Author Topic: PBA pattern advice (Read 1970 times)

Timotheus · « **on:** February 22, 2008, 07:00:44 AM »

I am bowling in my first PBA experience league this summer and am trying to do my homework about the different patterns. So I am asking if anyone out there can help me learn a bit more about these patterns from their experience (or point me towards some good articles or videos about them) so I can learn their characteristics and formulate a gameplan and approach to each pattern and don't just walk in completely blind. I am hoping to find information beyond the quick descriptions of each pattern I seem to find everywhere.

For reference purposes my stats are as follows:

I am a stroker/tweener
I don't know my exact rev rate but I estimate it at about 250rpm
My ball speed is about 15-17mph at the pins
I have a video online (its a month or so old and some of the stuff I was doing wrong in it I have been working on since)
My current aresenal consists of a MoRich NSane LevRG, an AMF Nighthawk and a Colombia Boss. I am currently working on upgrading my older stuff and have settled on either a Black Widow Bite or Buzzbomb for heavy oil, my NSane for medium-medium heavy and a Roto-Grip Neptue or Pluto for light, and I am waiting for my White Dot to arrive which will be for extreme dry and spares.
I do not know what my drilling specs are and I am still learning how to recognize this. I can figure this out and/or provide a picture of my NSane if needed.

Any help anyone can give will be very much appreciated.

NicholasE · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2008, 03:05:59 PM »

www.bowl.com has videos for each pattern with pros annoucing them and telling you what surface and what lines to play. Helpful to start off with but you really won't know what to do till you get out there because everyone is different and the lane type and oiling machine also play a big role in how the lanes will be played.
--------------------
Throwing hambones since 2005.
www.myspace.com/nestes12

Timotheus · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2008, 03:10:51 PM »

Yeah I know that I can sit here and research all I want but until I actually do it all that research doesn't mean much. Basically I'm just trying to learn pattern characteristics so then when I do go in I can already have a plan worked out and make my adjustments from that instead of going in completely blind and wasting valuable shots just trying to find a line that's even remotely close to what I would need.

REvans284 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2008, 11:17:27 PM »

One thing you are definitely going to want to do is learn to get more comfortable playing farther right and closing up the lane in your starting position and delivery (going more direct).

As it has been shown on TV in the last few weeks that getting outside and playing a tighter, direct line you can score and get the ball consistantly where you want it from outside angles on longer patterns. With most PBA experience leagues not being double stripped before the pattern is applied, this also holds true. My fiance (who still bowls youth) also won a JOG qualifier playing around 4-5-6 a few months ago on the Shark Pattern playing a direct line from the outside part of the lane.

She is a little more speed dominant and tends to play direct anyway, but I too am starting to play more and more direct on most of the patterns in our Sunday PBA experience tournaments..

One thing that has helped me when playing out there (particularly outside of 5) is moving my target closer to me and using that to guide the ball to my normal target and break point (dots on lane). I used to be a little tense and scared playing that close to the gutter because I was afraid of ditching the ball (and consistantly tugged the ball left when I tried playing out there). But when you move your target close to you like that it's easier to get comfortable, hit your target where it normally is if you use it as a guideline to get to your old one, and get the ball into a roll sooner because you typically set it down on the lane sooner too when you do this. I don't know about you but that is just something that has worked for me.

Also, Plastic spare ball!!!! And going straight at every spare you can.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 2/23/2008 0:19 AM

Strider · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2008, 11:31:23 PM »

http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=164784&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5

If you have your preferences set back as far as possible, you should be able to see all the posts.

Try to keep the pocket in play to leave spares you can make. Throw straight at spares. Use the PBA's information as a guide, but take what the lanes give you. In general, use somewhat tight lines. A lot of head belly usually spells trouble. A little surface and less flippy equipment is helpful.
--------------------
Penn State Proud

Special thanks to Lane#1 for donations to two consecutive Ballreviews Get Togethers.

