Playing the outside line...anybody?

[Stormed1]

One of the reasons besides today's bowling balls that you don't see much outside play is todays house walls. There is so much oil in the middle abd so little outside that equipment hooks too early and either goes high or burns up

[RobLV1]

To all of you who choose to play outside of 10 at the arrows on a house shot, keep in mind that you are playing in the dirt. On a great majority of house shots, there's very little oil on the outside of 10, so you ball begins to burn up immediately if not faster. Play the second arrow if you must, but outside of it, your carry will vary likely go down the toilet. And for those of you who worry about dumping it in the gutter when you play outside of five, get a lesson. Seriously, if you can't consistently stay within 3 boards of your target at the arrows you most probably have a timing problem A qualified coach should be able to fix that pronto!

[Aslan]

Seriously, if you can't consistently stay within 3 boards of your target at the arrows you most probably have a timing problem A qualified coach should be able to fix that pronto!

Still working on timing. Just when I think I got it nailed…I'll get to the line and the ball will be just starting to come down…and I just think "Awww…carp." Sometimes early, sometimes late…still working on it.

[RobLV1]

The easiest way to "fix" your timing is to let your body do what it already knows how to do. Simply work on posting every single shot (holding your follow through position until the ball has gone through the pins). It is impossible to post your shot when your timing is off, consequently working on posting it will let your body fix your timing itself.

Rob Mautner

[mc_runner]

The easiest way to "fix" your timing is to let your body do what it already knows how to do. Simply work on posting every single shot (holding your follow through position until the ball has gone through the pins). It is impossible to post your shot when your timing is off, consequently working on posting it will let your body fix your timing itself.

Thanks! I'm going to keep this in mind next time when struggling with timing (which seems to happen quite a bit this year).

[sprocket]

Something I have found that helps timing is the idea of "focus". Many people assume focus means concentrating on what you are doing and blocking out outside distractions. That may be true but I simply think of focus as actual focusing of the eyes. If your target always stays completely in focus and doesn't bounce around in your field of vision, then your approach must be smooth, your head must be level, you must be posting your shot, and you must be keeping your eyes riveted to your target the entire approach and after the ball is well past it. If I ask you what board you hit, you'd better be able to tell me honestly and with no hesitation. We may not agree on what board it was due to eye dominance, but you had better know what board YOU saw the ball hit.

[YODA]

I play outside but I tend to shoot from the outside when I do with much less aggressive equipment...throw from the 10 to the 5 board with a down/in shot.

I don't have the consistency to put it across the lane and bank it off the >5 board dry spot with any confidence.

I throw almost the same way as you. I play outside most of the time, throwing from the 10 to the 5.

[Hammer]

If you play the outside line you have to be careful what kind of ball you use. You have to get the right ball to play that line. This should be discussed with a pro shop who can recommend a ball for that line of play. If you play the outside line you would have to keep your shoulders more parallel to the foul line and have a good release where you do not turn your hand early in your release. When you think about it you have to have a good release no matter what line you play so the ball you are using works correctly for the way it was made to work. Years ago I had a urethane Hammer ball and use to play a line between the 1 and 5 board all of the time. My teammates and the team we would bowl against would ask me how I can bowl so close to the gutter without being afraid. I would just tell them that I was just use to it. Now with a new Blue Hammer and a Raw Hammer Anger ball I can play anywhere from the 5 board to the 35 board.

[swingset]

I throw almost the same way as you. I play outside most of the time, throwing from the 10 to the 5.

I don't play it all the time, but when I do I use a weak ball and put some revs into it so it still has something on it in the pocket. When that shot is working, generally, it's because everyone else is tripping over themselves in the scorched middle.

[Aslan]

I'm starting to like the idea of the "outside line".

My "A-game" and "B-game" (B-game is the outside line) seem to be converging.

My A game has my left heel on board 18-22. Just near center. I then roll the ball in a line towards the 8-board and it arcs back into the pocket. My "B-game" is to stand further right, say left heel on boards 4-7 and throw straight up boards 4-6.

However Friday, I started out more right than usual with my left heel (2-4 boards left of center) and rolled it towards the 8-board. It was technically my "A-game" because I was targeting in the 8-10 board range. But it was also a little "B-game" because I was about 1-3 boards right of where I usually start my approach…making it a "straighter" shot towards the target.

But as I talked about in another thread…I like being right of the 10-board…because it keeps me at least a board away from where many of the female bowlers and more traditional strokers tend to throw…that 9-12 board area.