Tech Tips Ep3: Increase Your Scores by Paying Attention!

[bowl1820]

This episode is about how to increase your scores by doing nothing more than making a few simple observations and paying a bit of attention during the night!

[RobLV1]

I really question any discussion of oil transition on a house shot that focuses on burn in the track area with no mention of burn at the end of the pattern. There is also no mention of individual lane topography that will cause two lanes next to each other to transition differently from one to the other. This presentation does emphasize one very important thing: the need to pay attention to everyone's shot. Bowlers also need to pay attention to the scoreboard as it will give them very valuable information as to when the transition is happening, and when the lanes become distinctly different from each other. The over emphasis on carry down in this video is questionable, though i've pretty much given up on trying to convince bowlers that their long-time belief is just no longer valid.

[Aslan]

The problem with paying close attention to other bowlers is you need two things (primarily) to be true:

1) You need to be in a competitive league where everyone has similar averages. "Fun" leagues where players can average in the 90s to 140s you aren't going to be able to determine much.

2) You need the other bowlers to be similar to you in style, physical ability, and equipment.

I've improved my league where I now bowl with 4 guys that all score well and in a league where the competition is good. But, watching bowler #2 or #5 isn't going to help much given they both a slow speed, high rev. Bowler #1 has a slower speed and less hand...but he's at least playing the same area with "close" revs. Bowler #4 also has a slower speed...but more hand...not too far off from me.

I just don't know how close the game/equipment needs to be where you can truly base your actions off the actions of another bowler. If:

Bowler #1 is throwing a 275rpm, 15mph, using a Hammer Rebel, standing center, throwing up the 8-9 board.
Bowler #2 is throwing 325rpm, 12mph, using a Brunswick Nexxus, standing 5 boards left of center, throwing up the 9 board.
Bowler #4 is throwing 350rpm, 16mph, using a Storm Hy Road, standing 1 board left of center, throwing up the 9-12 board.
Bowler #5 is throwing a plastic ball, 425rpm, 13mph, standing a couple boards right of center, throwing up the 9-10 board.

If I'm throwing a different ball, 17mph, standing 2-3 boards right of center, throwing up the 7-8 board...all I know is that everyone is left of me, throwing slower than me, throwing weaker equipment, with more revs than me. If I throw weaker equipment at my speed...they can't burn the line enough to get my ball back to the pocket. If I throw significantly slower, with stronger equipment and less revs...maybe I can mimic their line.

And even in my league, where there are some really, really high level bowlers. PBA pros, many guys with PBA cards, many amateur and college guys that are out of college. Even in this league...I'd say the majority don't really understand when to move and how to move. They might switch balls if they don't strike or move steadily inside...but most don't make certain moves based on what they leave.

So, how much do you move? Which variation in player do you watch and base your moves on? It's like the ball technology discussions we've had in the past...if there are 6-12 different bowling ball specs that all affect how a ball ultimately rolls through the pins...how can you put an arsenal together with any real certainty?

Sometimes it seems like the more we know, the less we know.

[RobLV1]

The problem with paying close attention to other bowlers is you need two things (primarily) to be true:

1) You need to be in a competitive league where everyone has similar averages. "Fun" leagues where players can average in the 90s to 140s you aren't going to be able to determine much.

2) You need the other bowlers to be similar to you in style, physical ability, and equipment.

Actually, you don't. After surgery, I'm bowling in two "fun" leagues, and throwing plastic exclusively. I learn something from every shot thrown. It's all a matter of ball motion and where the particular phases happen. Perhaps this is why you've been struggling so much lately?