Ron Clifton's Bowling Tip Archive

wulfpackbwlr · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2008, 04:09:21 AM »

The advice and links you have been given are pretty much right on. What you see on tv may not hold true. I've been fortunate enough to have our collegiate practices after the pba league in which I bowl so I had extra chances to try out other lines. For me, I was able to play every pattern outside...even the shark. Don't be afraid to go WAY outside and to play direct. It took people a while but finally they started watching me during league and quite a few have improved their averages on the conditions. No, I'm not trying to boast, just stating the facts. If you see someone scoring on a pattern, watch them throw a few shots and don't be afraid to move and try what they are. Main thing...MAKE YOUR SPARES!!! That by itself is why I'm averaging 208 on them right now. I throw some strikes, but I make the majority of my spares.
--------------------
NC State Bowling Team
http://http://clubs.ncsu.edu/bowling/index.htm
email: wolfpackbowling@yahoo.com
Please contact if you attend NC State and want to bowl or want to make a donation to our broke team.:-)

Timotheus · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:15:45 AM »

Yeah spares are always key, which is why I got the plastic ball from my free ball league instead of upgrading because I knew that if I wanted to bowl on PBA patterns I was going to need it. I'm not afraid to try new styles of play and new lines, in fact its something I've been practicing in my non-sanctioned league and in open bowling, so moving way outside and playing an almost direct line (like Barnes did a couple weeks ago) is definitely something to try.

Thank you all for the help so far, and anything other advice you or anyone else can give will be greatly appreciated.

John D Davis · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:28:48 AM »

Looks to me like you dont have any problems getting revs on the ball. So I feel you should take that brace off and trash it. Men dont need stuff like that. On the PBA patterns you need to feel the ball as best as you can. The least grip pressure is the key and wearing braces is hard to feel that! The players with the softest hands are going to do the best.

Timotheus · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:55:10 AM »

Yeah revs aren't a problem, and the brace was something I was using way back when I was younger and throwing a 16lb ball when I weighed 120lbs. I've been using it still because its what I was used to, but I've also started working on getting used to throwing without it.

backswing_aplenty · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2008, 10:32:27 AM »

Timotheus:

Straighter is always greater on these patterns and for most that's the hardest part. We're all used to the recovery to the right on our THS and that's what's missing on the PBA patterns. Also, all the patterns play differently on each surface and at each center, be open to the outside line as well as a deeper line than advertised.

wulf:

Not all the patterns can be played outside all the time. At several houses in my area there's so much friction that all the patterns had recovery outside of 5. In another house there's zero recovery outside of 5 on any pattern, even Cheetah which had to be played inside of 10.

Take the PBA experiences as what they are; an experience. The main point these patterns is that they are a tougher than our THS. They will make you think and force you to repeat on a higher level than the house shot.

Most of all have fun with them.

(And pick up your spares!

)

*backswing
--------------------
*...Got the 5 out clean!

To prove I'm real

270-2931 http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=270&ms=2931&s=2005-2006

REvans284 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:08:48 AM »

quote:
Timotheus:

Straighter is always greater on these patterns and for most that's the hardest part. We're all used to the recovery to the right on our THS and that's what's missing on the PBA patterns. Also, all the patterns play differently on each surface and at each center, be open to the outside line as well as a deeper line than advertised.

wulf:

Not all the patterns can be played outside all the time. At several houses in my area there's so much friction that all the patterns had recovery outside of 5. In another house there's zero recovery outside of 5 on any pattern, even Cheetah which had to be played inside of 10.

Take the PBA experiences as what they are; an experience. The main point these patterns is that they are a tougher than our THS. They will make you think and force you to repeat on a higher level than the house shot.

Most of all have fun with them.

(And pick up your spares! )

*backswing
--------------------
*...Got the 5 out clean!

To prove I'm real 270-2931 http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=270&ms=2931&s=2005-2006

I have found that I can play areas on Sport Conditions that I cant play on our normal house shot. Again the area you live in and conditon the lanes are in dictate, but where I'm located most of the centers have had a make over within the last 2 years and 2 of which are Brunswick Pro Anvil, and the other is synthetic lanes too but are AMF. Not sure what they are.

On our normal house shot I can't touch 5-out really unless its plastic, even with urethane. But its not real jumpy, its an early burn hook you feel compared to the more sharp violent move you see with wood or older surface. All in all though, its your normal THS top hat pattern just about everywhere here.

In the house that has the tournaments (the one with AMF stuff). I can't get hardly any recovery playing the track area reguardless of how tight (between 10-15) I play in most situations on our wall. I got the Cheetah ok, playing straight up 10, but thats the only one I've had success doing that on.

I can use something dull, and play a somewhat inconsistant line deeper and tight when they lay the longer patterns, but the heads go so quickly because of the traffic in there its hard to get a ball down lane without it burning up, and your normal resins will clear the heads ok, but dont seem to want to finish through the oil down lane.

