Author Topic: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern (Read 23179 times)

bradl · « **on:** March 01, 2013, 02:00:23 PM »

Question for you all.

Next week, I have a tournament I'm bowling in that is going to have Kegel's Middle Road pattern laid out. This will be the first time I've played this shot, so I'm wondering where to play and how to line up for it.

Trolling the internets to see what I could find, I came across this:

http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/10992-Kegel-middle-Road

which someone had tried to apply the Subtract 31 formula to the pattern. For that, have a look here:

http://bowlingknowledge.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=46

Using that formula this tells me that the exit point of the pattern should be the 8 board, and that is regardless of how much oil is put down for the pattern (there are 2 Middle Road patterns).

But Mo Pinel is stating otherwise. Again, from the first link:

Quote

The subtract 31 formula just gives the exit point of the oil pattern. Mid. road length is 39' so the exit point would be the 8 board.

Using Mo's breakpoint formula
Mo: "Read the pattern pdf and find the corner of the highest red bar. Subtract 3 and that's where your breakpoint should be to start. Take the length of the pattern minus 31 rule and shove it. Not accurate."

For Middle of the road the corner of the highest red bar is on 14, that put's your starting point for the breakpoint on 11.

I'd say start there and take your benchmark ball throw it and make any necessary adjustments (Ball, line etc.) from there. Most talk about that pattern have put the breakpoint around 7-8 just past the end of the pattern.

So I'm seeing two different ways here that this should be played. How would you play it? I'm lucky in the sense that this tournament is for our district, but will be held at the house my league is at, and they are going to lay down the pattern for practice during the week. But for those not being able to make it to that, how would you line up and play this pattern? and does having 2 patterns for it (one 40uL, the other 50uL) make that much of a difference?

BL.

makpa · « **Reply #1 on:** March 01, 2013, 02:26:23 PM »

We use 3 different patterns at my house where middle road is 1 of them. The center is a 5 year old Brunswick pro anvilane and no worn track. very few people have a look from outside 6 and the best look is breakpoint 7-8,

There is several ways to play the pattern depending on style. You can go straight or hook the Whole lane from start but keep the breakpoint the same.

TWOHAND834 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2013, 02:58:34 PM »

For me and my rev rate, I found out that straighter is greater. I started out with something that was really controllable on the backend and played around 12-13 at the arrows out to about 8-10 breakpoint and had a really good look. When I tried to play a little more swing, out towards 5, the ball wouldnt quite make it. As the lanes transitioned, I also realized that the more I tried to go inside out with my line, the more trouble I got into. I stayed with something pretty controllable and I finished at the end of 9 games playing around 22 out to about 15. Bear in mind that this was a tournament and not 3 games of league. Scoring was decent but not a score fest. The winner averaged 222 for the 9 games. I finished second place less than 10 pins behind.

I wish centers would use this pattern in some of their leagues as the shot is plenty fair but just a touch flatter than a typical house pattern.

bradl · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2013, 03:06:04 PM »

Thanks, guys.

From what you're telling me, wheeling it may not be the best thing here until the pattern start to break down, and that's barely wheeling it at that.

Basically, close the shoulders down, give yourself roughly 7 - 8 boards to swing, keep that area in mind, and adjust with it.

Next question: Ball recommendation. You mentioned controllable. So skid/flip would be out of the question here. Would you say something smooth through the heads then has the continuation at the backend? I have a good idea of how to line up now, and while my arsenal is versatile, I don't want to run into the problems with over/under carrying the 10 pin.

I'm thinking of starting out with a kicked-out Challenge, then as the lanes transition, move with it, or ball down to a Mission Domination/250K (benchmark ball), and see what I get..

BL.

TWOHAND834 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2013, 03:21:59 PM »

Quote from: bradl on March 01, 2013, 03:06:04 PM

Thanks, guys.

From what you're telling me, wheeling it may not be the best thing here until the pattern start to break down, and that's barely wheeling it at that.

Basically, close the shoulders down, give yourself roughly 7 - 8 boards to swing, keep that area in mind, and adjust with it.

Next question: Ball recommendation. You mentioned controllable. So skid/flip would be out of the question here. Would you say something smooth through the heads then has the continuation at the backend? I have a good idea of how to line up now, and while my arsenal is versatile, I don't want to run into the problems with over/under carrying the 10 pin.

I'm thinking of starting out with a kicked-out Challenge, then as the lanes transition, move with it, or ball down to a Mission Domination/250K (benchmark ball), and see what I get..

BL.

Also, from what I remember, is that when I went to something stronger, the backends were very clean. So I took skid/flip out of the equation altogether. There were a bunch of bowlers that were using balls with surface so the track seemed to break down rather quickly. I would pay attention to what others around you are using as well and how they are scoring. The guys that used really aggressive stuff seemed to struggle most of the day as the lanes broke down. I attribute that more to ball choice than anything. Definitely take some weaker stuff with you. If you have something like a Freeze, Cyclone, or Tropical Heat with you, make sure you take it. Main thing....is just make sure you keep your lines straighter in the beginning with something you can control and then make adjustments from there.

bradl · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2013, 06:25:35 PM »

Got some practice time on this pattern today.

Mo called it right. After warming up, I took out my benchmark ball (Mission Domination/250K) and lined up as I would with it on a THS (line up left foot on 23, 11 at the arrows, 8-9 at the breakpoint). I was expecting it to turn off the spot, but in fact, thanks to the heavier volume of oil, it came up like a down-and-in shot, and held the line. Had me scratching my head, as that was not what I was expecting to happen. But I was indeed close..

But seeing the decent line, and seeing that ball speed was the problem, I slowed down, moved 2 and 1 left, stayed behind it, and saw the reaction I was looking for. 258 with the benchmark ball.

Balled up to my Challenge, moved a bit more left, and put Mo's formula to the test: feet at 27, target 14 at the arrows. spot on for the entire block, so I think I'm good here. Skid-flip had no chance, as I saw a couple of people struggle with the !Q Tour Pearl on the same shot, not realizing that there is OOB on that pattern. They were going more direct than me as well.

So for me, the key is slow down, Mo's breakpoint formula, and stay behind it, so I think I'm set on this pattern. Thanks for the advice here, guys. I appreciate it!

BL.

Author Topic: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern (Read 23179 times)

bradl

Kegel's Middle Road Pattern

makpa

Re: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern

TWOHAND834

Re: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern

bradl

Re: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern

TWOHAND834

Re: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern

bradl

Re: Kegel's Middle Road Pattern