Tonight #2

[Ball99999]

So tonight was league, another 4 games.
My plan going in was just to bowl simple, focus on accuracy and simple release. And not to force a line, just play where the lane told me. But I still had this notion that if everyone is playing 2nd arrow there would be no oil so I would start on the outside line around the 7th board and adjust from there. It worked more or less, not great though. I'd often miss by a couple boards and get brooklyn.

Here's the thing, I didn't notice and really wet looking oil/track lines on my ball tonight. I guess that means it didn't have that much oil? (I guess I just had assumed they oiled before league). The thing is, even without much oil, my Storm Modern Marvel didn't hook much. Does this mean I'm not putting enough revs on it, or does it mean that without the oil it's entering into a roll too early and burning up its hook potential? But are these "heavy" oil balls that sensitive to oil that without a lot of oil it just isn't good? I guess I had this idea in my head that without a lot of oil it would hook off the lanes.
I did decently but after a couple of games I really didn't find a good line with it, I tried outside and I tried around third arrow too. I, personally, was doing well with technique but I wasn't getting many strikes. It's my fault for not trying the 2nd arrow.

On the fourth game halfway through I switched to my Brunswick Damage which I assumed wouldn't care if there was oil and then I stood on 30 and threw over 2nd arrow and 4 strikes in a row :/ yeah lol. It just sailed down the lane sooo smoothly and hit the pocket perfectly. Either it was the ball or the 2nd arrow or both. I mean is it basically like, house shots are really 2nd arrow and there is no point fighting it?


I think this means I REALLY like pearl balls now that I know I have one. I just don't know how to pick a ball (And yes I regret going all out and buying three new balls this year). How do I know when to go from the Modern Marvel to the DV8 Misfit to the Damage? Should I just get rid of the Misfit?

So otherwise I was happy with how I did tonight. Just gotta work on accuracy and I can adjust from there.
I guess what I'm wondering is, how do players get really good? What is it that distinguishes the pros? Is it the extremely good accuracy? Ability to adjust? Spare shooting?

[J Anderson]

One: playing outside of 10 on a typical house shot there is not much oil, hence the lack of really distinct oil lines on the ball.

Two: There's a reason the track is the track. There are going to be times when 2nd arrow isn't going to work but its usually a good place to start.

Three: "How do players get really good?"
Practice. Studies have shown that it takes approximately 10,000 hours to become 'expert' at an activity. This doesn't mean that if you were to bowl 40 hours a week for five years you would automatically be good enough to go pro. It does mean that there are no shortcuts, no magic ball or secret technique that will make you an elite bowler overnight.

"What is it that distinguishes the pros? Is it the extremely good accuracy? Ability to adjust? Spare shooting?"
All of the above and then some. Pros generally are within one board total at their initial target and within 2 to 2.5 boards at the break. Pros adjust proactively. They will see a slight change in the ball reaction and make a move before they start leaving pins. Pros know that making spares is the difference between cashing and being a donor. One of the older pro golfers used to say "Drive for show, putt for dough". Its the same with bowling, a missed single pin spare in the middle of a string of strike will drop your score 12 pins.
On top of that they have strong mental games. The have good focus and the ability to bounce back after a bad shot or a bad break or anything else that might disrupt an average bowler.

[bowl1820]

Yes well said there!

[Tampabaybob]

Absolutely, well spoken. In bowling the phrase is: "Strikes are for show, spares are for dough". Interested in your statement about shooting seven board and going brooklyn. First off, my question is, "Are you absolutely 100% sure you're hitting seven board?" If you can't say without a doubt you're nailing that target, then you're lifting your eyes off of the target a split second BEFORE releasing the ball. 90% of bowlers 'think' they hit their spot on every shot, but don't. You MUST watch the ball roll over the target you're trying to hit, and then follow the ball down the lane, UNTIL the ball drops off of the deck.

Beside knowing, that you hit your spot, watching the ball travel down the lane is going to tell you IF you need to make an adjustment with your feet or target. If you're not hitting your target all bets are off as far as making any adjustments. Bowling can be tough enough, given lane changes and all and any pressure felt to bowl well. Needing to know where your ball is hitting, EXACTLY, is one of the most important things in the sport. You're basically trying to hit a gnats *** 16 feet away. Next time you bowl pay attention to your accuracy and adjust from there.

