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Author Topic: Oh, I know this stuff....  (Read 2929 times)

LuckyLefty

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Oh, I know this stuff....
« on: February 16, 2013, 07:23:23 PM »
So today I go to my first tournament in years.  Same house as my league shot.

League shot is 35 feet, and I was told shot would be 42 to 43 feet.  Pretty wet.

First game a disaster.  2nd game 242 with an open in the 10th frame. Threw some other good games in the 6 game set.

What did I not do and what did I do right.  My equipment in general on the 35 foot shot is all diffs of .38 or lower down to my Sonic X with a diff of .18.  Can you say friction?

For this wet shot I had to choose balls I hadn't used in a while all with diffs of .47 or more.  Thought not comfortable with these balls and where to stand by the time I picked up the old time Track Spell 2nd game above(particle I was dialed in almost right away).  I didn't switch quick enough but I then went to the AMF Shred it diff of .54 and a very reactive coverstock.  Played the same line and had energy through the heads and a very powerful backend! 

I tried some of my weaker flare stuff, Tropical Heat, Rotogrip Sonic Boom, and Roto Rising Star.  No can do on this longer shot!

Looking forward to additional rounds of some tournaments coming up!

REgards,

Luckylefty




It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

 

lifted rillo

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2013, 09:19:44 PM »
That's how it is for me sometimes. I have a Track 916AT that I get to use for tournaments only because its drilling and surface make it roll extremely early. I love when I get that much oil at tourneys because I can score big with that ball. Everything else I own (except for a Mean Machine that I can throw on ANY amount of oil) is pin up and polished so I can exploit the house wall.

Nails

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2013, 09:25:53 AM »
Don't be concerned about the specs of your equipment, just know their reactions.  Unless they have the same cover, changing from a ball with X rg and Y differential because of those numbers is ridiculous.

J_Mac

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2013, 09:33:23 AM »
Don't be concerned about the specs of your equipment, just know their reactions.  Unless they have the same cover, changing from a ball with X rg and Y differential because of those numbers is ridiculous.

Especially when those diffs and RGs change once holes are drilled into them...

LuckyLefty

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2013, 09:50:55 AM »
Dramatic difference once I switched...oops.

I should have stuck with the 35 foot stuff ...oh wait....the change worked.  Hmmm?

Thanks for the advice.

Regards,

Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

TWOHAND834

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2013, 10:55:30 AM »
Dramatic difference once I switched...oops.

I should have stuck with the 35 foot stuff ...oh wait....the change worked.  Hmmm?

Thanks for the advice.

Regards,

Luckylefty

You do bring up some interesting points.  HOWEVER....does that mean that a Freeze with its .05 diff be good on a 42+ foot pattern since it is considered a light oil ball? 

FWIW.......not saying this to argue; but more to discuss this aspect of the game for those that may not be as familiar with it.
Steven Vance
Former Pro Shop Operator
Former Classic Products Assistant Manager

LuckyLefty

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2013, 11:34:44 AM »
Well, in all reality, I believe these are sort of basics for many of us longer term users on this site.

I was not in my comfort zone which used to be called if a tournament it was FTL.  Now my comfort zone is a 35 foot shot!

Also there was a hang spot outside 8 on this shot right next to the breakpoint....

So the bowler is trapped hitting about 9 -10 at 43 feet.......Sonic X 18 diff and  Sonic Boom .35 diff balls are leaving buckets and washouts in practice off of the 10 spot.  Drilled moderately strong they produce about 2 or 3 inches of of flare.

A switch to .50 diff balls now produces with similar to slightly weaker drillings about 4 to 5 inches of flare for this bowler.  All of a sudden we are flush and slamming them despite the holes in the ball.(malarky above).  A quicker response coverstock on both the AMF Shred it and (mass bias strong and fast response coverstock)The Brunswick Ulti Max(playable more like 14 to 10 for me).  Also combined with extra flare didn't hurt either.

Despite the holes in the ball, these .50 diff balls flared more and got flush easier than .18 diff balls.  Surprise! 

Twohand, I have the Freeze listed as a .047 diff ball much like my Spell.
http://columbia300.com/products/detail_balls/freeze_blue_green/

My partner used this as he struggles going inside with his Virtual Gravity which would have been sweet.  He did well but even the slightest amount of belly with the Freeze orignal left him with a 5 or 7 count.  (My Track Spell with particle made it much easier!).

