Bo Burton's Bowling Tip For The Down And In Players with Curtis Odom

[bowl1820]

Okay, I just posted this one because I saw Curtis Odom practicing at the lanes I was practicing at way back when I first started bowling. he was down on lane 1. He was one of the smoothest players I've seen, You never heard that ball hit the lane. He just stroked it onto the lane , just like the landing a plane analogy.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ptxyeHlcwM

[RobLV1]

Why are you posting tips from the urethane era when both Curtis Odom and Bo Burton were youngsters. This is counter productive for today's bowlers who will try to incorporate the tip into today's game with modern reactive bowling balls. It's only going to hurt them. Things change. This doesn't help!

[bowl1820]

Why are you posting tips from the urethane era when both Curtis Odom and Bo Burton were youngsters. This is counter productive for today's bowlers who will try to incorporate the tip into today's game with modern reactive bowling balls. It's only going to hurt them. Things change. This doesn't help!

Well Robl I'm sorry I posted a vintage video that I didn't have your approval of beforehand, This is the Bowling Videos & Picture forum and no where does it say it's limited to current topics, ideas etc.

I just posted a short video that had Curtis Odom in it and on which I just commented on how I seen him back in the day. I was not posting a "Tip" I just used the title that was on the video. Oh sure I could have posted a different video, But I didn't.

Plus I don't think the users on here are that naive, Maybe you do but I don't I give them more credit.

[RobLV1]

I don't think that you can group all of the users here into one group. Certainly many of them are knowledgable and experienced enough to recognize the video for what it is. There are many, many posters here who are obvious newbies to the game, and it's those bowlers who I am concerned about. I'm frankly surprised at your sarcasm. That's more in my bag of tricks than yours! LOL

[bowl1820]

I don't think that you can group all of the users here into one group.

I don't particularly group all the users here into one group (except that they are bowlers), But I try not to be condescending to any of them either.

Here's a quote from a movie called the Swarm I like:




Brad Crane: Are you endowing these bees with human motives? Like saving their fellow bees from captivity, or seeking revenge on Mankind?
General Thalius Slater: I always credit my enemy, no matter what he may be, with equal intelligence.

I'll paraphrase it: "I always credit the other users, no matter what he/she may be, with equal intelligence." (At least until I find out different)


Certainly many of them are knowledgable and experienced enough to recognize the video for what it is.
Certainly many are.


There are many, many posters here who are obvious newbies to the game, and it's those bowlers who I am concerned about.
Then you should have pointed out what you saw as counter productive for today's bowlers in the video, Instead of just admonishing me for posting it.

It may have sparked a valuable discussion, Which is the reason I post some videos.


I'm frankly surprised at your sarcasm. That's more in my bag of tricks than yours! LOL

[RobLV1]

I'm not being condescending when I call bowlers inexperienced. Saying someone is inexperienced is not saying that they are not intelligent, just that they do not have the requisite knowledge base to make an informed decision.

You must also understand that in my own experience as a coach and a writer, I see how many bowlers want to flock to anything that indicates that it is O.K. not to leave their comfort zone. Anything that says that moving right and going more direct in today's bowling environment will be blindly accepted by bowlers who are only comfortable doing that, regardless of how detrimental it might be to their games. I meant no disrespect to anyone... I'm only trying to help.

[Phonetek]

I'll jump on this pile and say I don't see anything wrong with down and in approach now and again. Although bowling has developed a lot since this video was made there are still times when down and in may be the right choice vs swinging it out 20 boards. In today's game versatility is key so knowing some of the vintage methods may be a positive weapon to be used against those in competition who only know the modern game. Especially in the up and coming summer months where you're gonna run into bone dry conditions where even a plastic ball wants to hook off the lane. If nothing else this video shows some of the evolution of the game.

[RobLV1]

I am referring to a typical house shot featuring heavy oil from ten to ten and virtually nothing outside of ten. Given this situation, with aggressive bowling balls absorbing oil with each pass down the lane, why would anyone ever move to the outside on a typical house shot?

[Phonetek]

In that case of course not but there wasn't anything in the video about what oil pattern he was using the down and in approach on. I was speaking to the down and in approach in general. If the shot warranted using it you'd likely have already put the aggressive ball back in your bag by then anyway as should have everyone else who didn't want to spend the night picking up splits and going Brooklyn.

[fortheloveofbowling]

I am referring to a typical house shot featuring heavy oil from ten to ten and virtually nothing outside of ten. Given this situation, with aggressive bowling balls absorbing oil with each pass down the lane, why would anyone ever move to the outside on a typical house shot?

And therein lies one of the problems with some typical house shots especially the top hat type 10 to 10 you are referring to. Lets face it the average age of league bowlers is much older now and we force them into a part of the lane many times they just never played. There is a reason people play the outside which is to create extra entry angle and some of these house patterns just take that option away as you stated. And yes, i understand the modern game and equipment and the need to adjust. I have been bowling in leagues for almost 45 years and bowled all levels of tournaments so i understand the value of and work at playing different angles and parts of the lane. But, that type of bowler is a small percentage of the bowling population. So why take away a portion of the lane for some bowlers that are just trying to score on their regular league??

