Some elaboration on my post.
It seems to be a pretty common assumption that entry angle is key to carry. In truth deflection is decreased by the release of rotational energy. Entry angle created by the release of rotational energy is a by product.
A ball entering the pocket at 6 degrees deflects the same amount as a ball entering at 2 degrees, all other factors being equal. The increase in the entry angle changes the angle of deflection by the same amount. My point can be demonstrated by several every day observations. Watch a ball that still has rotational energy recovering to the pocket from 12 board at 45 feet. Compare the reaction to a ball recovering from 8 board that has lost its energy turning the corner but still gets to the same place in the pocket. The ball that is still releasing energy combats deflection and is more likely to carry the 10 off the wall. The ball that has burned is a prime candidate for a weak 10, and is also the most common cause of the blowout 7-10 on a bit lighter hit when when entry angle is achieved but burn out has occurred.
As for the second myth, a bit more subjective, but still true I think. No pattern rewards inconsistent releases. A wall my not punish inconsistency nearly as much as a flatter pattern, but that is totally different than rewarding inconsistency. A wall rewards more extreme forms of release such as high rev rates and big hooks, but if you take two players of the same style, the one making the most consistent shots wins. What we often don't notice when a so called wild cranker is scoring well is that he may very well be making pretty consistent shots on that night, even though he is not capable of it night in and night out. Most extreme crankers with very high averages repeat their shots very well, but aren't capable of adjusting to patterns that require more direct angles.
