Is it the BALL, or the SKILL of the Bowler

[bowl1820]

Well I'm pretty sure we agree then Bowl1820 other than I believe I'm pretty sure that 90% on 1st balls after a ball change is unrealistic and I think you are waiting on evidence.

Yeah 90% might be high, but without more info we don't know.

The main thing is if that percentage is low, then you do what you can to raise it.

[MICHAEL]

Wow, this thread has gone many different directions! So many average to fair bowlers buy High Performance Balls, thinking its gong to be the Magic ball that gets them that 300 , or 800!

My point is that until you reach a certain level in your bowling SKILLS, the ball is not that magic bullet that will get you there! KNOWLEDGE is very important, in regards to what type of ball, symmetrical, asymmetrical, matte, polish, surface grit, drilling of ball ect ect!

until you know the ABOVE, and all of the ramifications each has in regards to your bowling THAT day on THAT oil pattern, then you are wasting your MONEY buying balls.

KNOWLEDGE is something all bowlers can acquire.

SKILL is something you can improve on with knowledge, and many times coaching!

GIFT,,,, well you either have it or you don't!

So to answer my own question, I would have to say Knowledge, and Skill is what's going to get you to you genetic LIMIT! Yes we all have a level that we are capable of achieving, and you will not go beyond that level!

That's why some people that have been bowling for 20 years, stay within a genetic limit that keeps them either in the 150's,,, 160s,,, 170s,,, ect...

Knowledge and Skill's are important, but The GIFT cannot be leaned, you either GOT IT, or you DON"T!

I have seen this to be TRUE with so many really good bowlers, at several bowing establishments around here.

knowledge, and skills are key to being the BEST YOU CAN BE, but even with that, and the best BALL OUT there for your style of bowling and lanes, you will only go SO FAR and then peak out! To be a 220 and above bower,,,,, it's all I have mentioned and more,,,, THE Genetic GIFT, like with almost all sports.

All you 220 bowlers out there,,,, ICEMAN takes his hat off to you!! YOU not only have the Right Balls, skill, and knowledge, but you have that genetic gift that allows you to have that Strong Average...220 and above! Many of us, will never be where you are regardless of all the best Coaching in the world!

THE GIFT RULES

[RobLV1]

This is totally out of control! I will tell you that a couple of weeks ago, just for fun, I kept track of ball changes that I made, and in three sessions (19 games) I changed balls 16 times, and struck on the first shot 15 of the 16 times, and I'M NOT THAT GOOD (Just ask Mike White, he'll tell you). My point is that you have to know your bowling balls backward and forward. The higher your average, the more you need to know them. One of the bowlers that I coach (who, by the way, has a USBC All-Events Eagle on his mantle), realized years ago that he needed to learn more about bowling balls. I told him that if he couldn't change balls in the 10th frame when his shot had gone away, and strike out with the new ball to beat his man, then he didn't know his balls well enough. I still remember the phone call that I got at about 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and I could hear the excitment in his voice when he said, "I did it. I changed balls in the tenth frame a struck out to beat my man."

Please don't get hung up on the 90% number. Just learn your bowling balls! I'm getting pretty tired of certain people who have nothing better to do with their lives than to check my posts and try to prove me wrong.

[MICHAEL]

This is totally out of control! I will tell you that a couple of weeks ago, just for fun, I kept track of ball changes that I made, and in three sessions (19 games) I changed balls 16 times, and struck on the first shot 15 of the 16 times, and I'M NOT THAT GOOD (Just ask Mike White, he'll tell you). My point is that you have to know your bowling balls backward and forward. The higher your average, the more you need to know them. One of the bowlers that I coach (who, by the way, has a USBC All-Events Eagle on his mantle), realized years ago that he needed to learn more about bowling balls. I told him that if he couldn't change balls in the 10th frame when his shot had gone away, and strike out with the new ball to beat his man, then he didn't know his balls well enough. I still remember the phone call that I got at about 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and I could hear the excitment in his voice when he said, "I did it. I changed balls in the tenth frame a struck out to beat my man."

Please don't get hung up on the 90% number. Just learn your bowling balls! I'm getting pretty tired of certain people who have nothing better to do with their lives than to check my posts and try to prove me wrong.

Who MIGHT THAT BE ROB?????

