Author Topic: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers (Read 1552 times)

chitown · « **on:** September 18, 2008, 12:58:02 AM »

I have a lane play question for the advanced bowlers.

INFO: I can play any part of the lane!

Bowling on a 38' buffed to 43' flat gutter to gutter pattern (even ratio of oil across).

I know the best break point board for this pattern, because of it's length, is about the 11 or 12 board which should get me the 6 degree angle for best carry.

This pattern is put out for a 5 men per team league. So there's 10 guys on the pair including me.

Keep in mind that the other 9 guys will not be working to break down the pattern properly so everyone can score. I will be bowling with guys that don't know how to break the pattern down properly, and or some that can't even if they knew how, and or some that won't for what ever the reason.

So what's the best approach for me to take when faced with this situation?

Do I move deeper than everyone from the start to stay away from everyone's line? Do I move far outside towards the gutter to stay away from everyone elses line. By playing outside I would probably have to point the ball a bit to get to the pocket with enough angle.

The goal is obviously to score high all 3 games. I will have a lot of money in pots all 3 games. So is it better for me to play safe or take some chances with my lane play? By safe I mean is it better to just play the track area and try to get good pin counts and make spares or take a bigger risk and carve out a line for myself away from others?

I got a chance to practice on the pattern last week and there's good amount of oil on the lanes. I will probably be using my No Mercy during league.

Edited on 9/18/2008 9:06 AM

chitown · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2008, 09:09:18 AM »

I forgot to include the type of lanes im bowling on. There brunswick pro avaline synthetics. They have the break point tracers down lane.

Uncle Crusty · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2008, 09:15:49 AM »

If the shot you're bowling on is truly flat, you're probably gonna want to stay away from the gutter as it will be far too touchy, especially with everyone else being left of you. If you miss a hair right, it will hang, and if you miss left, you're gonna hit everyone else's line and you'll be all over the face.

It really depends where everyone else on the pair is playing. Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that they're all in the track area. If I were you, I'd probably hang out with everyone else around 3rd arrow for the first game or so until the lanes start to transition. Then I'd begin to get left of everyone and play the same breakpoint, taking advantage of the lanes burning up in the track and having fresh head oil to the left. To be honest, if the pattern is flat, this is really the only way to play it without running the risk of completely giving away the pocket.
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"Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein."

-Broadcasting Extraordinaire and Mensa Member Joe Theismann

CPA · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2008, 12:05:06 PM »

Each person has something that works for them. Having said that, I would choose to play inside. Hopefully an area can open up as people bowl. Until then you aren't giving away the pocket. In my experience on Pro Anvil, without other bowlers on the outside, there is a hang spot that never goes away.
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USBC Bronze Coach

janderson · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2008, 12:34:19 PM »

quote:
Do I move deeper than everyone from the start to stay away from everyone's line? Do I move far outside towards the gutter to stay away from everyone elses line. By playing outside I would probably have to point the ball a bit to get to the pocket with enough angle.

Minus the "pointing" (I'll explain) those are generally the two advanced schools of thought on how to attack the described pattern in an environment where you're not likely to get much help breaking the lanes down in a sane fashion. Your instincts are good.

For a quick and dirty answer as to option A or option B, use whichever plays to your natural strengths.

I disagree somewhat with you UC. On the type of pattern and surface chitown is referencing, most (non-elite) bowlers are going to want to play right around the second arrow and will square up because of the old adage "miss right, move right, miss left, move left". Even spraying the ball all over the place, the floor from the gutter to the five board will be largely unmolested for the first 30 feet. UC's point is completely valid, however, if you're going to move out and "point". You'll bring that burn area (from the others) into play sooner and it can make things worse. If the burn area is enough to get you to cross over the beak instead of going to the nose, you can use that to grind out brooklyn hits. It won't be pretty, but score-wise, it can be effective. Score-wise, I'll take a brooklyn hit over a 4-6 every time.

The need to "point" can typically be overcome with slow speed. Ever see Tommy Jones on TV bowling on Shark (longer pattern) berating himself for throwing the ball too fast? Yep

Staying inside of everyone else will be more beneficial if you tend to miss out instead of missing in. Also, even spray-and-pray bowlers tend to gravitate to the same part of the lane in at most a 5-board area towards the end of the pattern. On the pattern described, I mean 8-13 left-to-right at 35-43 feet front to back. If you can stay inside of them in the heads to use the fresh surface and use 8-13@35-43 feet as a (albeit weak) bump area, that's another option that can help create a little forgiveness. Of course, you'll need a ball/speed/release that is reading the lane from 35-43 feet or that whole benefit goes right out the window.

As the lanes continue to break down, this usually becomes the clear-cut option as that area is dried out more. With five to a pair, definitely by the end of game 3.

