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Author Topic: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!  (Read 8591 times)

L3nn0n

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How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« on: December 21, 2014, 08:59:14 PM »
I'm in my hometown in Mexico and tomorrow there will be this small tournament in the local bowling alley. I practiced yesterday and the surface is awful! The lanes are so dirty, the oil is everywhere, super thick, when the ball comes back it always come back with some plastic thing on it. The manager told me that their oil machine is broken so they are doing it "manually" and that's why the lanes are so uneven. My highest game was 160 and I couldn't make my ball to hook regardless of where I was standing/aiming. I'm lefty, I usually bowl down and in, regular speed and regular revs, I usually star bowling between the first and second arrow, and the ball never hooked/rolled at all. I tried to play outside (four board) and nothing, inside (third arrow) nothing.

I only have my Wicked Siege with me, I went with 1200 abralon, and it was so smooth and strong in the backend on THS back in where I always bowl. Yesterday I only hit the pocket no more than 10 times in three games. It was like I was throwing a plastic ball!

What should I do?? Change my speed? Move? Go straight? Please help!
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northface28

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2014, 09:02:58 PM »
1200 not enough? Go down, id go all the way down to 360 if I had to.
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L3nn0n

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2014, 09:09:02 PM »
No! It wasn't enough! I swear I was feeling like I was throwing a plastic ball! Should I try going that down!? I mean, I never tried 360 before!
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Dave81644

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2014, 10:32:49 PM »
no matter what surface, you have to keep it near the center of the lane.
You have to hit the head pin.
treat it like a spare ball and throw straight at the pocket, you dont have to fire it, just have to keep the headpin in play and make your spares

dont try to hook it, sounds like no matter what you do it wont work.
i have run into this in a few wierd tournaments where the shot is like this on 1 lane and no oil on the other.
all you can do is roll it over 20 and stand a little left of that(right handed)
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strikeking

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2014, 11:13:57 AM »
If the ball is going straight, you must hit the pocket from an outside angle or you will be shooting ten pins all night. I suggest you throw from the corner " down and in".

Good luck!
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Strikeking

avabob

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2014, 01:59:39 PM »
It is kind of a lost art, but play it the way the pros play the 52 foot Badger pattern.  We use to call it fall back.  Start between 2nd and 3rd arrow, but tighten your feet down 2-5 boards from where you normally stand playing in that area.  Also, don't try to over power the oil with surface.  It is a losing proposition.  The problem is you lose any potential hold area quicker than you can open up swing.  Go with a strong pearl, and try to get the ball into a roll without so much side roll. 

It isn't the flat that is getting you, but the length of the oil due to lack of strip on the back end.
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milorafferty

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2014, 02:23:27 PM »
Quote from: avabob on December 23, 2014, 01:59:39 PM
It is kind of a lost art, but play it the way the pros play the 52 foot Badger pattern.  We use to call it fall back.  Start between 2nd and 3rd arrow, but tighten your feet down 2-5 boards from where you normally stand playing in that area.  Also, don't try to over power the oil with surface.  It is a losing proposition.  The problem is you lose any potential hold area quicker than you can open up swing.  Go with a strong pearl, and try to get the ball into a roll without so much side roll. 

It isn't the flat that is getting you, but the length of the oil due to lack of strip on the back end.

Excellent answer!

If you go to a really aggressive surface, the pattern can become unplayable very quickly.

Forget about the swing shot you use on THS, you will not be able to throw the ball away from the pocket and make it back. Expect to leave a corner pin often and if it's really heavy oil and/or long oil, you will probably see some 5 pins on what seems to be flush pocket hits.

The winning combination is usually get good count on the first ball and make your spares.
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Strider

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2014, 02:54:31 PM »
You probably have to change your expectations when it comes down to hook.  Even if it hooks 3 boards close to the pocket, it's enough to hit and carry.  Some people think if the ball isn't hooking 10 boards between the break point and the pocket there is too much oil.   The first few times I bowled on Badger I had to basically point it off the corner because if I was around the track or deeper inside, the ball would look like it was going completely straight or even backing up until the ball was past the head pin.  My ball was hooking very little, but what little it did at the right time.  I scored very respectable on it every time.  Now it seems like the center has backed off the oil some because I get more "normal" hook on the fresh.

Find an angle that gets you to the pocket even if it's going a little right to left (assuming right handed) keep your hand and speed soft (think roll, not revs) and you might be surprised how you'll do.  For me, more surface isn't the answer.  I end up wearing out the heads before I develop any hook spot down lane.  Your mileage might vary.
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luv2C10falll

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Re: How to bowl on a flat oil pattern!? HELP!
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2014, 02:56:25 PM »
As straight as possible in the beginning
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