Coach’s Corner Tip
How Lanes Change
It is more difficult than ever to read a lane condition and stay lined up. This month I’d like to give you a way to think about how lane conditions change that will help you identify when and how a lane condition is changing and what to do about it.
In order to simplify lane conditions, let’s take a look at how they play from the standpoint of what happens to them during competition. Lane conditions go through four phases:
1. Fresh Condition
2. Transition
3. Open Up
4. Blow Out
Every lane condition does this in one way or another, if it has been bowled on long enough. Also, each phase of a lane condition presents its own challenges, but also its own opportunities for success. If you can recognize the phase of the condition and how to take best advantage of it, you will be successful on sport conditions.
Now, let’s briefly look at each of these phases.
Definitions of the Phases
Phase 1 – Fresh
There is plenty of oil in the front part of the lane, as it has just been dressed. You also get strong back end reaction, and a quick change of direction from the dry to the oil. Here, you want to use a medium ball, not too strong (depending on the volume of oil) and use a lot of forward roll off the hand. Scores are moderate during this phase.
Phase 2 – Transition
Here, the oil “blends” and the lanes seem to hook less. This is because the oil from the front and middle of the lane moves a little and the back end reaction is blended out. You want to go to a stronger ball or roll the ball earlier (move left and bring your target closer). You will probably need a slight hand position change to create more axis rotation on the ball (side roll – get around the ball a bit). You may also need to use a little less speed. Scores are low during this phase.
Phase 3 – Open Up
Now, you need to move inside (left for right-handers). The part of the lane with heavy
play will start drying up, and you have some room to the outside. You will want to pick your speed back up,
go to a weaker ball than the one you started with, and prepare to score! Even tough lane conditions have a
phase where they open up and get easier. Scores are high to very high during this phase.
Phase 4 – Blow Out
This is where the lanes start hooking early, or the sheer volume of play has caused the condition to get very spotty. Now you make a significant move inside, start getting around the ball a lot, use less ball and more speed to control the reaction. Scores will be high for some, moderate for most, and low for some during this phase.
When you practice at the start of a tournament, think about how the lanes start out and how they will change. Anticipate the next phase of the lane condition, and be ready for it. For example, the first sign of transition is when right-handed players start leaving the 2-10 split on shots that were striking in the first couple of frames. Many people start leaving a lot of splits when the lanes start to open up, before realizing that they need to move left. Finally, many people fight the blow out stage by forcing the ball down an area of the lane that is totally dry or otherwise un-playable. Keep these phases of a lane condition in mind and use them. They will guide you to play the condition, rather than letting the condition play you!
Now that we understand how lanes break down, what do we do?
What To Do in Each Phase
How do I know which ball to throw in each phase of a lane condition? This month I’ll take a shot at answering that question, although this is somewhat difficult as it is highly dependent upon the bowler.
Phase 1 – Fresh
Here, you want to use a medium ball, not too strong (depending on the volume of oil) and use a lot of forward roll off the hand. Since the lanes are changing quickly, you need a stable ball. If you are a stroker, this might be a particle ball, but not necessarily a big hooking ball. I prefer a medium, solid reactive ball up to a larger hooking solid reactive ball, depending on the volume of oil on the lane.
Phase 2 – Transition
You want to go to a stronger ball as the oil is moving down the lane and removing some of the sharpness of the back-end reaction. This is often a stronger, bigger hooking ball than the one you started with (note: you will most often also be moving your feet to the inside – left for right-handers). On heavily oiled shots, this might be the biggest hooking ball in your bag. One word of caution here – the lanes are changing quickly, and you don’t want to bowl yourself out of the tournament. Make sure the ball you choose is one with which you can control on the lane.
Phase 3 – Open Up
You will want to pick your speed back up, go to a weaker ball than the one you started with, and prepare to score! This is when a reactive with a strong layout will work very well. You now have a little area to play with on the lane, and a more aggressive ball will work. If you are a cranker, you will be able to use a pearl reactive at this stage. A stroker will opt for a solid reactive with a strong back-end motion, but only as much as you need to make the ball hook back from the part of the lane you are now playing (typically 3rd arrow to 4th arrow).
Phase 4 – Blow Out
This is where the lanes start hooking early, so use less ball and more speed to control the reaction. Pearl reactives for all bowlers are in play now that you are at the 4th to 5th arrow, so that the ball will skid in the front and hook at the back. Sometimes, you will need a more aggressive ball to hook back and carry from this angle, so a stronger ball is not out of the question. Another note – in Phases 3 & 4, you can use equipment where the pin positions are higher up on the ball, where Phases 1 & 2 often require lower pin positions. This is a generality and does not apply to all players, but this “rule of thumb” does work for a lot of people.
Now, take the equipment you own, and lay it out in front of you. Which balls work best for Phase 1, 2, 3 or 4? Some balls will work at these phases on multiple conditions, some will not. Do you have a glaring hole in your arsenal? Do you have too many Phase 1 and 2 balls, and nothing for phases 3 & 4? Do you have
too many “house condition” balls, but nothing that is controllable and smooth for Phases 1 & 2 of a tournament conditions? Does your equipment match your game – if you have high revolutions, more balls should have the mass bias closer to the thumb, strokers and higher-speed players will have more layouts with the mass bias away from the thumb, for earlier roll.
A pro shop professional can help you evaluate the equipment you have to help fill a “hole” in what you have for tournament conditions. Rather than visiting your pro shop looking buy a specific ball, partner with them to help build your arsenal. You will be happy that you did!