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Author Topic: Help with strategies/equipment for opening up a lane...  (Read 731 times)

JessN16

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Help with strategies/equipment for opening up a lane...
« on: December 02, 2008, 02:55:19 PM »
I'm not comfortable playing fourth arrow or left of it, and I'm not really even that comfortable playing third or left of it, but tonight I wish I'd been.

I didn't shoot badly, but I ran into trouble when I couldn't work the track area and the pattern was too inconsistent for me to move right of the track and play straight up.

My house's lanes 3 and 4 are by far the toughest in the center (24 lanes), and no one ever seems to score as well on that pair as they do elsewhere in the house. The problem on Lane 3 is no hold area whatsoever. Anything pinched left has the unique ability to find the middle of the head pin but not cross over. Giving the ball more room to the right just makes it hook sooner and head for the head pin quicker.

Lane 4 seems to develop carrydown, especially if (like tonight) two of the people on my pair were using plastic. Pull a shot inside on 4, and it goes forever.

Literally everyone on our pair tonight aside from one of the plastic folks was playing the same part of the lane, i.e., on or right of second arrow in the front part of the lane.

I briefly considered if I could make something for myself by going left of everyone and playing a much tighter line. But that's not my A-game, or even my B-, C- or D-game. And the equipment I had with me wasn't really set up for it.

My specs are tweener revs, good speed/rev match, righthander, can adjust tilt and rotation but I'm usually somewhere around 75-90 degrees of rotation. I don't know my exact tilt specs. PAP is 4 over 3/8 up. So here are my questions:

1) What equipment surfaces/drillings/strengths (please don't recommend specific balls) is best for opening up a lane?
2) If this had been you, what would you have targeted downlane, and at the arrows?
3) What adjustments would you recommend I make to my speed (I can adjust down to 13-14 mph or up to 17-18), hand positions, amount of hit, etc.?
4) What are the warning signs I should look for before moving, and where should I move once those signs pop up (i.e., flat 10s, etc.)?

Thanks.

Jess
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Help with strategies/equipment for opening up a lane...
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2008, 05:54:50 AM »
Well, maybe there is an equipment remedy. An idea I have (and what works from time to time well for me when I face difficult lanes which have still some good head oil) is particle - a sheen particle ball without polish. When I can Or dont want to) play deep, I like to switch to such a piece and rely on the extra mechanical grip that smooths out over/under conditions due to spotty areas.

Another thing I'd consider is to reduce side rotation. With 75-90°, you have the ball skid through the heads and then break pretty suddenly. Add some oil in the back end, and you can be lucky to get a 150+ together.
Therefore: try staying behind the ball (idea: push the ball with your ring finger and "chase" it down the lane upon release), it creates earlier roll and makes the ball move rather forward than sideways. It will still hook a lot, but you should see an improvement in the back end and also in control and carry. That might IMHO be the simplest thing to try.
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DizzyFugu ~ Reporting from Germany

JessN16

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Re: Help with strategies/equipment for opening up a lane...
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2008, 11:40:18 AM »
quote:
There isn't an equipment solution to fix the problem.  

Start your alignment from the breakpoint back to the approach.  The arrows are just an intermediate target.  Align your body (shoulders open or closed based  on the amount of angle you are playing) to face the target line and keep your shoulders that way all the way thru till the release.  It may feel like you are walking sideways, but you are not.  

A common mistake we all make it to open our shoulders at release to get the ball out ... this is too inconsistant of a move in my opinion and it is hard to repeat unless you bowl 20 games a day.

Pick the right piece of equipment to make the required turn and go for it.  You'll soon find out that you will be able to loft both gutters if you have to if your shoulders are facing the target.

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Thanks. I do have a problem with my shoulders creeping open sometimes, which causes all sorts of problems. My other problem playing deep inside is that I'll "flag" the ball right at release (i.e., my arm swing won't chase the ball, but will go away from the ball to the right), which causes me to throw it way too far to the right and it won't recover.

If I was just leaving 10s when I did this, I'd be OK. But sometimes I miss wide enough to leave a 1-2-4, and that shouldn't be happening on a league shot. I should never miss the headpin on any form of THS.

Jess
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JessN16

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Re: Help with strategies/equipment for opening up a lane...
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2008, 11:41:16 AM »
quote:
Well, maybe there is an equipment remedy. An idea I have (and what works from time to time well for me when I face difficult lanes which have still some good head oil) is particle - a sheen particle ball without polish. When I can Or dont want to) play deep, I like to switch to such a piece and rely on the extra mechanical grip that smooths out over/under conditions due to spotty areas.

Another thing I'd consider is to reduce side rotation. With 75-90°, you have the ball skid through the heads and then break pretty suddenly. Add some oil in the back end, and you can be lucky to get a 150+ together.
Therefore: try staying behind the ball (idea: push the ball with your ring finger and "chase" it down the lane upon release), it creates earlier roll and makes the ball move rather forward than sideways. It will still hook a lot, but you should see an improvement in the back end and also in control and carry. That might IMHO be the simplest thing to try.
--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section



Dizzy,

What kind of drillings do you prefer to use when you've moved deep?

Jess
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