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Author Topic: Bowlers using sponges  (Read 5331 times)

Nicanor

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Bowlers using sponges
« on: January 04, 2006, 01:46:28 AM »
Bowling in league last night we had a fairly good shot in the beginning but the bowlers were using sponges that very quickly sucked up so much of the oil it was near impossible to find a shot/

Bowlers used a Trauma Response Track Silencer, Brunswick Goliath, 2 Ebonite Big Times, Lane 1 solid Uranium,  Columbia 300 and I used a polished XXXcel.

Some were playing down and in which might not have been but two were swinging the ball.  So not only did the down and in shot that was there dry up quickly, it seemed like everything from 17 right dried up as well.  I went from the XXXcel to the Big Time pearl, threw only twice, then finished with the Pure Hammer burgundy which looked like a hook monster stoning a nine pin.

Scores took a nose dive half way through the second game and the number of splits in the third game was tremendous.

I'm sure others have had similar problems, how did you handle them?



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Pinbuster

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2006, 10:22:58 AM »
First off I agree with Bob, I don’t know any other way to handle it.

Second, the last year before the PBA went to the exempt tour and lot of new players went out on the national tour to test their skill, many of these newer players where boomers who liked to hook the lane.

The veteran PBA players had learned how to work together in breaking down the lanes during qualifying. These new players would immediately start hooking the lane. The net result was that the lanes became nearly unplayable for everyone by the end of a qualifying block.

One of the squads had more of this class of bowlers than the other. That squad struggled to make match play week after week. They finally had to move some of the new bowlers around in the squads to balance it out.

On a THS the pattern will dictate the sweet spot to play the lane. While that shot can be somewhat overpowered by strong releases and balls the scoring pace for all would be better served if the lanes were played in the sweet spot.
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ten pin killler

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2006, 11:48:19 AM »
My experience in this situation is that it is time for urethane. My go-to ball in this case is a Faball Blue Pearl Hammer. It hits like a truck but it will tame the driest of conditions until you get to toast, then it is time for plastic.........
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da Shiv

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2006, 01:17:04 PM »
The last time this happened to me was just about 3 weeks ago.  I ended up using my highly polished Slate Blue Gargoyle, and to my amazement, it was too much ball too.  I just couldn't take enough off the ball or throw it fast enough for the condition.  It was a true plastic ball condition, and unfortunately I didn't have a plastic ball.  My old White Dot is 16# and I throw 15# now.  This occurence has got me thinking seriously about investing in a new plastic ball.

I'm going to be bowling in a benefit this Saturday, and as a rather suddenly scheduled event, it is going to be late and on a third shift condition.  I'm usually on first shifts, so since I'm not going to have time to get a new plastic ball before then, I guess I'll bring along the old White Dot.  It still fits, and I can throw 16# if I have to.

Shiv

P.S.  Since I like Buzzsaws, I'm thinking seriously about the XXXL.  Might as well get a plastic ball with a core.
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ksucat

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2006, 09:38:39 AM »
I can see both sides of this.  I purchased a couple of these rough surfaced boomer balls that wildly hook and blow holes in the oil at an even faster rate than shiny mild resin.  I've used them and love myself because they allow me to play inside most others while still retaining monster hit at the pins.  I also hate myself because I know that I'm heavily contributing to this big hole that will likely develop suddenly causing good shots to jump through the nose.  As long as these boomer balls hit so hard, they will be used.  You can protest by not using them, but you likely give away some pins to someone else who is using one.  Banning sanded balls would help some, but not likely happen.  I've been holding out now using some older, deadened equipment partly as protest, but mainly because I'm cheap.  However, I will be purchasing some new stuff soon as I can see where I'm giving away a good 5-10 pins a game due to lack of carry that a new ball will give me.
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scotts33

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2006, 10:15:42 AM »
The solution is.......become a lefty.  Ta Daaaaaa!!!  Wrongsiders just about always play together.  Rightside idiots never work together.  It will never change.  
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2006, 10:32:53 AM »
Really, the only way to tackle this sort of thing is to go to really weak bowling balls like a Scout/R or Power Groove Dry/R if you do not like moving into the 5th or 6th arrow territory.  Bowling center do not like adding oil to lanes for the simple fact that it is not "cost effective" for them.  We had 2 weeks off for the holidays and my center only oiled the lanes once every 2 to 3 days because "it is a waste of money to oil lanes when there are no leagues".  This is just something we need to get used to I am afraid to say.
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2006, 10:33:13 AM »
Come to our area and watch our lefties with half as much oil than the righties STRUGGLE and go down in average 30 pins!!  It's fun...Righties love it(somehow they got the oil).  America's happiest bowlers...at my centers!

