Author Topic: Slump (Read 1876 times)

2handedrook12 · « **on:** October 08, 2017, 11:43:28 PM »

I've been in a slump for approximately 4 months. Everytime I bowl a tournament or some type of competition, it seems like I have to be dead on perfect. My shotmaking (touch and accuracy) have been great, mental ccomposure, and physical game have been great. Spare shooting has been pretty good. However, I cannot seem to strike when I need to get a double going or continue a string of strikes. Leaving a lot more 7 pins than normal along with 8, 9, 10 (ringers) for usual taps. Just seems I can't makes moves fast enough and it leads to me not taking full advantage of games that are more so what I'm used to. Really not fun when it seems like you can't throw it any better and you just have to have the right ball in your hands. Any comments or similar stories (past or present)

Luke Rosdahl · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2017, 07:02:02 AM »

Just sounds like a confidence thing. Your head is getting too involved with what's going on, and the pins know if you're being at all tentative through your release. Something else isn't matching up though, and it sounds like a shot shape issue to me. Anymore I don't pay much attention to hook potential, as long as it gives me the right shape on the backend, nothing else matters. If I'm getting tapped, it's usually shape, the ball just isn't going through the pins right, and a lot of 7 pins sounds like it's standing up on the backend or burning a lot of energy hooking rather than hitting.

Here's a trick I'm finding to be fairly universal on a house shot. Look at the 6 pin and shim to win. Get as close as you can to the friction on the outside without the ball hooking early, and get the ball going straight at the 6 pin, don't belly it or swing it. It will be in enough oil to get down the lane, but will hit friction right when it needs to and the angle will also help it recover/start moving. Your carry will tell you what the ball is doing and what you need to do. Change shapes until the pins start moving.

daves123 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2017, 08:52:59 AM »

Luke, Sorry for being so ignorant in terminology but what do you mean by shim to win?

Luke Rosdahl · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2017, 09:03:56 AM »

Lol don't ever apologize for being ignorant in terminology, that probably just means you actually know what you're doing instead of just being able to talk the talk. It's a snobby collegiate term that is basically the same thing as "rocket to the pocket," meaning you tugged it quite a bit but it still held line and struck. HOWEVER, sometimes on tougher shots it's done on purpose, if you can push some oil onto the backend closer to the headpin, or basically try to create hold area on purpose, that's called a "shim." Sometimes building a "shim" to help reduce your angle or allow you to play straighter and closer to the pocket is really beneficial on tougher patterns that have a lot of oil on the outside. On a house shot, there's already tons of oil on the inside anyway, which can make it tricky to play a lot of angle because misses result in opposite things. If you miss outside, ball catches friction and jumps, if you miss inside, it just sails through the breakpoint. By tightening up or playing straighter, you can use the oil to your advantage to essentially "shim to win."

Quote from: daves123 on October 09, 2017, 08:52:59 AM

Luke, Sorry for being so ignorant in terminology but what do you mean by shim to win?

lefty50 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2017, 09:09:36 AM »

Add me to the list of those who learned something today. Never knew what that term meant... Thanks.

2handedrook12 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2017, 10:56:42 AM »

Quote from: Luke Rosdahl on October 09, 2017, 07:02:02 AM

Just sounds like a confidence thing. Your head is getting too involved with what's going on, and the pins know if you're being at all tentative through your release. Something else isn't matching up though, and it sounds like a shot shape issue to me. Anymore I don't pay much attention to hook potential, as long as it gives me the right shape on the backend, nothing else matters. If I'm getting tapped, it's usually shape, the ball just isn't going through the pins right, and a lot of 7 pins sounds like it's standing up on the backend or burning a lot of energy hooking rather than hitting.

Here's a trick I'm finding to be fairly universal on a house shot. Look at the 6 pin and shim to win. Get as close as you can to the friction on the outside without the ball hooking early, and get the ball going straight at the 6 pin, don't belly it or swing it. It will be in enough oil to get down the lane, but will hit friction right when it needs to and the angle will also help it recover/start moving. Your carry will tell you what the ball is doing and what you need to do. Change shapes until the pins start moving.

So it's a possibility that I am missing something that shapes properly? A lot of my good stuff has either died or lost some of it's versatility. Almost like they have become allergic to oil. Was throwing a GB2 that worked well in game 2 and 3, then game 4 it wouldn't carry. Switched to a weaker pin Wipe Out and it was better, but seemed to be a bit over under (ring 10, 4 pin reaction). The Mission flat 10 everytime I hit the pocket with it. Can you explain some of the different shot shapes just for clarification?

Luke Rosdahl · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2017, 11:25:46 AM »

It's really just sharp or smooth and the area in between. Something that's really quick on friction can tend to "stand up" or burn so much energy when they hit dry that they just quit. Other balls can be really slow on friction and don't really fully get out of the hook phaze before they hit the pins, and don't have much drive. Some have more of an arc, and some are a straighter motion on the back. If your stuff is all oil saturated, they may not be grabbing right on the backend, which will make them weak and easier for the pins to deflect. Not all pocket hits are created equal, makes me laugh a lot when someone will hit the pocket really flat and leave a 10 and then get pissed because they "hit the pocket." Carry is a feel thing, a lot like reaction, just have to pay a lot of attention to what your ball is doing going into the pocket.

Quote from: 2handedrook12 on October 09, 2017, 10:56:42 AM

Quote from: Luke Rosdahl on October 09, 2017, 07:02:02 AM
Just sounds like a confidence thing. Your head is getting too involved with what's going on, and the pins know if you're being at all tentative through your release. Something else isn't matching up though, and it sounds like a shot shape issue to me. Anymore I don't pay much attention to hook potential, as long as it gives me the right shape on the backend, nothing else matters. If I'm getting tapped, it's usually shape, the ball just isn't going through the pins right, and a lot of 7 pins sounds like it's standing up on the backend or burning a lot of energy hooking rather than hitting.

Here's a trick I'm finding to be fairly universal on a house shot. Look at the 6 pin and shim to win. Get as close as you can to the friction on the outside without the ball hooking early, and get the ball going straight at the 6 pin, don't belly it or swing it. It will be in enough oil to get down the lane, but will hit friction right when it needs to and the angle will also help it recover/start moving. Your carry will tell you what the ball is doing and what you need to do. Change shapes until the pins start moving.
So it's a possibility that I am missing something that shapes properly? A lot of my good stuff has either died or lost some of it's versatility. Almost like they have become allergic to oil. Was throwing a GB2 that worked well in game 2 and 3, then game 4 it wouldn't carry. Switched to a weaker pin Wipe Out and it was better, but seemed to be a bit over under (ring 10, 4 pin reaction). The Mission flat 10 everytime I hit the pocket with it. Can you explain some of the different shot shapes just for clarification?

leftybowler70 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2017, 11:30:36 AM »

Well stated Luke, you guys always have the answers before I can chime my 00.2 in lol

Author Topic: Slump (Read 1876 times)

2handedrook12

Slump

Luke Rosdahl

Re: Slump

daves123

Re: Slump

Luke Rosdahl

Re: Slump

lefty50

Re: Slump

2handedrook12

Re: Slump

Luke Rosdahl

Re: Slump

leftybowler70

Re: Slump