I've found my best looks playing up the boards or pointing it a little around 3-5 or in a little farther but direct around 5-7. It feels a little awkward either going straight up or moving your break point inside your initial lay down point but if it works do it.

Theres only about 4 bowlers (including myself) that I have seen get out to the gutter and play a more direct line (one of which is a lefty, and is out there usually anyway), especially on the longer patterns, and out of those 3 other guys they are usually the ones that are around at the end. Its alot easier to pick up a 2-8, weak 10, or 5 pin than it is a 1,2,4,10 or some other nasty leave. And while they aren't killing the shot (I believe last week on Viper the highest score was a 238 in the whole tournament). They are consistantly keeping the ball in play from pair to pair and staying clean (the most important thing) so they shoot no less that 180-190 most of the time.

Play tight until they open up a little, then you can loosen up. Dont over think the situation, and cover your spares.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 2/23/2008 12:13 PM

Timotheus · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:08:55 AM »

So far all this has been a great help, thanks a ton!

Now my next bit of research is looking at how each pattern is laid out, where the oil is on them and what each one's characteristics are. Would it be possible for anyone to list each pattern and provide any information?

badnuzjr · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:16:16 AM »

You can always find the real patterns on the PBA website and you can also find info here...

http://www.bowl.com/sportbowling/pbaLaneConditions.aspx

Just click on the informational flier.

However, I would ask for the sheet from the lane's oil machine. In our PBA league they handed out the sheet from the machine so you could see the pattern they put down. Simply because it doesn't always match the true PBA pattern exactly.
--------------------
Bad Nuz is Good News

High Game USBC: 255
High Game Unsanctioned: 298
Me bowling
My Bowling Scores/Stats

Timotheus · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:26:35 AM »

Yeah I've been looking at different graphics and descriptions, but those can be pretty general and I am hoping to find something based more on a personal experience. Those sorts of things are often more helpful.

The guy I was talking to that mentioned this league to me was talking about the machines the different houses use too. He was saying that the house he and his pro shop are in, and that the league is in, is the only one in the area that uses the actual machine that the PBA oil crew uses so the pattern will be much closer to the PBA specs than the other sport leagues around here are.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:34:50 AM »

Here's what I learned so far:

1. Be observant and experiment and don't hold anything to be an absolute fact. What works for one person in one bowling center has nothing to do with you in yours. You have to trust yourself and see what is happening and react to it each week.
2. Don't get caught up thinking you have you use a certain kind of ball on a certain kind of shot. Have a variety of ball reactions to use and be ready to play around with the surfaces to find what works for you on a given pattern. Differences in ball reactions are really going to show up here.
3. Shoot more types of spares with a plastic ball. If you can make a lot of spares, you are probably going to have a really good chance to win most of the time. If someone is struggling and you can make spares, you can more often than not grind it out and win.
4. What other people are doing (what type of player, equipment, which line they are playing) will change the lanes a lot more. It has taken me a while to realize this.

To give an example... We played the Cheetah in this current house and I was used to playing it somewhere else. The gutter was very difficult to play and everywhere else was flying. Everyone was trying to use weaker equipment like you are "supposed" to but even the top guys were struggling. Well, it turns out that when people starting going to more heavy rolling equipment suddenly the gutter became easy. I wouldn't have thought to use a dull "heavy oil" type of ball on this but it totally made the difference. I learned to stop thinking in terms of oil volume and length and just use the various different reactions I have and see what works best.

Don't get frustrated either because sometimes it is rough to start out but by the end of the season everyone is going to be improving. If you have any kind of accuracy you will be fine. Enjoy because it is extremely fun.

--------------------
Tom Cruise has officially reached Michael Jackson status.

Author Topic: PBA pattern advice (Read 1970 times)

Timotheus

PBA pattern advice

NicholasE

Re: PBA pattern advice

Timotheus

Re: PBA pattern advice

REvans284

Re: PBA pattern advice

Strider

Re: PBA pattern advice

wulfpackbwlr

Re: PBA pattern advice

Timotheus

Re: PBA pattern advice

John D Davis

Re: PBA pattern advice

Timotheus

Re: PBA pattern advice

backswing_aplenty

Re: PBA pattern advice

REvans284

Re: PBA pattern advice

Timotheus

Re: PBA pattern advice

badnuzjr

Re: PBA pattern advice

Timotheus

Re: PBA pattern advice

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: PBA pattern advice