The last thing to consider might be normal surface wear. Where does the house shot typically play? Bump from the inside as above. The (professional) jury is still out on whether wear areas on Anvilane create more or less friction, but it is something to consider. On a wood or older synthetic surface, this is a no brainer. With enough games, you'll be able to play the normal house "track" for bump. If the house "track" is 8-13@35-43 feet, with the length of oil, the shot can actually over develop into an over-under. That's when the spray-and-pray bowlers will actually help blend the shot.

Have you checked the twig, and I mean the twig twig? You don't know if there's a look there until you try. It is amazing to me how often on a truly flat pattern you can abuse the twig (for any number of reasons) then jump inside after a couple of games to take advantage of the breakdown.

No matter how you slice it, a flat pattern is going to be a grind for the first couple of games. How long it stays that way is a factor of the number and style of bowlers competing on it, but eventually you'll find miss room if you just pay attention to what is going on.

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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King : Kill the back row

Edited on 9/18/2008 12:36 PM

chitown · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:23:56 PM »

Thanks to all that have giving me advice. I totally appreciate it!

NoseofRI · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:35:48 PM »

I really good option is to also ball down a little, something with a weaker core but maybe a little stronger cover (a solid or light load particle) in order to play just inside of every but also play as little lane as possible (avoid covering too many boards left to right).
And even to give you a little hint on how moving right of everyone will work. I crossed a couple lanes over from Walter Ray Williams Jr. at the US Open. Even he couldn't score playing outside of 10. Just some food for thought.

rockerbowler18 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:40:33 PM »

Personally, I'd take the outside edge with a more agressive backend ball.

I would take something that sets up a little earlier, but is more polished for length and backend, then I'd play outside of their track with basically the same breakpoint.****

There are 2 reasons for this.

1. Playing this part of the lane is difficult for ALMOST anyone, so you're not very likely to encounter someone that says "Hey, I'm gonna follow that guy out there, he's scoring!" and then they come out and mess up your line.

2. By the virtue of that type of ball****, the coverstock is going to pick up on their drying exit point (where the ball comes out of the back of the pattern in this case, 43 feet) and as the night goes on, it will become stronger and should hit harder. And, due to the drilling, the ball will start earlier, and thereby the weight block will "coast" the ball into the pocket, rather than throwing it in with a sudden jerk.

****My personal reccomendation for the ball of choice would be something like the old Ebonite Blue Ice (the New Age Bash or Clash), drilled with pin above ring bridge (about 1"), and CG kicked out to get the ball to start earlier, maybe a 50 degree layout to mass bias, with a weight hole on PAP.
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NoseofRI · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2008, 02:00:06 PM »

Rocker, your reasoning makes really good sense, but there's one major flaw to it. WRW Jr. couldn't do it with a LevRG and N'sane LevRG, and he makes a living playing that part of the lane on everything and executing almost exactly the same everytime. Not saying that chitown sucks because i don't know him, but my guess is he can't roll it up 5 nearly as good as Walter.

Typically on longer, flatter patterns inside angles are always better anyways, and if he can stay left and migrate left quicker than everyone else, he'll benifit greater playing this part of the lane. Especially using a weaker core ball, with a slightly stronger surface, maybe even a scuffed pearl ball like one of the vibes.

pinspeaker · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2008, 02:29:36 PM »

Is it a sport league? I'm just wondering why a house would put out a "flat" shot for leagues.

six pack · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2008, 03:34:43 PM »

for the most part I would play inside and try to bump what track there is to offer.tame layouts with some surface to start and change to a polished solid or pearl that is also smooth.if the lanes really open up then you could switch to something more angular.most of the time it depends on who is bowling on the same pair.
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The harder I try the harder they fall

KennyRambo · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2008, 04:45:56 PM »

I'd use a pretty aggressive solid reactive with a rather aggressive drilling starting out playing a small swing from 15-10, and adjusting from there. Always try 3 or 4 different lines in practice to get an idea of what works. Eventually you're going to have to make a jump left.

Mike Austin · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2008, 04:55:51 PM »

None of the other guys are going to play the lines like you? I think I would try a snow tire up the edge at least during practice and try to burn a hook spot off the gutter. If you can get 1-3 other guys doing that you may be able to create something off the edge. Then maybe ball down to something smooth, more medium to stay out as long as possible. If you create even the slightest amount of belly, you should still be right of everyone else.
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Author Topic: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers (Read 1552 times)

chitown

Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

chitown

Re: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

Uncle Crusty

Re: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

CPA

Re: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

janderson

Re: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

chitown

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NoseofRI

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rockerbowler18

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NoseofRI

Re: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

pinspeaker

Re: Lane play questions for the more advanced bowlers

six pack

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KennyRambo

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Mike Austin

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