The last few sessions, I’ve bowled decently, but have had strange scores. After some thought, a “pattern” has emerged.

Usually, I shoot a mediocre first game, a really good second game, then just totally suck and die the last game. And it’s getting OLD in a hurry.

Two weeks ago, I shoot 237-280-158

Tonight, I shoot 190-278-149

 The way I’ve been doing it, I’ve been starting out to the outside of most other people, playing with a weaker ball. It makes me think it is working, but this keeps happening, and I think it is this:

  Once my shot does track out, and I try to move in, I’m moving into the area that has already been played on by several people for a couple of games, so the hold I’m expecting to be there just doesn’t exist?

 What’s the consensus here? Should I start deeper with a stronger ball and then just “ball down” and move out if needed as they transition, or just keep doing what I’m doing and just make a BIG jump inside with a stronger ball once the transition hits?

 What seems to be working for you guys? I sure am tired of turning possibly good 700’s into low 600’s and looking like a chump the last game.

I would start the same as you are now.

But when the shot starts to go away I would then make a bigger move in.

As you noted smaller moves don't work as you are just moving into the tracked area of the other players. You have got to get where you have some fresher oil in the middle to lean on. This might mean that you have go to a stronger ball to get it to recover.

Please don’t be the guy that starts in THEN moves out, you’ll definitely look like a chump. Start playing as far right with as strong a ball as you can and just keep moving in parallel from there

 I’ve been using a Tundra and a Tundra solid. Trying to start with the solid, then ball down to the pearl. Last night, I tried going to a Kinetic Amethyst, but that didn’t work too well as it was stronger than the Tundra pearl, but once I moved in enough to catch enough oil to get it downlane, it didn’t want to recover correctly.

 I have a Mako Attack on the way, and will have it available to me by next week though, and can set it up for length and recovery, then try again.

I would start the same as you are now.

But when the shot starts to go away I would then make a bigger move in.

As you noted smaller moves don't work as you are just moving into the tracked area of the other players. You have got to get where you have some fresher oil in the middle to lean on. This might mean that you have go to a stronger ball to get it to recover.

 OK, like I said earlier, I have a Mako Attack on the way. Clean, hybrid assym built for recovery. I’ll get it drilled to play deeper with a hard move off the spot and try playing in with it when the outside track I’m playing goes away.


 Sounds like you guys were tending to agree with me building a trap for myself, then making the wrong adjustment. I knew something needed to change, just am not nearly mentally as sharp as I once was, and having trouble figuring this one out.

 It’s hard to just go away altogether from what just gave you a 270-280 something game, but when it goes away, it totally goes away, and it just seems like there is no “minor” adjustment that even remotely works.

 Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll try them out and see what happens. Ain’t no way it can be any worse than what I’m doing now, lol.

Like you said it is hard to move after great scores but you can't keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different out come.

 Yeah, I know. It’s the very definition of insanity.  My “system” made sense to me, and was confusing me because the adjustments just didn’t seem to be working. After codgitating over it, the realization finally dawned on me about what was really happening.

 Start deeper with a stronger ball, parallel in as it transitions, and go to a weaker cover only if that doesn’t work, or they dry more than expected and the stronger ball starts to check up too early.

Being of the older persuasion I've generally try to use the least amount of ball reaction needed to strike effectively.

So on house shots I go with a very mild ball and try to play the oil line as much as possible. As I have gotten older and have become rev dominate as I've lost ball speed, I can't stay out there as long as I used to.

When my shot breaks down it is generally a sudden jump, even if I strike I know it is time to make a move and generally it is a bigger one. I generally move in 5 with my feet and 3 at my target. Sometimes it takes as much as 8 to 10 with 5 or more at the target depending on who is on the lane with me.

I do not change balls when making the move. I feel if the lane has broken down like that, the extra hook needed is built into the lane already. Only if I can't get carry do I change balls.

I have a younger teammate (52) who still has good speed and he doesn't really understand why I make such big moves but it is what works for me.

The toughest part is going from a down and in shot to starting to swing the ball some. But for me it is still just hitting targets and making sure you square up to your target line and not to the foul line.