Author Topic: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore? (Read 4997 times)

tst4eko · « **on:** February 09, 2009, 03:16:16 AM »

Back in the day, most centers in my area used to shadow bowl during league practice. Shadow bowling means you don't get a new rack of pins on every practice ball during league, just an empty pit. The sweeps don't come down either, so you can fire away at will. You can still see the dots for the pins, so when a ball is thrown, the bowler can tell if it hits the pocket.

I miss this because I used to get a lot more practice shots in before the start of league. The time needed to wait for the pins to reset takes too long. Now I'll be lucky to get 1/2 the amount of practice compared to shadow bowling.

So I'm just curious if other centers still do this, and/or if bowlers still prefer it.

dna300x · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2009, 01:18:06 PM »

Herrill Lanes in New Hyde Park, NY still does.

I am 50/50 when it comes to shadow bowling. The only thing I hate is having to guess if I have the right entry angles into the pocket esp. with today's sophisticated equipment.

As for practice on the lanes, I love the concept. I would never worry about my score, just simply devote time on the lanes to refine my game.

bowlerdawg · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2009, 02:15:27 PM »

quote:
Everyone bowls in my shadow. This post is irrelevant.

let me guess.practice is only for those who are inferior right ?
man you make the rounds......

i like shadow bowing for tourneys, but for regular league
i like pins

+ 2 cents

tenpinspro · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2009, 02:45:21 PM »

quote:
We do this in my area too, but I guess the pin setters are so old and outdated, they still take a while to reset a new rack.

This may be due to the incorrect number of total pins used on the lane. There are supposed to be 21-22 pins (I think) that allow a machine to recycle the next rack while the first rack is being utilized.

As insignificant as it may sound to us, I know houses which have cut back on this number so they don't have to buy those extra cases in order to save money (it does add up). You can tell when a rack is short pins when you throw a strike and the next rack sits there and has to wait until it gets some of the pins (from the first rack) to be recycled in so it can set a full rack.

I also remember only AMF machines being able to do true shadow.
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Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2009, 02:59:18 PM »

Shadow bowling doesn't exactly work when trying to get lined up correctly. You could be in a spot with your feet where you can't miss where the pocket would be, but when the pins come down, you can't carry a corner, and now you've lost two or three frames moving.

In youth tournaments we all got 1 ball on each lane and if the person ahead of you didn't strike, you got to shoot at whatever they left.

I thought this was dumb, as it takes more than 2 tosses to even get loosened up.
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Ahhh Disco Biscuits!

tst4eko · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:04:19 PM »

quote:
quote:
We do this in my area too, but I guess the pin setters are so old and outdated, they still take a while to reset a new rack.

This may be due to the incorrect number of total pins used on the lane. There are supposed to be 21-22 pins (I think) that allow a machine to recycle the next rack while the first rack is being utilized.

As insignificant as it may sound to us, I know houses which have cut back on this number so they don't have to buy those extra cases in order to save money (it does add up). You can tell when a rack is short pins when you throw a strike and the next rack sits there and has to wait until it gets some of the pins (from the first rack) to be recycled in so it can set a full rack.

I also remember only AMF machines being able to do true shadow.

I used to work in a couple of bowling centers, and I always remembered each lane had two full sets of pins. I wouldn't be surprised if they've cut that back to like 19 or even 18 pins to save money.

On a side note, it's not uncommon during colorama to take out one or two pins of one set to allow the color pins to rotate between racks. I always hated that.

Crankenstein300 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2009, 04:48:20 PM »

The Brunswick A series pinsetters are unable to do this so you only saw this done with the AMFs. These days I'm pretty sure all the different flavors of AMFs can still do this and the Brunswick GS series should be able to as well since they have an AMF style ball return system.

Brian362 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2009, 04:54:16 PM »

i was told by a center manager that shadow bowling is not good for the curtains... i didn't believe him. it's frustrating trying to warm up in a 5 person mixed league. people want to throw 2 shots every time... i get like 3 shots in 10 minutes...ugh

tenpin477 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:26:20 PM »

Your telling me you have never had a set where you have poor carry and leave alot of corners?

While in league I guess it wouldn't be as relevant, in a tournament setting where there is generally more money on the line than league bowling, a full rack is definitely a requirement.

Atochabsh · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:41:08 PM »

Its a good way to save the "wood" of the pins by sparing them the repeated practice hits during leagues.

Plus its a good way to get people to fine tune their pocket hits faster. You have to as soon as the pins are on the deck. I mean, anyone can get to the pocket, but as soon as everyone gets warmed up, the carry down starts and many bowlers are mislead into a mis reading of the lanes. You cannot accurately judge "carry" from practice shots. No one is warmed up, including you the bowler. Practice should be more for judging how much oil is in the middle, how long the oil is, how the backends are effecting the ball path.

Erin

NJStroker · « **Reply #25 on:** February 11, 2009, 04:28:38 PM »

my hs house does it for practice.
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Im so glad people are brainwashed to think that TRACK sucks. And its even funnier when im carrying with my TRACK ball and they're going flat ten with their OTHER BRANDS ball.

Mike Austin · « **Reply #26 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:40:43 PM »

I wish they still did shadow bowling at leagues, USBC Nationals, whatever. It is completely worthless to "know where the pocket is to carry or entry angle" if you are stiff and cold. If you gotta pry the ball of your hand, you aren't going to make a good shot anyway.

When was the last time "entry angle" was critical to carry on a THS?? Seriously.

Shadow bowling would allow for more shots for everybody, time to get loose, so that when an adjustment needs to be made, the bowler can make it, and not wonder, did I throw that one good or not???

Many tournaments allow for 10-15 minutes practice, more than enough time to get ready, usually with only 4-6 on the pair.

Carry in practice..... really....hmmm.... nope.
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cheech · « **Reply #27 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:54:30 PM »

i agree with a few people on here. while i feel shadow bowling is boring and pointless, people who need a full rack to see whether they are hitting the pocket or carrying or whatever cant be very good. practice is just for warming up. if you know anything about house shots, the house puts down the same oil every week so you know where the oil line is and how long it is and unless theres a league before yours that bowls, theres no excuse for not getting lined up during practice. you will be within a board or two of you starting position every time on fresh.

in conclusion (lol) even though i like rippin racks all practice, its a catch 22 because i can find a look with multiple balls within a few shots but i start getting over confident and lazy and start making bad shots because of all the different kinds of strikes im getting.
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greatest accomplishment:shooting 603 and not shooting one 200 game(130,173,300)...lol
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Author Topic: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore? (Read 4997 times)

tst4eko

Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

dna300x

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

bowlerdawg

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

tenpinspro

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

tst4eko

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

Crankenstein300

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

Brian362

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

tenpin477

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

Atochabsh

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

NJStroker

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

Mike Austin

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?

cheech

Re: Do centers 'shadow bowl' anymore?