BallReviews

General Category => PBA => Topic started by: Fuller300 on May 09, 2006, 12:55:06 AM

Title: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: Fuller300 on May 09, 2006, 12:55:06 AM: I have been bowling since I was 10 (17 now) and I carry a 220 average on house shots and I'm aware that's just a house shot. I have also bowled on sport shots, but never a PBA shot, some have said that sport shots were tougher and others have said they were easier. just looking for more input, when I say "PBA" shots I mean the 5 patterns that we see on t.v, It is hard around my area to find a house that will put down a "PBA" shot and i can't locate a league. Any help would be appreciated.

Edited on 5/9/2006 8:53 AM
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: shelley on May 09, 2006, 09:33:41 AM: My understanding has always been that they're slightly easier than sport shots. The PBA did sport conditions one year (2001-02?) and averages were generally down. "People don't want to see pros shooting 200 to win", I've heard. So the PBA patterns are a little easier and averages are in the 215-225 range for the folks on TV. The tournaments were the patterns were sport-compliant had slightly lower averages, especially the US Open.

I think most of it is simply familiarity. Switch to five new sport-compliant patterns next year and averages will drop, but two or three seasons from now, and most will be back in the 220+ range.

SH
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: hammermike2000 on May 09, 2006, 02:09:10 PM: When I played on the PBA Shark pattern, I found it, variably, much easier than a sport shot (especially Junior Gold-caliber sport shots). However, the pba pattern seemed to transition much more than either a house shot OR most sport shots. The difference is, if you kept adjusting correctly to the transition, you always have a good shot.
--------------------
Mike LeViner

BOWL N.C. TOUGH SHOTS TOUR
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: DON DRAPER on May 09, 2006, 09:36:20 PM: i can think of several tournaments where the shot is as difficult or more difficult that a usbc sport shot. the us open has a flat 40' pattern that's more difficult. the tournament of champions uses a unique 50' pattern that's very difficult. keep in mind the players at this level are the best in the world and will find a way to score on difficult lane conditions....
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: Panic on May 09, 2006, 09:50:56 PM: i bowled on the shark pattern once and shot 652. my old house has a very similar shot so im not sure if i was used to it or what
--------------------
Lukas

\M/ METAL MILITA \M/

www.bowlingkingdom.com
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: SRW on May 10, 2006, 07:39:56 AM: greg

i would beg to differ about the ToC pattern being more difficult than a sport shot.

When talking to Mika about it, he said you got 1 of 4 results. That was strike, 4pin, 10 pin or 7-10

He also said that it was extremely easy to hit the pocket. Now looking at the scores they were massive. This just means that it is easier to score, not easier to win remember!!!
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: shelley on May 10, 2006, 08:44:30 AM: quote:
i would beg to differ about the ToC pattern being more difficult than a sport shot.

They talked about that on the show. This year, there was less oil on the lane and the buff-out was drier than in years past. Scores were abnormally high this year, they aren't usually like that.

SH
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: Jeff Carter on May 10, 2006, 10:33:06 AM: First of all you have to understand that the PBA patterns were designed for use specifically in a Kegel Sanction machine. They had a hard time converting the patterns over to the new Brunswick machines this year because the technology is so much different. Any time you use a different machine, different oil products and different cleaner products you will receive drastically different results. Another factor is the "double strip". The regional and national tours both double strip the lanes before the patterns are put out. Even in this case the house pattern "memory" still hasn't been completely removed from the lane. This is why you see the patterns play tighter as the tournament goes along. The more times you strip the lane, the more of the house pattern comes off. The more you get the house pattern off, the truer the patter will play.

Of course the PBA patterns will play "easier" than sport patterns. The ratios aren't even close ( except for the US Open, which is harder yet ). In my opinion sport patterns are to extreme. If they had gone to 4 to 1 ratios i think the whole concept would have taken off in a big way, but that another discussion for another day. My point is that all 5 of the PBA patterns play different depending on lane surface and volume of oil. So be careful to the fact that if you have your home bowling center run a PBA pattern for you to practice on, that may be the same numbers going into the machine, but it may not play like what we bowl on. Also keep in mind that if you don't practice with at least 4 people the pair wont break down like it should. In order to get the true PBA pattern experience you need to :
1. Use a Kegel sanction standard machine ( similar to the machine the regions use )
2. Use Brunswick Absolute Oil products
3. Double strip ( if not more ) at least 2 pairs of lanes
4. Be bowling on a good lane surface ( Pro-Anvilane or AMF HPL )
5. Have at least 4 bowlers bowling on the pair
6. Shoot spares because the polyester spare balls make a difference in transitions