Bob

[Ball99999]

Absolutely, well spoken. In bowling the phrase is: "Strikes are for show, spares are for dough". Interested in your statement about shooting seven board and going brooklyn. First off, my question is, "Are you absolutely 100% sure you're hitting seven board?" If you can't say without a doubt you're nailing that target, then you're lifting your eyes off of the target a split second BEFORE releasing the ball. 90% of bowlers 'think' they hit their spot on every shot, but don't. You MUST watch the ball roll over the target you're trying to hit, and then follow the ball down the lane, UNTIL the ball drops off of the deck.

Beside knowing, that you hit your spot, watching the ball travel down the lane is going to tell you IF you need to make an adjustment with your feet or target. If you're not hitting your target all bets are off as far as making any adjustments. Bowling can be tough enough, given lane changes and all and any pressure felt to bowl well. Needing to know where your ball is hitting, EXACTLY, is one of the most important things in the sport. You're basically trying to hit a gnats *** 16 feet away. Next time you bowl pay attention to your accuracy and adjust from there.

Bob

I forget what I write sometimes but what I meant, I think, was that I was aiming for 7th board but kept hitting 8th or 9th board.

[billf]

Most THS are very dry to zero oil from the gutter to the ten board. So using a heavy oil ball there just won't work. The Misfit can work there depending on drilling and your style. What I found oddest of the whole post was that with the Damage you shot from the 30 over the second arrow. What I can't figure out is if you were putting it down at the 30 and going over the 10 at the arrows, how were you not putting it straight into the gutter? You covered 20 boards in the first 15 feet and less than that the other 45 feet?
May I suggest the next league night trying the MM first. Laydown at the 25 and cross the arrows at the 15. If it needs more oil cross the arrows at the 18.

[Ball99999]

Most THS are very dry to zero oil from the gutter to the ten board. So using a heavy oil ball there just won't work. The Misfit can work there depending on drilling and your style. What I found oddest of the whole post was that with the Damage you shot from the 30 over the second arrow. What I can't figure out is if you were putting it down at the 30 and going over the 10 at the arrows, how were you not putting it straight into the gutter? You covered 20 boards in the first 15 feet and less than that the other 45 feet?
May I suggest the next league night trying the MM first. Laydown at the 25 and cross the arrows at the 15. If it needs more oil cross the arrows at the 18.

No 30 is where I put my left foot. So probably launched it around 20. Maybe lol.

I'm happy that I finally have a gameplan though. I'll start with the Modern Marvel and if it just comes in weak, starts rolling really early as I've seen it do a lot and comes back with not a lot of oil, I'll move to the Misfit, then work 2and to 3rd arrow then switch to the Damage.

(newbie me would have assumed that it would have been so strong that it'd just hook off the lane the way this guys' ball does here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCs62US2Cv8 though I suppose because of the design of the Modern Marvel it stays straight instead of just hooking, or maybe I'm not revving it enough and it SHOULD be hooking off the lane)

[Tampabaybob]

If you were aiming for the 7 board and pulling it to the 8 & 9 board, I would bet my next pay check that you were looking up a split second before release. And when I say a split second, I mean it can be a micro-second and that will happen. It's tough to train yourself to not look up. I have a phrase for it: I call it "anticipating your shot". Wanting to see what your ball is going to do, before seeing it hit your target.

Bob

[billf]

I watched that video. Watch it again and notice how the strike ball won't skid far enough for the ball to go out far enough. Compare to the spare ball (black and white) which did skid to the break point. How many times did the strike ball hit the hook phase before crossing the 20 board? It didn't hook off the lane, it never got a chance to get to the other side.

[Ball99999]

If you were aiming for the 7 board and pulling it to the 8 & 9 board, I would bet my next pay check that you were looking up a split second before release. And when I say a split second, I mean it can be a micro-second and that will happen. It's tough to train yourself to not look up. I have a phrase for it: I call it "anticipating your shot". Wanting to see what your ball is going to do, before seeing it hit your target.

Bob

I noticed my missed shots so I started concentrating on it more. I pushed away with my hand pointed directly at the target, seems to have helped?