QuestionWhenever i'm bowling and practice starts i want to be able to read the lanes within a certain amount of time and number of balls thrown. I read something in Bowlers Journal regarding Wes Malot and he said you can read the lanes in 7 shots during practice. I can't remember what those shots were. I know the first shot was rolling the ball over the 2nd arrow near the 8th to 10th board with avg to normal speed and see if and when it hooks. Also aiming for the 7 pin with your strike ball and see if it hooks fast or slow. Do you know anything about this? Also do you have any advice that can help me in practice to read the lanes better so that I can be ready when its time to bowl? I avg 219 in my fall league but i always look for ways to improve.
Answer
www.TrueBowlerAdjustme
DJ, In my new book True Bowler Adjustments I talk at length about reading the lanes in practice. I discuss reading the left side, middle, and right side of the lanes for right handed bowlers. The reverse would hold true for left handed bowlers. Wes does a great job pointing out the basics of reading the lane in the beginning of practice. It's a great guide to follow with one exception from the coaching stand point. Often bowlers deliver the ball differently. So you have to account for being a spinner, forward roller or whatever release you have.
A forward roller, depending on their speed may read the lanes as wet, whereas as spinner may read the lanes as really dry or really wet.(yes both!)
As you can see, it becomes and individual perception based on many factors. Chiefly, the ball you have in your hands (your benchmark ball) or your favorite ball will sort of show you whether you have ball reaction at a certain point down the lane. If you deliver this ball and it reacts too soon, you can be pretty sure the pattern is drier than normal and your break point area is closer than normal. Or, if you deliver your bench mark ball and the ball goes longer than your normal break point area, you can be assured the volume of oil is higher or the oil pattern longer than normal.
In summary, reading the lanes in practice is about the oil. To best figure out the lane play you must first know your release and how you will play the corners when wet or dry. To find this out you need to have a bench mark or favorite ball for each area you will play. Often you will release differently for spare shots, and for strike shots. Knowing how you will release the ball during the course of the game is the key. You may not deliver the ball the same way at the 10 pin as you do the 7pin. You may not use a plastic ball at your corner pins. Regardless, knowing how you will play when it is wet, as well as when it is dry is the most important part of practice. According to my book you will often have pre-shot positions, which my book goes in depth to describe. That is something I can not do here. Enjoy your summer Dj. I like the way you think as a high average bowler. You are right about looking for ways to improve. If you get my book, I guarantee you will be excited about all the information I have shared.
-Coach Gary
Las Vegas, NV.
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's a great book!)
