Are there things a bowler can do that maximize a bowler's chance of carry, whether there is a decent shot on the lane, or if the shot is completely soaked with very little back end like I had last Sunday.

Rico, you know what you are talking about so much that you confuse me. I intend that as a compliment BTW. So let me see if I understand this correctly. A ball that is rotating more perpendicularly to the direction of travel will not slow down as quickly as a ball that is rotating more end over end? Also, more perpendicar rotation will produce a sharper move at the breakpoint? Does this expand to "more boards covered," or just more entry angle? And what impact does the ball slowing down more or less have on reaction? Thanks for all the input sorry if I am a bother to teach

Wasn't saying you were confusing, you just confused me lol. The bicycle makes a lot of sense. Thanks

Just Rico speaks the truth.  Carry isn't about entry angle created by hook, but about the amount of rotational energy being released as the ball enters the pocket.  A high rev rate with lower axis rotation releases more energy, and thus deflects less, than a lower rev rate with higher axis rotation assuming speed to rev rate is optimum in both cases.  I use to tell people that my biggest carry problem was that I out hooked my rev rate on many conditions.  People didn't really understand then, but it should make sense now if you think about it.  I managed to increase my ball speed, and rev rate while cutting down on my axis rotation, and my carry go better on a broader range of conditions.   Also, the trend to longer tournament patterns shows that carry doesn't drop with the amount of hook, if you have strong low axis rotation.  The straighter guys whack the Wolf better than the high axis rotation guys.       

Look at the tour players.  They are all going with lower axis rotation and smaller hook than was the norm a few years back.  Even Pete has decreased his huge axis rotation significantly, although it is still among the largest out there. 

I am surprised the -31 rule is so far off for we lefties in this house.

Breakpoint for most of on the Port side is right near 5 or thereabouts.  By the -31 rule it should be somewhere near 12 as they say the shot is 43 now....

Regards,

Luckylefty

LL,
    It is my understanding of the -31 rule, which may or may not be 100% correct, that the number it produces is where the ball should exit the pattern.....which may or may not be the actual breakpoint. In your case the ball should be at 12 at 43Ft, but it may be further left than that at the breakpoint, that would be determined by other factors on the lane. If you think of Cheetah at 35ft, the -31 rule says 4, which isn't the breakpoint for most on Cheetah, the breakpoint is usually 1 or 2. But the ball should be at 4 at 35 ft and it is probably close for most as well. And, as I am sure you know, the -31 Rule is not exact, but gives you an idea, a starting point.

Yeah, back when the USBC still published its physical copies of the magazine it had a good article about the proper angle of entry.

Quote from: JustRico on April 03, 2014, 06:12:20 PM

It's all abt creating the proper angles so the bowling ball loses rotational integrity correctly

THIS!

And there are no absolutes...too many variables

Ya that all sounds peachy until you throw it and it doesn't do what the paper says...throw the ball and TRUST your eyes and adjust to that