Spare shooting with plastic

[Aslan]

Your perfectly welcome to have a opinion and post.

It's just the way you do it with that "I know better than you attitude" that people have a problem with.

I'll keep that in mind and refrain from posting unless I make it clear up front that I most certainly don't know anything and thus my opinion is purely for entertainment purposes.

[bowl1820]

I'll keep that in mind and refrain from posting unless I make it clear up front that I most certainly don't know anything and thus my opinion is purely for entertainment purposes.

Here's a thought, Since your dissatisfied with the information here get a 2nd opinion.

Go over to these sites and tell them how you bowl and ask them, these are two of the biggest bowling sites going.

http://www.bowlingchat.net/
This site is full of coaches and Pro Shop owners and people that work in the bowling industry.

or
http://www.ballreviews.com
Lots of expert bowlers there, they even have a ball giveaway too!


Now it's a reasonable option, but I doubt you'd do it.

[Aslan]

I thank you for providing the links and will check them out.

[classygranny]

I agree with that. But like you said, when someone says, "do it like the pros do it"…I think a great many of them don't understand how very, very different bowlers approaches can be.
One (of many) examples:

The technique I was taught was to hold the ball at chin level to start…then push it out as you make your first step.

When I had my first lesson, the pro said to hold it at belt level and just drop it as you take your first step…no need to push it out. Then I went to a clinic…and the guy said to hold it chest level…and push it out with my first step.

Yet…I've watched about 75 different bowlers…and I've seen the ball start at just about EVERY spot imaginable! Some have it at chin level, some at chest level, some at belt level. Some hold it to the side rather than directly in front. One guy (bonus points if you know who) actually started with the ball parallel to his leg and started his pendulum swing forward, THEN took the first step.

So yeah…pros are pros…if all else fails; take a look at their approach and learn from it. And you're right, Parker Bohn…great, great template of an approach. But I stop short of using the arguement (most pros do X, so you should too). I mean, I've seen pro bowlers open their hand to the right (righties) in their backswing…with a backswing WAY above their head…a 5-6 step approach…many things I wouldn't necessarily recommend to a newcomer to the sport.

Well, for some reason I just can't seem to keep my humble opinion to myself, even knowing the chastising will be coming soon.

Doing it like the Pros is something that I have started to strive toward. In one of the posts, I saw someone say "copy" the Pros, and I feel that would NOT be the thing to do. UNDERSTANDING what and why the Pros do what they do (and they are ALL very, very, very similar) would be the first and foremost thing a person would need to do in order to achieve the excellence that we see in Pro Bowling. I admit, they all have their own "styles". Not to be confused with approach, footwork, and release. If you truly want to understand the sport of bowling, understanding the timing of footwork to ball release is of upmost importance. Mark Baker's book, The Game Changer, explains very well how so many "styles" can still have the same "timing". It is well worth the money and the read for any level of player.

Also, some bowlers change the height of positioning the ball according to the lane conditions and the timing they want to achieve for that particular pattern. I'm guessing that the 75 different bowlers you are speaking of may not have been during a regional or pro tournament, with all of the 75 bowlers being of the same caliber. Go watch the Pros live and you may see what I speak of. If the 75 bowlers were averaging between 100 and 230, then I would expect that you would see a great variation. Again, every persons timing is identical in three spots (if they are in correct time) and thus, one person may find they have to hold the ball higher or lower in order to achieve that correct timing.

I'm sure the change of your stance/footowork by different coaches may be being caused as you seem to constantly change weights of balls, as well as your progression on changing a few things in your bowling...ie, less loft, more knee bend, etc.

Lastly, yes, look at their approach - but UNDERSTAND what you are looking at. Honestly, you will see their timing is identical at the crucial points. My opinion, timing is crucial...I work on that the most - all other stuff seems to come more natural and easier if my timing is close to correct - thus, less struggling to learn new things. For example, learning to shoot my spares with my plastic ball.

I am currently in the process of learning to shoot most (except double wood) spares with my plastic spare ball. It is drilled identical to my strike balls, same finger grips, use same IT slugs, and I release it just like my strike ball, but because it is plastic it goes straight. This makes less for me to be concerned with - no breaking my wrist, no coming up the back of the ball - back and forth between strike and spare. Since most "spare shooting systems" are based on your strike line, if you are not correctly adjusted to the lanes yet, then why chance throwing a strike ball/spare shooting system for a much needed spare, when you KNOW the plastic will go straight no matter the lane condition? Of course, as I said...in my humble opinion.

[dnhoffman]

I am currently in the process of learning to shoot most (except double wood) spares with my plastic spare ball. It is drilled identical to my strike balls, same finger grips, use same IT slugs, and I release it just like my strike ball, but because it is plastic it goes straight. This makes less for me to be concerned with - no breaking my wrist, no coming up the back of the ball - back and forth between strike and spare. Since most "spare shooting systems" are based on your strike line, if you are not correctly adjusted to the lanes yet, then why chance throwing a strike ball/spare shooting system for a much needed spare, when you KNOW the plastic will go straight no matter the lane condition? Of course, as I said...in my humble opinion.

