How in the world can you go into a tournament knowing what ball to use, the pattern could be really low volume.  There are way too many variables to even answer this post right.

Or Try every line!

wow, mr845 - that statement was incredibly ignorant.

The length of the pattern determines where on the lane the ball breaks - whether it's at 30 feet or 50 (US Open is a 50 foot flat shot).

So, what point in the length of the lane determines what position across the width of the lane the ball needs to be at when it breaks. In other words, on the shorter patterns, the breakpoint may be out as far as 2-3 board... On the longer patterns, it may be inside at 12 - even as deep as 15. Lighter volume of oil just makes the shot twitchier...

On the longer patterns, I play straighter, with "older techonology" equipment. For example, on the us open shot, I play straight up 15 with either a Firestorm or a Speed Zone - both don't hook much on a long oil pattern, but they both flip predictably. So straight for 55 feet, then a small 2 board flip, I'm there...

Straighter is greater on longer patterns.


--------------------
--------
There's no point teaching bowling theory at a quilting circle.
--- Breaking News - check out
www.bowlersresourcecenter.com
Our new site is up - please join us!