We had fun, we learned, we are AGAIN ready for longer oil, despite the holes in our balls!  Probably will continue with at least 3!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS we are aware of this
http://www.morichbowling.com/Education/GradientLineBalanceHole/GRADIENT_LINE_BALANCE_HOLE.pdf
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

Nails

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2013, 12:15:05 PM »
You missed the point about getting caught up in the numbers.  If you had a strong shelled, high rg, low diff ball and switched to a ball, looking for a stronger reaction, that had a lower rg and a stronger differential, but had a much weaker shell, you would get the opposite of what you wanted.  Numbers are all well and good when comparing identical or very similar covers, but mean very little if you're comparing balls from different lines or manufacturers.

Core specs don't tell the whole story about ball reaction.  The cover might be super clean and very strong in the back, or maybe it's very early and rolly.  I'd worry about those things way before what a ball's differential is.

completebowler

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2013, 12:23:50 PM »
Coverstock and cover prep have much mor influence on ball reaction than do core numbers. Also, layout comes into play well before core specs.

If you have say a Crossroad and. Frantic with similar layouts then...then...the specs might be something to look at. But even at that point it is so minor of an influence that how you throw it takes over.

Good luck.

spmcgivern

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2013, 12:28:38 PM »
I understand how a ball with a higher differential (assuming as others have said, covers are at least similar in strength) hit "flush".  But it sounds to me you only wanted to play in one area of the lane and tried balls till you were able to hit that one shot.  You stated your friend had trouble bellying a Freeze.  In that case, he wasn't consistent in hitting his mark of didn't figure out where to properly play that ball.  If you were having trouble swinging the low diff. ball and the ball not recovering, then don't swing the ball. 

But perhaps swinging the ball was the better shot, then congrats on figuring it out.  But without trying to find the line with the other equipment that gets you to the pocket, you never know if you could have scored higher.  Long oil doesn't automatically mean the most aggressive ball you own.

TWOHAND834

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2013, 12:49:06 PM »
Well, in all reality, I believe these are sort of basics for many of us longer term users on this site.

I was not in my comfort zone which used to be called if a tournament it was FTL.  Now my comfort zone is a 35 foot shot!

Also there was a hang spot outside 8 on this shot right next to the breakpoint....

So the bowler is trapped hitting about 9 -10 at 43 feet.......Sonic X 18 diff and  Sonic Boom .35 diff balls are leaving buckets and washouts in practice off of the 10 spot.  Drilled moderately strong they produce about 2 or 3 inches of of flare.

A switch to .50 diff balls now produces with similar to slightly weaker drillings about 4 to 5 inches of flare for this bowler.  All of a sudden we are flush and slamming them despite the holes in the ball.(malarky above).  A quicker response coverstock on both the AMF Shred it and (mass bias strong and fast response coverstock)The Brunswick Ulti Max(playable more like 14 to 10 for me).  Also combined with extra flare didn't hurt either.

Despite the holes in the ball, these .50 diff balls flared more and got flush easier than .18 diff balls.  Surprise! 

Twohand, I have the Freeze listed as a .047 diff ball much like my Spell.
http://columbia300.com/products/detail_balls/freeze_blue_green/

My partner used this as he struggles going inside with his Virtual Gravity which would have been sweet.  He did well but even the slightest amount of belly with the Freeze orignal left him with a 5 or 7 count.  (My Track Spell with particle made it much easier!).

We had fun, we learned, we are AGAIN ready for longer oil, despite the holes in our balls!  Probably will continue with at least 3!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS we are aware of this
http://www.morichbowling.com/Education/GradientLineBalanceHole/GRADIENT_LINE_BALANCE_HOLE.pdf

If it isnt a Freeze, then maybe it is the Cyclone with the higher diff.  I remember one being that because I looked at the shelf talkers for both when I was in my friends pro shop over the weekend.  Even the Freeze at .047; if your friend could not get the ball to read, then that leads you to believe that the difference in core strength on a longer pattern comparing the Freeze to your Sonics was pretty minimal in terms of ball reaction.  That then leads us to believe that coverstock strength plays a more important part than the core. 
Steven Vance
Former Pro Shop Operator
Former Classic Products Assistant Manager

LuckyLefty

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Re: Oh, I know this stuff....
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2013, 03:40:58 PM »
I want to be real clear.

My Sonics could not make it back.  My Spell could with it's .047 diff and particle coverstock.  I could very slight belly.  He with his Freeze could not belly but he had very good backend with it he just had to be careful and be very direct, then he struck a lot.

I have been on this type of shot a lot in the past!  Many moons ago.  The spell has been awesome up to 50 feet(point).  I have also at times used a Battle Zone Bullet and thrown Soft and very direct with it's .047 diff!

With my faster coverstocks and pearlier surfaces and big core I had area late, all diffs over .47!

Fun and  alot more fun if I had switched sooner AND figured out how to shoot at the right side spares faster!

Comfort Zone reestablished and balls picked out!

YES!

REgards,

Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana