Back to bowling after a LONG break: is playing the outside line not kosher anymore?

[Buster76]

I am 40 years old, and getting back into bowling after an 19 year hiatus from competitive league and tournament bowling. I started in youth leagues at around 12 years old and really took to the sport. Stopped bowling around age 21 as there just wasn't enough time between school, my other hobbies and girls.

My goto line was and I guess still is playing down and in between boards 3 and 5. I have been doing a lot of opening bowling and watching league bowlers practice and I have not seen anyone playing this type of line. One young buck on the lanes next to me last week actually comments that he never sees anyone play the line I'm playing. From my own observations the down and in bowers all seem to be playing around the 2nd arrow or maybe even as far out as the 8 board. Is playing the extreme outside just something not done anymore with today's equipment?

Additionally all of my balls are 16lbs and I am wondering if dropping down to 15lbs would make a difference. My wrists have taken a beating from over 20 years of martial arts training and the morning after bowling has been rough on my right wrist joint.

[Timmyb]

Bowl how you want to bowl. I personally love playing around the 6-8 board, when conditions allow, but I'll move out if I need to.

I also am just starting back (two years back now). I had to switch to 15 lbs. Just could not get enough reaction going with 16. It made a huge improvement in my game!

[RobLV1]

There have been many, many changes to bowling in the past 20 years. Twenty years ago, reactive resin balls were just becoming popular among league bowlers, and those balls were just beginning to utilize dynamic cores. Many league bowlers were still using urethane balls. Because of the difference in the reactivity of those balls, bowlers still looked for dry boards to find the friction that they needed to get the ball to hook. Today's balls are very, very aggressive, both in terms of cover materials and cores that they hook all by themselves. One of the things that make them so aggressive is that they absorb oil off of the lane at an alarming rate. The top tier of league bowlers as well as tournament players often find that they have to move more toward the center of the lane every two or three frames as their balls, and the balls of others on the pair, dry out a particular line very quickly. This difference in bowling balls has resulted in a different mind set among top bowlers: they are not looking for friction, they are looking for oil. Oil used to be the enemy, now it's our friend.

Most bowling centers put out a "typical house shot" which features very little oil outside of the second arrow to allow league bowlers miss room with free hook to the right. The area of the lane, between three and five board where you used to play, now typically contains only three units of oil which is the minimum amount that the USBC requires from gutter to gutter for the length of the pattern. Modern balls are so strong that they don't even recognize three units of oil. Playing outside of the ten board now is referred to as "playing in the dirt" as the lack of oil causes modern balls to use up their energy much to quickly, resulting in lack of carry. For all intents and purposes, the area outside of ten is out of bounds other than for misses to the right down the lane.

Most league bowlers today use 15 lb. balls as they are more readily available in pro shops, and are easier on the wrist and body. Going to 15 lbs would probably be a good idea for you if you are having wrist problems.

Welcome back!

[Tony]

I have seen most guys move down from 16 to 15 and even 14 lb balls due to wrist and arm problems, and to tell you the truth very few have complained about loss of carry after doing so.

As far as the line, the new most popular line is going to be around 2nd arrow or the 10 board due to newer equipment and oil patterns.

One of the best things you could do would be getting a new 15 lb modern ball with fingertip grip, your local pro shop should be able to suggest a middle of the road ball for you. The 20 year old balls you have a pretty much useless in todays game.

[J Anderson]

The days when more weight equalled more pin carry are long gone. 15 pounds has become the most popular weight for pro shops to stock, and for someone with wrist issues I would consider dropping to 14# or even 13#.

I'm not too sure that playing a line between 3 & 5 was ever all that popular among average bowlers. I see a lot of it in sport league, sometimes even on longer patterns that in theory should be played further inside. I do know some bowlers who frequently play outside of the 5 board successfully on the house shot. However, the THS is designed to maximize a bowlers room for error at least as far as accuracy goes. By starting out on the dry boards you give up that advantage.

I have more thing on your wrist problems. I was not coaching 20 years ago, but now there is at least some emphasis in youth coaching to treat bowling as an athletic activity. Making sure that you are warmed up before bowling and doing some cool down stretches after may also help your wrist.

[fokai73]

welcome back!!!

I was in a very similar boat as you. when I returned, I had a lot to learn. From ball dynamics, fitting, lanes, etc.....I was lucky to be surrounded by ppl in the industry who were willing to teach me some stuffs...

Enjoy the journey and don't stop training MA. I came from old school bowling and MA training. No mats, no pads, no crying... Here in the mainland, it'll be called child abuse. Many times I've seen my mama cry.... just like many bowlers who cry over low scoring patterns, yet they still bowl on a house pattern. You'll see....but it's business and people want results.... make league bowlers happy, the house will be happy.....

[foreverincamo]

Welcome back to the sport. If the shot calls for being outside like that, then throw it. I also use 16 pound balls. I'm not giving them up until I have to.

[Buster76]

Thanks for all the responses.....lots of very good info to digest.

With regards to line choice, several of the comments so far are about playing what ever line I like. I have no problem being my own person and going against the fold, but I'm also competitive and want to give myself every advantage to score well. If that means changing my line then that is what I will have to do. As a teen / young adult I was very competitive in youth leagues and tournaments and then adult leagues for a couple years before leaving the sport.

As far as equipment goes, my strike ball is modern ball, an Ebonite 'The One' that I picked about 5 or 6 years ago. Went bowling with my father and after several shots realized my old urethane Rhino Pro wasn't cutting it. Went to the pro shop and bought the ball and had it drilled in about 20 minutes and actually rolled a decent series if I recall. I now use the old Rhino Pro as my dedicated spare ball. All of my equipment, even my very old stuff from my teen age years was drilled for finger tips. I actually still have an old AMF Angle in the basement (with finger tips) that was my first proper bowling ball at age 13. I have been able to play with the finish on 'The One' as well as with ball speed so it goes long and breaks late and hard. Very consistent hitting the pocket, but I don't think the entry angle is ideal because I am leaving 10 pin after 10 pin after 10 pin. Luckily I can still pick those up consistently. I think if I want to keep playing this outside line I need a ball that breaks a little sooner, but not as hard to get a better entry angle into the pocket.....if such an ball even exists. Need to ask around to find out what is the best pro-shop in my area and get the PSO to watch me Bowl a few games and make some equipment suggestions. Going down to 15lbs will be part of that.

I know it's not the same as league conditions, but I have been averaging in the low 190s with very few open frames in my practice. Strikes have been hard to come by, but 1 and 2 pin spares are pretty much automatic. Baby splits are giving me some headaches but I don't see those too much. My current plan is to keep practicing a couple times per week for the next month to see how my wrist holds up. Hopefully the lighter ball weigh will help. If my wrist can take it I will be signing up for a summer league at one of the local houses.

[Buster76]

Thanks for all the responses.....lots of very good info to digest.

With regards to line choice, several of the comments so far are about playing what ever line I like. I have no problem being my own person and going against the fold, but I'm also competitive and want to give myself every advantage to score well. If that means changing my line then that is what I will have to do. As a teen / young adult I was very competitive in youth leagues and tournaments and then adult leagues for a couple years before leaving the sport.

As far as equipment goes, my strike ball is modern ball, an Ebonite 'The One' that I picked about 5 or 6 years ago. Went bowling with my father and after several shots realized my old urethane Rhino Pro wasn't cutting it. Went to the pro shop and bought the ball and had it drilled in about 20 minutes and actually rolled a decent series if I recall. I now use the old Rhino Pro as my dedicated spare ball. All of my equipment, even my very old stuff from my teen age years was drilled for finger tips. I actually still have an old AMF Angle in the basement (with finger tips) that was my first proper bowling ball at age 13. I have been able to play with the finish on 'The One' as well as with ball speed so it goes long and breaks late and hard. Very consistent hitting the pocket, but I don't think the entry angle is ideal because I am leaving 10 pin after 10 pin after 10 pin. Luckily I can still pick those up consistently. I think if I want to keep playing this outside line I need a ball that breaks a little sooner, but not as hard to get a better entry angle into the pocket.....if such an ball even exists. Need to ask around to find out what is the best pro-shop in my area and get the PSO to watch me Bowl a few games and make some equipment suggestions. Going down to 15lbs will be part of that.

I know it's not the same as league conditions, but I have been averaging in the low 190s with very few open frames in my practice. Strikes have been hard to come by, but 1 and 2 pin spares are pretty much automatic. Baby splits are giving me some headaches but I don't see those too much. My current plan is to keep practicing a couple times per week for the next month to see how my wrist holds up. Hopefully the lighter ball weigh will help. If my wrist can take it I will be signing up for a summer league at one of the local houses.

[fordman1]

Lots of good advice but no one has seen you throw a ball. Don't know how much fingers you put into the ball or if you are just a satchel type bowler.

You won't be able to figure out what line to play until you get into a league and see what they do to the lane. Everywhere you go will be a little different.
Just figure it out and have a good time.