Chameleon Help

[BigDog]

I've run into a problem with the Chameleon pattern. I went to the PBA experience league with my Widows, my Doom, and my Fireball in bags. The problem was an awful series (< 450).

I used my widows, but they were too strong for the shot. My BWP was uncontrollable. It snapped too hard and crossed over, and left me with many ugly spares. My Black Widow was better, but it was either landing high in the pocket, or missing right, as I didn't have any room to move to the right.

I did manage to pick up a 4-7-10 with my fireball, which is cool considering I covered a 6-7-10 about 3 weeks ago on Shark.

I'm a tweener/hard tweener, and throw from 10->5 on the THS.

My Arsenal is here (http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/dechrist/Current/).

Any help (especially from BubbaRay, Slap, or anyone else) would be greatly appreciated.

[Thepainscoming]

What about moving left with the widow. Or try the vibe on it. That should hook less and be more controllable.

[Young300]

I have had some recent success on this pattern at Junior Gold Nationals, and I have definitely learned something on this pattern while out there.

What I learned: You HAVE to hit your mark! You HAVE to! There is no forgiveness on this pattern! You pull and it will dive, you drop it out, it will slide out. BE CAREFUL!

How I played it - I picked a ball that had an early midlane roll but with nothing too strong. Backend is more an arc than anything else, your BWS would work well on the pattern playing a deep reverse block, but make sure that it isn't going to be too strong off the break point.

[dw800seeker]

I like the arsenal. Actually looks almost identical to mine including the drillings on the Black Widows. Good luck. Check out the PBA Experience thread it has some recommendations based on other members experiences on the patterns.

I shot three series on the Chameleon and I played around 10 with target and 12-14 with feet. My problem was not crossing over, I would come in light when I gave ball more speed.

I have not thrown any shots with BW sisters in PBA Experience yet. Will be trying for first time tomorrow on Cheetah.

[TenPinSniper]

Thinking that Hawg maybe the ticket!
How many balls would you take to the alley?
I'd take the Doom and Vibe if you wanted to play a little straighter.


Here is my post about the last time I saw this pattern.
You have to play this pattern tighter because the oil is laid down in strips. Ball control is key, so it speed. Plus you have 21 feet of dry on the backend. You ball is crossing different sections of oil, it will cause some different reads in ball reaction.

Pattern: Chameleon (2nd time.)

Bowling Balls: No Mercy 4000, Black Widow Pearl, White Dot.

My lines: Well this week the shot was not at 10. The shot was at 15 with a break point of 11-10, maybe 9 with revs. Keeping your speed consistent. Made a few adjustments left with my feet.

Thoughts/Experience: Made some arm swing changes, still getting use to them. Tried to use my Black Widow Pearl at the end of the third game, it was really strong off the point. Put a shot out wide, just barely missed the head pin, one of those pushed shots with a touch more speed. Should have stayed with the No Mercy. No Mercy was again the ball of choice.

Scores: 163, 186, 137 for a 486/ *** Scores updated ***

Next Week Pattern: Cheetah; thinking my No Mercy Polished might be good. Not sure if I want my BWP at Factory or dull???

[bluerrpilot]

Your Doom looks like its setup similar to my Toxic. It rolls early but very, very smooth. I have used it to play straighter. Usually around 7-8 with feet around 13-15. Make sure you set the ball into the lane early to pick up oil in the heads. You will also need to be playing that far right when your on the Cheetah

[Young300]

TenPin - I'm not bashing here, but playing a straighter line will cause the line to stay tight and you will have less of a chance for fault with that. Being able to cover more boards and opening up the lane will help you, IMO. You may be able to be that accurate, I don't know, but for me, playing more boards across the middle gives me more margin of error than playing straighter.

[TenPinSniper]

TenPin - I'm not bashing here, but playing a straighter line will cause the line to stay tight and you will have less of a chance for fault with that. Being able to cover more boards and opening up the lane will help you, IMO. You may be able to be that accurate, I don't know, but for me, playing more boards across the middle gives me more margin of error than playing straighter.

I have had some recent success on this pattern at Junior Gold Nationals, and I have definitely learned something on this pattern while out there.

What I learned: You HAVE to hit your mark! You HAVE to! There is no forgiveness on this pattern! You pull and it will dive, you drop it out, it will slide out. BE CAREFUL!

How I played it - I picked a ball that had an early midlane roll but with nothing too strong. Backend is more an arc than anything else, your BWS would work well on the pattern playing a deep reverse block, but make sure that it isn't going to be too strong off the break point.

To me your two post seem to be saying two different things???
-So you have to be accurate at the arrows.
-But, what about the backends???

Have seen the back ends open up without swing the ball. Alot of it going to depend on other bowlers and types of bowling balls being used... You could start with somthing really agressive, to open up and dry out the lanes... but it could cause a wierd transition. Gonna to depend on a lot of variables.

If you are accurate, I dont think it matters how you play. (You'll just have to line and play the lanes, as the breakdown.) If you are not accurate, it really doesn't matter either, just you probably won't score on these patterns.

