Yesterday I had a Conference tournament and I placed 6th. However, everyone struggled. There was so much oil and I've never seen anything like it. It was also very wet/dry. I saw people with about 475 rpm throwing a Marvel-S and there ball was just skidding. My goal was to shoot 200 every game. I shot 206 208 and 166 in the first half. The second half, it was even worse. There was no friction on the lane til game 5. That was the game where it became very wet/dry. Game 6 I shot a 182 (credit to my Lights Out). But I felt hopeless on that shot. And I lost a lot of confidence after that. And I am very far from cocky. What could I have done (or next time I see a shot like this)?

Thanks. This is probably the best answer for what I was looking for. Next time I see anything like this, I can go to ny Taboo Spare.

It is not about creating entry angle.  That is where guys get in trouble.  If your ball is releasing rotational energy when it gets to the pocket it will resist deflection even without good entry angle.  Like I said try to find video of the guys playing the badger pattern.  They were playing what we call fall back at 4th arrow, and even the lower rev guys could still drive the 5 out if they kept their speed under control, and had minimal axis rotation. 

Strong pearls actually work better than anything on these patterns.  Even with end over end they don't pick up the roll too early, allowing you to make use of the hold area.

What I have done and do, is a alter the surface of my equipment to extremely rough grits, and by that I mean extremely rough---I have gone as far down as 12 grit----that's no typo---12 grit---although on the reverse blocks or us open patterns or just wacky heavy tournament shots I use balls at anywhere from 24 grit to 80 grit, which for me allows me to stand left and throw left(I'm a lefty) and to square up and play down and in(which I prefer) an any type of pattern/length. I am kinda stubborn, I try and not let the lanes tell how I should be as a bowler but I find a way to be myself on all patterns(if at all possible), so trying going really low on the surface grit, it might help.

Brad

Sometimes on these types of patterns you can find some friction at the 1-2 board area and then have tug to the left of that to hold pocket.    There was a time when players routinely played the 1/2 board to the 1 board on the lane when the lane conditions allowed it.  These days not too many people venture out to that area or even attempt to take a look there in fear of the obvious 0 count ball. 

You say you can swing the ball well, and you can play straight up the lane well but can you play the point shot well.   Pointing the ball up the lane is a lost art. 

Think of tires on ice.  Your ball is a tire and the lane is ice.   You don't want your ties going side ways because they will not get traction.   A ball that rolls forward with rotation and on direct lines will be the best option on "impossible"  conditions but there will always be an acceptation to the rule where a player has some kind of trick roll and creates area that you don't see on the lane yourself.

I do have a point shot. Only problem I ran into was that I couldn't carry. And my leaves weren't easy pick ups.