Slowinski's Three Point Aiming System

[forhuskers]

Does anyone on here use this system? To use it you have to find out the length of the oil pattern. Does anyone using it have trouble finding out this info from the lanes prior to league start? Some of these places act as if it is a state secret. At one place I bowled, I asked the lane guy for the length and pattern. He told me he wasn't allowed to give out that info and that I'd have to talk to the manager. When I asked the manager, he told me that that was confidential information. HUH? Geez dude, it was open bowling! Really, I'm not a spy or anything!!

The place I bowl leagues at (actually the only place in town) has a clueless dude working the desk. He also runs the lane machine before leagues. When I ask him how far down the lanes are oiled He has no idea. I said to him, well you ran the machine, what are the settings? His answer: I don't know I just plug it in and run it. Also has no clue as to when the lanes were last stripped...

Is there a way to determine the length and pattern without disturbing the lane employees or forcing them to reveal confidential information?

[Demoman]

Honestly I have never been at a local alley that "know" any of this information. The best thing I can reccomend is finding a alley that holds tournaments as those are the ones who pay attention to lane conditions. The guys who run the machines at my alley barely know there names nevermind a pattern...then again you get what you pay for when it comes to help.

[Tampabaybob]

Does anyone on here use this system? To use it you have to find out the length of the oil pattern. Does anyone using it have trouble finding out this info from the lanes prior to league start? Some of these places act as if it is a state secret. At one place I bowled, I asked the lane guy for the length and pattern. He told me he wasn't allowed to give out that info and that I'd have to talk to the manager. When I asked the manager, he told me that that was confidential information. HUH? Geez dude, it was open bowling! Really, I'm not a spy or anything!!

The place I bowl leagues at (actually the only place in town) has a clueless dude working the desk. He also runs the lane machine before leagues. When I ask him how far down the lanes are oiled He has no idea. I said to him, well you ran the machine, what are the settings? His answer: I don't know I just plug it in and run it. Also has no clue as to when the lanes were last stripped...

Is there a way to determine the length and pattern without disturbing the lane employees or forcing them to reveal confidential information?

Forhuskers.....I use the system somewhat, but I know the length of the pattern in our house is 40'. So the best exit/entry angle to the pocket in our house would be the 9 board. Using Joe's system, you always subtract 31 from the length of the pattern and that should give you your best entry angle. Keep in mind you still have a +/- of 1 board, so your really trying to hit a three board area.

As far as no on knowing the length of your pattern, that doesn't surprise me. They really might know; they may just not want to tell you. Next league nite, get there a few minutes early and take a walk down along lane one or the last lane against the wall and bend down to see if you can see the edge of the oil. It should be a definite edge (if their machine is working right) and from that try to gauge the feet. If you're on Pro Anvil lanes and you have the hash marks down the lane, that should help you estimate how many feet the pattern is. The front hash marks are 33' to 36' and the furthest marks are 41' to 44'. This should give you a good idea of where your best exit point should occur. Keep in mind that the oil is still going to move around and by the 2nd game or middle of the 2nd you may be moving around to change that a bit. Your actual breakpoint will be some feet beyond the exit point as it turns toward the pocket. The number of feet past the exit will depend on your axis rotation.

Hope this helps a bit. If you haven't seen Joe's video explanation, let me know and I'll post it here for everyone. The three point system can get a little confusing until you use it a lot. I don't, but I understand the concept.

Bob

[forhuskers]

I wish I bowled on synthetic lanes. Unfortunately they are older wood lanes. I emailed Joe on how to handle a situation where you don't know the pattern length. Here is his reply:

The easiest way to approximate the pattern length is to throw the ball straight-up board 12 with slower speed. This will help you see the end of the pattern. Then, you can use this information.

I am not quite certain what he means. Should you use your benchmark ball or should you use your plastic spare ball or something else. What is it I will see that will tell me where the end of the pattern is?

[billf]

Use your benchmark ball. Try not to put any hand in it, just a nice, easy throw. The ball will hug the oil line and start to move towards the center at the end of the pattern. The system is awesome (my opinion) but the clueless center help does make it more difficult.

[Tampabaybob]

Did you walk down the side of one of the end lanes to see if you could see the edge of the oil ? That's the fastest & easiest way. Nobody should say anything to you, it happens all the time. It's a two minute thing.

Bob

[forhuskers]

Unfortunately, it really isn't possible. It's a small 8 lane house with the walls being about 6" outside the channel on 1 and 8. The down 12 board thing seemed to work out though.

[Tampabaybob]

8 lanes, wow. Haven't seen one of those in years. Glad the other way worked for you.

Bob

[billf]

Wow, a center smaller than my 12 lane house.