Is there such thing as a true tap?

[Eddy]

I say no. I truly believe that there is a reasonable explanation for everything in bowling. It is afterall, just physics. Even the solid 8, (for a right handed bowler) which many consider to be the only true tap, can be explained as to why it was left standing. It was obviously a less than perfect shot, even though it may look perfect. So is a tap more of a way for people to vent that they got "robbed", or do you believe that you deserve what you get?

For example, I left (2) 8-10's during league, and at first I was ticked off because it was a nice, driv.ing shot into the pocket. Everyone said I was robbed. I think I came in a tad wide with a nice angle into the pocket that drove the 5 pin straight back.

Bowling is funny in the way that sometimes the "not so good" shots strike, and the "text book" shots leave a pin or worse. But to me, that's what makes bowling fun. You never know. It's a constant challenge.

This might get interesting. Let's hear it.

[J Anderson]

This is one of those questions where I can see your point, but not anything to be gained from the discussion. Most of us over a certain age can't see if the pins are not quite right from 70-75 feet away, and usually aren't paying enough attention to do more than notice if a pin is missing. Any cause other than a bad rack is human inconsistency. Those who take the sport seriously will observe the ball reaction and adapt. Those who treat it as just a game will just say they got robbed, and you will never, ever be able to convince them otherwise. I've even had right handers who believed they should have gotten a strike hitting the 1-2 pocket.

That brings me to my other point. How many times have you seen a poorly thrown ball strike? Whether it's a straight shot 18mph that is just slightly off center on the head pin or big curve that goes Brooklyn, I see a good number of these bad ball strikes every week. If I can have good luck and strike on a bad shot, can't there be bad luck on a good shot?

[bowl1820]

I say no. I truly believe that there is a reasonable explanation for everything in bowling. It is afterall, just physics. Even the solid 8, (for a right handed bowler) which many consider to be the only true tap, can be explained as to why it was left standing. It was obviously a less than perfect shot, even though it may look perfect. So is a tap more of a way for people to vent that they got "robbed", or do you believe that you deserve what you get?

This might get interesting. Let's hear it.

Well the subject has been discussed many times and the consensus pretty much is, No there are no true taps (A "TAP" is a pin left standing (Usually the 8 or a 9 for a righthander) on a apparently good strike hit.) in bowling.

There is a reason the pin was left standing and it's usually related to how the ball was coming in to the pocket.

So yes calling it a "Tap" is just basically a way for the player to vent on getting robbed on what they thought was a good hit.

[Eddy]

Well the subject has been discussed many times and the consensus pretty much is, No there are no true taps (A "TAP" is a pin left standing (Usually the 8 or a 9 for a righthander) on a apparently good strike hit.) in bowling.

There is a reason the pin was left standing and it's usually related to how the ball was coming in to the pocket.

So yes calling it a "Tap" is just basically a way for the player to vent on getting robbed on what thy thought was a good hit.

I agree.

[djp1080]

Even though a shot I made recently has nothing to do with a tap, I went high on my first ball and hit the headpin, missed the 3 barely and left six pins standing. I think I took out the 1, 2, 5 and 8. I've never seen anything like that before and don't want to see it again! :)

[fordman1]

Yes there is such a thing as a tap. Why is it that bowlers forget the light hits, and all the other iffy hits when they carry and forget but hit one good one and "I was robbed"
Some people just have the type of game that allows them to carry lots of off hits and others couldn't carry as many if they hit the pocket on every ball.
As to the 1-2-5-8 I have seen it come up a couple of times a year. It seems to happen to better bowlers more than not so good ones.

[Amyers]

I think most shots have an explanation for them in modern bowling. It is sad to see that most bowlers bemoan the good shot that doesn't strike but act like the high pocket shot that tripped out a 4 pin was a great shot.

[ChuckR]

One thing that is missing is the assumption the pins are all where they should be. I have seen many offset racks. This will allow me to hit well and leave pins. In strict definition it may not be TAP but it does allow me to cuss quietly the results.

[got_a_300]

One thing that is missing is the assumption the pins are all where they should be. I have seen many offset racks. This will allow me to hit well and leave pins. In strict definition it may not be TAP but it does allow me to cuss quietly the results.

Agree 100% on the offset racks I went thru that last Thursday night
on league you could stand there and re-rack 5 times or more and still
not get a good looking rack to shoot at.

[LOUVIT]

I think there are more light/high hits that carry a strike than to the the solid 8 or 9 pin and they say dam that was buried. So when a good game is spoiled by the 8 or 9 "taps" they seem to forget the carries that maybe shouldn't have carried.

[foreverincamo]

Sorry, but as a righty, leaving a solid 8 is getting tapped. I left a solid 9 after opening with the front 8 last week, and the pocket 7-10, after opening with the front 6. Both were good hits, but not strikes. I watched a pro today in a regional event by my house shoot 299 with a solid 8. Every person there said he was tapped. I agree

[Amyers]

Sorry, but as a righty, leaving a solid 8 is getting tapped. I left a solid 9 after opening with the front 8 last week, and the pocket 7-10, after opening with the front 6. Both were good hits, but not strikes. I watched a pro today in a regional event by my house shoot 299 with a solid 8. Every person there said he was tapped. I agree

Sorry but that's just not true anymore. Back in the plastic ball days the 8 pin was a tap but with modern bowling balls it just not. A 8 pin leave is almost always left on a ball that is driving too hard to the pocket on a high flush hit with modern balls. Honestly a ringing 10 is probably closer to tap than a solid 8 anymore at least I have a harder time identifying the cause for those at times.

[Eddy]

Sorry, but as a righty, leaving a solid 8 is getting tapped. I left a solid 9 after opening with the front 8 last week, and the pocket 7-10, after opening with the front 6. Both were good hits, but not strikes. I watched a pro today in a regional event by my house shoot 299 with a solid 8. Every person there said he was tapped. I agree

There's a reason he left the 8 pin, and it's not because the bowling gods were angry. I disagree with you, perfect shots don't always have to "look perfect". An 8 pin leave, by most accounts is a great hit in the pocket but it's not perfect because it didn't strike. I'm just not a believer in getting tapped. I get what I deserve.

[foreverincamo]

Tell Randy Peterson that.

[1VegasBowler]

Sorry but that's just not true anymore. Back in the plastic ball days the 8 pin was a tap but with modern bowling balls it just not. A 8 pin leave is almost always left on a ball that is driving too hard to the pocket on a high flush hit with modern balls. Honestly a ringing 10 is probably closer to tap than a solid 8 anymore at least I have a harder time identifying the cause for those at times.

I'm going to disagree here my friend.

If the 8 pin is left, the ball is deflecting enough where it doesn't have a chance to split the 8 & 9.

Whereas, if the 9 pin is left, the ball is driving so hard it doesn't deflect and drives right through the 8 pin.

To me, the perfect strike comes when the ball splits the 8 & 9.

The toughest thing to see is when you think you have a great hit and leave the 7 or 10, or even the 7-10.

[Amyers]

I'm going to disagree here my friend.

If the 8 pin is left, the ball is deflecting enough where it doesn't have a chance to split the 8 & 9.

Whereas, if the 9 pin is left, the ball is driving so hard it doesn't deflect and drives right through the 8 pin.

To me, the perfect strike comes when the ball splits the 8 & 9.

The toughest thing to see is when you think you have a great hit and leave the 7 or 10, or even the 7-10.

Not sure where we disagree from what you wrote.?

[J Anderson]

Sorry but that's just not true anymore. Back in the plastic ball days the 8 pin was a tap but with modern bowling balls it just not. A 8 pin leave is almost always left on a ball that is driving too hard to the pocket on a high flush hit with modern balls. Honestly a ringing 10 is probably closer to tap than a solid 8 anymore at least I have a harder time identifying the cause for those at times.


I'm going to disagree here my friend.

If the 8 pin is left, the ball is deflecting enough where it doesn't have a chance to split the 8 & 9.

Whereas, if the 9 pin is left, the ball is driving so hard it doesn't deflect and drives right through the 8 pin.

To me, the perfect strike comes when the ball splits the 8 & 9.

The toughest thing to see is when you think you have a great hit and leave the 7 or 10, or even the 7-10.


Not sure where we disagree from what you wrote.?
Amyers, what you said about the cause of an 8 pin being left is what 1Vegasbowler said caused the 9 to be left. So unless we’re talking lefty, Vegas is right.

[JasonNJ]

I took a silver coaching class from Ron Hatfield back in Aug and he's writing a book with someone and he didn't want to write a regular bowling book on how to bowl, this book covers a lot pf physics and math. He said the pocket is the 17.5 board, if the ball hits the pins at that board you strike pretty much every time regardless of angle of entry. He said it may look like you are hitting the pocket from 60 ft, you really aren't. If you see any pin fall late, then it was a "lucky" strike. I asked him about the stone 8 and he said the only true tap is the 9 pin. Unfortunately, he didn't want to give the whole book away so didn't get into the reason why the 9 pin was the only true tap.

Anyway, it was definitely an interesting conversation and I'm looking forward to the book when it comes out.

[Amyers]

Amyers, what you said about the cause of an 8 pin being left is what 1Vegasbowler said caused the 9 to be left. So unless we’re talking lefty, Vegas is right.

Thank you for pointing that out I war referring to the 9 and miss hit the 8 and didn't realize it

[Eddy]

I'm going to disagree here my friend.

If the 8 pin is left, the ball is deflecting enough where it doesn't have a chance to split the 8 & 9.

Whereas, if the 9 pin is left, the ball is driving so hard it doesn't deflect and drives right through the 8 pin.

To me, the perfect strike comes when the ball splits the 8 & 9.

The toughest thing to see is when you think you have a great hit and leave the 7 or 10, or even the 7-10.

Funny you mentioned the 7-10. I left it after what I thought was a nice shot. But I will stick by my belief that there is no such thing as a true tap.

[Amyers]

Funny you mentioned the 7-10. I left it after what I thought was a nice shot. But I will stick by my belief that there is no such thing as a true tap.

Unfortunately I leave to many of those also. I think they are caused more by when the ball rolls than placement. Ball rolls to early on a good line hits flat 7-10 I also leave them playing more of tight line when the ball is in in heavier oil and doesn't roll before it hits funny that you can leave them for reasons that are on opposite ends of the scale.