YABowlingT: First time bowling on a sport pattern.

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
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Lil' background info; been bowling for about 1.5 years. Have a coach I meet with regularly. I carry a 175 average in my house-shot leagues.

Tonight I bowled my first "tough shot" league. It's not an official PBA sport pattern, but it is far from a house shot. Basically flat oil from edge-to-edge running out about 39 feet.

My series was a 350. I actually bowled a 94 in my first game. I never could get the hang of it. It's amazing how much forgiveness the house pattern affords.

To make things worse, I had new thumb inserts put in my pocket and spare balls just yesterday. They were too tight in the end and I tried sanding them out myself. I did a horrible job and I couldn't even use my plastic spare tonight.

My thumb is blistered and broken at it's base just from the three games. I'm really kicking myself for making that last-minute change.
 

Saint Nick

Lifer
Jan 21, 2005
17,722
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I have no idea how sport bowling is different than just going to the alley and playing a few frames. I always secretly wanted to get into it but some of those guys that play are just bananas.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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flat to 40 patterns are a PITA. They change drastically though the games, especially if anyone else is close to using your line. With only 1.5 years under your belt, I am not surprised taht you rolled a 94. But I am very impressed that you have been bowling for 1.5 years and have a 175 average. that is exceptional for so short a time.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
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I bowled a 299 in Wii bowling. Missed the last pin on the 12th frame. Good enough for me. Real bowling's too expensive.
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: NightDarker
I have no idea how sport bowling is different than just going to the alley and playing a few frames. I always secretly wanted to get into it but some of those guys that play are just bananas.

A house pattern typically has a lot of oil in the center of the lane gradually decreases towards the outside until it's quite dry at the edges. Also the standard house shot run oil out to around 40 feet. This gives a consistent break and/or exit point to work with at any bowling lane you go to.

These dry edges give a wall of friction that will recover a poorly thrown shot or allow for a strategy that plays off of the dry outside. Also knowing exactly where the oil ends is great for determining your exit point into the pocket.

With the sport patterns, oil is laid down in various configurations that increase the difficulty. In the case of my tough-shout league we basically have an even layer of oil from one edge to the other.

Also a major factor is the other people sharing the lane with you. The way they throw their ball, and the kind of ball they use. All of these factors contribute to the "break down" of the original lane pattern to something else entirely. Oil is moved, absorbed, carried, etc. throughout the series.
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: Evadman
flat to 40 patterns are a PITA. They change drastically though the games, especially if anyone else is close to using your line. With only 1.5 years under your belt, I am not surprised taht you rolled a 94. But I am very impressed that you have been bowling for 1.5 years and have a 175 average. that is exceptional for so short a time.

Thanks. I appreciate it, as I've been working my a$$ off to figure this damn sport out.

Tonight was a complete eye opener.

I've got to figure out how to use a house-pattern to practice for playing a sport-pattern. I can't find a lane in my city that will dress them for practice, and my local house won't let people practice on them claiming unfair advantage.

I'm also going back to the drawing board on span and pitch. I've never felt fully comfortable with my setups, but I've been unsure how/what to ask for. I'm starting to get an idea of what I need.
 
Aug 10, 2001
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Loft the ball 40 feet and you won't have to worry about oil patterns.

The PBA Tour has all those elaborate patterns (Cheetah, Scorpion, Viper, etc.) Yet the simple flat oil pattern (used for the US Open) is the hardest.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: Random Variable
Loft the ball 40 feet and you won't have to worry about oil patterns.
That is actually recommended in some instances. Not 40' mind you, but you can be more consistent if you simply bypass the first 15'-20' of lane.
Originally posted by: Random Variable
the simple flat oil pattern (used for the US Open) is the hardest.
That is also because all the PBA patterns have the heavy oil on the inside and are dryer to the outside. The oil isn't heavy to 40' at the edges, it is closer to 20-30' down lane.
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
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What really pisses me off the most is that I cannot practice this pattern. My local lanes won't dress it during the week claiming that it is an unfair advantage to those who live close by.

They won't even dress a similar pattern for practice. They won't dress a completely different sport pattern either. What the hell? It's like they don't want anyone to improve. I have no clue how I can get better at something without being able to practice on it.

I called around to other lanes in my area. Only one other house does a sport pattern (PBA Experience) but they don't allow practice either. :|
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: Rubycon
Southpaws > you. ;)

Or learn to throw a backup ball. :p

Yea, the lefties had things a bit easier. At least in terms of break-down.

As far as my ball arsenal, it wasn't that I didn't have my plastic spare with me. I made the mistake of getting new inserts just the day before and I had them made too tight.

I tried sanding them out to fit, but I screwed it all up. I killed the bevel on both thumb holes and I never got the spare to fit right. So i had to shoot my spares with my pocket ball. Even up the back this was futile.

I will be getting a couple older balls re-drilled with some new layouts over the summer to see how they react.
 

NoCreativity

Golden Member
Feb 28, 2008
1,735
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I had the blistering problem at the base of my thumb. Found out the span was too big. The pro shop owner, who at that time was a coach for US olympic team, spent about 45 minutes measuring everything out for my new ball. Been using the same drill ever since on all balls and they all fit like a glove.
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: NoCreativity
I had the blistering problem at the base of my thumb. Found out the span was too big. The pro shop owner, who at that time was a coach for US olympic team, spent about 45 minutes measuring everything out for my new ball. Been using the same drill ever since on all balls and they all fit like a glove.

Yea, I am pretty sure my span is just a bit too long. It doesn't help that I basically killed my bevel trying to sand out the thumbhole either.
 

SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
17,305
1,001
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I'm a 195 average bowler with a house shot, I bowled in a PBA league last summer. I barely averaged 150. It happens.