What's more important ball or board of pocket entry?

[bowl1820]

If it's the same machine I'm thinking of, Chris Barnes beat it

Yes he beat it, because the machine is actually too perfect. E.A.R.L. rolls the ball over the exact same line each shot and it burns the line up.


You can read about it here, from the company that made it:
http://www.armautomation.com/?page_id=80

excerpt:

E.A.R.L. which stands for Enhanced Automated Robot Launcher. EARL is essentially a purpose-built 7 degree-of-freedom robot and control system which allows for precision motion (+- 2mm) and split second (+- 1ms) timing accuracy which is essential when throwing balls at speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Given the variables added by different ball masses, ball grip orientations, spin, velocity, release point and throw vector parameters, any given bowl requires specification and execution of up to over a dozen variables.

[Wherearemyballs]

1/2 a board. Do you adjust 1/2 board often? Then do you swing that 15-16 lb. ball and walk to the foul line not losing that 1/2 inch while doing so? That is impressive!

I always line up on the approach. The marks are there for a reason. I try to use the same target on the lane and adjust to the balls reaction. Often moving right as the oil spreads out, while playing the 10 board. Other weeks the 5 board will work best.

The important thing is to pay attention and see if you hit your arrow. Moving left on the approach will get the ball to the right and vise versa. Its very basic to play your angle from an arrow and adjust your starting point. Try it.

[AlexNC]

I always line up on the approach. The marks are there for a reason. I try to use the same target on the lane and adjust to the balls reaction. Often moving right as the oil spreads out, while playing the 10 board. Other weeks the 5 board will work best.

The important thing is to pay attention and see if you hit your arrow. Moving left on the approach will get the ball to the right and vise versa. Its very basic to play your angle from an arrow and adjust your starting point. Try it.

I'm thinking he was just surprised that you were using 1/2 board adjustments as opposed to a whole board & not that you use boards and arrows for targeting. Like Fordman, I would find the 1/2 board increment to be well beyond my margin of error and impractical to use. But if you can do it effectively and with precision, more power to you.

[Wherearemyballs]

I'm thinking he was just surprised that you were using 1/2 board adjustments as opposed to a whole board & not that you use boards and arrows for targeting. Like Fordman, I would find the 1/2 board increment to be well beyond my margin of error and impractical to use. But if you can do it effectively and with precision, more power to you.

I have a shorter approach now , so my 1/2 could be a full board for someone who uses the full approach. 30 years ago I used the entire approach and way to much speed with a long slide . Now I plant the ball on the lane with a plan using 1/2 of the approach with minimal slide.

[2handedsniper]

I can usually aim within 2 boards of accuracy

[fordman1]

You would be surprised at how many bowlers move left or right on the approach and still walk back to the very same spot at the foul line. For a pretty good house bowler 2 to 3 boards is a good target. Same for moving on the approach 2-3 boards. It is hard for a pro to be that exact much less a bowler who actually works a full time job.

[chrono00]

Yes he beat it, because the machine is actually too perfect. E.A.R.L. rolls the ball over the exact same line each shot and it burns the line up.


You can read about it here, from the company that made it:
http://www.armautomation.com/?page_id=80

excerpt:

Yea I remember seeing a video about the "match".

Once the oil started to burn up the guy controlling the machine couldn't adjust to the change as quickly as Barnes is. So earl could hit the same spot everytime, but that doesn't matter if it's not the RIGHT spot

[Tony]

You would be surprised at how many bowlers move left or right on the approach and still walk back to the very same spot at the foul line. For a pretty good house bowler 2 to 3 boards is a good target. Same for moving on the approach 2-3 boards. It is hard for a pro to be that exact much less a bowler who actually works a full time job.

I agree and see it all the time ( and sometimes do it) for the right hander is seems to be more likely to drift right back to their same spot when they are moving left. It's a little less common in people I've watched when they are right handers moving right.

[Amyers]

I have a shorter approach now , so my 1/2 could be a full board for someone who uses the full approach. 30 years ago I used the entire approach and way to much speed with a long slide . Now I plant the ball on the lane with a plan using 1/2 of the approach with minimal slide.

If you believe it works than it might but it has more to do with confidence than any 1/2 board adjustment your making no matter how far forward or back you are. Most professional bowlers are capable of +- 1 board of accuracy, .5 mph in speed, and about 30-40 revs. Your average league bowler gets nowhere near that kind of accuracy. Moving 1/2 board increments or forward or backward 6 inches on the approach is simply psychological at best.

[Wherearemyballs]

If you believe it works than it might but it has more to do with confidence than any 1/2 board adjustment your making no matter how far forward or back you are. Most professional bowlers are capable of +- 1 board of accuracy, .5 mph in speed, and about 30-40 revs. Your average league bowler gets nowhere near that kind of accuracy. Moving 1/2 board increments or forward or backward 6 inches on the approach is simply psychological at best.

Could be psychological. In my mind many of the same basics in Olympic Recurve apply to Bowling. Form, Anchor point, sight, arch to target, adjusting for conditions.

Maybe I have been lucky and slid the ball out a little more when I needed to. All I know for sure is , I just don't look at the ball and pins . I plan a shot , read it and hopefully adjust for success.

The big question running through my mind now. Is who addresses to their target arrow? As compared to conventional square to the foul line.

Are their any links on how to think from approach to release that are commonly accepted by all?