Tip from competition

[Hooked]

Our team is hot and have taken 14 in the last 2 weeks and climbed to 16th place out of 36 teams. This week I bowled a 226, 170 and 167. In the pocket most of the night, but Ive been noticing that Im leaving some weird splits and starting to get frustrated because I'm using the new bite.

After last nights set was done I received some advise from the competition. he stated that the ball is hitting the pocket flat. Its spinning towards the pocket and then dying out creating these splits. He told me to move up and shorten my arm swing that comes as high as my head.

The only problem with this advise that I have is that over the last 2 months or so Ive been averaging about 190-195 and I really would hate to start messing around. Those pocket splits really do bother me though........any suggestions would help. Thanks guys:)

[JaraTo]

Are you/have you been using the breakpoint system? Last night was a bad night for me at league I felt like I had progressed in the war because I knew when and why my shot "shouldn't" strike. I surprised a guy who usually plays inside, down the 13, with this knowledge. He drifted right one shot to about the 9 or 8 and hit the pocket weak. Then he scoffed when I told him he needed to get the ball out further to about the five board to get a better snap on the ball. Sure enough he thanked me his next time up when he smashed the pocket after hitting in the first breakpoint zone.

[Hooked]

I've never heard of the breakpoint system. Clue me in.........thanks

[BubbaRay]

Alot of it has to do with entry angle. DO NOT change your style. It will only make matters worse.

This ball IS NOT WEAK! It works well when there is plenty of oil to your breakpoint . however ,when the oil starts to dissappear you will get a loss of axis rotation sooner because of the friction created by the lane and the ball begins to hit weak or deflect from early rollout. Increasing your "tilt" ,more side roll, will allow the ball to get down the lane and save energy longer for when it encounters friction.

check out Ebonite's web site , they have a more exensive reading on axis tilt with diagrams that will make it easier to understand and how to execute this. once again, not knowing your initial ball speed , axis tilt, pattern that you bowl on , etc. , it is hard to recommend suface adjustments and pin placements. it is not as important how much a ball hooks but when. here are a few guide lines. the surface of the ball is 75% of the ball reaction. keep the suface texure of the ball just dull enough to get it thru the first 15 ft of the lane. the second 15 ft of the lane is controlled by the ball layout, pin placement , etc. the back end of the lane is controlled by your hand.Longer pin to pap distances retain energy longer, providing a stonger breakpoint. shorter pin to pap distances lose axis rotation sooner . all things being equal.particle balls have a tendency to roll smoother at the breakpoint than reactives. pearlized balls retain energy longer than solids. the shape and density of the core dictate when the ball revs up, lower rg balls rev up sooner than higher rg balls. symetrical cores, non mass bias balls, tend to be smoother and less angular (they arc)
Balls that arc by nature will arc no matter what drilling you put in them, example, if you put a longer pin to pap distance in a ball that has an arc by nature , it still arcs but just stronger at the break point. it still is an arc. if a ball has a tendency to skid flip by nature , an arc drilling will tame it down but it still is a skid flip type of reaction. i provided a lot of info here, so if it seems a bit confusing at first , take it slow and study it piece by piece and it will start to make sense

[Stampy79]

Ok, here is some advise for you on how to not leave pocket splits, such as the 4-9,8-10,7-10. Its all really easy nowdays with the equiptment we throw. The simple way to avoid these is....






QUIT BOWLING !!!!


If you do this, you will not leave any of them !

[Hooked]

lol!!

I think the real problem is that I'm leaving about a foot and a half of space at the release line. I guess when the lanes start to break down I should keep moving up.

I was never taught so I'm always afraid that I will foul when release to close to the line

[Rowdy]

Tip: Never listen to a tip from a competitor. They do NOT want you to get better. They only want to mess with your head.

[Hooked]

Interesting........he sounded like he made sense. I guess everything makes sense when you really know nothing about bowling. :o

[Rowdy]

lol!!

I think the real problem is that I'm leaving about a foot and a half of space at the release line. I guess when the lanes start to break down I should keep moving up.

I was never taught so I'm always afraid that I will foul when release to close to the line

I'll show you how to get close to the line,but not foul. Walk to the line. Turn around and take your normal bowling stance with your heels about 4 inches from the line. Now make a normal delivery,make sure to slide. Follow through. Don't move,look down and see where your toe is at. Start from there and you'll never foul.