[RobLV1]

I agree with you however, if you look at the daily posts on this site and others, you see these same bowlers routinely asking about and talking about very aggressive bowling balls. Before I had to quit bowling temporarily (hopefully), my bone and back problems forced me to bowl exclusively with a plastic spare ball. While I would usually play between the second and third arrows, I would occasionally move outside. Unfortunately, this just doesn't work with the overly aggressive balls that the majority of league bowlers choose to use.

[Phonetek]

I agree Rob, I see it at my center albeit most throw house balls. The ones who don't seem to use pro level oil suckers vs mild or mid range balls because they feel spending top dollar means that's going to make them better which is stupid. Marketing is the cause, "Buy this ball and be a pro". Although it may add pins to their average it doesn't make them better. In the long run it's going to make them choke hard on competitive conditions.

Granted I just bought a Rip'd which is very aggressive but I didn't buy it to add pins to my average on THS. I bought it specifically for sport shots and higher level tournaments which should be it's intended purpose not the first out of bag everywhere. I would never whip it out at work to hang it over the gutter let alone down and in on our THS. I suppose I could flatten my wrist and go down and in with it on THS but what a waste of an aggressive ball. Marketing and aggressive balls for the league bowler is a topic for another thread though, it's somewhat off topic here.

[boatman37]

My ball is pretty aggressive but I play more outside. I target between the 1st and 2nd arrows and stand just inside the middle dot. I can/have moved more inside but my ball doesn't react. But I am a lower rev bowler and throw probably a little too hard (as Rob pointed out...lol). I could probably play more inside if I slowed my ball down.

ahhhhh.....my summer homework,,,,lol

[RobLV1]

My ball is pretty aggressive but I play more outside. I target between the 1st and 2nd arrows and stand just inside the middle dot. I can/have moved more inside but my ball doesn't react. But I am a lower rev bowler and throw probably a little too hard (as Rob pointed out...lol). I could probably play more inside if I slowed my ball down.

I apologize. My comments are usually aimed at right handers because there are so many more of them. Lefties are a different story: you can play further outside for the simple reason that there is less traffic (you are usually the only one on the pair), and less friction built up in the track area from much less use.

[GrumpyCatFace]

My ball is pretty aggressive but I play more outside. I target between the 1st and 2nd arrows and stand just inside the middle dot. I can/have moved more inside but my ball doesn't react. But I am a lower rev bowler and throw probably a little too hard (as Rob pointed out...lol). I could probably play more inside if I slowed my ball down.

ahhhhh.....my summer homework,,,,lol

This is me as well. I throw too fast, and low rev, to get inside (yet). It will come with time, but I should think the outside game is the best starting place, unless you can stomach a lot of gutter balls while you learn.

[boatman37]

I apologize. My comments are usually aimed at right handers because there are so many more of them. Lefties are a different story: you can play further outside for the simple reason that there is less traffic (you are usually the only one on the pair), and less friction built up in the track area from much less use.

No apologies...lol. I tried slowing down the first game tonight but it was bad. My timing was still off and my ball was coming in too hard so I had to move a few boards in but had no pin action. I also moved my target in to the 2nd arrow to try to get some oil. The 2nd game I adjusted my timing but kept my speed up (footwork wise) but tried not to 'hurl' the ball. My speed did come down a little and the timing helped. Still need some work on it. The 3rd game I was hitting the pocket pretty good but just wasn't having any luck so switched to my Brunswick Rhino. Hardly any hook at all. More of an angle. But my speed was quite bit higher with the Rhino, probably because it was more of a straight path. But the timing was an improvement but needs more work.

[Amyers]

My ball is pretty aggressive but I play more outside. I target between the 1st and 2nd arrows and stand just inside the middle dot. I can/have moved more inside but my ball doesn't react. But I am a lower rev bowler and throw probably a little too hard (as Rob pointed out...lol). I could probably play more inside if I slowed my ball down.

ahhhhh.....my summer homework,,,,lol

Not really sure that you were the particular point of Rob's anyway. Although all modern balls are at least somewhat aggressive I wouldn't put either of your two listed balls in that verity of overly aggressive for THS category.

[boatman37]

Not really sure that you were the particular point of Rob's anyway. Although all modern balls are at least somewhat aggressive I wouldn't put either of your two listed balls in that verity of overly aggressive for THS category.

Sorry. That was based on a PM me and Rob had last week. True that the BWG isn't overly aggressive but in terms of my experience and balls I have used it is more aggressive than anything I have ever had.

[Amyers]

Sorry. That was based on a PM me and Rob had last week. True that the BWG isn't overly aggressive but in terms of my experience and balls I have used it is more aggressive than anything I have ever had.

That makes more sense. For most players something as aggressive as the BWG is about as strong as needed for THS

[boatman37]

That makes more sense. For most players something as aggressive as the BWG is about as strong as needed for THS

And THS is all I play, unless our house doesn't use that? I only have bowled our leagues and no plans as of yet to do any tourneys. As far as I know I have never played anything but THS. I entered small local tourneys when in high school but they were all jr. level tourneys.