Adjustment help

[Emery]

Ok, the last 8 weeks or so I've been on a tear... In my first two games, then I can't strike in the 3rd. My first two games have all been 220+, then in the third when everything dries up, I can't strike anymore. I move a board or two left each game until I find the pocket. In the 3rd game I'm hitting the pocket, but leaving a lot of corner pins 6s & 10s.

So my question is, when I find the pocket in that last game and keep leaving the corners... What is my next adjustment? I can't move up since I'm about an inch from the line when I slide. Is ball speed the answer? If so how do I generate more speed without changing my approach?

[RobLV1]

Are the ten pins you are leaving ringing or weak?

[Emery]

Mostly ringers with the occasional softy. I think they're weak when I hit high.

[RobLV1]

It sounds like at a certain point as you move left, your ball does not have enough angle to carry the corners. Most bowlers ball down as the night progresses. There are times, however, that a more aggressive ball is needed to create more angle as you move more inside. I think that this is one of those times.

[Amyers]

One thing to keep in mind the farther you move left the more your most likely belling the ball out (throwing farther right and letting it hook back) I believe this causes the ball to expend more energy resulting in a weaker hit. This happens to me with my asylum even to the point of leaving pocket 7-10 splits sometimes.

Some things that work for me:

Make a large move inside and tighten the line (don't throw as much angle so the ball doesn't go as far right at the break point) as long as you can hold the pocket.
Ball down and move right
Ball up and move farther left
If your throwing a surface ball you may be able to change to a pearl and keep a similar line the pearl will bleed energy slower

Rob I'm sure will post if I'm full of crap but I've made these kind of changes with success in the past.

[Emery]

I just bought a house and I'm broke so buying another ball is out. I only move a total of 3 boards the entire night, and I keep the same target. I have to figure something out tho. It's really pissing me off that I'm throwing away 700 series every week. Should I try moving further left and move my target aswell to getinside the oil?

[Emery]

FYI, House is dry to begin with. I throw the black and blue Hammer Spike. My feet start at the 20, I roll over the 11, and my ball breaks between the 7-5 boards. 2nd game I usually move a board to the left with my feet, then 2 more boards to the left with my feet in the third game. All three games I keep the same mark (11).

[Amyers]

I just bought a house and I'm broke so buying another ball is out. I only move a total of 3 boards the entire night, and I keep the same target. I have to figure something out tho. It's really pissing me off that I'm throwing away 700 series every week. Should I try moving further left and move my target aswell to getinside the oil?

You nailed it on the head. Move your target in as you move your feet left try making a 2 with the feet and 1 with the target or maybe even a 3 with the feet and two with the target move to the right. When you just move your feet what you are doing is just increasing the angle that the ball is traveling at which actually puts it in the dry sooner causing it to burn more energy to get back to the pocket. Moving feet and target should keep the ball in the oil longer and keeps the same angle should help with your problem.

[ralphs007]

One thing to keep in mind the farther you move left the more your most likely belling the ball out (throwing farther right and letting it hook back) I believe this causes the ball to expend more energy resulting in a weaker hit. This happens to me with my asylum even to the point of leaving pocket 7-10 splits sometimes.

Some things that work for me:

Make a large move inside and tighten the line (don't throw as much angle so the ball doesn't go as far right at the break point) as long as you can hold the pocket.
Ball down and move right
Ball up and move farther left
If your throwing a surface ball you may be able to change to a pearl and keep a similar line the pearl will bleed energy slower

Rob I'm sure will post if I'm full of crap but I've made these kind of changes with success in the past.

All good advice, thanks.

[vdubtx]

Another adjustment to make on drier lanes is to move your eyes to a target further down lane. On Tuesdays I move my target to about 40' down lane vs using the arrows at higher volume houses.

[RobLV1]

One thing to keep in mind the farther you move left the more your most likely belling the ball out (throwing farther right and letting it hook back) I believe this causes the ball to expend more energy resulting in a weaker hit. This happens to me with my asylum even to the point of leaving pocket 7-10 splits sometimes.

Some things that work for me:

Make a large move inside and tighten the line (don't throw as much angle so the ball doesn't go as far right at the break point) as long as you can hold the pocket. Good Idea!
Ball down and move right Bad Idea!
Ball up and move farther left Good Idea!
If your throwing a surface ball you may be able to change to a pearl and keep a similar line the pearl will bleed energy slower Good Idea!

Rob I'm sure will post if I'm full of crap but I've made these kind of changes with success in the past.

Three out of four ain't bad. LOL

[Amyers]

Three out of four ain't bad. LOL

We'll probably depends on how much less aggressive the next ball your going to is

[RobLV1]

We'll probably depends on how much less aggressive the next ball your going to is

Unless you are changing to a non-reactive cover (plastic or, in some cases, urethane) I'm going to stick my neck out and say that it's never a good idea for a right hander to move right to adjust to a changing house shot. Common sense says that since most bowlers start around the second arrow where the oil line usually is on freshly oiled lanes, as the line dries up, a move to the right will only find more friction, not less. Since carry problems are nearly always caused by power loss in too much friction, a move right with a less aggressive ball may keep you in the pocket, but won't do anything to increase your carry.

[Amyers]

Unless you are changing to a non-reactive cover (plastic or, in some cases, urethane) I'm going to stick my neck out and say that it's never a good idea for a right hander to move right to adjust to a changing house shot. Common sense says that since most bowlers start around the second arrow where the oil line usually is on freshly oiled lanes, as the line dries up, a move to the right will only find more friction, not less. Since carry problems are nearly always caused by power loss in too much friction, a move right with a less aggressive ball may keep you in the pocket, but won't do anything to increase your carry.

You may be very well correct it probably also plays a large factor I start farther inside normally than most bowlers

[Mark O]

If changing balls isn't an option then changing hand position might be a good alternative. The goal would be to increase your axis rotation which in turn would increase the distance the ball skids before it reaches the hook and roll phases. That will help the ball retain energy and it will also change the angle in which the ball enters the pins.

When I only had one ball I found myself having carry issues in the 3rd game every week as I moved deeper and increasing my axis rotation was enough to start carrying the corners. I found that the best way for me to do this was to lead with my index finger through my target instead of with my middle or ring finger. I don't know if this is necessarily the best move but it worked for me when I found myself in a similar situation and I think it is worth a shot for you too if you have no other alternatives.

[Emery]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll try moving left a couple boards aswell as moving my target to get inside the oil again. If that doesn't work I'll try changing the hand positions. League is tonight, I'll let ya know how it goes.