Super dry lanes are flat out killing my game.

[zdawg]

A few weeks ago, my regular house tried out a new oiling machine. The result was a shorter than normal (for this house) oiling pattern, that was extremely dry. When I threw my first shot I would've sworn that the lanes had not been oiled in days had I not seen them oil it just before we started (I suppose there could've been something wrong with the new machine, not sure). I suppose the fact that I had zero oil on my ball for the entire first game should've clued me in.

Last night my team had to do a makeup session from last week, so we had to wait until a full league had finished. This league had 5 per team so 10 bowlers had burnt up our lanes pretty well by the time we bowled (not complaining as we were the ones that were making up our missed league night).

That said, when I saw it I immediately knew I was screwed, as I haven't had time to practice and try to figure out what to do on conditions like this (I suspect if I go to open bowling on a Saturday afternoon the conditions will be similar).

In game 3 I decided to try playing way more inside than I've ever done before, can't remember where my foot was exactly, but I was throwing at an angle over the fourth arrow. This was sufficient for two strikes and several consecutive pocket hits (left the 7 pin several times which is weird for me as I'm a righty, but another problem for another thread). So I was definitely on to something here.

So I'm wondering if there is a good way to practice playing DEEP inside? My biggest issue is just that I haven't done it in the past (well played that deep), and I don't like trying new things on league night :cool: I guess I'm just looking for some pointers really. Also I suppose learning how to add some loft might be beneficial, not sure though.

For now I'm just hoping we don't have anything like this for the next couple weeks while I try to figure this out.:rolleyes:

[vdubtx]

When the lanes fry like you experienced, I like to also move inside, but also move my target down the lane further. I have had success in my Tuesday league in a house that has a lower volume of oil by focusing my target about 40-45 ft down lane.

Also, yes, loft can be beneficial, just not Aslan type loft. Just 18"-24" is all that is needed. :cool:

[Amyers]

What ball were you throwing Zdawg?

[epiepenburg]

I've practiced on conditions like that. I have tried moving left and sliding right at the left gutter. Either that or I add loft to get farther down the lane before the ball starts reading. If it's really bad, then I move right and throw down and in with the plastic ball normally used for spares.

[zdawg]

What ball were you throwing Zdawg?

It was my Ebonite Cyclone which is the weakest non-plastic ball in my bag.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Did you try playing straight up the extreme outside or what we used to refer to as the twig?

[zdawg]

When the lanes fry like you experienced, I like to also move inside, but also move my target down the lane further. I have had success in my Tuesday league in a house that has a lower volume of oil by focusing my target about 40-45 ft down lane.

That's an interesting idea, one I will definitely try out when I practice next.


Also, yes, loft can be beneficial, just not Aslan type loft. Just 18"-24" is all that is needed. :cool:

Yeah, I'm not sure his style would benefit me :D

[zdawg]

Did you try playing straight up the extreme outside or what we used to refer to as the twig?

No, I figured it would exacerbate the problem being that deep into the intended dry area. Then again now that I think about it, since the area between 2nd and 3rd arrow (and a bit beyond) was seemingly just as dry, throwing it that far outside and straight maybe would've pushed it through far enough to prevent it from crossing over to the left side.

Also it might be worthwhile to try it out using my plastic ball as epiepenberg mentioned above.

[RobLV1]

There are several issues that can affect your attempt to play a deep inside line. First is the tendency to drift to the right. Make sure that you slide into the same board on which you start, creating the angle that you need to throw from inside out using your hips and your shoulders. Next is to avoid the tendency to come over the top of the ball to try and help to get it back. Finally, unless you are a very high rev player, when you move left inside the third arrow, a more aggressive ball is usually in order as you probably don't have the revs to get a less aggressive ball back to the pocket.

[zdawg]

There are several issues that can affect your attempt to play a deep inside line. First is the tendency to drift to the right. Make sure that you slide into the same board on which you start, creating the angle that you need to throw from inside out using your hips and your shoulders. Next is to avoid the tendency to come over the top of the ball to try and help to get it back. Finally, unless you are a very high rev player, when you move left inside the third arrow, a more aggressive ball is usually in order as you probably don't have the revs to get a less aggressive ball back to the pocket.

I generally don't drift at all, however I haven't tried playing deep inside so I'll keep that in mind when I practice.

Also I'll keep in mind not to alter my release to "help" the ball return to the pocket as well. I seem to be able to get a good amount of revs these days, so I don't think that should be a problem.

I "think" the biggest issue for me is figuring out the angle to use, which is probably because oftentimes I don't really think of my target downlane, I just kinda "feel" it I guess if that makes sense? I never square up my shoulders to the foul line, mainly because I generally don't play a straight down and in pattern, so they're always angled/opened up a bit depending upon the line I'm playing.

I guess the deeper inside I go, hence the wider the arc, the more I should open my shoulders/increase the angle? Or am I thinking about this wrong? I haven't really seen an article that discusses this yet - of course now I'm going to google it and hopefully find something maybe in BTM :cool:

[bobforsaken]

A timely thread. I'm usually a track player, although I'm transitioning to a new release that has given me a lot more revs. I wanted to practice that last night, except the lanes were really dry. My cyclone across 4th arrow was having some success but my Optimus across 5th arrow (from board 45) was the shot that gave me the best success. I simply couldn't get the balls to go far enough right before hooking back without playing such a deep line.

However, the last few throws surprised me. I took a Hyroad pearl and played straight up the 11 board with a flat wrist and was hitting pocket. If I wasn't so dead set on practicing my new release, that would have been my shot for the night.


As for pointers.. Well consider I'm a newbie so you can take it for what its worth. What helps me playing a deeper line is to "push out" towards my eventual break point target not towards my target at the arrows. As I enter the slide step the target at the arrows, swing plane, and breakpoint line up. If I push towards my target at the arrows as (I do playing the track area), I end up pulling the shot inside because the swing plane is wrong for where I will be at the slide.

[zdawg]

I took a Hyroad pearl and played straight up the 11 board with a flat wrist and was hitting pocket. If I wasn't so dead set on practicing my new release, that would have been my shot for the night.

Haven't tried this in league yet, but definitely going to try it in practice.



If I push towards my target at the arrows as (I do playing the track area), I end up pulling the shot inside because the swing plane is wrong for where I will be at the slide.

The few times in the past that I've tried playing deep inside this has happened, I finally had an "aha" moment when watching the thumbless bowler on our team a few weeks ago. He usually plays real deep for obvious reasons, but I paid particular attention to his ball movement, and noticed he did pretty much what you describe and "pushes" the ball toward the breakpoint from whatever angle he is playing.

Good stuff everyone, definitely gives me some idea on how to go about working on this.

[Ishkabibble]

Remember there are 2 points to your line. Your target and your breakpoint.