Frustrated by House shot... Doing better on Sport

[RobLV1]

lots of technical stuff in this post and it is not the problem. The only people who bowl better on sport conditions are pro bowlers or those close to being one. House hacks should never bowl better on sport shots. All the talk about rg and break point sounds good but most don't have a clue. More often than not it is before you throw the ball. Then speed control. If those two things are not right you will never be any darn good.

pretty scary!

[fokai73]

I don't try to figure things out anymore when it comes to my average or whatever when it comes to THS vs sport pattern and averages. Bowling on THS with different type of balls surfaces from poly to super chargers and different types of styles, the THS pattern can be tough like a sport pattern. And, when bowling with good accurate bowlers on a pair and on Sport patterns can be like bowling a THS.

I don't try to figure out why I am very close in average on THS and Sport, less than 6 pins. I just do my thing, pay attention to ball motion and reaction, watch pin action, and try my best to stay ahead of the pattern.

Ball surface is key, but the main thing is to adjust to what the lanes tell you and not what you think how the lanes should be played. And with graphs, I just want to know two things. 1. volume 2. length that's it.

[bobforsaken]

The very first article that I wrote for BTM back in 2007 had to do with the dangers of preconceptions in bowling, and it's a theme that I keep coming back to. Looking at your post, it is ripe with preconceptions, and I think this is your problem. At the beginning of your post where you say that the center had "an issue with a new lane machine," where you bowled poorly, and then "they fixed it," and you bowled better until "they changed lane machines again." You've tried break points of 8, 7, and 5, but it only works for two or three shots. A lot of the bowlers that play straight up the boards with low revs are doing well, but you keep trying to swing the ball out despite the fact that you too are a low rev, low speed bowler. What would happen if you used a breakpoint at ten, twelve, or even thirteen and went straighter yourself? The simple fact of the matter is that when you try to impose yourself on the lanes, you fail, yet when you play the lanes the way they want to be played, you succeed.

Finally, the most glaring preconception that I see is the idea that you think that you have to use a low rg ball with lots of surface if you want to play inside, or a "weak" ball if you want to play outside. Consider that on any but the longest of patterns, there is friction past the pattern. If you go more direct and play in the oil with a higher rg ball with less surface, you can utilize that friction to your advantage. It may not look as impressive as throwing a big hook, but I have a hunch that it will get the job done for you.

First of all.. thank you for the response. I'm a "low speed low rev" player but i"m not trying to circle the lane because it looks cool. I'm fairly well "matched". So if I were to play straight up the 8 board, like some gentleman did a few weeks ago and did well, I'd go through the nose, even with my tropical breeze. As a matter of fact I, did that last night when I tried to use the tropical breeze, I expected to play up the 8 board but it hooked too early and went brooklyn. I finally had to cross the arrows at 10 or 11 and out to 7 or 8 at the break point with the tropical breeze.

Second.. if my tugs inside are any indication playing up straight up to a BP of 12, 13 etc.. would result in hitting in the hook phase unless I did some surface changes and speed adjustments. When I miss inside playing a shallow angle I end up with essentially up the 12 board and it usually results in a 2 pin combo.

Lastly, I'll take your point about preconceptions. Of course... I'm trying to come up with an idea to try, that doesn't mean I'm married to it and force it all night long... but i want to come up with some idea of something to try... also, I don't believe I ever said anything about low RG with lots of surface to play inside or a "weak" ball to play outside. As a matter of fact my high RG balls worked better on the long eiffel pattern so I through my Hy-road pearl almost exclusively playing very close to strait up the 13.... (Although it broke down quick on wood back ends so I ended up swinging it to 13) My plan last night was to start out the night with my Higher RG balls because I theorized that I was not carrying because I was burning up but not recognizing it.

I ended up talking to very good scratch bowler/Coach about the new Lane machine at this particular house. His take on it was it was much wetter in the middle and much dryer on the outsides than it used to be. He plays a breakpoint of about 5 but plays with much more angle through the front than I do, as he has much more hand. He thought that playing that breakpoint of 7 or 8 with my angle through the front is right is having me ride that oil too long. With its higher volume and the crisp outsides, the oil is getting pushed right into my line as those playing deeper than me are running their ball out to 5 or 6. So, my thought for this week is sharper angles through the front and breakpoint of 5 or 6. When I had tried this before I was throwing lots of splits, but at the time I was releasing with a lot more AOR. I'll have to make sure I bring some balls with a smoother backend reaction and/or surface.

[bobforsaken]

Lots of technical stuff in this post and it is not the problem. The only people who bowl better on sport conditions are pro bowlers or those close to being one. House hacks should never bowl better on sport shots. All the talk about RG and break point sounds good but most don't have a clue. More often than not it is before you throw the ball. Then speed control. If those two things are not right you will never be any darn good.

Better by only a few pins.. I guess I should say "the same". My only point being that I have to grind out on this house shot the same way I do on the sport shots i've faced... very few strings of strikes (although a good number of strikes over all) and a lot of spares.

As for most folks being 20 pins left on the sport shots.. that's probably because they rev the crap out of the ball and carry their poor shots on the THS. I don't.. If I miss a board Right at the arrows I can guarantee a 10 pin.. I I miss a board left I'm leaving a 2 pin or worse. If I hit my target dead nuts, then my speed control or release may lead to a 10 pin or 4 pin.. 7 pin 9 pin etc... on THIS house shot I feel like I have to be just as perfect to strike as I have had to be on some of the sport conditions I've faced recently. I went to another house to try out a new ball (just Ebay'd a Marvel S) and I was carrying all the garbage throws.