Hi,

I like this question.  I'm a stroker and my difference in the third game is more like this:
220-213-188.  I have tried several things, moving my line left, moving my feet (standing) forward and throwing it harder.  The problems is some weeks I have success, while some week I don't.  Last week for example, I didn't strike until the eighth and had to hit 4 of 5 just to get a 188 (2 splits).....very frustrating.  I could  buy a weaker ball...at the end of this year I will make my decision.

Lastly, I have tried different grips (fingers closer) with some success.  I wish their was a successful system.  Any ideas anyone?

Cav

This happens for a lot of people.  The problem I don't believe is adjusting, because shots can get so mangled by the end of the night that even great bowlers can't "adjust."  But this, in my opinion, is caused more by terrible ball and pattern management than ability to adjust.  A lot of people start out the night using the line and ball that will allow them to score the best right now, but they don't take any consideration on what that will cause to happen in later games.  Yeah, if your box surface Sync gives you a great look out the gate playing 20-8, fine, but what happens when your line burns up?  You can't move right, because yeah, you'll have head oil, but the ball will jump when it hits the midlane burn at 30 feet, but then slide more, then hook again when it hits the backends.  You can move left a little, but soon the Sync won't turn the corner without pitching into the dry you've created, and if you happen to blow right through it, you're picking off the 3 on the right (or left). 

I never throw what gives me the best chance out of the gate.  I see who I'm bowling against, what they're throwing, and what my teammates are throwing, and adjust accordingly.  Wherever everybody else is, that's where I stay away from.  I constantly watch my reaction and their reaction.  If somebody is playing somewhere I think I'll have to eventually move to, I'll keep track of the moves they're making and what their reaction looks like.  Most of the time I start with something weak that doesn't have much surface on it and play further right than I'd like to.  Might cause a few flat 10s, but those are easily picked up, and when the transition sets in around the beginning of the second game, I've set myself up ideally, because now the shot is perfect for what I want.  Being that a fresh house shot is usually scoreable from anywhere, I really don't sacrifice much the first game, but get a lot more the second and third games.  When everybody else is shooting 180 the 3rd game, I'm still in the 230's because I set myself up for it.  It's no different than being on a sport shot and spending time burning up the outsides to give you more room, just on a house shot, you spend the first game AVOIDING burning up the shot.  All there is to it. 

If you bowl in a 5 man league and are right handed it is almost impossible to use the same ball for 3 games unless you hook it more than everybody else and can start an arrow left or have some good tricks.  You need a ball that is slightly weaker than the one you use for the first game and a half or 2 games, but still strong enough to get around the corner.  Then you need to learn when to change balls.

Thank you guys for the input. I really do appreciate it . I can play down and in so i will start practicing that line again. Ill practice 2 games as per normal then move out, just so i can start getting used to it mentally.
I know it will work as i have seen others make that move and carry. I just have to make that mental adjustment as well. Im not rev or speed challenged and i personally think that is the best place to play when the lanes are gone.

Again thanks for the feedback