Stop trying to force it.  Play more direct angles into the pocket, and shoot straight at spares.

One of the biggest mistakes one can make on carry down is trying to overhook the ball.

First off, don't be afraid to get away from the 10 board.  But in the case of higher oil volumes and lots of carrydown, you need to make sure you concentrate NOT on hook, but instead on creating heavy roll.  Putting more rotation on the ball is just going to make it skate through oil more as it searches for dry boards to make its move.  Instead, get your hand under the ball and keep your hand behind it more, which will make it tumble a little more end-over-end.

Take a look at this video of Norm Duke using two different releases.  (Fast forward to the 2:14 mark).  You can see the difference in how his hand comes out of the ball when playing the lanes more direct and when he moves inside to swing it.  You get less change of direction, but more and earlier roll when you keep your hand behind the ball more, which will create much better pin action when facing oilier conditions.

Also, spend some time with a coach if you can.  If you're chopping lots of multi-pin spares, it's partly because you're leaving lots of multi-pin spares.  A good coach should have some pointers for your specific game and some good practice drills that will improve your accuracy and consistency.

Are the lanes flooded so you never get any reaction?  Or are they so dry that your ball dies?  If it is a THS, playing up 10 should be fine, assuming you know halfway what you're doing.

I still assume your multi-pin spares are from overworking the ball, though.  Generally, when you flag the headpin to the left, your instincts tell you that you have to hook the ball more.  So you put a little more hand in it, and next thing you know the ball never moves.  The first few things I learned about bowling on carrydown when I first switched to synthetics are a) I hate the spontaneity. b) The harder I try, the lower my scores (again, overworking myself and the bowling ball.) and c) Aside from convincing the staff to give you a freshly ran shot, there is no magical coverstock, core, layout, pitch, or surface preparation that negates or remedies extreme carrydown.

I suggest experimenting during practice.  Try a few different things step outside the box a little bit.  Try to find something that is a little more effective without sacrificing comfort, and work your way up from there.  With confidence, you'll get it.

back on topic...
agent:  do a 5 x 4 drilling, keep the pin below fingers
special:  do a 4 1/2 x 4 drilling, pin up
double: throw it away    or stack it @ 4" and put a weight hole on VAL and bring weight back to 1/4 side
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Drew Jordan
Columbus, OH
Ebonite | Brunswick

sims_37s:  Won't give you coaching advice (**rolls eyes at others**) I know you're looking for layout help, can't really help you to much there except ask the higher avg. guys what their layouts are or the pro that works there for recommendations. But how about the coverstock prep?  Have you tried taking down the finishes of the arsenal you're throwing? Knocking the polish or lane shine off? Or polishing them or whatever it is causing your lack of hook?  Just a suggestion that maybe you didn't try. If you did, then disregard.
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"The last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it." Rodney Dangerfield



Edited on 12/12/2008 11:40 AM