Is it necessary to have a good average on ths before going to a sport pattern?

[mxjosh]

I started bowling in aug. 2011. Started in a fun league with house shot. Avg'd around 165 for 1st 6mths. I took about 4 lessons in 2 months an avg went over 170. That summer, after only 1 year on THS, I joined a sport league. They used middle road, route 66 and the beaten path. That summer, while my scores were low, was the best time I had bowling. I ended that league with a 174 and new confidence. I also was motivated to improve my game. I went to my coach weekly for 2 months.

The start of fall league put up the hardest shot I had ever bowled on. the league cap was 810 but the highest team avg was 640. This league had current and former PBA champions. I bowled a 168 for that quarter. while below my expectations, I had to learn a whole new style of play. Like already said above, get into a sport league as soon as you can. expect to struggle and keep an open mind. If u get frustrated, dont panic. get help. You wont regret it. Elevates your game considerably if you work at it.

I ended my first year at 174 avg. I now carry a ths shot avg of 203 and 201 in 2 leagues. My sport league I am at 186, up from the 1st quarter of 168. Im glad I put my fears aside and stepped up to a more dificult shot.

[billf]

E-tank, do the sport shot. Every bowler that wants to truly improve should at a minimum attempt them. I've been the oddity the past three seasons as my sport shot average was higher than my THS average. Given what my average has been this season for THS I don't expect that trend to continue this summer during our PBA league.

What line you use will be dependent on volume, length and width and will vary from not only lane to lane but day to day on the same pair. @unclemantis: I keep detailed notes of every game I play and have three years worth of sport/PBA patterns played documented. Knowing the lines I played before for a particular pattern will help give me a clue where to start but that's it, just a clue. So if you think you can play any PBA/sport pattern from 25 over 10, go ahead and when you can't break a score of 100 then you will really know.

[panbanger]

Great thread! There's a "PBA Experience" summer league starting at my alley in June, I think I will give it a shot! I may have to get something besides my Misfit to throw though lol

[unclemantis]

Will the pattern change each week? That Shark pattern is brutal!

[panbanger]

Not sure how it works yet. I just saw it on the list of summer leagues on the Brunswick webpage for my local alley.

[billf]

Will the pattern change each week? That Shark pattern is brutal!

How often the pattern is changed is up to who is running the league/alley. Some change is weekly while others change it every other week.
BTW, Shark is a *****cat compared to the US Open

[Greenday]

How often the pattern is changed is up to who is running the league/alley. Some change is weekly while others change it every other week.
BTW, Shark is a *****cat compared to the US Open

I see two ways to play the Shark. Play the outside with a strong hook, avoiding the heavy oil, but take a straighter angle in. OR play through the oil, near the middle so very little hook is needed to move into the pocket. A very aggressive ball is a must for that pattern.

I bowled on the Scorpion on Sunday. It's basically like a longer THS. Not nearly as hard as other sports patterns I've been on. Shot ten games on it. 243 my high game. Clearly a pattern where a gradual hooking ball (Or banana-shaped hook as I call it) is best. A skid-snap hook (Or hockey stick-shaped hook), just doesn't provide the right reaction for it.