Starting spot for approach?

[vwinterr]

I don't know how really word this any better... it's a two part question:

1. Is there a board I should always place my left foot on to begin approach? Recommended starting position? I think I'm starting too far to the left, and crossing boards just b/c it 'looks pretty when it hooks more' (yes I said it... it's the beginers board remember :smile)

2. There was a picture of what adjustments to make depending on what spare you need to pick up I saw a while back on here.  Anyone still have it?  I can't seem to find it.

[BowlerKidR]

It is hard to answer these questions for the sheer fact that what board you should stand on is never a set number. Even on house shots, your starting position is always changing, it is for me anyway. Everything about your game changes day by day. I mean that timing can be a little late or early, revolutions can be lower or higher, speed can be lower or higher, and all of these things change the reaction you get on the lane. Because of this, i usually line up off the third arrow because that is where my game fits most comfortably. If i see my ball jumping high, ill more deeper, and if its not making the turn, ill move farther right and square up more. This question is just really hard to answer, but i hope i just helped.
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"Strike for show, spare for dough"
Im A Hammer Head 100%
http://ryman624.googlepages.com

[dizzyfugu]

Ahm, tough question.

Basically, you should check where you stand at the approach and across or at which target you play on the lane. About the target, there are different philosophies (looking at break point, the arrows, the dots at the foul line). And you should remember what at you did and what happened on the lanes. This is an important step for a consitent game and to make changes based on lane knowledge, not wild guesses.

Where to stand is the tough part. Every player is different, as well as the lane condition, the balls, the styles, etc. Some play deep, some close to the gutter, some with wide arcing shots, some with small controlled hook.

As a basic strategy to find "your" line, try to play straight up the 10th board for starters. Normally, you should have your feet 6-9 boards inside, and the shoulder and laydown point just above 10th board.
Watch the ball reaction, and adjust your feet accordingly (miss left, move left et v.v.) for  1-3 boards. repeat if necessary. If this simple adjustment is not enough, make an additional feet+target move in the miss direction, until you have a stable and comfortable path to the pocket. Remember it, it will be of great value for future starts.

Concerning spares, there are various adjutmenst systems for spares, and it also depends whether you convert them with the strike (hook shot) or a special spare ball (straight shot). Again, it is mostly a matter of feet adjustments and sometimes of the target into the desired direction for a hit.

For me, I will take out the single 7 pin playing my strike ball across my "normal" current pocket target (e. g. 3rd arrow), but move my feet 9 boards towards the gutter from the 1-3 pocket position, also taking out some speed just to let the ball roll and break softly. For the 10 pin, I use a polyester spare ball. I stand at 30th board with my right shoe tip, take out any side roll or lift from the release and play straight across 16th board at the arrows. But every player has a personal approach to this problem, you might check some bowling books about this topics.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

[jensm]

1. Moving your feat

Here's a thing you can do if you have a friend to help you. It's a widely used method here in Sweden. It takes a bit of practice to master.

* Find a board you can start from and be consistently lined up for the pocket.

* Have your friend check which board the center of your ball contacts directly after release.

* You check which board the center of your ball passes at the arrows.

Then you can use the formula below to calculate how many boards you need to move in order to place the ball in the line you are aiming at.

S + T – 2 x C = Personal Number (PN).

S = Starting board = The board that the outside of your right foot (right-handed player) covers in your starting stance.

C = The board that the center of your ball passes on first contact with the lane.

T = Target board that center of ball passes at the arrows.

2. Spare systems
http://www.tenpinbowling.org/view.php?page=the_game.spare_systems
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Regards,

jensm

[Jock]

Your starting point depends on your size.

I think for "textbook" bowling (RH over the 2nd arrow) for a medium sized person you should stand 7 boards to the left of the second arrow.  So, as the second arrow is on the 10 board then you should stand on the 17 board,.

But this varies from person to person depending on their body size.
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I've upped my average, so up yours!

[canesrock82]

quote:
For me, I will take out the single 7 pin playing my strike ball across my "normal" current pocket target (e. g. 3rd arrow), but move my feet 9 boards towards the gutter from the 1-3 pocket position, also taking out some speed just to let the ball roll and break softly. For the 10 pin, I use a polyester spare ball. I stand at 30th board with my right shoe tip, take out any side roll or lift from the release and play straight across 16th board at the arrows. But every player has a personal approach to this problem, you might check some bowling books about this topics.
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I need to figure out that pesky 10 pin. I'm throwing stikes on a consistent basis, but that 10 is killing me. I nail the 7 with my strike ball, just move my feet. That's dialed in.

I guess I shouldn't complain, I've jumped my avg from 150 to 180 this Summer. I guess I could be 190-200 if I picked up that 10 everytime.

[vwinterr]

Thanks very much for the posts everyone.

I realize it's a difficult question to ask, and understand the thought of moving based on lane conditions or frankly based on what's happening that specific day.

I was really just wanting to know a decent place to start, and I'll try around the 10 board... we'll see how it goes from there and adjust accordingly.

Moving from a two-finger hook crossing 30+ boards every throw to working on improving my game and understanding things has been humbling.  (especially with the avg)... thanks for the friendly answers.  I was expecting a flame, but was glad to see real responses.

[dizzyfugu]

No flame, that's what the board is for. Ask politely, and you are treated the same way. Not different from real life

Nevertheless, good luck with your game!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

[Action]

In darts you stand the same place.the dart board has a pre set
distance from the starting line to the board and is supposed to
be set at the same height. How does this relate to bowling ?

There is no such thing as a starting place in bowling unless you want
to become a very limted bowler. If you want to progress in bowling you
have to constantly change and adapt. The lane condition dictates
where you will stand and how your ball reacts and you adjust accordingly.
Do not have a pre-determined starting place.

Start out each of your practice sessions or league sessions by standing
far right and rolling your ball down the first 5 boards. This is for right
handers (lefties do the opposite). Pay attention to how your ball reacts
in that section of the lane. Now move 3 to 5 boards to the left with your
feet and also move your target line area 3 to 5 boards to the left. This
is called a parallel move. Roll the ball in that zone for a few shots
and notice the reaction of the ball.

Once again move your feet and your target line another 3 to 5 boards to
the left and roll a few more shots and make note of the ball reaction in
this area. You can make a few more similar feet and target line moves
and make note of how the ball reacts.

What you are doing is trying to get a feel (or picture) of how the lane
dressing and your ball are reacting. The lane dressing pattern will determine
where the best place is to stand and roll the ball.

2nd arrow bowling is very out dated and is used for basic bowlers starting
out to give them a target line and direction. Once you have become better
at rolling your ball in a consistent manner towrds that 2nd arrow it is
time to progress as a bowler. How are you going to find out if there is a
better section of the lane to play if you never even try it. So if there truly
is a place to start out I would say start far right and target far right
to start your practice. Then once you have completed a move cycle you
can make a better determination of where you should start out that session.

If you want to succeed in this sport then you have to become open
minded and experiment. Better to fail and know you at least are trying
something different / new than to get into a rut and never progress.

Terry