I bowled last night

[Basisud]

Last night I bowled league on a supposed house shot. I had 2 opens in 3 games and shot 598. It seemed that no matter what I did, I could not carry. If I got outside, the ball rolled out real early and hit like a marshmallow. My 2 opens were in the first frame of the first game and the last frame of the last game. I played straight down 5 and left a 7 pin. I played 10, rolled it out to 7 and left a 7 pin. i played 15, rolled it out to 10 and left a 7 pin. I made every adjustment in the book. I slowed down, i sped up, i switched balls, i moved backward and forward on the lane. Is this just "one of those nights" or is there something else I could have done? This is very frustrating when I can't carry on a house shot and I carry better on a sport shot. It seems sport shots reward you for good shots and house shots it's just about luck. If you made it this far, thanks for listening to my rant.

[Zothen]

Sometimes I just chaulk it up to one of those nights!

Zothen

[AZBowla]

I'd say the worst night bowling still beats the best day working, unless of course you bowl for a living.

[DanielMareina]

Assuming that you really were throwing the ball with the same axis tilt, rev rate, and speed as any other night that you carry more often, my first question is whether you are right or left handed. If you are leaving a lot of seven pins as a lefty, it is usually caused by over deflection, lack of entry angle, or a little light in the pocket. If you are leaving them as a right hander, it is almost always light hits or rolling out/deflection. The fact that you hit the pocket enough to leave that many 7 pins means that it isn't a supposed house shot, but more likely an actual house shot. If you could go back in time, I would suggest that you watch where the ball leaves the pin deck. If it is (right hander) through the 9 pin straight, you are getting too much deflection. If it is in between the 8 and 9 or to the left of the 9, that isn't the problem. If you are rolling out, due to the ball hitting dry too soon (common on house shots) then I suggest using a pearlized or polished ball instead to get clean through mid lane, and retain energy through the pocket.
My brother likes to tell me he hit dead in the pocket every shot for 4 games and only shot an 800 due to lack of carry, but that is VERY unlikely. a 1/2 board difference at the pocket makes a huge difference in the angle the pins launch after impact. It is geomatry, if you hit the one square into the 2 pin (right hander), and the 3 square into the 6, you will get a strike. If either angle is adjusted, every pin that one impacts will have a different angle toward the next pin in the sequence. Small variations in angle lead to what are refered to as Wrap 10s, Flat 10s, Stone 10s, and light 10s. Make sure to keep an eye on the ball from where it hits the lane, where it crosses the arrows, when it picks up the mid-lane read, where it's break-point is, where it hits the pins, and where it leaves the pin deck. Not to mention, ball rotation, axis tilt, and ball speed. All of those things can have small variations that will effect carry.

[Basisud]

Assuming that you really were throwing the ball with the same axis tilt, rev rate, and speed as any other night that you carry more often, my first question is whether you are right or left handed. If you are leaving a lot of seven pins as a lefty, it is usually caused by over deflection, lack of entry angle, or a little light in the pocket. If you are leaving them as a right hander, it is almost always light hits or rolling out/deflection. The fact that you hit the pocket enough to leave that many 7 pins means that it isn't a supposed house shot, but more likely an actual house shot. If you could go back in time, I would suggest that you watch where the ball leaves the pin deck. If it is (right hander) through the 9 pin straight, you are getting too much deflection. If it is in between the 8 and 9 or to the left of the 9, that isn't the problem. If you are rolling out, due to the ball hitting dry too soon (common on house shots) then I suggest using a pearlized or polished ball instead to get clean through mid lane, and retain energy through the pocket.
My brother likes to tell me he hit dead in the pocket every shot for 4 games and only shot an 800 due to lack of carry, but that is VERY unlikely. a 1/2 board difference at the pocket makes a huge difference in the angle the pins launch after impact. It is geomatry, if you hit the one square into the 2 pin (right hander), and the 3 square into the 6, you will get a strike. If either angle is adjusted, every pin that one impacts will have a different angle toward the next pin in the sequence. Small variations in angle lead to what are refered to as Wrap 10s, Flat 10s, Stone 10s, and light 10s. Make sure to keep an eye on the ball from where it hits the lane, where it crosses the arrows, when it picks up the mid-lane read, where it's break-point is, where it hits the pins, and where it leaves the pin deck. Not to mention, ball rotation, axis tilt, and ball speed. All of those things can have small variations that will effect carry.

