Going over to the Dark Side

[Amyers]

Well I finally did it this week end I purchase a plastic spare ball. I got an ebonite skull bowling ball. Yes I usually make fun of people who spend the money on these specialty spare balls but I got this for about the same money as a regular plastic ball . Ball looks like brand new got it drilled and everything for $65 so I couldn't resist it.

Practiced two games with it before league converted all of my spares with it over the two games except 1 chopped the 6 of a 6-10.

League all three games missed one single pin spare a 7 pin that was my fault. I think this is going to help my spare shooting more than I even expected. So no more backup balls at the 10 pin for this guy.

[Aslan]

It's helped mine.

Statistically speaking, last season I was able to bring my single-pin spare shooting % up to 72%. But I noticed more recently, especially as I've started bowling on sport patterns and tweaked my release, that I was probably around 66%. On a good night, I could pick up 90% of them. But, on a bad night, that could be as low as 25%.

Now that I've been using plastic, I've been about 71%. But I've only been throwing plastic for about 3 weeks. I'll still have an off night and make only 50% of them...but on a good night I'll make 100%. And now that I've started throwing plastic at LEFT side 1 or 2 pin leaves as well as RIGHT side 1 or 2 pin leaves...I'm at about 72% overall.

For me, there were 3 deciding factors (none of which was the harassment/abuse I took here or Rob's preaching);

1) In the VBT (Virtual Bowling Tour) back in July I ran into a problem where I went 9 for 11 on single pin spares...but the two I missed were single 10-pins and my shot was dead on accurate both times I missed them. For some reason, this center had a VERY dry outside 2-4 boards...and even with my low rev rate...my ball 'jumped' left just as it was about to pick up the 10-pin. That cost me a clean 200 game and I only scored a 178. Those were my only two open frames. And it wasn't 'fair' because I DID my job of making a good shot.

2) Playing in a sport league, your room for error decreases DRAMATICALLY. And even though my low rev rate allowed me to use reactive resin for spares on house conditions...and on longer sport patterns....I was running into problems. I do better (overall) on shorter patterns where my rev rate will play. BUT...on shorter patterns (PBA Wolf, WTBA Beijing) my single-pin spare shooting was 52%...and I missed EVERY 6-pin and 10-pin leave. On longer patterns (PBA Shark, PBA Scorpion), even though overall I struggled more...my single pin spare shooting was 69% and the misses evenly distributed between left and right side leaves.

3) As I've been improving my release and getting more behind/under it...the revs are increasing (when I do it properly...which is 1/3 of the time). As the revs go up...the Slingshot is no longer a straight, spare ball. Of matter of fact, playing some lines on some conditions...it's a very aggressive ball regardless of it's specs. Yesterday I used it as my benchmark ball for both middle and outside lines on the PBA Cheetah pattern. It's the best ball for going long and snapping in a consistent way. It also fits my hand the best. The hybrid and solid coverstocks won't go long enough...especially on a shorter pattern. And the 2 Encounters tend to exaggerate my inconsistent release (both are assymetric, stronger cores). I even noticed that when I REALLY get a good release...even the plastic ball hooks slightly.

So...am I totally turned to the DARK SIDE.

No. Not really.

I think for newer players...there is value in learning the lateral movement technique for spare shooting. And I think too many newer players become reliant on plastic balls thinking it's a magical way to pick up spares and it's not. I switched to plastic and have seen a 5% difference in 3 weeks. There's no "magic" in bowling. You still have to hit your spots and have good timing and consistency...there's no short cuts. I also think that for typical house players...that rarely ever play in a different center...not as necessary.

But I've bowled in 20 different centers this year. Between the VBT, Vegas, Laughlin, ABTA, USBC tournaments...you never are sure what conditions you are going to get. And thus, a spare ball is more essential. High rev players, thumbless players, 2-handers....a plastic ball is essential. Tournament players...essential. Sport pattern players...essential. Just temper your expectations at first because it's not 'magic'. And it will take some time...especially when you start using it for left side leaves (rightys)...to modify your targeting system.

[Amyers]

I agree 100% Part of how well I'm doing with it is just luck of the draw I'm sure. My problems with spare shooting have been multiple issues.

10 pins I can't throw a normal shot at if I break my wrist my accuracy goes to zero so I have been throwing a backup ball at them but even with that accuracy is at best about 50%. with the plastic I can throw my normal shot with and still hit it.

6-10 or six pins on fresh I could throw normally at but on burnt conditions it was an issue.

left side spares if I'm using the Euphoria I was generally pretty good but the asylum seems to do weird things when it crosses the oil and changing back and forth just didn't work

[Aslan]

left side spares if I'm using the Euphoria I was generally pretty good but the asylum seems to do weird things when it crosses the oil and changing back and forth just didn't work

Left side is a whole other topic. It took me quite some time to get to the point where I'd consider plastic for the right. It took me relatively little time to just decide to use it for both sides.

The only downisde to the left is, IF you don't target the pins and you DO target a spot...you need to develop a targeting system for the left which is going to be slightly different than the right. Using a strike ball for left side spares and just moving your feet keeps things very simple. And it 'usually' works fine. So why mess with it? And again...you get into the same arguements/discussions....where most of the time....MOST of the time it's not an issue...unless you're playing on shorter patterns and in lots of different centers.

