Nice pocket hits, cold tens.

[aussiedave]

What is the main cause of these?
Tonite I hit 6 or 7 of these, and three in particular even sounded like a good strike with the deck being completely cleared of the pins in a hurry. The way I see it, there ain't a whole lot you can do except change the entry angle into the pocket?
Any ideas out there?
Dave.

[J Anderson]

I take it the 6 pin was flying around the ten and not lying down in the channel. Generally I don't adjust off the 'ringing tens', as it could just be a bad rack. 'Solid' or 'flat' tens where the six just lays down in the channel generally need a slight adjustment to make the ball finish stronger.

[The Mayor]

Something Walter Ray told me a while back: "If I'm leaving ringing tens, I know it was a good shot. As difficult as it is to sometimes find a line to the pocket that works, I don't move. They'll start falling eventually. As much as bowling is a game of skill, it's also a game of luck."

Pretty much the same thing J said, but cool to know that the greatest bowler in history thinks the same way.

[truocco]

My coach always told me growing up that if you are leaving solid tens and you think you're hitting the pocket flush, you're not.

I will always make adjustments on the lanes or in my hand position on any leave. Stone tens to me means that I could get the ball into the pocket better or at a better angle to carry.

I will admit that sometimes other variables come into play like the flat gutters, etc. but for the most part make small moves until you get that ten to fall.

[vgw]

If I start to leave a lot of solid 10's I will make a very slight adjustment between .5 to 1 board left/right depending on how I have been hitting it. Otherwise, I would just stick with your shot as there could be several factors that caused the ringer.

[truocco]

If I start to leave a lot of solid 10's I will make a very slight adjustment between .5 to 1 board left/right depending on how I have been hitting it. Otherwise, I would just stick with your shot as there could be several factors that caused the ringer.

Yeah I usually start with a 1/2 board right with my feet. This changes the entry angle slightly and usually can be enough on typical house shot. M

My next adjustment usually is with my hand. I move my hand just a little around the out side of the ball at my starting position.

Everyone does there own thing I know some people that swear taking a step up closer on the approach helps their carry. Not so sure about that but whatever works.

[aussiedave]

Thanks for all the replies.
From the reaction of the bowlers around me who were watching me shoot, they thought I had put the ball "in there" as well. Sometimes I question myself and ask others - sometimes they might say you were a touch low or high, whatever the case may have been. Usually you can tell if you hit the pocket just by the way the pins exited the deck - you know the ones I mean - like a sweeper! But there the ole ten sits, nailed to the floor!
I could have tried moving forward six inches on my approach, the other thing I should have tried was going out a bit wider as I was shooting over the 3rd arrow instead of my usual 2nd, as I had success with that line last week.
Hindsight is a great tool.
ad.

[vgw]

Yeah, just find whatever works for you. There are so many things you could do to try to change the reaction or angle. You have to find a balance for what you are comfortable with. For me, changing ball speed is a last resort as I would prefer to roll my normal ball speed but change the angle. Others can more easily manipulate ball speed and keep the same line.

[Trex]

I was told by Norm Duke..."To move my feet 3 inches back on my starting position" and it worked!! :)

So now when I see that 10 Pin standing there, I move back about three inches and wham!!! Problem Solved!!

Sometimes I may have to move 3 inches forward, but that's Norm-ally when the ball is going high. :cool: