil to absorb into the ball.

You get lined up for a shot that is hooking less due to the oil on the ball.

Once scoring stops, the pace slows down, and more of the oil on the surface is absorbed between shots.

Dryer ball means more hook, which you aren't lined up for.

Or you just tend to tug under pressure :)

[Aslan]

This probably explains why I only average 10 pins higher on the house shot than in the sport league.

Feel ya. I only average 12 pins higher on a house shot than a sport shot.


To me it seems like you have to do a mental checklist before moving:

1. Did I hit my mark?
2. Was ball at proper speed?
3. Did I follow through?
4. Did I post the shot?
5. Was my foot speed correct?
6. Was my backswing and stroke smooth?


My answers (and additional questions):
1. Did I hit my mark? no
2. Was ball at proper speed? no idea
3. Did I follow through? I think so
4. Did I post the shot? no...I kinda fell over
5. Was my foot speed correct? I don't think it's ever "correct" per se...
6. Was my backswing and stroke smooth? Probably...but I don't like to imagine what it looks like.
7. Did I drop the ball?
8. Did I overotate my hand and come over the top?
9. Did I "chicken wing"?
10. What is a "chicken wing"?
11. Was my shoulder "quiet"?
12. Did I line up properly?
13. Why didn't I remember the lining up thing BEFORE throwing the shot?
14. Whoa...that chick is kinda hot for an older lady.
15. I think I can strike out and still salvage a 163.
16. Where did my ball exit the pin deck and what does that mean?
17. How the hell do ya hit the pocket and leave a 4-pin?
18. Were my hands greasy from the hamburger?
19. Am I drunk? Buzzed?
20. Ya know...I'd sorta get with ------. I mean, she's kinda chunky...but, beggars can't be choosers.
21. Wait...yeah, I guess if I've downgraded my expectations to ------ I'm probably drunk (answer to question 20).

[bobforsaken]

I guess I should have read this thread before posting my own question. I seem to be facing the same issue with my line drying up after 4-5 shots. It never seemed to before, but then again I was putting way more axis of rotation at the time and possibly throwing it faster. I played last night on a fresh condition with my wife and son. Just had my Hyroad brought back to factory finish and threw 4 strikes out of the gate and had to move. A few more strikes again and had to move. Ran out of room quick which made my scores drop after that first game.. I'm trying to get better at playing deep but I feel when I'm playing third arrow or deeper I have trouble getting the ball to skid far enough right of the head pin to hit pocket. I go brooklyn very often.. Part of this IS my own inconsistency with hitting my mark that deep.. but it seems the only way to hit pocket is to increase my angle with a high flare ball and when it does I play "how many 10 pins can I pick up tonight"

I hear about controlling the breakpoint all the time.. read the article about El Diablo and El Dorado... I guess I don't understand HOW I move my breakpoint in to avoid El Diablo Seems If I simply target one board left I end up going even worse across the head pin and same with a 1 and 1 move. Maybe I need to go more bold and do a 3 and 3... Rambling done.. End communication.

[RobLV1]

I guess I should have read this thread before posting my own question. I seem to be facing the same issue with my line drying up after 4-5 shots. It never seemed to before, but then again I was putting way more axis of rotation at the time and possibly throwing it faster. I played last night on a fresh condition with my wife and son. Just had my Hyroad brought back to factory finish and threw 4 strikes out of the gate and had to move. A few more strikes again and had to move. Ran out of room quick which made my scores drop after that first game.. I'm trying to get better at playing deep but I feel when I'm playing third arrow or deeper I have trouble getting the ball to skid far enough right of the head pin to hit pocket. I go brooklyn very often.. Part of this IS my own inconsistency with hitting my mark that deep.. but it seems the only way to hit pocket is to increase my angle with a high flare ball and when it does I play "how many 10 pins can I pick up tonight"

I hear about controlling the breakpoint all the time.. read the article about El Diablo and El Dorado... I guess I don't understand HOW I move my breakpoint in to avoid El Diablo Seems If I simply target one board left I end up going even worse across the head pin and same with a 1 and 1 move. Maybe I need to go more bold and do a 3 and 3... Rambling done.. End communication.

I think that you need to be more aware of the area down the lane. A two and one move only deals with the oil in the heads, unless you are aware of what's happening at the end of the pattern. The end of the pattern is where El Diablo develops. When I wrote about it, I called it the Dead Zone. Consider that track players are hitting ten at the arrows, swinging it out to eight at the tracers. Tweeners are playing 15 at the arrows, swinging it out to eight at the tracers. Crankers are playing the fourth arrow and swinging it out to eight at the tracers. So what's getting burned up? The end of the pattern, that's what. Suddenly the 40' pattern is only 38' long, and the balls start dying and leaving ten pins. To avoid this, tighten up your line down the lane as well as at the arrows.

[vdubtx]

One thing that has helped me when I am bowling in my high friction low volume house where I have experienced exactly this, is to make my move with feet left, but also to shift my focus on target down lane as well. Instead of looking at the arrows for your target, focus your eyes 10-15 feet further down the lane. Doing this has helped my average the last 6 weeks or so in that particular league.

