Are THS patterns really that easy?

[tr33frog]

The lanes I bowl at might have a house shot, but it would be damn shocking if they can keep the same for 3 weeks. It normally isn't even just a little different, it is a complete different shot. Down and in vs cross ally different, not just a few boards here or there. Keeps me on my toes I guess.

[Hammer]

One of the troubles with talking about the Typical House Shot is that you would think from some of the posts about it, that there is a single THS pattern. Every center has its own THS and can vary a lot between the ones where there's barely enough oil to protect the lanes to ones that are one step away from leaving the bumpers up all the time.

Even if the shot really is an easy one, it doesn't help bowlers who don't throw a hook. It also doesn't help if you don't play it right. Don't ask me what that way is, because when you compare my Sport average with my THS average, I'm either 8 pins better than I should be on the sport or 8 pins worse than I should be on the THS.

Going by the USBC conversion table, any one who averages 225 or better on the THS will average about the same on sport patterns.

Hey J.A., I agree with you. Our house has synthetic lanes that they oil. In our House I noticed that everytime we bowl on league night-
they oil right before we bowl-the lanes act differently each Saturday. Sometimes that slightly dry lane I hope is there isn't. I use to just bring my Blue Hammer urethane ball to league night. Now just in case I bring my Raw Hammer Anger with me in case I need more grab.
Just this past Saturday I started with my Raw Hammer Anger ball. By the end of the second game I had to switch to my Blue Hammer for the first and second shot each frame. I did this because the Anger started to be too hard to zero in on the pocket. The lanes ended up being just right for my Blue Hammer. I did use the Anger though to pick up spares that had pins from the center to the right. I am left handed. With the Anger in the first two games I had to put the arch of my right foot on at least board 26 or 27 to not over shoot the head pin. I had a shot that got away from me on the first ball and the Anger hit like board four and came back to the pocket. YIKES!

[sprocket]

Go ahead and flame me but the the great majority of typical house shots really ARE that easy and the ones that aren't, aren't typical. Those that refuse to believe it probably have the ego problem. Here's the hard truth: 98% of us just really aren't that good. Most of us are actually quite lousy. Do you seriously think it is easy to hit a narrow target 60 feet away with the proper roll and angle to strike? It's VERY VERY hard! The ONLY thing that makes it easy is heavily crowned lanes and steroid balls that help take advantage of it. The balls are actually a distant second though; the blocked lanes is what makes the shot so easy.

Have you ever tried bowling on the US open pattern that is flat all the way across? You will SWEAR the lanes are a reverse block with way more oil on the outside than in the center but they are not! When you get three off the right corner it's because that's how far you missed! The same is true when you think you pulled it just a little and get three off the left corner!

Guess what else? Sport patterns are blocked too! There is more oil in the center on sport patterns, just isn't nearly as severe as THS's. ONLY when the oil is flat gutter to gutter do you truly see just how difficult bowling really is.

Just think of how spoiled we have become! I'll say it again; those pins are a long ways away! You are trying to hit this narrow little zone time and time again with exactly the same rotation and speed and angle at the pocket. IT'S NOT EASY. Only superb athletes can do it consistently and the huge majority of us don't even come close to falling into that category.

[bowl1820]

While blocking lanes certain ways can and do help make bowling easier, That is not the biggest factor in making it "Easy".

It's that you bowl on the same condition week after week.

You could put any "Hard" shot out, at first the scores will plunge. But if you leave it out there week after week, the scores will start going backup as everyone gets use to it.

They seen that in the PBA when the animal patterns first came out, the scores plunged but as the weeks went on the scores started rising right back up again.

[Stormed1]

The big reason house patterns are "easy" is the big puddle and the dry outsides. You have miss right (recovery) and tug left (hold).Many of your 220+ THS bowlers die on a sport pattern where you have a 2 board area vs a 10 board AREA.

[Aslan]

I must say…I kinda agree with dnhoff…ughh…nope…couldn't get it out. But I also kinda agree with Bowl1820 AND sprocket.

The bottom line is…it's easier. Everyone knows this. It's well documented. It's been studied by the USBC. It's been well publicized. Averages are up…300s are up…it's not a "theory"…it's been factually proven.

As to "why"? Well…I'm a guy that watches a LOT of old bowling on the internet. And I don't think it's "patterns". Bowl1820 is right…you can adjust to patterns. I started out with a 118 average on heavy oil (which was new to me)…now I'm at 136…most improved bowler in the league. You can adjust…your targets, your approach, your release, your ball, your speed…all can be tweaked and then repeated. It's a factor…it's definitely a factor. BUT…it's really the balls more than anything.

If you're skeptical…watch old bowling matches from the 60s and early 70s. These guys throw straight shots at the headpin. There's some "flare" at the end (which they have to REALLY work for)…but they throw STRAIGHT SHOTS. Take it from someone that has recently been trying to bowl with a straight shot (on heavy oil synthetics)…you have NO ROOM for error. To hit that little "pocket/angle"…it's about TWICE as hard when you're going straight at it versus hooking it in. And you're not getting just strikes and 9 /. You're getting splits and all kinds of different spares. Just like way back then…leaving buckets…leaving weird spares. And that means, yup, you got it…ya gotta be able to shoot spares.

