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Author Topic: Frozen Ropes.  (Read 1417 times)

Ragnar

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Frozen Ropes.
« on: June 24, 2004, 09:42:32 PM »
(accidentally posted in wrong forum the first time - moved it here.)

The topic about old and new bowlers got me to thinking of this. I remember watching Dick Weber, back in the 60's on TV, winning tournaments, throwing the ball pretty much straight down 17, or tighter. Today, if you see a straighter player, they're usually playing out by the ditch and pointing to the pocket. Is there anybody today who could play the same line that Weber used to play (and he wasn't the only one throwing frozen ropes up 17-18) and win? Is it even possible to play that line consistently anymore, given "normal" oiling patterns and modern balls? I have seen, rarely, instances where you could play in this tight for a while, but could it be done most of the time?
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mumzie

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Re: Frozen Ropes.
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2004, 01:49:59 PM »
there have been a few times I've been able to play the "rope" shot up 15-16. Not many, but there are times it's kept me out of trouble, and kept me in play. I may not string a bunch of strikes, but I'll usually have to only shoot corners.
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ThongPrincess

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Re: Frozen Ropes.
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2004, 03:03:14 PM »
Wednesday night i ahd tried everything from outside 5 in to 15 and couldn't get any consistent carry.  I told my coach, he said move inside.  I told him I was already to 15.  He said go to 17.  Guess what...it worked.  The ball held straight and got the mix of the pins for the strikes.  Definitely not a line I normally play.
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cpo_bee

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Re: Frozen Ropes.
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2004, 03:11:11 PM »
Around here the summer is when I get to try this shot A LOT in practice.  Fried heads, massive carry down from lack of lane maintenance. Take a ball with a little surface, break the wrist a little and wing it up 16 or 17.  Sure looks like an old fall back shot, gotta hit high flush or be shooting much ten pins or maybe even a lilly or two.  Great for spare shooting practice.

JohnP

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Re: Frozen Ropes.
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2004, 04:40:48 PM »
That was my favorite line in the 70's.  I can still take plastic and play it, but the carry is poor and the lanes don't help you any.  --  JohnP

ksucat

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Re: Frozen Ropes.
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2004, 05:11:25 PM »
With the scoring explosion we are in now, I doubt anyone could keep pace with this technique.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Weber was popping out 230+ games that the short format tournaments require now.  Most of his era was getting spares and to protect the doubles for a nice 200 game.  I realize he was on one of the highest scoring series ever shot, but I wonder if he was playing a frozen rope up 17-18 when he did this.  Before my time, so I hope some veterans can verify.  If he did play this line during some of the high scoring sets, how did he do it?

I don't recall seeing anyone trying this type of shot in the last 5-10 years.  I have played a kind of fallback shot before, but nothing to the extreme that you are talking about.