Wrong Pattern for League

[ep1977]

There was a tournament last night at my league house and they were using the Turnpike sport pattern. The manager and the guys running the tournament swore they only oiled a specific amount of lanes with Turnpike but I found out that the mechanic did the entire house because he was to lazy to do 2 different patterns like he was supposed to.

Our league didn't expect to be bowling on this pattern and didn't even know what pattern it was until after we finished so we didn't have any idea on how to attack the pattern. The best anyone did in the league was 35 pins below there average. I was 61 pins below my average. At the very least if I knew what patter it was I would have attacked it differently from game 1.

I was a little disgusted by this since this league costs $26/week and we were treated like they were doing us a favor by even giving us a few lanes at the very end of the house on the opposite side of where all leagues usually play.

[RobLV1]

Just one issue: were the lanes the same for everyone? If they were, then it was a level playing field. Perhaps less preconceptions are in order before bowling?

[ep1977]

Just one issue: were the lanes the same for everyone? If they were, then it was a level playing field. Perhaps less preconceptions are in order before bowling?

Yes the lanes were the same for everyone in the house, those playing the memorial day tournament and those in the league. I don't think it's a preconception to assume the lanes are oiled with the same pattern as every other week of the league. And you may not have an issue with it but I do have an issue with the center manager telling the league bowlers paying good money that there usual pattern was DEFINITELY put down on there lanes when the mechanic who oiled the lanes said otherwise!

[Jaescrub]

Yes the lanes were the same for everyone in the house, those playing the memorial day tournament and those in the league. I don't think it's a preconception to assume the lanes are oiled with the same pattern as every other week of the league. And you may not have an issue with it but I do have an issue with the center manager telling the league bowlers paying good money that there usual pattern was DEFINITELY put down on there lanes when the mechanic who oiled the lanes said otherwise! I think this would have been fun! I bowled my highest scores ever on the highway to hell shot that was put down by accident. I was 50-60 pins over my avg every game from our THS. you just have to roll with it I know your upset about being lied to but at least you can say you got to throw on that pattern;)

[ChuckR]

Lanes will tell Tournaments what the pattern is they will be bowling on. Why is it so difficult for centers to post the pattern(s) for leagues. I have heard that the new
oil machines have dozens of choices. I have even talked to those putting down the pattern and they don't always know what it is, only that the machine was loaded with oil. There is less problem for leagues with bowlers that can read conditions quicker. For the majority of leagues, by the time they have an idea of adjustment they should try, they are in their 3rd game.

[ep1977]

Lanes will tell Tournaments what the pattern is they will be bowling on. Why is it so difficult for centers to post the pattern(s) for leagues. I have heard that the new
oil machines have dozens of choices. I have even talked to those putting down the pattern and they don't always know what it is, only that the machine was loaded with oil. There is less problem for leagues with bowlers that can read conditions quicker. For the majority of leagues, by the time they have an idea of adjustment they should try, they are in their 3rd game.

I practice at 4 centers and play leagues in 2 of them. All 4 of these centers ( 2 AMF, 2 Private) treat the oil pattern as if it's the USA's nuclear missile code.

[LyalC52]

sorry to be an *** here, but all I read was "whaaaaaa, I don't know how to read lanes and adjust"

one of the houses I bowl at: has a skilled lane man lay out the sport shot on Wednesday, and then the kids have to put it back to a THS for Thursday's mixed handicap league. some nights i find the shot tougher than it is on Wednesday

we have a handful of whiners that ***** every week, personally I like the challenge and bring an arsenal to deal with it

I've stopped bowling league at one house, simply because they nail the THS every night and you know exactly where to play and with what type of surface

[RobLV1]

A couple of years ago there was a new kid that had just been trained on oiling the lanes. He didn't have enough experience to notice that the oil machine was malfuntioning. It put down oil from the foul line to the pin deck! Beneith the banner that proclaims that these are the best bowlers that Vegas has to offer, I watched as bowler after bowler continued to stand on the big dot and hit the second arrow and never get the ball to the head pin. Bowlers need to learn that there are many, many factors that affect how their balls react from lane to lane, and how to adjust.

[Amyers]

A couple of years ago there was a new kid that had just been trained on oiling the lanes. He didn't have enough experience to notice that the oil machine was malfuntioning. It put down oil from the foul line to the pin deck! Beneith the banner that proclaims that these are the best bowlers that Vegas has to offer, I watched as bowler after bowler continued to stand on the big dot and hit the second arrow and never get the ball to the head pin. Bowlers need to learn that there are many, many factors that affect how their balls react from lane to lane, and how to adjust.

of the 5 houses I bowl in only 2 are capable of putting down a consistent shot. The other three you are simply guessing on how they will play that week. I've seen onw of the houses here put out a 47 foot sport shot and then the next night just reoil the heads with a THS pattern you want to talk about rough try that out. As long as everybody is playing on the same shot who cares? Those bowlers who can adjust and hit there targets will so ok those that can't wont. Everybody gets way to wrapped up in their averages.