I see those old timers…shooting low 200s…just automatic at spare shooting. No fancy gloves or wrist supports or slugs or powders or textured tapes…just rubber or plastic balls. No asymmetric cores…or scented resins…not even colors.

Nowadays…I watch some young crankers and thumbless guys…and they hit 4-5 strikes…then leave a 10-pin and can't pick it up…then rattle off 4-5 more strikes. It's almost like picking up a spare is harder than getting a strike these days versus the reverse.

[MICHAEL]

Go ahead and flame me but the the great majority of typical house shots really ARE that easy and the ones that aren't, aren't typical. Those that refuse to believe it probably have the ego problem. Here's the hard truth: 98% of us just really aren't that good. Most of us are actually quite lousy. Do you seriously think it is easy to hit a narrow target 60 feet away with the proper roll and angle to strike? It's VERY VERY hard! The ONLY thing that makes it easy is heavily crowned lanes and steroid balls that help take advantage of it. The balls are actually a distant second though; the blocked lanes is what makes the shot so easy.

Have you ever tried bowling on the US open pattern that is flat all the way across? You will SWEAR the lanes are a reverse block with way more oil on the outside than in the center but they are not! When you get three off the right corner it's because that's how far you missed! The same is true when you think you pulled it just a little and get three off the left corner!

Guess what else? Sport patterns are blocked too! There is more oil in the center on sport patterns, just isn't nearly as severe as THS's. ONLY when the oil is flat gutter to gutter do you truly see just how difficult bowling really is.

Just think of how spoiled we have become! I'll say it again; those pins are a long ways away! You are trying to hit this narrow little zone time and time again with exactly the same rotation and speed and angle at the pocket. IT'S NOT EASY. Only superb athletes can do it consistently and the huge majority of us don't even come close to falling into that category.

I agree with you!! I am not sure on Sports patterns the average house block pattern bowler would do well with time! Why,,, because many don't hit, or even have to hit their make with any consistency!! You can be off a few boards to the left, and several boards to the right, (for right handers!!) I see it all the time!
On Sports Patterns, you have to have EVERYTHING RIGHT ON,,,, SPEED,,, ANGLE,,, MARK,,, Rev's,,, ect,, ect...

Its not a matter of learning the pattern,,, YOU HAVE TO BE A BETTER BOWLER to do well on them!! THEY ARE NOT NEARLY as forgiving!!!

Big difference, and I wish all sanctioned league in the Fricken World would make it a rule that ALL SANCTIONED LEAGUES MUST have a different USBC approved Sports Pattern EACH and EVERY WEEK!!

Hey I know my average would go down, but then so would all the HOT SHOTS that think they can compete with the big boys!! LOL

The way we bowl now is like the SPECIAL OLYMPICS.... Its fun, But the high scores are all about HOW FORGIVING THE House Pattern is!!

I have heard many times, (if you take away the easy House blocked Pattern, people will quit bowling, They need that 200 plus average to feel like a man/woman!! LOL

Again I disagree that one would be good at the US Open pattern just like the house blocked pattern,,, WHY DO I SAY THAT?? Because you have to be a hell of a lot more precise, and accurate, a quality that many of us don't have that much of!!

I wish we had sports league around here,,, at Our AMF's close to home we don't have that option!! And like Jason, I don't want to travel 20 miles to bowl!!

But I might,,, I am ready for the test!!

I never hear anyone on here posting scores from sports bowling?????? I guess its not that prevalent anywhere else!!

[dnhoffman]

I dunno... Time to bowl in 4 leagues a week but not to drive 15 minutes to a sport shot league when you're apparently so passionate about the subject and so discounting of those that bowl on a 41' house shot....

Sorry man but at this point you're all talk and balk, and no walk.

[MICHAEL]

I dunno... Time to bowl in 4 leagues a week but not to drive 15 minutes to a sport shot league when you're apparently so passionate about the subject and so discounting of those that bowl on a 41' house shot....

Sorry man but at this point you're all talk and balk, and no walk.

Ok,,, I bowl in leagues that are very close to where I live. Find me one Dnhoffman?? I have tried! And since I am very new to bowling, this is my third year, (I have not been in the sport that long), I am sure I will find that sports league, hopefully this summer.

A 300, and especially a 800 has meaning ,,, lol,,, but I just think its a different playing field then the pros, and it shouldn't be, in my opinion!

No reason for it to be the same pattern every week. I just think their should be more choice! I assume their is NO DEMAND, for sports Patterns, and that's the problem

Check it out in your area,,, how many sports league are available in your area???

I have always be a guy that Walks the Walk,,, sure at 65, I walk the walk somewhat slower now, but I still keep up pretty damn good!!

[dnhoffman]

You crack me up man (no sarcasm, it enjoy a majority of your posts)!

There are actually several houses that have sport shots around saint louis, my home alley has two a week.

F it... What part of KC you live in? I'll find you one..