Why not bowl straight?

[NewToBowling]

I guess you could go with the helicopter style like some of the taiwan bowlers. The way they throw it the lanes are taken totally out of play.

I think they do that because the lanes are oiled all the way to the pin. But I could be wrong

[Monte]

Bowl1820 (I think) posted a really interesting video of where they did a study related to the entry angle the ball hits the pocket...and what they found was that in order to hit the pocket in an optimum way to strike consistently; a person throwing a straight ball would need to stand one lane over. So a "true straight" player would have terrible time with carry and in this new era of bowling...would be destroyed by the competition even with spectacular spare shooting ability.

I remember posting something similar (re: the video). It was done by a Japanese pro bowler and some of his colleagues. They determined that the "optimal" entry angle into the pocket for a "perfect strike" was about 3º. Which means, yes, you would have to release the ball one lane over.

In fact, I believe it's this vid:

[fortheloveofbowling]

I think they do that because the lanes are oiled all the way to the pin. But I could be wrong

No, that is the style they use no matter the pattern. If the lanes were oiled all the way to the pins everyone would throw the ball straight as an arrow.

[JoeInPI]

I spent hours on YouTube watching old 1972-1980 PBA film last night. Watching Guppy Troup throw an old Ebonite rubber ball against Mark Roth's urethane in the '84 US Open, or Husted, Benoit, Laub, Ozio, Voss, etc- I'm pretty sure you can string strikes with a straighter ball. Heck- Mark Roth's 5-6 boards of "crank" wouldn't even be a blip today.

Watching someone fine tune hand position at release to make a down and in shot work is more fun than watching someone chuck ridiculous revs to the corner and watch it come back. Anyone can buy that game- but watching some of those guys try to play a 2 board target with a ball that will not hook back if you miss- that's another thing...

I hook sometimes, but I much prefer playing up 7-9 and down and into the pocket. Nothing against the crankers, everyone has their own style- I like watching Belmo. But I really enjoy watching someone hit the same spot shot after shot with little margin for error due to less hook.

[Aslan]

I'm pretty sure you can string strikes with a straighter ball. Heck- Mark Roth's 5-6 boards of "crank" wouldn't even be a blip today.

You "can"….but your carry will suffer. I just practiced with a urethane ball and had a 10% strike rate. Hit the pocket 80% with virtually no carry to speak of. Remember, back in "the day", players didn't average 249 during qualifying…and 180s or 190s weren't as uncommon as they are now.

Watching someone fine tune hand position at release to make a down and in shot work is more fun than watching someone chuck ridiculous revs to the corner and watch it come back. Anyone can buy that game- but watching some of those guys try to play a 2 board target with a ball that will not hook back if you miss- that's another thing... ...But I really enjoy watching someone hit the same spot shot after shot with little margin for error due to less hook.

Totally agree there.

[J Anderson]

Watching someone fine tune hand position at release to make a down and in shot work is more fun than watching someone chuck ridiculous revs to the corner and watch it come back. Anyone can buy that game- but watching some of those guys try to play a 2 board target with a ball that will not hook back if you miss- that's another thing...

Where can I buy "ridiculous revs"?

[RobLV1]

Where can I buy "ridiculous revs"?

So true! Developing a high rev/high speed release takes dedication and thousands of hours of practice. The alternative is to choose not to do the work and just bad-mouth those players who have put in their time and developed the power game that is required in modern bowling.

[bubba809]

So true! Developing a high rev/high speed release takes dedication and thousands of hours of practice. The alternative is to choose not to do the work and just bad-mouth those players who have put in their time and developed the power game that is required in modern bowling.

.....are we referring to someone in particular Rob?

[Mike White]

I think they do that because the lanes are oiled all the way to the pin. But I could be wrong

About the helicopter release used in some asian areas.

It came about from lanes that had very little oil on them.

The weak release was able to be competitive, because a normal hook ball was very hard to control.

[Mike White]

Where can I buy "ridiculous revs"?

I'll sell you some of mine, I have plenty extra.