Exactly what you (and any sensible bowler who's not averaging above 220) should do! I have the same span/pitch etc. on my spare ball. Pick up ball, switch IT, throw on correct line, and change NOTHING about my mechanics throughout the night, no matter what ball I'm using.

[Hampe]

Point taken. Apparently I'll have to increase my average before being allowed to have an opinion. Noted.

C'mon dude....seriously? You're seriously going to play the victim card? Listen, people on this forum aren't getting fed up with you just because you disagree with them (or because you don't have a high average). It's because you disagree with people who are experienced and know what they're talking about, while you yourself are clearly inexperienced, and it's obvious you don't know what the hell you are talking about half the time. Your average has absolutely nothing to do with it.

You want to know what adjustments a lofting, high-speed, low-rev player needs to make on heavy oil? Stop lofting, slow down your ball speed, and put more revs on the ball.....if you can't do that, then you play a straight line to the pocket. That's all you can do. Moving around on the approach will not make your ball hook if you are throwing it too fast and with not enough revs. You think the modern game puts you at a disadvantage? You're right...you know why? Because you're a beginner, and beginners are always at a disadvantage in every competitive activity.

Dnhoffman is right in that you worry way too much about **** that really doesn't matter for a beginner (like lane surface for example), while overlooking the most important thing: fundamentals. You need to fix your approach and delivery first, and be open minded about it (not just declaring "well my style is high speed and low revs and that's that"). You don't have a style yet.....you're a beginner. I know you're working with a coach to fix this, and that's good. I would recommend sticking with one coach at first since as you noticed, 3 coaches will tell you 3 different ways to play (even if the basics like timing are the same, it can get confusing).

As for the two topics that I missed this weekend:
You're right that YOU don't "need" a spare ball. You're still a beginner. When I switched from straight to bowling with a hook in 2009, I only played with one ball all season (a light-oil, beginner-performance ball). Once I started to get the basics of an approach and release down, then I drilled a heavy oil ball and used the light-oil ball as my spare ball. I used that ball as a spare ball for 4 seasons, and just recently switched to a plastic spare ball. I can tell you from experience that a plastic spare ball is better (and I'm not the only one). Yes, you can get by without one, but it is still an advantage to use one. That isn't even up for debate.

As for number of balls, nobody says you have to have 7 balls. You can get by with 2-3 strike balls and 1 spare ball. BUT, it's a simple fact that certain balls match up better to certain patterns/conditions (however bowling was played 40 years ago is irrelevant). Getting a strike isn't just about hitting the pocket, it's about hitting the pocket at the right angle. By changing my starting position, ball speed, and hand position, I can get any of my balls to hit the pocket on any lane condition. That doesn't mean I have the same chance of striking each time. Depending on condition of the lane, I will have a better angle into the pocket with one ball compared to the others. That's why if you plan on shooting high-scores in any center you visit, it's important to have a few different strike balls in your arsenal. Now if you are a beginner, you probably should start with just one strike ball (2 max.). Like you, I know plenty of people that have 6 balls and just switch whenever one of them isn't working. It's not just about having more balls, you should also know and understand when and why you are switching balls. I wouldn't suggest to any beginner that he needs 3-4 strike balls. Build your game up first, and then you can build your arsenal to match your game.

Look dude, I don't think anybody here dislikes you personally. I bet most people enjoy the majority of your posts and want you to stay. And just because you're a beginner doesn't mean you can't express your opinion. Just accept that when 10 people with 10-20+ more years of bowling experience are telling you that you're wrong about something, you might actually be wrong about it.

[vdubtx]

@Hampe, couldn't have said it better.

[J Anderson]

@Hampe, couldn't have said it better.

Only one quibble, " Getting a strike isn't just about hitting the pocket, it's about hitting the pocket at the right angle." It's also having the ball hit the pins at the correct phase of ball motion, if it hits too late, i.e. after it has rolled out, it might not have enough energy left to carry well. If it hits too soon, it may just drive through without deflecting enough to take out the nine pin ( the 8 for you/us lefties ). And this is even more of a reason for changing balls.

[Hampe]

Only one quibble, " Getting a strike isn't just about hitting the pocket, it's about hitting the pocket at the right angle." It's also having the ball hit the pins at the correct phase of ball motion, if it hits too late, i.e. after it has rolled out, it might not have enough energy left to carry well. If it hits too soon, it may just drive through without deflecting enough to take out the nine pin ( the 8 for you/us lefties ). And this is even more of a reason for changing balls.

Yea, that's true.....I was just trying to keep it simple

The point is simply that there is a reason that having more than one strike ball is an accepted part of the game nowadays.

[MICHAEL]

Look dude, I don't think anybody here dislikes you personally. I bet most people enjoy the majority of your posts and want you to stay. And just because you're a beginner doesn't mean you can't express your opinion. Just accept that when 10 people with 10-20+ more years of bowling experience are telling you that you're wrong about something, you might actually be wrong about it.

speak for yourself ,,, lol