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Author Topic: It is my equipment or me? HELP  (Read 895 times)

ctturtle

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It is my equipment or me? HELP
« on: January 11, 2005, 07:55:18 AM »
The last 3 weeks I have been struggling. I'll throw 230+ first game then 190 then 170. Last week second game I X every ball in right lane and 3 opens in left.
I ave 208, RH throw 18+ and I use only Columbia 300 equipment. 1 of the better ave bowlers suggested that I try changing to Storm or Roto Grip because as I bowl I start to hook more and more. He thinks that I need a ball that will go and stay straighter. I am a better bowler when I throw down and in but can swing it if the shot warrants. I move left, right, up, back, tuck pinky, open index finger but, Right now I am just confused?
Charlest I think that you went through or are still going through same type of deal. Is it me or the equipment? Any suggestions? Russ
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a_ak57

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Re: It is my equipment or me? HELP
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2005, 04:00:04 PM »
Always try to change yourself before you go and drop money on a new ball.  What that good first game, followed by worse second ones is telling me that you line up well in the first, lose that line as the oil transitions and you can't make a move to find a new line and strike again, and then your spares get down as you realize you aren't doing well, and the mental game sets in.

And sounds to me like your bowling friend is just making a cheap plug to buy whatever he uses, not a true suggestion.  C300 can compete with Storm, believe that.  And this is coming from a brunswick guy.
--------------------
- Andy


Viva la Brunswick Nation!!
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charlest

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Re: It is my equipment or me? HELP
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2005, 05:38:44 PM »
Russ,

Yes, I did/am going thru a small version of hell in bowling. It is or can be a combination of several factors. The right ball plus the right release on a lane surface + an oil pattern winds up being a matter of trial and error with a whole sh*tload of analysis.

I finally gave up on my normal release and my normal range of balls. The problem, I believe, in my case, was bad old wood and totally burnt out track area on every lane. Unless there was heavy oil (which on this very old wood, appears to look like medium to medium-heavy oil pattern), the lanes play such that the only choice is to play the track area with a small, 1950's style hook.

I wound up using a Monster Slay/R drilled 5x5 and throwing hard, with maybe 150-175 rpms, flat. bent wrist, suitcase style release, thumb at 9:30, fingers at 3:30 or so, "swinging" from 11/12 board at the arrows, "out" to 10 board at the breakpoint. Anything else left a pin somewhere: 4 pin, 10 pin, 8 pin, 7 pin, 9 pin. Even then I left a ringing 10 pin sometimes. Speed was ramped up 2 - 4 mph over my standard speed.

Oddly, in practice that day, around 2 PM, there was what I'd consider normal oil. I was able to play my CrunchTime (drilled 5.5x5, pin over bridge) standing 23/24 hitting 13/14 at the arrows out to 6/7board at 45 or so feet down the lane, hitting the ball (nicely, maybe 350 rpm, 16 or so avg. mph, with my normal speed and revs and watching the ball come back nicely. Shot two 250s or so after a warm-up game. haven't seen that shot in league since October.

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ctturtle

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Re: It is my equipment or me? HELP
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2005, 07:54:53 PM »
charlest, I tried the open hand release and it worked for awhile maybe half of a game. I moved 5 boards L and target 5 boards L, worked for 5 or 6 frames. I tried picking up the speed but left the 2,8,10 and washed out. I started with my spirit drilled to go long, moved in with the Bully.,Tried open hand with Icon300. Even tried to fire my white dot up the gutter. I guess I'll give the suitcase a shot on Thursday when shot breaks down. I too find that the shot is a little tamer when I practice before they re-oil.

ak57- I just purchased the Bully Sept and really don't want to put out for a ball that is comparable to what I have. The only thing I don't have is a pearl. Don't know if that would make a difference.

Bob7- Bob H.-actually my spare game has improved. That is one reason that I think I should be averaging at least 10 pins higher. I think that I am going to start practicing more to see if I am making the right moves at the right time( if can figure it out fast enough)
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ctturtle

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Re: It is my equipment or me? HELP
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2005, 07:56:24 PM »
OH Yeah, Thanks for the thoughts. It gives me some things to think about and work on, Russ.
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charlest

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Re: It is my equipment or me? HELP
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2005, 08:31:33 PM »
ctturtle,

The suticase grip and delivery (if that's what you mean by "open hand" release; I described it specifically above) is not easy to perfect when we (I assume, you, as well as I) have been using a normal stiff wrist/strong fingered, hand-behind-the-ball release for so many years. Also there are tons of slight variations and you must stick with one and one ball speed.  

We talk down to people who use it, but they've been doing it for years. Plus there are transitions, like with any other release. On Monday night, which I talked about above, I had to move left; then I had to target a little further right - the whole normal ball of wax. It just provided me with a smaller more reliable hook and more easily increased ball speed, on tough (for me) conditions.

2/8/10 - means the usual - missed your target, threw it thru the breakpoint or you hit carrydown.
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MSC2471

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Re: It is my equipment or me? HELP
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2005, 09:57:46 PM »
ctturtle: Sounds like you may need to seek out the services of some coaching to see what is going on in your lane condition reading capabilities as well as hand techniques and the equipment/ layouts that you have on your balls. Many times I see in league people are able to come out of the gates storming on fresh oil, but then when the carrydown hits, they don't make the right moves on the lanes or a possible change in ball surface to continue to keep their scores up. I have plans to seek out a coach starting this weekend as I think when you are hitting a wall of some sort an outside objective person can maybe give you the tips and techniques you need to bowl out of this struggle.

Matt
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