walk direction and ball placement direction

[Aslan]

I watched the PBA Wolf telecast on Youtube trying to get some tips on how to approach it next week. Unfortunately, only Norm Dukle played it the way I would...and as I was watching, Peterson made the comment, "Watch how Norm generates speed with his feet." They then showed Norm during some kind of weird like 11-step shuffle to the foul line at warp speed...and...as a bowler that is trying to SLOW DOWN his approach and feet...it was like seeing Bea Arthur nude...I had to quickly avert my eyes and repeat, "okay...don't do that...don't do that...".

I have to remind myself that it's Norm Duke...and he can get away that because he's able to generate the revs needed with the accuracy intact. Man...If I started that deep in the approach...7-9 steps at that speed...I'd be lofting the arrows at 24mph. Yikes.

[Amyers]

I watched the PBA Wolf telecast on Youtube trying to get some tips on how to approach it next week. Unfortunately, only Norm Dukle played it the way I would...and as I was watching, Peterson made the comment, "Watch how Norm generates speed with his feet." They then showed Norm during some kind of weird like 11-step shuffle to the foul line at warp speed...and...as a bowler that is trying to SLOW DOWN his approach and feet...it was like seeing Bea Arthur nude...I had to quickly avert my eyes and repeat, "okay...don't do that...don't do that...".

I have to remind myself that it's Norm Duke...and he can get away that because he's able to generate the revs needed with the accuracy intact. Man...If I started that deep in the approach...7-9 steps at that speed...I'd be lofting the arrows at 24mph. Yikes.

I have never been able to understand how Norm changes his approach as much as he does from tournament to tournament and still throws the ball great. Me I get out of whack by 1/4 of a step and I end up on the floor

[RobLV1]

To Aslan I would like to ask the question, how do you know how you would approach it? 1. You've never bowled the pattern. 2. A PBA shot NEVER plays the same for several reasons: lane machine is different, type of oil is different, lane surface is different. 3. Lane topography affects how a pattern plays, and from what I remember, you are bowling on brand new synthetic lanes that has to affect how the pattern plays. 4. Whether conditions, especially humidy affect how the lanes play. Interestingly, the first article that I ever wrote for Bowling This Month addressed how dangerous preconceptions can be to bowling. Since then it's been a recurring theme, and I definitely think that it applies here.

To anyone who is even considering getting more ball speed by speeding up your feet, remember that Norm Duke weighs in at about 145 lbs. He's worked at speeding up his feet to compensate for his stature for many years. There are other more effective ways of getting more ball speed that you should definitely consider before racing to the foul line.

[fortheloveofbowling]

A perfect example of that is the pba senior tours recently completed first 60 and over event. They used the salvino pba50 pattern because they thought that would create a middle of the road scoring pace. It played alot tougher than previous tournaments when it was used and the cut for the top 32 was around 195. That was probably about 15 pins less than what they were trying to achieve i'm sure.

[Aslan]

To Aslan I would like to ask the question, how do you know how you would approach it? 1. You've never bowled the pattern.

Well, I don't "know" how I'm going to play it…but I'm reasonably sure that I don't have the rev rate and power game of O'Neill, Loschetter, PDW, nor Tackett.

you are bowling on brand new synthetic lanes that has to affect how the pattern plays.

Actually no. This is a league I recently joined at another house. Bunny and her husband were in a sport shot trio league and needed a 3rd.

To anyone who is even considering getting more ball speed by speeding up your feet, remember that Norm Duke weighs in at about 145 lbs. He's worked at speeding up his feet to compensate for his stature for many years.

Good point.

I actually don't "know" how to play it. I'm more optimistic about it than I was the PBA Shark because I tend to well on drier conditions and the PBA Wolf will give me plenty of "dry" in the last half of the lane. But no, I don't know how to play it. I've watched the pros, I've read what the online experts (including yours truly) have to say…so now it'll just be time to give it a shot and see what happens.

With the PBA Shark, I knew from reading online and talking with Bunny that I'd HAVE TO change my game. Normally I start my shot at the 7-board and move inward. But with the Shark, I'd have no chance outside the 2nd arrow. So I targeted 11 in week 1…moved my feet about 7 boards right. In week 2 I didn't bother with board 11 and targeted board 12 instead with my feet just a tad more towards the center. Well, it worked…won 2 side pots for high score and shot a 720 over 4 games….averaged 180. You'd know all this if you joined my fan club and read my "Aslan's Scores (of the non-lady kind)" thread.

With the Wolf, I "think" I need to play my usual house shot at the 7-board and see what happens. I figure the heavier oil further out to the right will delay my ball reaction enough and my low revs will still get me to the pocket at a good angle. If not, and I need to move a little left…try to get the ball closer to that 1-2 board break point…I can possibly do that. Or, I can ball down to the Frantic. I'll also, if things go well, have a couple other balls to try. Whether I use them will depend on how they work out during Wednesday practice and Thursday league.

I read your advice about moving right instead of left…just remember, at my rev rate, even on a short pattern…I won't be starting out as far left as the advanced bowlers you probably intend that for. But any advice anyone has would be welcome.