I was planning on using a Halo Vision or Sync (both at 2000 and 4x4x1 layout) for S/D, but after seeing clips from the 300's shot this weekend, I'm thinking about making a ball change.  I'm thinking of dropping one of the above and replacing it with an IQ Tour Solid with the same layout and surface prep.

Thoughts? 

Yep that center has a ton of friction. Much more than the Plaza. I also some leaky shots come back. I would wager if the D/S pattern was in the Plaza those leaky shots would be buckets. Or worse.

I bowled this past weekend. The shots are definitely not house shots, but they're much easier to navigate (in my opinion) than what I've seen the last few times out there.

Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.

Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here. It makes sense given the nature of the surface in the main bowling center. Nevertheless, they were playable all the way through.

I wouldn't call this year's patterns easy per se, at least not for the everyday house hack. However, I fully expect the guys and gals who understand ball motion and who can execute/repeat shots to shoot some huge numbers this year.

I bowled this past weekend. The shots are definitely not house shots, but they're much easier to navigate (in my opinion) than what I've seen the last few times out there.

Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.

Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here. It makes sense given the nature of the surface in the main bowling center. Nevertheless, they were playable all the way through.

I wouldn't call this year's patterns easy per se, at least not for the everyday house hack. However, I fully expect the guys and gals who understand ball motion and who can execute/repeat shots to shoot some huge numbers this year.

Thank you for the report. It definitely gives me something to think about.

I bowled this past weekend. The shots are definitely not house shots, but they're much easier to navigate (in my opinion) than what I've seen the last few times out there.

Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.

Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here. It makes sense given the nature of the surface in the main bowling center. Nevertheless, they were playable all the way through.

I wouldn't call this year's patterns easy per se, at least not for the everyday house hack. However, I fully expect the guys and gals who understand ball motion and who can execute/repeat shots to shoot some huge numbers this year.

Thanks. I'm heading out tomorrow, my squad bowls Thurs & Fri (5/6,7).

Team - There really didn't seem to be a really big need to try to carve out a hook spot as the ball recovered from outside from the very beginning unless you really missed. Also, in my opinion, there was noticeably more hold in the middle than we've had since I've been bowling the event. I noticed that on strikes and spares.

Minors - As stated, the outside had friction from the word go for us, much more than has typically been the case during minors. The interesting thing is that the middle actually felt sparkier here.

Think there may be a tad too much friction on the gutter for urethane?  Always take one and double as a spare ball, but was considering taking two as I have an open spot in the bag.  I have had good success in both venues with urethane in the past.

We bowled Monday and Tuesday (5/3 – 5/4).

Most of our team members are 70+ so ball speed has become an issue for several of us plus in my case my knees are shot. I go in for a right knee replacement on Monday 5/10 and the left knee is being done in mid June.

That being said.

I will echo a lot of what Gene said.

I felt there was much more free hook this year than in the past few years. Particularly in the team event. My guess is that the patterns are 3+ feet shorter than in the past.

In team a couple of my teammates that still have decent ball speed were playing around the 7 board with some recovery right and they don’t have a lot of hand. I started around 12 with a little belly to the marker board. My misses were better if they were right. We are in the standard division in team. Several members of the team had spare issues but I think we maybe in the bottom of cashing. I used a venom shock new with out of the box surface.

Doubles and Singles had even more hook. But again there was recovery if you missed a little right. Again we didn’t shoot spares particularly well but with my partner in doubles we are currently in the top 25 in the standard division. I used a roto grip hustle ink shined up in doubles and singles.

It is far from a house shot but I believe an easier sport shot.

I didn’t watch any of the top guys bowling but I think the shot would play a lot like the old cheetah pattern if you had the speed and hand to get out there.

They are really enforcing the mask policy and mask must be worn at all times even when bowling, gaming, or just walking around.

We do have a left hander on the team and his side looked similar.

Pretty much.

Our lefty threw a shot I thought was in the gutter but it hung on and came back and struck.

There were really bad shots that went in but they where from a righty throwing around 10 and missing 5 right and totally missing their release.

I had s couple of shots that in the past might have hung on but get 3 and they got back and would to at least the 3 pin. If you are down the boards at 5 I don’t think you could hardly throw it in the gutter.


In team you only get 6 minutes of practice to try and carve a shot but I think it might be there from the get go. We just don’t have the skills to utilize it.