Drilling Layout Question

[augoat]

Hi all. I'm still fairly new to bowling, and I have a couple of plastic balls. I've worked on my release and have gotten pretty consistent with that aspect. I average in the 140s on open house shot, and on occasion I can get into the 170s/180s and have recently rolled a couple of 195 games. I about maxed out my scoring, I think, with the plastic balls and recently purchased a DV8 Dude after reading a lot of reviews on a few balls that would be a good step up. This seemed like a good all-purpose ball for house shot and one that could be used by beginners and experts alike (so hopefully it'll be one I can use for a long time). Anyway, I have no idea what drilling pattern to ask for. I'm assuming the pro will be able to help, but any advice before I show up will be appreciated. I started reading up on patterns and there's more info than I'm probably really ready for at this stage in the game. I just want an idea of what to ask for or shoot for as a good starting point for a beginner type player. Thanks!

[bowl1820]

Hi all. I'm still fairly new to bowling, and I have a couple of plastic balls. I've worked on my release and have gotten pretty consistent with that aspect. I average in the 140s on open house shot, and on occasion I can get into the 170s/180s and have recently rolled a couple of 195 games. I about maxed out my scoring, I think, with the plastic balls and recently purchased a DV8 Dude after reading a lot of reviews on a few balls that would be a good step up. This seemed like a good all-purpose ball for house shot and one that could be used by beginners and experts alike (so hopefully it'll be one I can use for a long time).

The DV8 Dude is a good predicable ball, IMO it's a good step up from a Plastic ball. I have one and use it most of the time, it's a good house ball.

Anyway, I have no idea what drilling pattern to ask for. I'm assuming the pro will be able to help, but any advice before I show up will be appreciated. I started reading up on patterns and there's more info than I'm probably really ready for at this stage in the game. I just want an idea of what to ask for or shoot for as a good starting point for a beginner type player. Thanks!

Depending on how good the proshop is, Your best bet is to have the Pro shop watch how you bowl and suggest how to lay it out. Think about what you want to the ball to do or in vision it doing.

Just don't go in and say "Drill it to go long and snap hard"


Watch this video they show different styles of players throwing the Dude, see if one of them is close to how you bowl. This should give you a better idea of what to ask about.



I'm some where between Wayne and Tom in how I bowl.

Mine is drilled like this:
Ball Layout:
Undrilled Dual Angle Layout
75* X 5.25" X 35*

Pin Over ringfinger
CG 1" from centerline
2.5" pin Buffer

Note: In most all of the reviews I've read on this ball that other bowlers have wrote, where they said what layout they used. The layouts have been almost the same as what they used in this video and the one below. Not that I'm saying use it, this is just something I noticed. (my drill angle is a bit bigger, but the rest is basically the same.)



Good luck with the ball and come back and let us know how they drilled it and how it rolls for you.

Since your going from a plastic ball a reactive ball, I'm going to assume they will use a generic PAP.

If you can make sure to have them/you write down the layout they used, PAP etc. for future reference.

Once you been using it for a while and feel fairly consistent in your release, go back and have them locate your actual/New PAP.

[bowl1820]

DV8 Dude Surface Comparison

Shows balls reaction with different surfaces

[PauL757]

It really is hard to ask online especially when we don't have a lot of info about your style of bowling. Ask you pro shop operator and let him know what you would like the ball to do. He should be able to help you out.

[augoat]

The video is fairly helpful. I'm probably most similar to Tom Porter in that video. I guess I was asking, if I ask for a basic pattern or something more or less neutral, is that going to affect my ability to improve. It sounds like getting a more generic pattern at first is definitely the way to go, then figure out how my game fits the ball and go from there. The pro that will do the drilling seems to know a ton, so I'll defifnitely defer to his advice.

It's tough to tell how much a reactive ball would move with my release, but I can get the plastic ball to break across a few boards pretty easily on a dryish house lane. Thanks for the backup on the Dude being a good purchase. I did a lot of research here and eslewhere and it sounds like a good move for someone looking to make a step up, but also something that will be a very good house shot ball for the long term as my game improves (hopefully). I have no expectations that the ball will immediately improve my game. Moving from plastic to a reactive ball is probably going to show some lower scores than normal at first, but I am really excited about taking the next step and working to get better. I apreciate the input and will share the pattern and results later this weekend.

The DV8 Dude is a good predicable ball, IMO it's a good step up from a Plastic ball. I have one and use it most of the time, it's a good house ball.




Depending on how good the proshop is, Your best bet is to have the Pro shop watch how you bowl and suggest how to lay it out. Think about what you want to the ball to do or in vision it doing.

