What ball do you start with?

[bobforsaken]

This is and arsenal and strategy question.

I've read somewhere that most people start with their most aggressive ball and then go to their weaker balls as their bowling session wears on. What strategy do you use to choose what ball you start with?

Of course it depends on the pattern I'm sure, But I'd like to hear the thought process.

For example: "When playing shorter patterns, I play with high RG balls starting with my weakest low flare ball and when I get deeper after the lanes transition I move deep inside and play a slightly more aggressive high RG ball with max flare" "when playing longer patterns, I play with my low RG Balls starting with a hybrid and switch to a pearl later in the session after I've moved inside and started targeting between 3rd and 4th arrow."

[BDOG10]

Normally for me in league play I will start with my benchmark ball.. (mid performance) then if I am not seeing the reaction that I like I will either move on the lane or make a ball change based on the amount of carry I am getting. It certainly depends on the style of the bowler you are a more aggressive ball will certainly get you hooking the ball but also keep in mind that if you adjust your feet and ball speed it could certainly help you stay with the equipment you start the day with.

[vgw]

During league practice, I begin with a reactive resin ball that I use as my spare ball just to get any kinks out. After about 2-3 shots, I go to my medium ball. Depending on the reaction, I can change up or down, but my league shot doesn't change drastically from week-to-week so I already have a good idea of what my line will be.

[bobforsaken]

Interesting.. does anyone vary between arcing or lower flare balls and skid/snap balls? This is still a work in progress but I tend to start with more arcing and rolling balls when starting out . This is generally when I'm playing the track area and it is more forgiving when it starts to go high or if I make a bad shot. As I move deeper I tend to move to a more skid snap reaction.

My thought process on this is because the skid snap may help keep good entry angle where the arcing balls would hit more straight on the deeper I went. That may be just my own backwards thinking.

Am I alone on this, or do most people just have their favorite reaction and work with that no matter where they are on the lane and switch balls if they run into too much oil or too little oil?

[fortheloveofbowling]

Interesting.. does anyone vary between arcing or lower flare balls and skid/snap balls? This is still a work in progress but I tend to start with more arcing and rolling balls when starting out . This is generally when I'm playing the track area and it is more forgiving when it starts to go high or if I make a bad shot. As I move deeper I tend to move to a more skid snap reaction.

My thought process on this is because the skid snap may help keep good entry angle where the arcing balls would hit more straight on the deeper I went. That may be just my own backwards thinking.

Am I alone on this, or do most people just have their favorite reaction and work with that no matter where they are on the lane and switch balls if they run into too much oil or too little oil?

Generally i have the same type of thought process with arching type and more backend tyoe of reactions and where i play the lane. But that is not always the case and you should really let your game, the ball, and the lane tell you what to do. I usually prefer to play closer to the dry with something stronger to minimize the reaction downlane. But the reason you play out is to create angle for carry the same as you said using a skid flip for that inside. If my ball speed control is really feeling good and i can play out with something that moves more on the back i will do it. Conversely, if i have moved in with a ball that flips harder on the back and i'm seeing some over/under i might go with a ball more arching and close down my angles inside. The point is you can't tie yourself down to certain ways of playing a lane with a certain ball. I think it is important to throw a couple different balls in practice and if you brought more maybe 3. I always throw at least 2 balls in practice on multiple lines just to see what is out there. Also, who you are bowling with and how you perceive that might affect you is important in ball choice as well.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Just to follow up on a few things with this topic.

When we have topics like this i assume we are talking about house shots for the most part. House shots as we know are more open to different ways of thinking and playing the lanes. Now if we are talking about tougher or sport shots then especially when bowling with more experienced players on defined patterns there are usually more standard ways of lane play, movements, ball selection, and ball progression.

Regardless of your ball selection and how you play the lane you have to be confident of your choice. It is hard to out bowl a bad reaction but if your 100% confident before your shot even with the wrong ball your going to make a better shot and be better off. That way you know that i have made a consistent shot with speed, targeting, and release and can adjust with a different ball the next frame if needed. This is part of where the mental game comes into play. You have to be 100% CONFIDENT with your decisions when you choose a ball and a target.

[RobLV1]

Depending on how many balls you typically bring with you, ideally you will throw a shot or two with each ball to see what kind of reaction you get. Generally, the more you can avoid preconceptions about anything in bowling, the better off you will be. This goes for house shots and sport shots alike.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Depending on how many balls you typically bring with you, ideally you will throw a shot or two with each ball to see what kind of reaction you get. Generally, the more you can avoid preconceptions about anything in bowling, the better off you will be. This goes for house shots and sport shots alike.

You got that right about preconceptions. That has really cost me when bowling in the usbc open several times.

[bobforsaken]

Good info, Fortheloveofbowling. I guess I try to do the same things. I've need lots of improvement to do with my physical game so knowing what to do and doing it are two different challenges. Practice will get me better with execution, but if I can control "Knowing" what to do, then at least i'm progressing. Everything you said about how you play the lanes and react are what I've thought was what I would do. I do need to get better at reading the ball down lane and through the pin deck to predict moves. (Ie recognizing that I'm getting over under due to drift on my approach vs the break point drying out) Its helpful to know that I'm on the right track as far as understanding, even if recognition and execution is a ways off.

[Aslan]

When I started bowling, I tried to start with my most aggressive ball, playing one line, and would move feet, target, feet, target…then ball down and move back to the original target/feet position.

I then re-thought that process when I grew my arsenal from 1 to 2 to 3 to 5…and I started a more "3-line/Benchmark" system. In that 'system', I started with the 3rd most aggressive ball…and chose between 3 potential lines. Depending on the line and how things were going…I ball up or down accordingly. And the progression was different for each line.

However, recently, my coach simplified that 'system' and I'm back to starting with the most aggressive and also trying the next most aggressive in practice. Since I'm trying two balls during practice…I limited the lines from 3 potential lines to 2 potential lines. Then during the game I will ball down but stay on that line.

I still like my benchmark/3-line system. It's more complicated…but I think it makes a lot of sense. But…gotta follow the coach advice. I did maintain the 2-line system at least. The coach wanted me to pick just one line…and I agree with Rob that I really think there's value to trying at least 2 different lines to see what the lanes are telling you.