[bobforsaken]

I think that you need to be more aware of the area down the lane. A two and one move only deals with the oil in the heads, unless you are aware of what's happening at the end of the pattern. The end of the pattern is where El Diablo develops. When I wrote about it, I called it the Dead Zone. Consider that track players are hitting ten at the arrows, swinging it out to eight at the tracers. Tweeners are playing 15 at the arrows, swinging it out to eight at the tracers. Crankers are playing the fourth arrow and swinging it out to eight at the tracers. So what's getting burned up? The end of the pattern, that's what. Suddenly the 40' pattern is only 38' long, and the balls start dying and leaving ten pins. To avoid this, tighten up your line down the lane as well as at the arrows.

Thanks Rob.. I guess I had an understanding that the problem was at the end of the pattern drying up that was my problem, But I thought that a 2 and 1 move is what moved the ball into more oil in the heads but kept the same break point down lane. I assumed a 1 and 1 or 2 and 2 move moved the breakpoint in closer to the headpin down lane. Am I mistaken? I need some graph paper and a protractor.. :)

[bobforsaken]

One thing that has helped me when I am bowling in my high friction low volume house where I have experienced exactly this, is to make my move with feet left, but also to shift my focus on target down lane as well. Instead of looking at the arrows for your target, focus your eyes 10-15 feet further down the lane. Doing this has helped my average the last 6 weeks or so in that particular league.
Thanks VDUBtx. I found a little success today when I was struggling by abandoning my 2 and 1 moves. I was struggling with my feet at 25 targeting 3rd arrow. (Its a 42 foot pattern so my base is 17 targetting 11 which plays right up the 11 board given my shoulder offset. Started 19/12 Moved to 21/13, 23/14, and finally 25/15. ) I finally got frustrated and moved all the way to 35 and instead of targetting 20 as the ratio would have put me.. I just started throwing around 18 and added a lot of Axis Rotation to my release and found success with this. Maybe my whole misconception with 2 and 1 moves keeping the same breakpoint down lane is where I'm getting into trouble when moving deeper.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Vdub and Rob make excellent points on making parallel moves sometimes. When everyone is playing the same break point down lane you have to change not only your feet when the heads go but your down lane target as well. It is important not only to consider your initial and down lane target but your trajectory through the first half of the lane. In todays game it is necessary to look at the lane back to front a lot of the time. You obviously want to keep up with the fronts and manage those with what you are trying to do but as the night progresses the break point becomes increasing important to manage. When your initial break point starts to burn up and won't hold from any angle first figure out where you need to hit down lane and then draw a mental line backwards. First through the midlane and arrows and ending at the foul line. Depending on the motion you are trying to create at the break point you can really create a path to the pocket and determine your alignment by doing that. Regardless if that works for you or not making different kinds of moves with your eyes and feet are necessary to control your angles. This is the challenge we have over the game in the past. There are so many different options in the way of balls and ways to play a pattern.

[Amyers]

This potentially ties into the other thread "Are you a wiper"

The pace most people bowl at in warmup is usually much faster than when the scoring starts.

That means if you don't wipe the ball, there isn't much time for the oil to absorb into the ball.

You get lined up for a shot that is hooking less due to the oil on the ball.

Once scoring stops, the pace slows down, and more of the oil on the surface is absorbed between shots.

Dryer ball means more hook, which you aren't lined up for.

Or you just tend to tug under pressure :)

Mike you very well may be correct about this I don't wipe after my shots during warm ups and I during the game thanks I'll try testing that out

[RobLV1]

The other aspect of making lateral adjustments is being aware of the angle that you are creating with your shoulders and your hips in your set up. You can use your feet and your target in conjunction with that angle to control the entire lane, but you need to make sure that you are walking straight. In other words, your sliding foot should end up on the same board where you started. If it doesn't, then that angle that you created is negated, and you are once again just dealing with two of the three parts of the lane of which you need to be aware: your laydown point, your spot at the arrows, and your breakpoint.

[Mike White]

Some of the new oils burn up very fast, particularly on a fresh pattern. You could very well be burning up your line that fast. One of the centers where I bowl, you routinely get two frames before you have to move, then two more frames and you have to move again.

I hate to disagree with the others (LOL), but I think that not adjusting because you didn't throw a perfect shot is a big mistake. If you don't move and you should have, you leave yourself with a big ugly split. If you move when you shouldn't have, you leave yourself with a two pin or a five pin, or a 2-4-5 at worst and then you move back. You didn't strike, but you didn't open either.

Or a 2-10, 2-4-10. 2-4-8-10, 2-4-6-10, or 1-2-4-6-10.

If you are moving because of what others are doing, and they didn't make a bad shot, then sure, adjust on a schedule, but if they aren't near your line, over moving can be just as bad as under moving.

[bobforsaken]

The other aspect of making lateral adjustments is being aware of the angle that you are creating with your shoulders and your hips in your set up. You can use your feet and your target in conjunction with that angle to control the entire lane, but you need to make sure that you are walking straight. In other words, your sliding foot should end up on the same board where you started. If it doesn't, then that angle that you created is negated, and you are once again just dealing with two of the three parts of the lane of which you need to be aware: your laydown point, your spot at the arrows, and your breakpoint.
Funny you should mention that.. I used to walk parallel to my target and push/slide towards my target. Obviously that meant when playing deeper I ran out of room on the approach quickly.. I could stand forty and end up at 25 when targeting the 3rd arrow. The change I made to my game that spawned my new problem was walking straight so I end up on the same board I started. That walking in one direction throwing in another direction made me take a lot off my ball so now I have this new problem of having to adjust more often, or so I think that is the cause. I spoke with another bowler and he mentioned having issues staying to the right of the headpin lately too.. it coincides with the colder onset of weather.. Perhaps that is the reason.