Its very difficult to get solid lane play ideas from people when asking for help on playing a pattern. There is a lot involved than just what the graph of the pattern says, for instance: topography of the lane beds, the type of oil machine and oils used, temperature of the center all dictate how the patterns play.
Wood or synthetic, what types of wood or synthetic lanes and their condition. Does the center have lively pins, kick backs, flat gutters. If a place has dead pins or dead pit area, light hits will not strike as much and you need to play the pattern for more flush hits, or get stronger ball roll into the pocket.
There is no way anybody could tell you how to play a pattern, based on their on experience in their own separate center. Its an impossible task.
Your asking for information that means little in the grand scheme of things. You must be able to get onto the lanes and figure out the path to the pins yourself, without any preconceived ideas on how to play a pattern. Unless there is data, or experiences from players who have participated in events in the same house as you, its impossible to come up with a game plan to attack a pattern. Some people will say out, others will say in. Some with your own personal game specs will be able to play it here, and others will be able to play it there based on how their house plays.
The way pros play the lanes, has a lot to do with the characteristics of the house itself, the lane bed, the pattern, the cross, and other factors.
See the ball motion for yourself, bring many different options, try them all in warm up and develop an idea in your mind what the pattern is and then go out and play it.
Look for the ball that gives you the closest ball motion that your eye likes. Every bowler as a motion that they like to see at the pins, the key is trying to find that motion with the arsenal you have vs. the lane pattern. Once you zero in on something, know what balls you can use to either make that motion stronger or weaker. The key is seeing a motion your comfortable with, and then having confidence in your game. Feeling lost = is being lost. Keep it simple, and strike away.
Edited on 12/22/2010 1:47 PM
