Hey ya'll--Recently, I've been seeing some very wet/dry lane conditions along with even/flat oil conditions <ie. wet/dry on an older wood house league and even at State, City, & ABT tournaments>
I would normally play a deep 4th arrow shot on even lane conditions....but getting a lot of over reaction. Lane condition dictates any read on hand position, ball speed, etc.
On the wet/dry same thing lots of over reaction...even trying equipment that is laid out and taking hand out of ball is frustrating to say the least.
So, it dawned on me why not play close to the gutter and point ball up at 1-3 with various equipment that will match up to lane condition out there. Why don't we as players use this trajectory on a regular basis?
My carry percentage is usally much better on this line. For me I don't need to hook the ball 15 boards to feel like a he-man. It's easier to stand on 17 or 15 or even 10 than on 40 drifting left or standing in front of the ball return lofting the gutter. Sending ball inside of 5th arrow or 6th arrow na dtrying to hit an almost impossible trajectory to get the ball back to the 1-3 and still carry. I know many will say well "I want to keep the ball in the oil to save energy" or "I can use more dynamically hitting balls playing that deep." If, you aren't a high amateur or tour players I question anyone's ability to play that deep with regular consistency.
In my own case, here is what I have done last few times I did point ball up. Stayed out of terrible games by doing this while most everyone else had a terrible set or poor games. On the super wet/dry house condition in a scrstch league using a plastic Ebonite Maxim I schlocked a pro shop operator while he tried his various hooking balls. I played 4 to the 1-3 pocket shot 243-256-215. Beat him all 3 games while he and others were frustrated by their carry and over reaction. He says afterwards "sheesh get beat by a guy with a $50 spare ball and here I am trying to sell $185 hook monsters.
ABT Tourney very even flat oil. Started with the first 6 using a Midnight Scorcher took hand out on ball played 3 board at lay down point got ball in heavy roll pointed up to 1-3. Changed balls eventually using a Roto Grip Sonic X laid out 0 with pin under fingers CG directly below. Same line.
This point it up line is very easy to hit the more you use it. So why don't you ever see anyone using it anymore? This trajectory was very popular back in the lacquer days with rubber. The more I think about it I think it's an ego thing for most.
For me, I'll be using this line more and more. Like to hear what ya,ll think. How many times have you struggled this year trying to find a line and ever tried this?
Scott
