How to bowl on heavy oil/slicker lanes

[Bunny]

From another post but also could apply to the conditions at Carter Lanes...


Let me add that there is another reason to carry a plastic spare ball; one that most bowlers don’t even consider. Everyone once in a while, even the best bowler may find himself totally lost on a pair of lanes. This often happens when bowling on the end pairs (or virtually all lanes at AMF CARTER LANES) in most any bowling center. In those instances, using your plastic spare ball for your strike shot can be a viable option. Consider this, even with maximum loss of carry, if you are accurate you can get a plastic ball to the pocket, pick up your single pin spares, and bowl a very comfortable 190-200 game. Isn’t this preferable to struggling to find a shot that isn’t there and bowling 160 with lots of splits?

[Aslan]

Part of the adjustment process in todays game is matching the right ball/layout/surface to the conditions you are bowling on and your game.

I just disagree with that. I understand the need for it at higher levels and tournament play. But how many (as a %) of bowlers carry more than one ball?? Two balls?? Three balls? Bowl more than one alley??

Just a random sample from 8 bowlers I know…75% carry more than one ball. 38% carry more than 2. 0% carry more than 3. 25% bowl leagues at more than one alley.

This is a realistic assumption if you bowl in just one center. I have 3 different 4 ball arsenals for the 3 centers i bowl in. All 3 are different surfaces (wood, synthetic and Pro-Anvilane synthetic). The each have their own ftiction characteristics If I try to throw my Friday morning equipment in the other 2 centers I'm walking around the ball return

Well…then you're in the minority aren't you? I mean, how many people bowl in 3 leagues in 3 different centers?? And of that sample population; how many would say each center varies that significantly in lane conditions?? I agree your "arsenal" (even though I hate that word) needs to be larger than most…but you're in what…13% TOPS of bowlers with that scenario??

3) Muscle memory...Part of the reason you have this difficulty is you throw 3 different weight balls.

Actually only 2 different weights. I retired my old 14lb urethane. I only carry 2 balls, the new 16lb ball and my 15lb ball. The 15lb ball is low-medium oil and I use it for wood lanes and as a "spare ball" on heavy oil synthetics. The 16lb ball is my strike ball on heavy oil and my overall ball for medium oil synthetics. They are drilled very similar. By mid next year I'll move away from the 15lb ball…but currently I don't notice much of a difference. To be honest…and I don't understand this myself…the 15lber feels heavier when I'm holding it than the 16lber does.

What ball did you sand? You can'y turn a med-light ball into a heavy oiler just by sanding.I saw where you took it to 1000, that may be too low of a grit and theball "burned up". You might want to try 2000 or 3000'

Work on reducing your loft as loft creates skid

Yeah…that was a "rookie mistake". I thought I could just make the low-medium oil ball hook more by "scuffing" it up. What I needed to do was change my approach…slow things down, get lower, not muscle it as much, etc…and ultimately maybe go to a different ball….not sand my other ball. The ball I sanded (scuffed…it was hand sanding…very minor…not a powered sanding/resurfacing) was the 15lb Frantic.

And yes, I'm working on the loft. It's my natural way to throw…and it gives me very good accuracy. But the downside is…outside of low oil and wood lanes…which are less common…it simply won't let me hook a ball and forces me to throw a straight ball. And that puts me at a a disadvantage in today's game.

[dnhoffman]

I just disagree with that. I understand the need for it at higher levels and tournament play. But how many (as a %) of bowlers carry more than one ball?? Two balls?? Three balls? Bowl more than one alley??

Just a random sample from 8 bowlers I know…75% carry more than one ball. 38% carry more than 2. 0% carry more than 3. 25% bowl leagues at more than one alley.



Well…then you're in the minority aren't you? I mean, how many people bowl in 3 leagues in 3 different centers?? And of that sample population; how many would say each center varies that significantly in lane conditions?? I agree your "arsenal" (even though I hate that word) needs to be larger than most…but you're in what…13% TOPS of bowlers with that scenario??



Actually only 2 different weights. I retired my old 14lb urethane. I only carry 2 balls, the new 16lb ball and my 15lb ball. The 15lb ball is low-medium oil and I use it for wood lanes and as a "spare ball" on heavy oil synthetics. The 16lb ball is my strike ball on heavy oil and my overall ball for medium oil synthetics. They are drilled very similar. By mid next year I'll move away from the 15lb ball…but currently I don't notice much of a difference. To be honest…and I don't understand this myself…the 15lber feels heavier when I'm holding it than the 16lber does.




Yeah…that was a "rookie mistake". I thought I could just make the low-medium oil ball hook more by "scuffing" it up. What I needed to do was change my approach…slow things down, get lower, not muscle it as much, etc…and ultimately maybe go to a different ball….not sand my other ball. The ball I sanded (scuffed…it was hand sanding…very minor…not a powered sanding/resurfacing) was the 15lb Frantic.

And yes, I'm working on the loft. It's my natural way to throw…and it gives me very good accuracy. But the downside is…outside of low oil and wood lanes…which are less common…it simply won't let me hook a ball and forces me to throw a straight ball. And that puts me at a a disadvantage in today's game.

I know you hate me, and think everything I say is some unreasonable criticism of you - but seriously? Can we talk about this last response?

I watch people here spend a lot of time trying to help you, reading your rants, giving you advice, and you never seem to listen to them.

Your last paragraph there, is all false. Loft does not give you accuracy. It doesn't. You do it because you still don't understand the modern release and chuck the ball from gripping it. I've seen the videos, it's not "something specific to your style" - it's something you need to change, but instead you argue and make it harder on yourself.

