I was fortunate enough to be in Reno to read the lanes before bowling next month.   As I see it, you have to be able to roll through the heart of the oil without crossing boards. You have to cross around the 20 at the arrows, but to not get the ball past the 14/15.  

On the rightside.

Outside the 10 the ball hangs.  Going down and in between 10 and 16 the ball finishes, but there is very little room for error left or right.  If the ball goes a touch longer down the lane you will ring a 10 pin.  Ease up a touch, the it’s a 4 or 4/9.  The shot is between 17-20.  The ball will slide out a little to the right in this area.  However you do not want to get the ball past the 14/15 board at the break point.  Swinging to 13 is iffy.  You can hit 21/22 to cross this 20 to 17 board area.  Once you go much deeper, the ball starts to hook more.  Basicly inside the 20 the ball starts to hooks more.

Only people with massive hook could try this.  You could cross about 21/22 and get the ball out to 8/9 and maybe 7.  I am talking about guys that palm the ball with medium/low speed.  Out of several hundred bowlers, I only saw one guy that could do this.  One or two others had enough hook, but could not get the ball out to 8/9 consistently.  I you just crank the ball you probably don’t have enough hook.  I am talking Rudy Revs type hook.  

The guy that shot 858 had a ball that was drill with the pin above the bridge and the cg directly below.  Talking to the people at the tournament, that bowler has speed and hand, but he backed off on the hand.

I don’t throw speed, but I do turn the ball a little.  Plan A: A highly polished ball with the pin near the PAP and the cg at in the center of the palm.  Balance hole on the PAP.  Hoping the ball revs through the oil enough to carry and doesn’t hook too much.  Another ball slightly stronger just in case the polish ball goes a little too long.   Plan B:  A highly polish ball with the pin above the bridge and the cg kick to the right.   Trying to get the ball down the lane with enough pop to carry.  Plan C:  Dull particle ball that hooks a ton.  Take all the speed off while turning as much as I can.  Trying to hook the lane.  

Unfortunately, I am not the greatest throwing the ball.  So I may be with the rest of the people trying to cash.  

If I was a lefty.

I would take a ball for medium to medium dry and swing 20-25  out to 13-15.  Basicly playing the rightside oil.  I did not see any lefties doing this, but that is what I would do.  


Edited on 4/19/2004 7:19 PM