QuestionAfter taking a year off from bowling i was asked to bowl with a new team just formed. I had never met these guys before but they were a lot of fun to bowl with. The problem is they all bowl very differently. One throws very hard and straight, one is a little inside of me throwing slower with stronger covers, and the other is a stroker straight up 10. I'm in between. The first game (before the oil starts moving around# i have a great look and scored a 213 avg throughout the year. The second game my ball would start pushing past the pocket. If i slowed my speed down any then it would check up. If i moved out then it would overhook. If i moved a few boards inside then it would give me the same results. I was throwing a Critical Theory Label Leverage drilling, should i have changed to a Stacked drilling and moved inside? It looked like one teammate would push oil down into my breakpoint and another teammate would be burning up the early #20' area# if i went inside. I don't have the hand to go any further inside. My ball speed is about 15 and i play pretty much right up behind the ball. I know that promotes an early roll but if i go to a stacked drilling #and play around with the surface# could that work? Or, maybe i should have a ball drilled where the pin is closer to the track, the cg shifted towards the PAP, and MB split between the Val and Track? IDK, what do you think?
Answer
www.TrueBowlerAdjustme
Hey, Hey, Hey....Jeff! Cut that out! I make my living teaching people lane play. You just bust all up in here and take over!
What good was it for me to write a book about making adjustments and stuff, if you just go straight to the answer at the end? ROTFLMAO! :-)
I spent all these years watching the pro's and high caliber bowlers just crush the pins after getting lost on the lanes for a frame or two, and you just put it out there like it's pie in the sky... Okayyy, C'mon Mannn!!! LOL...
I will just say this since you hit the nail on the head. The very first option is changing the cover of your ball. Normally the Critical Theory comes in with a slick 4000 cover prep.
Any amount of back wash oil from your straight bowler will send this cover prep longer. My recommendation "first" would be to try a 1000 cover prep.
You may have to move a little inside at first but you will get your clue when the first 10 pin shows up. With that clue you can move back to your right and throw straighter.
Now as far as drilling a piece to compete with the lane transition, I will cover that later. With everyone crossing paths, you my friend, need a ball that is more forward rolling and even.
Placing the pin above or below you bridge is a great option for you, with this you will bring more weight toward the track side and get though the front end cleaner.
Now pin above the bridge, try that first before you pin below. If you pin below first it will leave the previous finger holes marks above when you go pick up your ball. (besides, everyone will always want to comment,"how many times have you plugged that?"
Jeff, you do need a ball that will be smoother as I explained. This drill will give you plenty of smoothness, and backend. (Well, that is, if the cover if prepped properly.)
Many top level bowlers like yourself and the basic bowler can throw a great game on the fresh. But that is because of the clean backends.
In my book "True Bowler Adjustments," I try to get bowlers to understand movements that you described above and how they impact lane play which is so crucial to success on the lanes.
The only bad part about what you have asked is...I have no clue what your lane conditions are really like. :-(
The volume of oil in your house could be high; but a shorter pattern. Or, it could be a low volume pattern, but it could be long as far as length down lane.
I don't want to shoot you in the foot Jeff!
However, I know you got to try something other than what you have right now. My gutt feeling is that you can blow through all of the crossing shots with a top pin drilling.
Our only dilemma is: Do we use your current arsenal, or do you go out on a limb and buy something "new" like the Defiant by Roto Grip, the Frantic by storm, or the Hell Raiser Revenge, by DV8?
These bowling balls are all low RG action with one exception: The Hell Raiser Revenge has an added kicker with a Mass Bias or intermediate differential of .17 !!!(just means it will really finish if it gets oily.)
I love the Critical Theory! But only for the first game, and maybe it will kick in, the last game. Just sounds like you need something strong on the backend, clean through the front, with a little surface like 1000.
If you get no joy, from changing the surface don't go pin up just yet. Think about investing in a Defiant by Roto Grip, The Frantic by storm, or the Hell Raiser by DV8. You won't be disappointed by any of them. Of course the Frantic is my favorite!
If buying new is not an option, then by all means, go pin up with your critical theory and don't be afraid to change the cover for sure. This will be more forward rolling, smoother, but when you lower the cover to 1000. It should punish the pins even longer. You probably will be able to use the ball all three games.(House shot) Pinned up.
In summary Jeff, don't waste money, change the surface to 1000 on your Critical Theory and play inside a little at first. If you can get either of the other bowling balls(a new ball) pinned up with surface, then that will be a plus because you know you have a ball for the first and third games (Critical Theory). Keep in touch, God's Blessings to you! -Coach
-Coach Gary Oatis
Las Vegas, NV.
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's A Great Bowling Book!)
Also, on Amazon Kindle for $9.99. Don't just read it, work through it!!!
