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Author Topic: Serious analysis please, getting frustrated  (Read 1810 times)

lefty50

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Serious analysis please, getting frustrated
« on: November 18, 2005, 09:52:13 AM »
Thanks in advance group, your help is appreciated. I'm getting well past the slump stage...

Background...

Low rev lefty, age 50, used to average 210-220 on wood houses in CA, always had trouble at Nationals getting the ball to move, averaging about 180 there. I just moved, new state, all synthetic houses, here's what's happening...

Mostly throw Brunswick, a lot of similar drills on Ultimate, Original, and Absolute Infernos, plus a Nemesis and Mutant (how did THAT get in there)?  

Drills are pin to left of ring finger +/- 1/2 inch straight across or down from hole, CG swung out slightly down 3 inch pin, and balance hole on PAP, angled out. PAP is 4-5/8 and 1/2 up.

Basically, I've got nothing. Multiple nights, took all 5 balls, not much happening, 2-3 boards at most. I'm bowling with a high rev lefty who has plenty of room with a Power Groove (160 average, not much analysis help). All my stuff has about 100 games on it, and all are rejuvenated.

Sanded everything to 400 last league night. Ultimate and Mutant started reacting a bit (5-6 boards), lasted 8 frames each, back to nothing. Everything else, no effect from sanding. My first thought is that there's heavy oil since all the medium stuff goes straight and the Ultimate/Mutant start to hook when sanded, but my partner (also lefty) has plenty of room with a Power Groove.

Part of me says I need an early oil ball, but maybe I'm looking at a dry house and everything is burning up. If so, why would the ultimate start hooking after sanding? My strong belief is it's a problem with a low rev lefty in oil. If so, maybe a different drill? Stronger differential ball?

Thoughts appreciated. I'm throwing constant 170-190 on a shot that just isn't that tough.. Something's wrong somewhere. For the first time in 47 years bowling, I'm getting tired enough to hang 'em up, and I don't like that one bit...
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Atochabsh

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Re: Serious analysis please, getting frustrated
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2005, 06:58:04 PM »
You don't mention where on the lane you are attempting to play.  There's not many houses left in CA that are wood, I know because I've seen them go year by year.  Every year another one is replaced with synthetics or simply goes out of business.  The transition to synthetic lanes was/is not easy for me either.  I find them like a totally different sport, bowling on ice.  So I think part of the problem is the transition and learning curve you have going from wood to synthetics.  I don't think its an equipment problem.  You might find that you need to play further outside.  So if you are aiming 10 board, that maybe way too far inside.  You might have to go parallel up 5 board, or point the ball a couple boards up 7.  Now if you do move outside, you may not be able to use a particle ball to do it.  Since now you are making the ball travel further to the pocket, it may loose too much energy.  

I find on wood houses you can swing the ball out more and still get it to come back.  On synthetics I've had to learn to point the ball or at the very least go parallel.  It was not comfortable for me at all.  And even though I've bowled in dozens and dozens of synthetic houses, if I can hit wood I always score higher.  

You also don't mention how often during the week you practise.  Not league, but practise.  At this point, you may need to get a hold of a good coach to direct you back on track again.  It'll cost a little bit of money, but it'll be a fast track to more sucess and you'll have someone with an objective knowledgable eye to bounce questions off of.  I mean the coaching has to cost less then the frustration you are feeling now.  

Good luck,

Erin
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Nails

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Re: Serious analysis please, getting frustrated
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2005, 07:01:27 PM »
Either something is wrong with your release, like spinning it like a top, or your equipment is too strong.  I'm guessing the latter.  If someone else is getting a super high RG pearlized resin ball to get some good movement, even your weakest ball, the Original Inferno or Nemesis, is quite a bit stronger.  The Absolute and Mutant may continue to hook some even after they have rolled out because of the strong covers.  Don't get me wrong, the Power Groove packs quite a punch on medium to med/light, but on any real oil, it will still be skating until it hits the pins.  As an experiment, take your OI or Nemesis, sand it finer, say to 600 or 800 grit, and hit it with your favorite polish.  I'd suggest the Nemesis, because the OI has such a low RG.  400 grit on any ball, especially most of the ones you mentioned, is WAY too much surface except for low rev, very high speed players.
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solid9

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Re: Serious analysis please, getting frustrated
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2005, 07:01:45 PM »

  Try moving inside and then you can find out if there is a reverse block present. You have been bowling long enough, that you will know right away.
  For some unknown reason I bowl in a house where for no reason they put in a reverse block and if you want to see struggle, you should watch my league, what I had thought were good bowlers throwing gutter balls because they can't get the ball to bounce off the dry.
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lefty50

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Re: Serious analysis please, getting frustrated
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2005, 09:50:17 AM »
Thanks for input so far, more data...

rotation is high, 60-90. I'm looking 10 down and in, hitting 12-9 on a little swing. My partner is going out to 6. I've tried that, no good.

I'm travelling at the moment, will be home tonight, review the commentary, and ask further. Many thanks for the help!
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Atochabsh

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Re: Serious analysis please, getting frustrated
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2005, 10:55:00 AM »
Typically on a house shot, if people are playing around a certain spot and breakpointing around a certain spot with success then that's where you too have to learn to play.  It may take a different coverstock and foot alignment, but the breakpoint area is a good place to start as far as getting the same reaction.  Look at where your friend's ball is breakpionting up and down the lane and try to get yours in the same area.  The actual ball path might look different but the breakpoint area should be around the same place.  In most houses you cannot force a shot over a favorite place if the shot is not there.  So nothing you do (besides some severe alterations in ball speed and handrotation) will allow you to play the 10 board if the shot is at the 6 or 7 board.  Its much easier to become more versital across the boards first, IMO.  

You said that you tried 6 board but it didn't work.  What were the reactions like when you tried 6 board?  And with what kind of ball did you try it with?

Erin
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