Use Alignment and Equipment to Maximize Scoring
As you bowl, we all know that the lanes change, and that, if you bowl enough games on a lane condition, it is unlikely that you will be using the same ball at the end of the block. Let’s look at when to change balls, why you should change balls, and how that relates to where you stand and what part of the lane you choose to play.
These are the two significant choices you will make in a tournament – where to play on the lane at any given time and which ball you select to go with where you choose to play. Think of where you play as being where you can get the ball down the lane and have it predictably change direction and roll into the pocket with maximum hitting power. This means that the ball cannot roll too soon nor can it skid too far, as both of these outcomes will cause the ball to deflect as the ball goes through the pins. The bowling ball you choose to use should reflect your understanding of what the lane is doing.
Your job is to get the ball down the lane, but not too far – about 2/3 of the way down the lane most of the time. The bowling ball you select may cause you to move left or right to get it to change direction in the right place. This method of lining up is commonly referred to as reading the lanes from front to back. This is because your concern is not about left or right, but getting the ball the right distance down the lane before changing direction.
Ball Selection in Practice
The first part of this is your selection of the ball in practice. Remember to start with a ball which allows you to get a clear picture of the oil pattern. This “read” or “benchmark” ball should be the first ball out of your bag during practice. Use this ball and 3-4 shots that go across the lane and cross different parts of the lane to understand the length and distribution of the pattern. This now helps you understand the characteristics of the lane and the lane condition.
Next, select the ball in your bag that best matches the condition as you understand it from the first 4 shots. Think about the lane from front to back, rather than from the standpoint of how much hook you see. Do I need a ball that arcs early, medium, or late? On a fresh pattern, you usually have too much back end motion to use a ball that wants to flip.
Ball Selection as the Lanes Change
As you get to the second or third game, have the lanes changed? Do you need a ball that starts to roll sooner, or do you need to change ball speed and hand position? If the change causes a dramatic difference in ball reaction, change balls. However, if the change causes a subtle difference in ball reaction, go to lower ball speed and/or a stronger hand position (the “blending” of the lane condition in transition usually causes less motion at the break point). If you started with a medium arc ball, you may now be able to move inside more and use an earlier arcing ball. If you started with an early arcing ball, you will probably need to change speed and roll and move in a little to get the best reaction.
When the lanes start to open up a little, you may need to change balls. At this point, there is some dry area on the lane to your outside, and a ball that flips more may give you better carry. On a longer pattern the ball of choice may be a ball with a later arc. If the pattern is changing slowly, you may be able to use higher speed and a stronger hand position to take advantage of the change.
Ball Selection Later in Competition
When the lanes blow out, a ball with a late flip is usually a good choice. You will be moving to the inside part of the lane, using speed and the ball choice to get to the break point. If the lanes are in this stage you can not stay with the same ball. This is typically when you would choose to use a ball that is less reactive to the front part of the lane.
Who You Are Determines Where You Play Left to RIght
How you adjust during a tournament is highly dependent upon the type of player you are. If you are a lower rev rate player (< 300RPM), your changes are much more subtle and you can make some speed and hand changes. You will need to make some ball changes as the lanes open up. You need equipment that will complement your game, particularly as the lanes open up, so that you can move in and get recovery back to the pocket and keep up with everyone as the scoring pace gets higher. This generally means you will need to move to balls that are quicker to change direction.
The players with a medium rev rate (300-400 RPM) are the most versatile and are able to use more hand position changes. These players will combine speed and hand position to increase or decrease both speed and axis rotation on the ball. Therefore these players may not need to change balls as often as other players.
The players with high rev rates (over 400 RPM) generally have move trouble going straight, and will make more ball changes than either of the other two types of players. These players must be ready to move quickly and combine ball changes with speed and roll changes to maintain a maximum scoring level. Their higher rev rates allow them to take advantage of the lanes as they open up, but they will always see the lanes change first.
An Example
Now, let’s go through an example of how Joe the Bowler would go through a progression in a sample tournament. Joe is a tweener bowling on Scorpion today. Joe starts in practice with his medium-arc ball to read the lanes and finds that it will work for the fresh condition. Joe starts out playing 13 to 9 at the break, with a high forward roll hand position.
The lanes begin to break down, and Joe is starting to leave a lot of back-row single pins. Joe initially moves left 3 with his feet and 2 with his target, and goes to a little less speed and a stronger hand position, with more axis rotation. This works for the second game, but the ball starts to wiggle a little bit in the mid-lane at the end of game 2. Joe now tries the early arc ball on the fill shot, and leaves a 4-pin. Joe now moves inside another 3 (feet)-1 (target) with the early arc ball and gets a great reaction in game 3. Joe is now playing about 14 to 10. On the fill ball, Joe tries the mid-lane flip ball, and it’s not quite strong enough yet.
Yikes! The pair for game 4 has already started to open up, so Joe immediately goes to the midlane flip ball and goes for a stronger hand position and a little speed, standing about 3 and 2 farther inside with feet and target. This works for games 4 and 5. Joe tries the late arc ball at the end of Game 5, and it strikes with a good reaction. Joe is in to about 16 to 11 (or maybe 10). In game 6, the lanes are beginning to get more hooking, and Joe goes to the late flip ball. This allows Joe to play a little farther right than others, and he can take advantage of the high friction area of the lane to score well. Joe follows the pattern in as they dry out, and eventually moves 10 with his feet and 4-6 with his target to stay in play in Games 7 and 8. Joe ends up at 22 to 11 or 12 at the break with the late flip ball.
Joe bowled well in qualifying, and made the finals. By reading the lanes front-to-back, rather than from side-to-side, Joe anticipated changes in the lane condition, used his fill frames well, and maximized his scoring the entire block. Sometimes maximizing your scoring means you shoot 203-202-199-210 (this happened to me recently in a tournament, and I was 5th after these four games) and you have to wait for the lanes to open up, and sometimes, the initial scoring pace is much higher. Either way, use your adjustments and equipment together to stay in play!