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Author Topic: Technology vs. Skill  (Read 1644 times)

BornToBowl

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Technology vs. Skill
« on: December 22, 2004, 07:18:00 AM »
Dear Reader,

    Recently I've read a bowling book by John Jowdy. I've gained many immensely helpful and amazing tips. It truly has raised my average. I was amazed at the improvements I've made when I was willing to accept new ways of doing things and change. With this improvement, I, because of hearing people complaining about this ball isn't good or that the lanes are stupid, began to question myself. "Should bowlers blame everything on lane conditions and new pieces of technology? If yes then what is the meaning of bowling? Wouldn't this attitude toward the sport be deteriorating?" I believe that conditions and bad reactions are part of the many challenges unique to our sport, bowling. It is the bowler that's suppose to work together with their equipment and conquer their problem. NOT depend on technology and cried their head off when their frustrated with current problems. Too many people these days buy a whole bunch of bowling balls and throw the ones they think are useless away. Even pros don't need 5 balls in a bag. If you're a good bowler then you should be able to "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!". Every ball has it's power seal within. The only problem is the amount of intelligence and understanding of that particular ball to unleash the power within. That is the truer than true truth of bowling or any other sport. Sure, new technology is a great thing and a helpful assistant. But in the end it is the athlete that should be the one winning. NOT their EQUIPMENT! I'm sorry if I've offended anyone. But I think it is important that every bowler should realize this point and spend a little bit of time reading and analyzing rather than stay in the same not-the-best stage their in. Thank you for your time.

-Patrick
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BornToBowl

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2004, 06:17:32 PM »
comments are accepted and allowed. So don't be scared.
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DukeHarding

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2004, 07:36:19 PM »
quote:
Even pros don't need 5 balls in a bag. If you're a good bowler then you should be able to "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!".



BornToBowl,

So you think a "Pro", (I imagine you means touring pro), could compete against the "best of the best", with what? One ball?
That's pretty funny. Besides that one statement, I wholly agree with what you are saying. If you want to really learn the game, read and apply the contents of Larry "The Professor" Mathews' book: "The Pro Approach". The ball section is outdated, but his lane adjustment methods are  eye-opening.
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Duke Harding
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cgilyeat

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2004, 08:07:40 PM »
quote:
Dear Reader,
...
Even pros don't need 5 balls in a bag. If you're a good bowler then you should be able to "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!".
...
-Patrick


Tell you what, Patrick,  go bowl a couple of PBA Regionals or enter a Tour PTQ and then tell us that the "pros don't need 5 balls in a bag"
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stanski

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2004, 10:04:59 PM »
They don't need 5 balls in the bag, but when carrying one ten pin means the difference between qualifying and missing the cut, you can be sure as hell that they will want the optimum peice of equipment with the optimum release. I knew the brother of a pro, talked to the father a few times. He always said, the difference between my son and walter ray is the carry of one strike a game. if he can figure out how to carry that extra strike a game, he'll be one of the top bowlers in the game. I guess he didn't figure it out, as he's now a rep for roto-grip, nothing wrong with that!
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stanski
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BornToBowl

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2004, 12:25:20 AM »
Thanks for replying.
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BornToBowl

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2004, 12:26:43 AM »
Really pros don't need to have five balls. I firmly believe that. Read some books.
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MSC2471

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2004, 03:50:58 AM »
Gaining consistent scoring with only one or two balls if you plan on bowling in a variety of houses through the year on modern lane conditions will be difficult. Lane surface and lane maintenance has changed so much through the years, modern equipment blows holes in the oiling patterns and you can be forced to change from medium/heavy oilers to medium oilers to sometimes light oil balls depending upon how often the lanes are re-oiled in a given tournament. I do agree that solid technique will usually win a tournament over modern equipment, but on a typical house shot pattern I think that anyone with modern equipment can overshadow a skilled, split the board bowler.

