Author Topic: Reading lane conditions when you're not warmed up... (Read 489 times)

leftyinsnellville · « **on:** February 04, 2010, 08:06:25 PM »

I've never really learned the nuances of reading an oil pattern. Normally I'll just grab my most aggressive ball, find a line with it during warm-up and then go from there. My problem is that it takes me so long to warm up (getting old sucks) that the way I'm throwing during warm-up is rarely the same as I'll throw it during the actual game.

It's my understanding that most good bowlers use a "benchmark" ball and use it to read the pattern. When I try this, I'll usually just end up throwing my most aggressive ball anyway because my benchmark ball will usually end up skidding (I usually use mid-strength solids as my benchmark), but the reason it skids it because I haven't loosened up enough to get any decent revs on the ball. Any suggestions as to how to use a benchmark ball to get a fix on the pattern without throwing your "normal" shot?
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dizzyfugu · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2010, 04:36:03 AM »

Maybe do some stretching before you even start the warm-up shots?

But I know wyour problem. I face this issue with my traveling league. Sometimes you can scout the house and have an impression what the oil MIGHT be on league day, so the 1st ball choice can be limited.

If I have to find a line "blindly", I do not use my most aggressive ball - it will be a simple reactive piece, either my Renegade for THS and houses with notoriously lighter shots, or my Frankie May Gryphon when I know that a sport shot is out there, the weaker ball visibly skids or brings a broad oil ring back. If it is even the case with the stronger ball, I will switch to the heavy oil ball and from there try to find a line. If I can, I prefer to srat out with the weakest ball that yields a good reaction, because I do not want to switch the ball so often in the long run (avoiding error factors).

What I found most difficult is to judge whether the ball "works" or not - e. g. if it burns up and hits weakly. I found this decision to be the most basic one, before starting to find a line and adjust feet and target for the pocket.
reading the ball makes IMHO a simple benchmark ball so vital, because, once the lights go green, I do not want to keep guessing or fighting against the lane.

Therefore the tip above: do physical warm-up even before you touch the ball. It takes a huge error factor out of the equation!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Author Topic: Reading lane conditions when you're not warmed up... (Read 489 times)

leftyinsnellville

Reading lane conditions when you're not warmed up...

dizzyfugu

Re: Reading lane conditions when you're not warmed up...