[Amyers]

This is totally out of control! I will tell you that a couple of weeks ago, just for fun, I kept track of ball changes that I made, and in three sessions (19 games) I changed balls 16 times, and struck on the first shot 15 of the 16 times, and I'M NOT THAT GOOD (Just ask Mike White, he'll tell you). My point is that you have to know your bowling balls backward and forward. The higher your average, the more you need to know them. One of the bowlers that I coach (who, by the way, has a USBC All-Events Eagle on his mantle), realized years ago that he needed to learn more about bowling balls. I told him that if he couldn't change balls in the 10th frame when his shot had gone away, and strike out with the new ball to beat his man, then he didn't know his balls well enough. I still remember the phone call that I got at about 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and I could hear the excitment in his voice when he said, "I did it. I changed balls in the tenth frame a struck out to beat my man."

Please don't get hung up on the 90% number. Just learn your bowling balls! I'm getting pretty tired of certain people who have nothing better to do with their lives than to check my posts and try to prove me wrong.

Hey Rob I started this train wreck not Mike. I believe if your hot you can do that and I wasn't disputing the need to know your balls my only real point here is that over the long term for even above average bowlers 90% is not a realistic number over the long term. Mainly what I was saying is if your average is to strike 60% (or whatever yours is) you should strive to get as close to that number as possible. I believe over the long term it will most likely work out to be lower on that first ball your goal should be to have it as close as possible. I just don't believe there is anything magical about a ball change and I don't believe you do either it adds difficulty to the first shot which I believe is the point of your thread.

I really wasn't trying to pick you apart or anything. I just believe we should set goals based on reality. Do you really believe in all honesty that the next time you throw a series of games like that you will more likely go 15 of 16 again or that you will revert to your mean what ever percentage that is (40-50-60%)? My guess over the long term it will revert or you really should consider throwing a different ball each time you could get a lot of 300's that way.

I wasn't trying to be an a** here or mess with your head over the numbers. I have had a really good time with this conversation and I believe there was information that came from this that would be useful.

[Aslan]

It's not just for ADVANCED bowlers, knowing how you equipment works compared to each other.

Benefits all bowlers.

True. But my point was…if a beginner bowler or even average bowler is missing their targets or has bad timing or any of the other 6- things that could keep them from performing well…a change to another ball will not only NOT be likely to help their situation…you also may see no effect.

[RobLV1]

Please keep in mind that we are talking about a house shot. When were are bowling well on a house shot and have the right ball in our hand and are playing the right part of the lane, we have room to miss - that's what makes it a house shot. When the shot changes, a viable option is often to change balls. That's where that 90% number comes from. Consider that four things are going on: 1) you are throwing the ball well, 2) you already know the path to the pocket, 3) you know that your line is finished based on your last shot, and 4) you know your bowling balls well enough to know what ball will allow you to play that line for another frame or two. Given that scenario, why is a strike percentage that is higher than your overall percentage so hard to believe? It is a very specific situation that does not happen all of the time, but when it does, you should be able to make the change and strike on your first shot. The actual percentage depends on your own level and ability.

[rv driver]

True. But my point was…if a beginner bowler or even average bowler is missing their targets or has bad timing or any of the other 6- things that could keep them from performing well…a change to another ball will not only NOT be likely to help their situation…you also may see no effect.

the effectiveness/usefulness of the ball depends GREATLY upon the consistency of the approach/swing/delivery. Although Rob is essentially correct, if I read him correctly, the strike probability based on knowledge of the ball will ONLY go up if the player has a consistent approach/swing/delivery.

[dnhoffman]

I've never seen a bowling bowl advertised as having an effect on a bowlers accuracy, consistency, mechanics, release, or knowledge.

I would say, the better the bowler, the less % of effect the ball has.

[rv driver]

Please keep in mind that we are talking about a house shot. When were are bowling well on a house shot and have the right ball in our hand and are playing the right part of the lane, we have room to miss - that's what makes it a house shot. When the shot changes, a viable option is often to change balls. That's where that 90% number comes from. Consider that four things are going on: 1) you are throwing the ball well, 2) you already know the path to the pocket, 3) you know that your line is finished based on your last shot, and 4) you know your bowling balls well enough to know what ball will allow you to play that line for another frame or two. Given that scenario, why is a strike percentage that is higher than your overall percentage so hard to believe? It is a very specific situation that does not happen all of the time, but when it does, you should be able to make the change and strike on your first shot. The actual percentage depends on your own level and ability.

the real trick is to know one thing: Whether the reason the shot isn't working anymore is because the line is breaking down, or because you're doing something weird to the shot.