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Djarum

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2006, 11:24:59 AM »
The real solution here is to design a bowling ball that will hook in oil w/o sucking it up off the lane. That would be an engineering feat I would suppose.

Dj
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The views and opinions of Djarum expressed on BallReviews.com do not necessarily state or reflect those of the BallReviews.com.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2006, 12:53:26 PM »
While lanes were blocked in the past, currently and most likely into the foreseeable future to say that lane conditions haven’t changed is incorrect.

The biggest change is the volume of oil. The dry parts of the lane are not much different than in the past but where they lay down oil it is much heavier.

I believe if you took one of today’s hook monsters back 30 years ago that they would be pretty much worthless as the lanes would appear to be torched by today’s standards.  

The volume of oil, the absorption rate of the balls, and the friction level in the balls causes the rapid transitions.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2006, 01:29:16 PM »
Last night in my traveling scratch league we ended up bowling unopposed.

We have 4 right handed bowlers and one lefty that I hesitate to call a bowler anymore.

We were bowling second shift, the 4 of us playing basically the same line. The weaker handed bowlers were using slightly stronger equipment and the stronger handed bowlers using polished resin for the most part.

Realizing that we only had 4 right handed bowlers on the pair but I was amazed at how little the lanes transitioned during the 3 game set. None of us had moved more the 3 boards with our feet during the nights play and we all scored well.

While this would not have been the case with another set of 5 bowlers on the pair I feel that if they had played essentially the same line that the transition would have been minimal.

These transitions would have hurt both the straighter player and the bigger hook players. It happens week after week in this league.
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Strapper_Squared

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2006, 01:42:32 PM »
Funny this should come up... walk into league last night with my WMB and a plastic spare ball...  4 shots into warm ups I knew it was going to be a long night....  the deeper I moved, the less push there was and seemingly there was 1/16 the normal volume of oil...  struggled through the first game just trying to stay close to the pocket...after which I was totally frustrated... nothing like being in front of the ball returns by the end of the first game while people with sanded equipment and 2 revs are lighting up the place...  found an old quantum helix on the rack... didn't score much better, but at least was able to get it down the lane a little ways.  

what's the solution?  not sure.. hate having to fight the lanes with weak equipment...  maybe it is to learn to throw the ball with 2 revs?!?!  Suck it up and deal with shooting 500's..lol  Personally I think USBC should step up and "standardize" league shots..  must have a minimum of x units of oil on wood lanes and x-20 units on synthetics.. or something...  I would be 100% for bowling on sport conditions, unfortunately no one else sees it the same way in my leagues

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BackToBasics

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2006, 01:59:07 PM »
I agree with Bob.  Where I think USBC made the biggest mistake with their recent proposed equipment changes was not dealing with the impact these covers can have on an particular pattern.  These balls should not be able to alter the playing environment so drastically and in such a short period of time.  Just imagine if the PGA tour guys were allowed to drag their feet or aerate the fairways across the greens after every hole.  That's what these balls are doing.

Lane reading is no longer a requirement.  I see guys all the time now never playing where the lane tells them but where they feel comfortable.  Just blow a hole in the middle of the lane until the shot comes to them and damn the other bowlers on that lane after or those who have to follow them.  But then they are the first to complain how dry the shot is after 3 games


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Doug Sterner

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2006, 02:02:02 PM »
We have a house in Endicott NY here that is run (owned?) by a guy who used to be on tour. He is disliked by many local bowlers for several reasons but one thing about this guy is absolutely incredible.

He has the ability to lay out an oil pattern that is so ridiculously consistent from game to game that it is sickening. If you go into that house and bowl a 3 game league match and have to move more than 5 boards it is a huge move. I mean somehow this guy has them oil to the point that they do not dry out.

It doesnt matter if you have 2 or 10 guys on a pair, whether they are throwing sponges or White Dots, crankers or strokers....the shot just doesn't change. How does this happen?

This guy is also a master at being able to adjust a lane condition to allow you to get to the pocket but make you completely unable to carry.

He is a master...how can there be a guy this capable when other people are struggling to keep a shot together...what gives?
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Doug Sterner
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Doug Sterner

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Re: Bowlers using sponges
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2006, 02:20:15 PM »
Actually he uses Phoenix lane machine...no spray gun, rag or otherwise.

The amount of oil used is not THAT extreme because I have no problem making about any ball I have (except the XXXL and H2O) hook. Carry is another issue...

Lane conditioning is a science, no argument there. Some guys think they know what to do and how to do it but it just isn't so.
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Doug Sterner
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Feel the Power of the FOS with new Enriched Uranium from Lane 1!!
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