Zero Oil: Use Spare Ball?

[bobforsaken]

Let me start with a bit of a back story/rant. The company I work for was awarded a bowling party at a center I had never bowled before. I had no idea what to expect so I brought my least aggressive ball, an aggressive pearl, and a spare ball. I was admittedly a bit nervous because I was showing up with all this equipment, didn't know what kinda lane conditions I was going to experience, and was about to make a first impression (regarding my bowling anyway) with a group of co-workers. I didn't want to be that guy that, metaphoricly, brings my own graphite pool cue in an ornate case but can't make a side pocket shot to save his life.

Long story short, I was THAT guy. The lane I was on was so dry that there was not even a hint of oil on the ball, even after throwing it down the middle. I spent most of the night to the left of the head pin and if I was able to hit pocket it was a toasted marshmallow.. tons of splits etc. Although my scores were the second best, (130's) they were just barely better than guys who just chucked the ball as hard as possible.

At one point I was just about to switch to using my spare ball only.. I tried flattening my wrist, playing deeper with more axis tilt... Picking up the speed. Increasing speed was a bit more successful, but only after increasing it to the point where I too was chucking the ball as hard as possible. Would going with the spare ball exclusively been a smarter play? Is this unprecedented or pretty common for bowlers on extremely dry open bowling lanes?

For the record, i'm a stroker.. not really a high rev guy. My weakest ball was a hyroad pearl, so not really that weak. (drilled for length with differential tamed down)

[RobLV1]

Only one goal in bowling: get as many pins as possible to change from vertical to horizontal. If a plastic ball gets the job done better than anything else, then go for it!

[got_a_300]

You have to use W.I.T. (whatever it takes) to as Robl said knock down
as many pins as possible if that means using a spare ball or even a house
ball it doesn't really matter as long as you score good.

[epiepenburg]

I've done it before during practice when the lanes were pretty burnt. Just move right and throw up the gutter more, the ball will still hook a bit.

[Amyers]

I have had this problem during open bowling myself and shot some pretty good scores 200+ using my plastic ball. Sometimes is just makes sense.

[Sourtower]

I've done it before during practice when the lanes were pretty burnt. Just move right and throw up the gutter more, the ball will still hook a bit.

This is exactly what I would do using your spare ball. Just because you label it as your 'spare' ball doesn't mean you can't use it to get strikes. I'm sure most of the people with you wouldn't even know the difference...

[bobforsaken]

Thanks.. live and learn. I'll have to practice a little with my spare ball. I'm not currently doing any leagues so I'm often bowling in open bowling conditions. I got a chance to bowl with fresh oil the other day and put up a 642, which is my best series. Earlier in the week I could barely crack 500. In both cases I was hitting my mark with regularity.. I'm seeing the breakpoint better.. but I continue to get baffled by lane conditions and learning what equipment/technique to use. I'm thinking about getting a Urethane (pitch black) since my weakest ball right now is a Hyroad pearl. I guess I should add my spare ball into the mix for really dry conditions.

[dnhoffman]

I've shot 600 with my spare ball on a burnt up shot, so heck ya.

[Hobbit]

As a bowler who can experience sahara dry conditions at times, especially during school holidays, I have worked out something a little different.. I like u Bob, don't have in the past a lot of speed, so throwing it as hard as possible is not only no fun! but hard to handle all night, so I kinda went to the weakest ball, flatten wrist back (if possible), and through upping my speed, still cannot get ball on correct side in pocket, and end up regularly hitting Brooklyn, then go with that.. U kinda feel bad about it crossing over, but the scoreboard won't.. You can still get some decent scores, rather than the 130 games. It is the only time where if my A game, then B games aren't working then I go for my C game....This is just one option..

If it hadn't been a "fun" work night out, and league I may have packed up my gear, told manager of center, then gone home! Let your feet do the talking here.

However long term look at on those rare occasions where lanes aren't oiled, of throwing it almost straight from 5 on approach to 10 at the arrows with an almost minimal hook release with an increase in speed..or even no hook, and chalk up the experience to bad luck.. It's frustrating as all hell :(