[Young300]

My first post was me watching other bowlers and how they approached this pattern. My second was from my own personal experience. Watching most other players trying to play straighter they suffered on the backends. But, I noticed that when I swung the ball, I was able to get a consistent breakpoint and reaction. I was given about 2-3 boards of forgiveness. A lot more than what others received. I was playing across 20 and I was able to hit anywhere from 21-18 and hit the pocket, carry was just an issue.

[TenPinSniper]

My first post was me watching other bowlers and how they approached this pattern. My second was from my own personal experience. Watching most other players trying to play straighter they suffered on the backends. But, I noticed that when I swung the ball, I was able to get a consistent breakpoint and reaction. I was given about 2-3 boards of forgiveness. A lot more than what others received. I was playing across 20 and I was able to hit anywhere from 21-18 and hit the pocket, carry was just an issue.


I play this shot around 15-10ish... Had no luck playing stright up the boards, consistently got over reaction... lots of through the nose, couple past brooklyn. Everybody has to play to there game.

[Young300]

I play this shot around 15-10ish... Had no luck playing stright up the boards, consistently got over reaction... lots of through the nose, couple past brooklyn. Everybody has to play to there game.

Ya, the people that played out on this pattern really suffered some over/under reaction. I played the lanes the best out of the squad that I was in on this pattern by playing deep in.

[bluerrpilot]

My first post was me watching other bowlers and how they approached this pattern. My second was from my own personal experience. Watching most other players trying to play straighter they suffered on the backends. But, I noticed that when I swung the ball, I was able to get a consistent breakpoint and reaction. I was given about 2-3 boards of forgiveness. A lot more than what others received. I was playing across 20 and I was able to hit anywhere from 21-18 and hit the pocket, carry was just an issue.


Carry was an issue for me as well. Thats why I drilled a Toxic kinda weak. It rolls early but doesnt hook very hard. And I have it at 2000 polished. I can now play that pattern outside, and let it walk to the pocket.

[BubbaRay]

Everone has some good advice for you to utilize and try.

You could actually play this pattern a couple of different ways. You could play 12-6or7 with a ball with some early mid lane roll to it but not alot.

You could take a more agreesive ball and if you could play 15 to say 8 or 10 and make it nback to the pocket. You have to watch your speed though.

What you must watch out for is the transition the lane takes and starts hooking more. Then I would continue to move left ,


Last time I played this shot was Tuesday night . I use my No Mercy witha trick layout and played 20-10 and shot 227- 201-254. The 201 was the transition when they started to m oved alittle more.


But not everone can play that deep inside . So Like I stated start at 12 and play to 6.

[BigDog]

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I appreciate it.


...There is no forgiveness on this pattern! You pull and it will dive, you drop it out, it will slide out...


You must have been at the house I was at on Monday night. That's exactly what was happening. That problem was magnified by the BWP with it's drilling. When I pulled it a bit, the ball moved about 15-20 boards. I think the BWP gets the week off.

Thinking that Hawg maybe the ticket!
How many balls would you take to the alley?
I'd take the Doom and Vibe if you wanted to play a little straighter.


I can take 4 with me - my Fireball and 3 others. I have a 6-ball bag, but I also rent a 2nd floor apartment while I'm trying to sell my house 120 miles away.

I like the arsenal. Actually looks almost identical to mine including the drillings on the Black Widows. Good luck. Check out the PBA Experience thread it has some recommendations based on other members experiences on the patterns.

I shot three series on the Chameleon and I played around 10 with target and 12-14 with feet. My problem was not crossing over, I would come in light when I gave ball more speed.

I have not thrown any shots with BW sisters in PBA Experience yet. Will be trying for first time tomorrow on Cheetah.

The BWP should work pretty well on Cheetah. I used my Doom/Vibe on it, and shot over 542,458,557 the three weeks that we threw on it. That was before I got my BWP. I played 12-6, and I had a little room on either side of 6

Everone has some good advice for you to utilize and try.

You could actually play this pattern a couple of different ways. You could play 12-6or7 with a ball with some early mid lane roll to it but not alot.

You could take a more agreesive ball and if you could play 15 to say 8 or 10 and make it nback to the pocket. You have to watch your speed though.

What you must watch out for is the transition the lane takes and starts hooking more. Then I would continue to move left ,

Last time I played this shot was Tuesday night . I use my No Mercy witha trick layout and played 20-10 and shot 227- 201-254. The 201 was the transition when they started to moved a little more.

But not everone can play that deep inside . So Like I stated start at 12 and play to 6.

I can play 15-7, but on a house shot with my BWP. It's forgiving enough to allow a little push or a little pull, or a little more or less speed. But alas, this isn't a house shot.

I'm thinking of taking the BW, Doom, and Vibe with me on Monday. I'll probably start by throwing the Doom from 10-7, and keep my hand behind the ball a bit more. That should give me a good idea of what I need to do after that. The key will be to avoid too many ugly spares. If I can do that, I should be okay.

The BWP and the Hawg will stay at the apartment this week.