Video showing the difference of just one board on entry angle

[JasonNJ]

This is an excellent shot from the USBC Facebook showing a one board difference while the ball is entering the pocket. So if anyone complains that there were robbed, you can tell them they were 1 board off.


https://www.facebook.com/usbc/videos/10155281926795336/

[RobLV1]

Unfortunately, the video only tells one part of the story. The other part has to do with retention of energy in the bowling ball. If the ball loses energy early, it can enter the pocket at a perfect angle and still leave a flat ten. Personally, I think that this is a much larger contributing factor in corner pin leaves as we've all seen balls strike that were no where near the 17 1/2 board.

[fordman1]

Probably a great video but not worth joining "facebook.com" to see it.

[foreverincamo]

I saw it. It's interesting and quick. One shows a solid strike. The other wraps a 10 pin. Kinda cool

[bowl1820]

Probably a great video but not worth joining "facebook.com" to see it.

You don't have to join facebook to see the video. Just click on the link, on the facebook page theres a pop up just click "Not Now" then hit the play button.

[J Anderson]

Unfortunately, the video only tells one part of the story. The other part has to do with retention of energy in the bowling ball. If the ball loses energy early, it can enter the pocket at a perfect angle and still leave a flat ten. Personally, I think that this is a much larger contributing factor in corner pin leaves as we've all seen balls strike that were no where near the 17 1/2 board.

To study things scientifically we have to isolate one variable at a time. I think USBC did a study that showed that if the position of the ball as it hits the pins is the only variable the 17 1/2 board was the optimal place to hit. Other studies have shown the optimal angle and phase of ball motion to hit at. The more factors you can optimize, the better your chances for a strike.

I think that the USBC study on ball position came up with a 97% chance of striking at 17 1/2. I'm not sure what ball weight and speed they were using. When we see a ball that looks like it was at 17.5 with the perfect angle that doesn't strike, if we had instant replay we would find that it really wasn't at 17.5. I doubt if very many people can really exactly tell where a moving object is from 60 feet away.

[LOUVIT]

Funny the left video of the strike looked like it went in high on the head pin...

[mishatx]

To study things scientifically we have to isolate one variable at a time. I think USBC did a study that showed that if the position of the ball as it hits the pins is the only variable the 17 1/2 board was the optimal place to hit. Other studies have shown the optimal angle and phase of ball motion to hit at. The more factors you can optimize, the better your chances for a strike.

I think that the USBC study on ball position came up with a 97% chance of striking at 17 1/2. I'm not sure what ball weight and speed they were using. When we see a ball that looks like it was at 17.5 with the perfect angle that doesn't strike, if we had instant replay we would find that it really wasn't at 17.5. I doubt if very many people can really exactly tell where a moving object is from 60 feet away.

I think you're referring to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3X7qebrLME

[mishatx]

Funny the left video of the strike looked like it went in high on the head pin...

One thing I've taken away from these videos is that 17.5 looks like a high hit, but this is where the data says the sweet spot is. But if you look at the graph on the youtube video, the pocket really runs from 18.5-15, so there's not a lot of room to miss high. It's all or disaster.

[bowl1820]

To study things scientifically we have to isolate one variable at a time. I think USBC did a study that showed that if the position of the ball as it hits the pins is the only variable the 17 1/2 board was the optimal place to hit. Other studies have shown the optimal angle and phase of ball motion to hit at. The more factors you can optimize, the better your chances for a strike.

I think that the USBC study on ball position came up with a 97% chance of striking at 17 1/2. I'm not sure what ball weight and speed they were using. When we see a ball that looks like it was at 17.5 with the perfect angle that doesn't strike, if we had instant replay we would find that it really wasn't at 17.5. I doubt if very many people can really exactly tell where a moving object is from 60 feet away.

This is the Pin Carry Study Presentation, which gives you the basic findings:
https://bowl.com/uploadedFiles/Equipment_Specs/Information/pinCarryStudy(1).pdf

[fordman1]

I have a question about the study on the different weight stuff. 14 vrs. 15 lb. balls. Why go to a 15 lb. ball you want more speed and more fingers would be my guess. Unless it is a medical reason and that would cause the study to be flawed.
Now more speed and more revs. will throw pins around more than enough to make up for the one pound. You would carry more light hits and maybe even more high ones. In most cases studies and poles can be slanted to get the answer you want to prove.
Some bowlers just seem to have the right combination of skill and luck. Just watch and you will see guys that carry everything and others who can't get a break to save their life.

[J Anderson]

I have a question about the study on the different weight stuff. 14 vrs. 15 lb. balls. Why go to a 15 lb. ball you want more speed and more fingers would be my guess. Unless it is a medical reason and that would cause the study to be flawed.
Now more speed and more revs. will throw pins around more than enough to make up for the one pound. You would carry more light hits and maybe even more high ones. In most cases studies and poles can be slanted to get the answer you want to prove.
Some bowlers just seem to have the right combination of skill and luck. Just watch and you will see guys that carry everything and others who can't get a break to save their life.

One would think in a scratch league, bowling on sport patterns, most of the luck would be eliminated and that your top average bowlers would wind up on top. After five weeks, the top four bowlers occupy sixth, fifth, fourth and twelfth place. The bowler in second place has an average 32 pins lower than the top average in the league. The bowler with the second highest average is getting a psychological complex from running up against bowlers who can't seem to hit the same board twice, yet they get a brooklyn strike every time they pull a shot. I'm sure that by the end of the season the standings will be a somewhat truer indication of ability, but with a 14 week season we won't get a chance to bowl everyone else and so much depends on who you're bowling against and how well they are bowling.