That should get you as close as possible to get you ready to bowl a regional. Now i realize its not easy to accomplish all of this so i don't even recommend it. What i do recommend is to invest your time and money in finding a good coach that can help you develop a versatile physical game and develop a good knowledge of lane conditions and equipment. Then whatever pattern is thrown at you will seem easier
--------------------
Bowl up a Storm,
Jeff Carter
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: DON DRAPER on May 10, 2006, 02:46:51 PM: jeff, thank you for your insights on this subject. it's great to see someone who's had experience in this area share it with others. by the way srw, the last time jason couch won the toc it was on the 50' pattern and no one shot 300 on that pattern at that tournament----i'd say that amounts to a difficult shot, wouldn't you ?
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: shelley on May 10, 2006, 02:51:05 PM: quote:
jeff, thank you for your insights on this subject. it's great to see someone who's had experience in this area share it with others. by the way srw, the last time jason couch won the toc it was on the 50' pattern and no one shot 300 on that pattern at that tournament----i'd say that amounts to a difficult shot, wouldn't you ?

No 300s out of 32 bowlers with a small number of games (remember, it's best three out of five match play) is hardly a big deal. There are plenty of tournaments where no one shoots 300, and that's with way more bowlers (64, plus the rabbit squad who didn't make it) and a LOT more games.

SH
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: kayoung08 on May 10, 2006, 02:59:04 PM: last summer i bowled on a sport shot for practice. this year practice is on the 5 regional patterns. i would say the regional patterns are easier for me. i enjoy the challenge both provide.
--------------------
http://www.myspace.com/gotti13
http://www.myspace.com/kayoung08

www.trackbowling.com
www.startabowlingrevolution.com
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: Jeff Carter on May 10, 2006, 02:59:23 PM: The pattern for the TofC has remained the same, but the Brunswick technology made the pattern play a little different and the lower volume of oil made the pattern play much shorter than 50'. That is the main reason for the higher scores this year. Plus the lane surface is getting older each time they use it, which creates more friction in itself
--------------------
Bowl up a Storm,
Jeff Carter
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: MTFD24 on May 10, 2006, 03:03:38 PM: Jeff, thanks for a great post! Having bowled on both sport and PBA patterns in the same house, I would have to agree that the PBA pattern's "play easier". I believe as jeff states, most that encounter anything other than the "THS" are not getting the true effect, as seldom does the lanes restrip the alleys several times. Also, many of the centers do not have "pristine" lanes to start out with. The one center I have experienced both types of patterns has "old worn wood" beds, and does not play nearly the same as another house that has "good lane beds".
--------------------
The Older We Get, The Better We Were
www.MTFD.com - a NY State Vol. Fire Department
www.BowlWNY.com - local & national stories by Joe Ciccone
http://www.FDracing.com The worlds fastest firemen in the origional Xtreme Games
24 is not my age, IQ, or bowling average, but my firematic number, at least I think that what it is
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: SKIDSNAP on May 10, 2006, 03:26:52 PM: I might be mistaken but I believe the PBA had announced that all Majors would be competed on a Sport Compliant patterns.

As to the 5 regular PBA patterns...I have found them to be much easier than most of the Sport patterns that I have played on. PBA patterns were designed to score if you match up correctly and can stay on top of the transition.
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: SRW on May 11, 2006, 02:38:35 AM: Greg

You were talking about the ToC pattern. I assumed that you were living in 2006, not 2000. ;-)

I was surprised when i saw how high the scores were. Thanks Jeff, for an interesting insight into why the scores have gone up
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: DON DRAPER on May 11, 2006, 04:27:17 PM: actually srw, jason couch won his third toc title in 2002 not 2000. on that telecast randy pedersen mentioned at least twice at how demanding the shot was and that it was no surprise that there wasn't a 300 game shot in the tournament. i e-mailed the pba and they informed me that the 50' pattern used in 2002 was the same pattern they used this past year.
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: SRW on May 11, 2006, 04:53:36 PM: we have had jeff tell us that since they changed to brunswick machine the patterns have played different.

Look at the scores!! for me this does not look like a very demanding lane condition. I have spoken to 2 players who played the event, they said that it was very easy to hit the pocket. So whether it was the same shape, is irrelevant as far as i can see. The scores they were shooting are not shot on what i would call a demanding lane condition. Maybe you think differently

Again, i am not trying to be a smart ass, i am just pointing out what i see from the scores and what i have heard this year it was not that demanding of a lane condition

However the US Open is a very different case
Title: Re: How tough are PBA oil patterns?
Post by: Strider on May 12, 2006, 09:57:39 PM: I guess it's all in what you match up with. On paper, the PBA patterns should be easier than a sport shot. However I bowl on one or the other roughly (they rotate the patterns each time) once a month during singles tournaments. I personally have done better on the harder shots (2:1 Masters and 1:1 US Open) than I have on the PBA patterns. For me, the sport patterns break down in more predictable ways. I get lost in the transitions longer on the PBA patterns for some reason.
--------------------
Penn State Proud

Ron Clifton's Bowling Tip Archive (http://"http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/roncarchive.htm")