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Author Topic: Is it the talent or a great match up?  (Read 822 times)

Platinum Bowler

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Is it the talent or a great match up?
« on: March 10, 2005, 04:00:09 PM »
Well first let me tell you how I came up with this question.....last year at Junior Olympic Gold (biggest tournament for juniors), in the first day of qualifying I bowled real well and was leader. The tournament is bowled all on sport, and on that day, it was the first time I had ever gone plus on sport. Usually I will just go a little minus or 30 under or something. Anyways that day I went about 110 or so over for 6 games on it, and it definitely felt good. I definitely had area, not a wall, just way more than usual I would have on sport. Well afterwards, my friends came up and said "that it must be nice to have a wall." He was just kidding, we always do that to each other. But it got me thinking. Many people bowled bad and just the usual scores you would see on a sport pattern. But I just killed it, and was definitely throwing the ball well, so I know that helped. But my question is...when a bowler gets a good line on a sport pattern, or a tough shot, do you think that it is because that shot is just matching up well with their game? Or do you think the talent they got makes it able for them to open up area for themselves? What do you think?
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MSC2471

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Re: Is it the talent or a great match up?
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2005, 12:36:47 AM »
Interesting question. I guess for me on tougher shots when I am able to outpace the other bowlers scoring-wise, it's usually due to a combination of me being able to match up to the condition and also figuring out a way for me to keep the ball in play without making serious errors that will cause ugly spare or split leaves. I bowled an ACUI college tournament my junior year in 1991 in Northampton, MA on a shot that would these days be considered sport shot as it was a super flood 40 feet of oil and the first 8 boards on both sides of the lanes were out of bounds (I saw all styles of bowlers trying to play out there and getting gutters or 3 counts if they hit outside of 7...) and for 10 games I was able to be one of only 2 collegiate bowlers (out of the 150 competing) to be able to average plus for the tournament- I think I finished +100. I kept my game simple and effective for those two days, filled frames and took the strikes when I could get them.

Makes me want to get back into a sport league....just wish I could find a first shift one as a second shift one rolls too close to my work schedule.

Matt

Ragnar

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Re: Is it the talent or a great match up?
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2005, 09:01:50 AM »
I think matchup has a lot to do with it.  For example you probably don't want to bowl me on E pattern (Viper?  Arrgh, those stupid names) - it plays right into my strength, playing the twig.  However on any other PBA pattern I'm pretty much a dork and most of you would probably own me.
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"To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace."  (Tacitus)
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pin-chaser

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Re: Is it the talent or a great match up?
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2005, 10:07:32 AM »
Platinum,

  Thought provoking question and one that I have struggeled with over the past serveral years dealing with myself, my kids and other students.

  A well practiced bowler can indeed use his natural abilities to "manufacture" area on a lane where other bowlers can not. For example, my physical game (when I am sharp) allows my elbow to stay locked longer if I pull the ball. This will indeed resemble hold on the lane surface from the spectators view point. Only I know what really happened.

  The understanding of the bowler to recoginize these types of events is blurred today because of artifical conditions and bowling ball technology that both can mimick those events. How is one to honestly know? I cant determine that anymore.

  But what is very clear to me, is that with the wrong ball in my hand, my natural abilities dont ever out shine technology. But with the right ball in my hand, my natural abilities become even more pronounced.


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JohnP

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Re: Is it the talent or a great match up?
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2005, 10:08:59 AM »
Platinum Bowler -- When a bowler is in a groove, the approach is consistent and the arm swing is parallel to both the approach and target line, he'll have a two to three board area to throw in even on a flat pattern.  When either the approach or arm swing get out of parallel, that narrows down to ~1/2 board!!  --  JohnP