The reason you "can't hook a ball" outside of low oil is not because of oil, or lane type.... It's the same freakin reason: your release, and your intransigence. The blunt truth is that your skill level isn't to the point where any of this stuff - lane type, equipment, ball weight fine tuning, shape of the moon on a sun dial, etc. - matters very much at all.

Bottom line: The only thing that "puts you at a disadvantage in today's game" is you.

[Aslan]

I know you hate me, and think everything I say is some unreasonable criticism of you - but seriously? Can we talk about this last response?

Absolutely. I'm always happy to have a discussion with you that stays on topic.

I watch people here spend a lot of time trying to help you, reading your rants, giving you advice, and you never seem to listen to them.

I think you have the wrong thread. This thread was about difficulty on slick/heavy oil lanes. The conversation somehow ended up in a debate about changes in approach versus carrying a large arsenal.

Your last paragraph there, is all false. Loft does not give you accuracy. It doesn't. You do it because you still don't understand the modern release and chuck the ball from gripping it. I've seen the videos, it's not "something specific to your style" - it's something you need to change, but instead you argue and make it harder on yourself.

That is just full of falsehoods and inaccuracies.
1) My natural loft swing IS more accurate than a lower loft swing. I've tried both…I can tell you based on over 100-200 games that when I try to lower that loft my accuracy will decrease….because it does. You're making a judgement about accuracy yet you haven't seen any proof to the contrary.

Think of it this way. What if you told me you play pinball better drunk? And I respond, "You don't play pinball better drunk…being drunk doesn't help someone play pinball." I am absolutely right…being drunk has a low likelihood of increasing eye hand coordination. Yet…how can I say that you don't play pinball better while drunk? Do I have evidence to the contrary?? No. You may in fact play pinball better while drunk.

2) I never argued I should stay with a high loft approach. Of matter of fact, I've been working on altering it…I've spent many hours working on altering it. I absolutely understand that to play on heavier oil synthetics the high loft must go away.

The reason you "can't hook a ball" outside of low oil is not because of oil, or lane type.... It's the same freakin reason: your release, and your intransigence. The blunt truth is that your skill level isn't to the point where any of this stuff - lane type, equipment, ball weight fine tuning, shape of the moon on a sun dial, etc. - matters very much at all.

See, this is where I think your post becomes more personal and attacking. I've recognized a hole in my game and asked for input. I've gotten some and appreciate it. I am working on fixing that aspect of my game…as recently as this afternoon I was at a clinic, taking advice from a professional. And again…you're dealing out of a position of "not liking me" rather than looking at the facts:

1) Average on low oil/wood: 163. Average on heavy oil synthetics: 134. Statistically…there seems to be some level of significance related to the conditions and how they effect my game.

2) Four months ago I had a lifetime average of 121 and was bowling with a conventional grip urethane ball scoring between 79-132. I now have raised that average 15 pins…and the most improved bowler in my Thursday league (+13.53 pins in 10 weeks), with the highest handicap series on my team, and the second highest handicap series in the league. On Friday nights my average is 2nd best on my team and in the top 35% of a very good, sanctioned league with seasoned veteran bowlers. I only say that because your statement " your skill level isn't to the point where any stuff….matters very much." I think is a little unfair.

3) What I meant by "putting me at a disadvantage" is strictly in the terms that if you throw a straight ball…chucking it or laying it down…you're at a disadvantage because your angle to the pocket is decreased. It wasn't a comment about my approach/timing…it was stating a fact that the game has changed and throwing a straight ball is less appealing.

So I get what you're saying…I just think you'll have a better experience interacting with me if you can learn to voice constructive criticism in a fair way. My biggest complaint about the bowlers on this website (as a whole, and not just you) is that each person on here considers themselves and "expert". And if they say to do X…and you choose to do Y…then they write you off as stubborn and uncoachable. I've gotten advice on here that has been contradicted by USBC coaches and even pro bowlers…yet if I listen to them and not username: Bowlerxyz…I'm in some way a "lost cause".

I know with the ball giveaways, many of the more experienced bowlers might be happy to limit the site traffic…but I have to say, that's exactly what is going to happen if every time a new bowler or beginning bowler asks a question…he/she gets a gang mentality response "You're not good and you need to do THIS because thats what I do and I'm the best bowler ever…and if you DON'T do it…then we'll just follow you around the site mocking you."

Some of us are brave enough to disagree, brave enough to admit when we don't have the answers, brave enough to "argue", and brave enough to post our rather modest averages/stats. Many others on here are not so brave. We have a lot of "experts", yet relatively few average bowlers or bowlers that are "struggling". And I think it's kinda like Facebook. You look at Facebook pages and every person is happy and having great times and traveling the world. Because you're seeing only what they want you to see. Many "experts" on here carry averages in the 160-175 range…yet when you hear them give advice you'd think they were PBA Hall of Famers. How many "experts" on here are brave enough to play sport leagues, PBA Tour tournaments, or even scratch leagues??

And thats where I have an advantage. I RECOGNIZE that I'm not as good as I want to be…and I'm taking steps to improve. And I won't rest on my occasional accomplishments…until I've reached my goal(s)….and then will set new goals. I won't sit around bowling 215 every week at an alley I've bowled at for 15 years and acting like I'm some sort of "pro" and above reproach. I have kids coming to ME asking to help them bowl better! And I make sure…each time…to remind them 1-2 times that I'm not that good…so to take my advice as a grain of salt. If I can help them…great! If they choose to go back to bowling their own way…great! My ego is so non-existent…it doesn't bother me at all.

[dnhoffman]

Sounds like, as usual, you've got it all figured out.