Just don't go in and say "Drill it to go long and snap hard"


Watch this video they show different styles of players throwing the Dude, see if one of them is close to how you bowl. This should give you a better idea of what to ask about.



I'm some where between Wayne and Tom in how I bowl.

Mine is drilled like this:
Ball Layout:
Undrilled Dual Angle Layout
75* X 5.25" X 35*

Pin Over ringfinger
CG 1" from centerline
2.5" pin Buffer

Note: In most all of the reviews I've read on this ball that other bowlers have wrote, where they said what layout they used. The layouts have been almost the same as what they used in this video and the one below. Not that I'm saying use it, this is just something I noticed. (my drill angle is a bit bigger, but the rest is basically the same.)



Good luck with the ball and come back and let us know how they drilled it and how it rolls for you.

Since your going from a plastic ball a reactive ball, I'm going to assume they will use a generic PAP.

If you can make sure to have them/you write down the layout they used, PAP etc. for future reference.

Once you been using it for a while and feel fairly consistent in your release, go back and have them locate your actual/New PAP.

[Amyers]

Just make sure the proshop watches you throw before recommending a layout. They should be able to watch you and get something that will work with your game. For the initial ball layout is not critical as long as it is something that works with the strengths of your game. Later as you are trying to fit your balls into an arsenal layout becomes more important to make sure your balls don't overlap.

[bowl1820]

The video is fairly helpful. I'm probably most similar to Tom Porter in that video. I guess I was asking, if I ask for a basic pattern or something more or less neutral, is that going to affect my ability to improve. It sounds like getting a more generic pattern at first is definitely the way to go, then figure out how my game fits the ball and go from there. The pro that will do the drilling seems to know a ton, so I'll defifnitely defer to his advice.

You have the right idea. You're basically just starting out and don't need to be worrying about layouts. You just need a basic layout, "then figure out how my game fits the ball and go from there." as you said.

Might take a look at this video, it talks about new bowlers and worrying about layouts:

I have no expectations that the ball will immediately improve my game. Moving from plastic to a reactive ball is probably going to show some lower scores than normal at first, but I am really excited about taking the next step and working to get better. I apreciate the input and will share the pattern and results later this weekend.

You might be surprised.
If your basically consistent with your release etc. and Once you roll it a few times and see just how it moves. You should see improved carry as compared to your plastic ball.

Just a suggestion, keep your plastic ball handy for shooting spares (like the 10 pin if your a righthander)

[Mike White]

Just make sure the proshop watches you throw before recommending a layout. They should be able to watch you and get something that will work with your game. For the initial ball layout is not critical as long as it is something that works with the strengths of your game. Later as you are trying to fit your balls into an arsenal layout becomes more important to make sure your balls don't overlap.

The issue a pro shop has watching someone who is just starting out, and wanting a layout, is how they throw the ball today, most likely isn't how they are going to throw the ball tomorrow due to improving. Layouts are for fine tuning. For a beginner, it's ball weight, and surface type, and comfortable grip.

[Amyers]

The issue a pro shop has watching someone who is just starting out, and wanting a layout, is how they throw the ball today, most likely isn't how they are going to throw the ball tomorrow due to improving. Layouts are for fine tuning. For a beginner, it's ball weight, and surface type, and comfortable grip.

Very True Mike

[augoat]

Thanks all who chimed in. The pro at the shop I go to echoed much of the information here. I'm not sure what the measurements are, but the pin is slightly above the ring finger, maybe 1 or 2 cm. He said it was a good starting point until I get used to rolling finger tip and get used to the reactive ball. Once I get consistency with it, we can re-evaluate and see what if any adjustment would be good to fit my game. I went Saturday to test out the new ball and setup, and did pretty poorly as I expected (rolled a 66). I was all over the place, but got a little better each game through 5 games. I was just trying to find the pocket and get used to the extra hooking power I now have available. I finished with a 145 which is solid game for me (I'm about a 141 average over the last six months). I went to another house on Sunday and was up and down, but finished with a great game of 204 (first time ever over 200) and a run of 5 strikes. If I would've had more time I probably would have rolled another game, but I already put in seven that day so had to hit the road. I certainly have work to do but it is a lot of fun using this new ball.

I do think it was advantageous to spend about a year of moderate (3-5 outings of 4-10 games a month) of just using a plastic ball and getting footwork down. When I first started out, I wasn't looking at the arrows on my approach and of course the ball wasn't going where I wanted. Now I am comfortable with the approach and can lock onto my target while approaching and can generally hit that point. I'm sure there are plenty of people that just jump in with a reactive ball and do fine, but for me I think it would've been too much at once. Anyway, I can't wait to get back out there and practice so more later this week.