[Mike White]

of the 5 houses I bowl in only 2 are capable of putting down a consistent shot. The other three you are simply guessing on how they will play that week. I've seen onw of the houses here put out a 47 foot sport shot and then the next night just reoil the heads with a THS pattern you want to talk about rough try that out. As long as everybody is playing on the same shot who cares? Those bowlers who can adjust and hit there targets will so ok those that can't wont. Everybody gets way to wrapped up in their averages.

If this was a scratch league then sure. Everyone is in the same boat.

But if it's a handicap league, and the handicap is based on a different condition, then everyone should care.

Take two bowlers, one a 160 average, and the other a 200 average on the "normal" condition.

The 200 average bowler would have to give 36 pins of handicap (90% of the difference) to the 160 bowler.

Now lets put them both on the same tough condition such that each bowler only achieves 75% of their normal score.

200 becomes 150, while 160 becomes 120.

Since the handicap was 36, the 160 bowler has a 6 pin per game advantage on that condition when the handicap is based on a normal condition.

This concept of even playing field is actually difficult to obtain when handicap is involved.

[fordman1]

Mike are you sure it wouldn't be closer? The low average guy is just guessing any way He probably wouldn't drop as much. He is most likely throwing a straight ball so oil pattern don't mean much to him, oops or her.

[1VegasBowler]

If the 200 bowler has any experience with Sport shots, they will recognize the abnormalities during the 10 minutes of practice and start making adjustments right away, and the 6 pin deficit won't mean a whole heck of a lot.

I know I'm not good enough yet to know what the pattern is if it's not a THS. What I do know is when the ball reaction isn't good during warmup, I know it's a Sport pattern, and until I get enough experience on them I'm going to have to work harder to see what is going to work best.

[Jessiewoodard57]

I watched as bowler after bowler continued to stand on the big dot and hit the second arrow and never get the ball to the head pin.

Webster has a word for that ...Insanity..doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results LOL

[fordman1]

:rolleyes:

[jimgilmore]

What should separate the better bowlers is the ability to know they have made a good shot. If the result with a good shot is not being in the pocket then the bowler must realize they need to move. There are two kinds of low average bowler. One are the house ball bowlers that only bowl once or twice a week but pretty much roll the ball down the center of the lane. The other low average bowlers are the ones that understand the fundamentals of the game,but their limited by their equipment. 10 # balls just do not carry and their unable to do much better till they can swing more .
The second group is more likely to still bowl their average because their game doen't depend on strikes.

[Mike White]

What should separate the better bowlers is the ability to know they have made a good shot. If the result with a good shot is not being in the pocket then the bowler must realize they need to move. There are two kinds of low average bowler. One are the house ball bowlers that only bowl once or twice a week but pretty much roll the ball down the center of the lane. The other low average bowlers are the ones that understand the fundamentals of the game,but their limited by their equipment. 10 # balls just do not carry and their unable to do much better till they can swing more .
The second group is more likely to still bowl their average because their game doen't depend on strikes.

If you're learning how to bowl, and are on a THS condition, then there is no direct connection between making a good shot, and one that strikes.

That makes it very hard to develop knowledge of what a good shot feels like.

You can release the ball many different ways, and the oil will guide the ball to the pocket if you're playing the right angles.

Likewise you can release the ball very well, but not end up close to the pocket if you're playing the wrong angle.

Before the THS, the oil pattern didn't dictate one angle being significantly better than another.

You could play straight at the pocket and be competitive because most of your opponents were playing the same.

You could hook the ball, but you had to develop that power while not significantly degrading your accuracy.

On a THS, it doesn't take much effort to hook a resin ball, and the long heavy wall of oil keeps the ball online to the pocket.

It was a sport back when the human element determined the scores, not the equipment.

Also, the low average bowler not only doesn't depend on strikes, they tend not to depend on too many spares either, otherwise they wouldn't be a low average bowler.

[jimgilmore]

While I am NO pro I highly disagree on the definition of a good shot...
BY the very definition I see many pros who carry many shots which are by NO means a perfect strike.
Esp the power players of today. If your hitting the head pin to the wall and depending on it to come back off the wall then a perfect strike is if NOT what your getting.
But if I line up correctly , and I do not wander and do release the ball correctly and hit MY mark clean then what ever result I get can determines where I go next. And that's what I mean a good shot.

[fordman1]

Jim you need to remember that the Pro bowlers are throwing a heavier ball than you and are throwing it with a lot more speed and have a better angle. They know how to use the super duper side boards that throw pins back harder than any we used to have in the past.