Interesting facts

[NewToBowling]

1) When you throw an optimal strike, the ball will only hit 4 pins

2) The weight of a bowling ball shall not exceed 16 lbs, but there is actually no minimum weight (so yes, go ahead and chuck a 1 lb cork bowling ball)

[zacks]

I think ideally you want the ball to hit the 1-3 pocket, roll through the 5, then split the 8-9. I have heard four pins before and believed that to be the goal, but I now believe a perfect shot to be 5. If the ball only covers the 1-3-5-9, you're relying on the 5 to take out the 8, which will happen 9 times out of 10 anyway, but if we're talking optimal, I want the ball to hit 5 pins. What does everybody else think?

[ep1977]

I think ideally you want the ball to hit the 1-3 pocket, roll through the 5, then split the 8-9. I have heard four pins before and believed that to be the goal, but I now believe a perfect shot to be 5. If the ball only covers the 1-3-5-9, you're relying on the 5 to take out the 8, which will happen 9 times out of 10 anyway, but if we're talking optimal, I want the ball to hit 5 pins. What does everybody else think?

This makes sense. Nothing better than when your ball is still revving hard as it hits the back wall after destroying the rack.

[billf]

5 pins for today's game. The 1,3,5,9 was the days gone by when the balls didn't have the drive of today's.

[Mike White]

5 pins for today's game. The 1,3,5,9 was the days gone by when the balls didn't have the drive of today's.

It's still only 4 pins., the ball doesn't hit the 1-3-5-8-9.

The ball might hit the both the 8 and 9 pins if somehow the 5 pin magically missed both pins, but that isn't going to be an optimal strike.

[billf]

It's still only 4 pins., the ball doesn't hit the 1-3-5-8-9.

The ball might hit the both the 8 and 9 pins if somehow the 5 pin magically missed both pins, but that isn't going to be an optimal strike.

The ball is suppose to split the 8 and 9. I know you disagree with anything the coaching assoc and USBC has declared since the 80s but that doesn't make you correct.

[bowl1820]

The ball is suppose to split the 8 and 9. I know you disagree with anything the coaching assoc and USBC has declared since the 80s but that doesn't make you correct.

I believe 4 & 5 pins are both correct, what changed was where the ball should be dropping off the deck which is about the 20 board (splitting the 8 and 9). Which increases the percentage of hitting the 8 pin should the 5 pin miss.

On the classic strike, the ball hits the 5 pin into the 8 and dropped off more towards the 9 pin as it hit it. Which requires a more optimal hit otherwise you could possibly leave the 8 pin.

On the more modern strike, the ball (in the best case) should still hit the 5 pin into the 8. But should the 5 pin miss. By having the ball now splitting the 8 and 9, The ball would still take out the 8 pin. So reducing the possibility of a 8 pin "Tap".

Though now you see more 9 pin "Taps" by the ball driving in towards the 8 too much.

[Mike White]

I believe 4 & 5 pins are both correct, what changed was where the ball should be dropping off the deck which is about the 20 board (splitting the 8 and 9). Which increases the percentage of hitting the 8 pin should the 5 pin miss.

On the classic strike, the ball hits the 5 pin into the 8 and dropped off more towards the 9 pin as it hit it. Which requires a more optimal hit otherwise you could possibly leave the 8 pin.

On the more modern strike, the ball (in the best case) should still hit the 5 pin into the 8. But should the 5 pin miss. By having the ball now splitting the 8 and 9, The ball would still take out the 8 pin. So reducing the possibility of a 8 pin "Tap".

Though now you see more 9 pin "Taps" by the ball driving in towards the 8 too much.

Considering just the 5-8-9 combination, and given a shot that results in a reasonable angle of entry (i.e. no backup ball) over what board(s) would the ball be at when it makes contact with the 5 pin and causes the 5 pin to miss the 8 pin?

The ball is either on or left of the 20 board, or so far right, the 5 pin slides in front of the 8 pin.

If the 5 pin is consistently missing the 8 pin, you are a long way away from optimal.

By thinking of splitting the 8-9, your trying to solve a problem you don't have.

The 8 pin tap is caused by the 5 pin being moved (by the head pin) before the ball contacts the 5 pin.

It's rare enough that you don't adjust for it without creating another pin (9 pin) to be even more likely.

[fordman1]

Seems like young power players with a lot of ball speed do much better hitting the pocket light. Messenger takes out the 10 and anything else in its way. Kind of irks me when I hit the pocket and leave 8 pins, 9 pins a bunch of 10 pins and 3 or 4 7-10's. All not bad hits just a half of a board or so off. Some kid misses and just grazes the head throws it into the wall and strikes. Probably hitting the 1-3-6-10. So maybe the new game is hitting the pocket a little different.

[zacks]

Considering angles, where the optimal angle of entry is between 3-6 degrees, the 3 degree angle is prone to the ball deflecting off the 5-pin, sending the 5 into the 8-pin and the ball into the 9-pin (higher chance of leaving 10-pin). The 6 degree angle is prone to the ball driving through the 5-pin, sending it between the 8-9, with the ball chasing it and covering both the 8 and 9 in case the 5 doesn't clip one of them. Here you have a greater chance of the ball revving past the 9 pin. I don't think there is a wrong answer, it just depends which side of the range you like to play. Generally the 5 will cover the 8 in either case, but when you leave a stone 8, it's because the ball deflected to the 9 and the 5 passed in front of the 8.