I wish I lived in Oregon for a day just so I could understand all this better. I get the jist of it but it was very frustrating. I went through sanded solid, polished solid, and pearl bowling balls. I was throwing it the same to the best of my ability. The 2 opens that I left (wash out split and high hit 4, 6, 10) were the only 2 shots I didn't relatively hit the pocket. I am left handed too by the way. The angle is why I was trying so many different lines. I've chalked it up to one of those nights. I'm sure it is a THS but it is unrelationally dry on the outside of the lane. Really outside of 5 the ball will go into an immediate roll (think that's the right term where it tries to hook early).

[Hot_pocket]

damn thats just bad luck or a bad pair with off racks

[billf]

Did you try a 2 & 1 adjustment? Another thing to try is playing way outside (like gutter to 5) straight up and take hand out of the ball. Let the ball read the lane rather than plow through it. Don't feel too bad. I know several bowlers who bowl better on sport patterns. A friend of mine (alley owners son) is a college freshman. They bowl sport patterns all the time. He subbed in a league and struggled like never before. This guy has been bowling on these lanes for 17 of his 19 years and knows them better than the back of his hand. He just got so use to the rotation and revs needed on sport shots and wasn't getting behind and staying behind the ball enough.
Learning to watch the ball as Dan described and learning what it's telling you, will help your game tremendously no matter what the pattern.

[DanielMareina]

If it is really dry outside, DON'T THROW IT THERE. I like billf, but taking hand out of the ball will result in less angle and less power. That will cause more of the problem. And HOT_POCKET, unless their are noticable signs of bad racks, don't blame the machines. That is an unproductive way of thinking. Since you are left handed, you won't have to worry about too many people on your line, so move right and play the inside of the lane. The ball needs oil to rev up, and to not roll out. I suggest playing with a sanded, early hooking ball and try to make your breakpoint around the 10 board. This should put you where most house patterns are meant to be played. where your feet start is dependent on rev rate and ball speed. Remember that watching your shot, and any other lefties shots will help figure out the right place to play the lane. I have never bowled on an oil pattern that didn't have a way to strike. Best of luck, and feel free to send me any thing you need help or a better explanation on. I check the boards 5 days a week, but haven't had a ton of time lately to post.

[J Anderson]

If it is really dry outside, DON'T THROW IT THERE. I like billf, but taking hand out of the ball will result in less angle and less power. That will cause more of the problem. And HOT_POCKET, unless their are noticable signs of bad racks, don't blame the machines. That is an unproductive way of thinking. Since you are left handed, you won't have to worry about too many people on your line, so move right and play the inside of the lane. The ball needs oil to rev up, and to not roll out. I suggest playing with a sanded, early hooking ball and try to make your breakpoint around the 10 board. This should put you where most house patterns are meant to be played. where your feet start is dependent on rev rate and ball speed. Remember that watching your shot, and any other lefties shots will help figure out the right place to play the lane. I have never bowled on an oil pattern that didn't have a way to strike. Best of luck, and feel free to send me any thing you need help or a better explanation on. I check the boards 5 days a week, but haven't had a ton of time lately to post.

Let's see, Bowling Center Manager/Pro Shop Operator/Bowling Coach, when do you have time to bowl, let alone post?

[DanielMareina]

Don't forget wanna-be amatuer golfer and husband. It is a struggle, but I love this sport and I love helping people get better