O'Neill has the ultimate ball roll for those patterns.  His axis tilt has to be pretty high, and his rotation is relatively medium to low.  This lets him play controllable angles through the front, but get the ball to float so clean.  Most guys that play where he does don't have that much tilt, so the ball reads too early and doesn't continue off the spot.  Most with that much axis tilt have difficulty on the fresh.

He's the best bowler on the planet right now hands down.
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Little known fact:  In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

I do agree that O'Neil matched his capabilities with the right ball for the condition as Charlest implied.  I think overall just Bill being behind the ball and rolling it coupled with great consistency and shotmaking allowed him to control the ball at the breakpoint and read the lane perfectly.  Opposed to the other bowlers who really looked to be getting around the ball.  I thought also that Gomez might have had a better look with the Hyroad had he decided just to throw it harder.

Yeah, watching this show I realized that the show pair was completely different than what everyone had bowled on all week. However, that is part of the rub of the PBA, and you need to plan accordingly. If you are the top seed I don''t see how you aren''t in the stands the first two matches watching the matches, because you will learn a lot more from that than any practice shots you get leading into the match.

However, in spite of that, O''Neill did the right thing and found the ball and technique that worked best for those matches. He found a line and technique that no only allowed him to score, but minimized the penalty when he did make a mistake.

Further, I understand we all make fun of Chris Barnes when he attempts to mimic a style, which is not his "A" game, but which is working for another bowler instead of using his "A" game. I just don''t see how so many guys couldn''t see that the lanes weren''t playing like they did during the week and made the correct ball and technique change.

Congrats to the Real Deal, that telecast will sell a lot of Taboo''s.



Edited on 12/5/2010 10:54 PM

When I watch a metamorphisis like this I always wonder what has changed.

The ball was very floaty to the breakpoint and smooth off the spot.  The solid sure DID look better and smoother off the spot which matched this TV show shot.

Bill O'neill over the last year has seemed to stop his dramatic loop out move at the top of his backswing.  Have you noticed?  

Often when I see something like this I believe it is a ton of hard work....OR a tweak in grip, pitches,  and fit?  Anyone?  Any ideas.

REgards,

Luckylefty


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It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

I actually practiced with Jason Sterner today and we were talking about this.  He did work on tightening up his swing and keeping his tilt up.  This is what makes him so good is the forward roll and tilt he's able to get.  His ball seems to float like the tilters (Gomes, Fagan, Devaney, PDW, Mallot), but because his ball isn't dead on its side he can control the backend reaction.  When he misses he leaves 10s and 4s....not 2/8/10s and greek churches.
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Little known fact:  In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"