Well, I started my PBA experience League last night. The way we are set up, we are bowling doubles scratch for 3 games. Basic 4 point league I guess. We are bowling 3 teams per pair. That means sometimes your opponents on another pair. I was surprised that most of the bowlers there were like me, 180-200 average bowlers. There were only 3 200+ average bowlers, and those guys usually avg in the 220's.
Now getting to my style of bowling. I have medium revs, and medium fast ball speed. This has worked well on the great wall. I have averaged between 175 -190 for years, and last year I finally broke a 200 average. We bowl on 14 year old brunswick anvil lanes.
Well, I first started using my Track Freak around 8 board in practice. This ball has a ton of games on it, but it it has served as my benchmark ball in the past. Its probably around 1000 grit. Playing straight up 8(for me, feet on 18, the ball just didn't want to come up. I then moved to 10, and had 2 shots in practice that looked good. My first game, I had a turkey early, the rest spares, a split, and an open sleeper. What was the most interesting thing about the pattern to me was that If I tugged the ball to 11, the ball would roll up hard either nose in or brooklyn. If I hit 9, the ball would barely hit the three, usually leaving the head pin and a combination.
I noticed the second game that the freak just wasn't hitting the hole hard enough, so I switched to my razor blade. This ball is around 800 grit. Playing the same line as the freak, it was too strong. I then decided to move to 8. I had a double toward the end of the second game. I ran into the same situation. I hit 9, nose, hit 8, miss the head pin completly.
Toward the last game, I moved all the way out to 5, and still had a good look, but ran into the same issue as before, pull one board, nose, right one board, washout.
I shot 187, 177, 158.
The biggest thing I noticed was that the farther you move out, the less room you have as far as missing your mark. The interesting thing I noticed was that if you pulled your ball more than 1 board, say 2 boards, the ball would hold pocket. This told me that by pulling it that far, you are back in the oil. Basically, there was the same mount of oil from 3-6, 7-10, 11-13...etc. In a typicall buffed wall, you can pull it one board knowing you will hit more oil, or hit one board out and know you were going to hit dry. With the scorpion, depending on where you played, there was the same amount of oil accross 3 or 4 boards. I noticed early on when I was playing 10 that I hit 12, and I could hold pocket. This means there is more oil at 12 than 10, but not at 11.
When I went outside, I ran into a similar situation, but reverse. I was able to play 3 or 4 and still hold pocket. I discovered this the last two frames of my last game. But when I was playing 4, and I hit 5, the ball went through the nose. This means that the oil line at 4 is heavier than 3.
One thing I also noticed was that NO ONE was playing the track area. Most of the tweeners and strokers were out where I was at, and the crankers were hitting 15 to 17 with a break around 5-8. They ran into the same problem as I did.
I think the best way to play this condition is to find a spot on the lane where if you pull it one board it will hold, or if you go out one board it will hold.
We are bowling on the same pattern next week. I think the way I want to try and attack these lanes is actually at the track. No one was playing it(but then again, no one was playing at 5 either). I think If I take my razor blade down to 500, I might be able to get a small swing around 12. As a stroker/tweener, I do know that you can't give the pocket away. You have to have big hand on this condition to do so.
I had fun, and I know why these guys on TV are good.
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.
Edited on 5/18/2007 8:58 AM
Edited on 5/18/2007 8:59 AM
