When the lanes start to break down do you go to a weaker ball and stay right or do you continue to move left with a higher performance ball that'll clear the fronts and then make the turn.

I buy weaker entry level balls and don't seem to use them much. Instead I find myself using the stronger stuff and moving left. What do you do and whats your opinion on this.
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Jason Smith

Okay, I''ll chime in... It depends.

Usually I''ll move in until I get so deep my entry angle gets screwed up.

In the past few months I''ve had good luck staying on the dry with my Avalanche Urethane pearl because it won''t over-react. The "in-between" ball for me is my Slingshot.


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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Edited on 7/19/2010 8:10 AM

Depends on the house and the actual oil pattern.

Since I generally start between the 2nd and 3rd arrow, if I have to get deeper than my ball in-hand can carry, then I'll switch to a milder ball and move either back where I started or further right.

There's no hard and fast rule. It depends more on the oil pattern and the bowler's ability and confidence level. some would rather loft the gutter rather than play 2nd arrow or outside of it.

I've also been in houses where the left side is so dry, I can't even play the 4th arrow, because the ball starts left of 20 board and it is so dry, some balls start to grab the lane before they hit the arrows. Thankfully it's been a while since that has happened.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

When I started bowling, I''d go ever deeper and suffer from splits and poor carry.

Learning to have a game plan, I now prefer:
a) a weaker piece
b) taking hand out of the ball, adding skid and length and pushing the break point further down the lane
c) move outside, to avoid traffic and to find a lane in virgin condition
d) even though it is not easy for me, I try to add speed and keep my release firm and confident, not fluffing it.

I am flexible, though, but I prefer this weaker-and-straighter approach. Not spectaular, but efective. My basic focus is to keep the ball reaction clean (skid/hook/roll) and the entry angle workable, avoiding splits and keeping control over the back end reaction (both concerning over-reaction as well as roll-out). A big hook from deep lines is not necessarily productive, at least with my playing style.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Edited on 7/19/2010 10:13 AM