I've had trouble throwing plastic at multi-pins. Sometimes I'll try to throw plastic at buckets, 3/4 buckets, 1-2-4-7s, 1-3-6-10s....that kind've stuff...and I've had problems with those. So, on the left, I'll still throw my strike ball. On the right, it depends. I also struggle with some 2 pin leaves like the 1-2, 2-5, 3-5, 2-4, or 3-6. I am trying to use plastic for the 3-5, 2-4, and 3-6 but will use my strike ball for the 1-2 and 2-5. In general, if the spare involves the 1-pin and/or 5-pin...I still will tend to use my strike ball. Or if there are 5 or more pins remaining I'll use the strike ball. And splits are kinda up in the air.

The biggest problem I ran into in Laughlin and at the AVI Challenge was sleepers. Throwing plastic at the sleepers I chopped them every time. SO I started trying to move over and throw straight at them...and that was hit or miss. Yet trying to hook the strike ball at the 2-8 wasn't much better. While hooking the strike ball at the 3-9 was a bit better. Sleepers are still a work in progress. Part of me thinks you just move a little in (towards them) and throw a plastic ball a bit straighter (rather than moving 3-4 boards away and throwing across). Another part of me thinks sleepers just need you to move a couple boards away and use your strike ball.

[vdubtx]

I use plastic only for right side spares. Have played around with it on occasion for left side, but even on sport patterns, getting the ball to hook over to the left side isn't a problem. With a particularly heavy or longer pattern, slowing down and moving right are what work for me to get those left sides.

[Amyers]

I think that's my problem I don't change speeds well at all. I bowl with some guys who throw a slower big hook at those left side spares but I struggle with slowing the ball down

[striker12]

I have been restored to my 716t to throw was my spare ball does good but harder to control because it does still hook but I will be going back to my spare ball once I get a thumb slug put in

[Hampe]

It's helped mine.

I haven't been around in a while, but OMG this post made me so happy/proud!

For me, there were 3 deciding factors (none of which was the harassment/abuse I took here

Well, darn. But it didn't hurt, did it?

1) In the VBT (Virtual Bowling Tour) back in July I ran into a problem where I went 9 for 11 on single pin spares...but the two I missed were single 10-pins and my shot was dead on accurate both times I missed them. For some reason, this center had a VERY dry outside 2-4 boards...and even with my low rev rate...my ball 'jumped' left just as it was about to pick up the 10-pin. That cost me a clean 200 game and I only scored a 178. Those were my only two open frames. And it wasn't 'fair' because I DID my job of making a good shot.

Finally....FINALLY you understand what I was talking about all those times. In a tournament you can't afford to miss spares because the ball did something unexpected.

So...am I totally turned to the DARK SIDE.

No. Not really.

Yes you are! We all saw it!

I think for newer players...there is value in learning the lateral movement technique for spare shooting.

I agree! I think the best way to start learning to bowl is to have one entry level ball for the first year or so.

And I think too many newer players become reliant on plastic balls thinking it's a magical way to pick up spares and it's not. I switched to plastic and have seen a 5% difference in 3 weeks. There's no "magic" in bowling. You still have to hit your spots and have good timing and consistency...there's no short cuts. I also think that for typical house players...that rarely ever play in a different center...not as necessary.

That's the same thing we spare ball enthusiasts have been saying all along. It won't automatically make you more accurate....it only takes the lane out of play. You can still miss spares, but if you do, it's on you.

But I've bowled in 20 different centers this year. Between the VBT, Vegas, Laughlin, ABTA, USBC tournaments...you never are sure what conditions you are going to get. And thus, a spare ball is more essential. High rev players, thumbless players, 2-handers....a plastic ball is essential. Tournament players...essential. Sport pattern players...essential. Just temper your expectations at first because it's not 'magic'. And it will take some time...especially when you start using it for left side leaves (rightys)...to modify your targeting system.

OMG OMG OMG......ASLAN FINALLY GETS IT!!

[Aslan]

Thank you Hampe.

But just to further the "it's not magical" thing...I went 60% on single-pin spares last night in practice. And I hit my mark almost every time. So why did I miss? Because I'm "lining up" wrong. It's a common mistake because we are drawing a line to our target using our eyes...but our bowling ball is not in the same place as our eyes...it's about 7-8 inches right or left (RH vs LH respectively). So now that my coach has given me exact places to stand and aim...I have to get used to lining up in a way that FEELs wrong. It FEELs like I'm aiming at the 7-pin on the lane that is one lane over...but I'm not. AND...I have to make sure my shoulders are square to the TARGET...not necessarily square to the FOUL LINE...which is a drastically different concept for left side spares than what I've spent the last 13 months doing.

[Hampe]

But just to further the "it's not magical" thing...I went 60% on single-pin spares last night in practice. And I hit my mark almost every time. So why did I miss? Because I'm "lining up" wrong.

Yep....That part takes some time. You'll have to find a line for each pin/leave that your comfortable with and can hit consistently. It took me half a season to get all my lines sorted out.....and another couple months of fine tuning after that. Now that I've changed my approach including where I line up, it's taking some time to get the lines ironed out again.

BUT, once you do get it sorted out and can consistently get each pin/leave, you'll get a HUGE confidence boost in your game. No matter where you play, you can always rely on your spare game, and that's a huge advantage.