I see many bowlers in both leagues that I bowl in get frustrated when they don't shoot what they think they are capable of, and the two easiest areas to place the blame are on lane conditions and the equipment not working to the way they would like it to work. I learn more from when I grind it out for a high 500 series in my Tuesday league than I do when I shoot 750 plus in my Monday night league.

Pros 20 years ago may have been able to get away with no more than 5 bowling balls at their disposal, but if you went to a tournament for a full week and saw what happens with the lane oil transitioning from game to game on each pair you would understand the need for more equipment to keep up with the scoring pace.

Matt
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sheppy335

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2004, 06:22:48 AM »
I agree with the fact a Pro could bowl with one ball in a normal tournament or league. But when it comes to a National Tournament when your livelihood is on the line i am bringing 5 to 6 balls. Even for us bowlers that bowl on tough conditions it is easier to switch balls then play a funky line we are not used to. I am not suggesting that we bring 5 to 6 balls for league night, but if you bowl intournaments you need them because things change. But someone who blames the lanes or the equipment is wrong it is still the person throwing the ball that is doing it wrong or reading he conditions wrong. Now a days when i bowl bad it is cause I threw a crappy ball all night long not cause the lanes suck or the pattern wasn't right for the balls i brought with me. Nope it is cause i sucked and i need to stop doing what i did that night to get back to bowling well. Let me tell you i used to struggle mightily on drier lanes with fast backends cause of the way i held the ball and a weird move with my head when i released the ball. After working with my coach and untucking the pinky and keeping my head perfectly level or almost i am more consistent on drier lanes and lanes with fast backends. I also was taught to read the lanes better in that situation not keep chucking the ball harder and getting mad.
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!

Sheppy
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!

Sheppy

pin-chaser

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2004, 07:48:15 AM »
The ability to require less bowling balls is directly proportionate to the tools you posses in your toolkit. These tools are the abilities you have mastered to alter the balls reaction. Some examples of these are: ball speed adjustments, release adjustments, leverage adjustments, timing adjustments, loft adjustments...etc. All these when perfected alter the way a particular condition and equipment play together. Certianly the top pros and some top amatures have these and many other skills down cold. It becomes the principal of how dedicated are you to mastering the skills required. It is simply easier for many to keep changing balls to obtain a reaction than to have to manufacturer it using your skills.

Lastly and Firstly, the skill of reading and understanding what is happening on the lane surface is paramount to determining the changes you need to employ to prove you with the best reaction you can have on any condition. Until you have mastered this then all the tools and all the equipment means nothing..it will be a guessing game.
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BornToBowl

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2004, 05:10:09 PM »
Thank you so very much for everyone's input on this subject. For those who keep talking about the number of balls. Excuse me for being ambiguous, but I never say or mentioned using one ball now did I? Read my post again and see if there's any sentence that states so. I just said people should depend more on their skill than in their equipments. ALOT of you COURTEOUS advisers pointed out some great points. I thank you for that. But for those who attack me as if I'm your most hateful enemy, I can tell you it's not necessary. I suggest for those who've attacked me to only use enough words and strength to propose your point and not over, because it's always good to leave some room for misunderstanding. Thanks again to all of you who have contributed your opinions.

Sincerely,
Patrick
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BornToBowl

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2004, 05:29:00 PM »
Bob7 by your reply I can tell that you must not be a mentally strong individual. You're only physically strong. Sorry, it's kind of obvious.
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BornToBowl

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Re: Technology vs. Skill
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2004, 01:30:14 PM »
Dear Bill,

     True John never said that using one ball. But I never mention anything about not being able to use more than one either. Although it was word by word, but John did implied that skill inevitably be the ultimate source of success when everything is going wrong. And about carry and all other technical factors you should read the book again. Maybe then you'll find your answers. THank you for your input. Have a nice day. Don't take it too serious, like you've stated in your post.

Sincerely,
Patrick
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