How many of you make adjustments even when getting good carry off an imperfect shot?  That thin hit where the 1 pin came flying across the pin deck taking out anything in its way could be your next 2/8/10 split?  That high hit where the 2 pin bounced off the wall and tripped the 4 pin could be something worse if it hit just a tad higher right?  Even if you're on a 4 or 5 bagger do you take notice and make the adjustment?  How much if any?

I've read that watching your ball exit the pin deck to see if it rolls off the 20 board is good to do.  What about when it doesn't exit the 20 but you still get a strike? In the beginning of a match or during warm up I know I watch the ball exit the pin deck.  But if I start stringing strikes together I'm fairly certain I stop paying attention and start giving high fives and collecting my next poker card.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands or I'm overanalyzing way to much.  Really I'm just wondering what it takes to add another 5 or 10 pins to my average.  I've hit a plateau lately. 

I'm guessing this would definitely help.  Just wondering how many out there actually do it and how much did your game/average improve?       

BACK IN THE DAY, I used to do this. It was not uncommon for me to make slight adjustments off of shots that struck and looked decent to the untrained eye.

 BUT, the important part of doing this is being very sharp, sharp enough to know the difference between a good shot that barely struck, and a bad shot that barely struck.

 If I knew it was a good shot, then I also knew the "loose" carry was not my fault, but an actual condition that I had to adjust to and allow for.

 If it was a bad shot by me, I knew no adjustment was necessary, other than to throw the ball better.

 IF YOU ARE NOT AS SHARP AS YOU NEED TO BE, you will not always know the difference.

 It is actually a weird thing to try and explain. It is a whole different level that, unless you have been there and experienced it yourself, you can't understand what it really means to be at that level, but I know that some of you guys know what I am talking about. That weird level you can get to where you can literally feel such minute differences in a decent release that got lucky, and a perfect release that didn't need to get lucky, and you know the difference instantly.

 It is weird when you get it. Almost like having a "sixth sense" about making moves and adjustments, making other players wonder why you're moving or changing equipment on shots that look good to them, but you know better.

 That place does exist, I've been there, but it is a hard place to get to, and not everybody makes it. Takes lots of hard work, money, patience, and time.
 It is also very hard to maintain that level, as it goes away REAL quick if you don't bowl, even for just a few days.

 Oh yeah, forgot to mention, bowling was NOT FUN at that level. There was nothing fun about it, as I took bowling deadly seriously back then.
 It was far more like having another job than it was like having a sport or game you love playing.

I think I know exactly what you're saying.  I don't know if I can get to that point or even if I want to.  I know I can progress if I make this way more serious than I need to.  I have zero goals of being anything more than a real good house hack. I don't see myself traveling and competing in a lot of tournaments.  I'm just happy bowling in my leagues with my friends.  But I do like winning.....all the time.......lol.  And when we don't win I'm the type of guy that will immediately accept responsibility because I know I can do better.  Even if I have really good game and roll a 240 and we lose buy a couple pins my mind set is "I should have gotten that extra strike for a 260."

So is it worth it the effort?  I don't know for sure. Time will tell.  Maybe I will find a balance and get to a point I want to be at while still keeping it fun.     

The part of the equation Juggernaut left out was talent.  Some people will never get to that level no matter how much time or effort they put into it.

I think Juggernaut said just about the same thing in the second to last paragraph of his post.

Quote from: itsallaboutme on July 11, 2017, 12:03:26 PM

The part of the equation Juggernaut left out was talent.  Some people will never get to that level no matter how much time or effort they put into it.

I think Juggernaut said just about the same thing in the second to last paragraph of his post.

 Thank you, but he is correct.

 I did try to imply some things in my explanation of things, but nothing can replace raw talent. Without it, no amount of work or practice can make up the difference.

 I had a lot of drive, and a minor amount of talent.  I got good, but not nearly good enough to actually compete week to week with the really gifted/talented guys out there making a living at it.

 I thought, once upon a time, that I was. I realize now that I was not.


 Please, do not think I was trying to speak ill of, or belittleing the efforts and desires of anyone, nor was I trying to "ring my own bell" so to speak. Just giving the straight truth about some things.