First Night of PBA Experience

[Knight9299]

Just got back from the first night. This is the second summer this house is doing the PBA Experience. About half as many bowlers this year compared to last. Which is a bummer. 2 bowlers a team, 2 teams on a set. 4 games a night. We started with the Viper. 195, 164, 185, 167. Switched between my BWP (OOB finish) and my Brunswick Fury (taken down to 2000 ab then polished)
The BWP is just finicky. Thinking about resurfacing it the same as the Fury. Bowled the Viper about a month ago and used my BWB, to find the pocket I didn't like how far left I had to be- so I didn't even bother bringing the Bite out of the bag tonight.

Thought I did okay. Really struggled with keeping my hand behind the ball in the 2nd and 4th games. Bowled against a team brand new to the Experience. They sure were humbled tonight.
I strung a couple strikes together tonight, and I tell you what a 195 on these conditions is just a rewarding as a 279 on a house shot. Miss your mark by 2 boards and its tough luck. I really wish this would catch on more.

[jeff722]

knight just started my first pba league last thursday same format as your league but we started out on the scorpion everybody struggled on it except who we were playing his partner wasnt there but he single handily beat us with a 218 avg he was killing it my scores were 158 144 123 107 there were 190 avg bowlers bowling 77s and 97s if you missed your mark any u were screwed we bowl each pattern 3 weeks straight then change up so hopefully we can get used to it

[aceplayer]

I'm sure you've read it on here a million times. But take your BWP down to 2000 abralon. It makes it a totally different ball. I've bowled 9 games now with it since I took it down to 2000 and 7 have been 40+ pins over my normal avg. It really makes it less jumpy and alot more consistant but you still get PLENTY of backend with it. :-) Go take it down and you'll love the results. I know I did.

[Steve1591]

just started one of my summer leagues yesterday..bowled on the scorpion, couldnt find a line at all...have my other sport shot league starting tonight..i hope we dont bowl on the scorpion :p

[jedi47]

Shot 2 weeks (doing 3 weeks of each pattern) on the Chameleon,,, 648 & 587... missed 5 easy spares (TOTALLY out of character) BOTH nights.
Only difference I noticed from the typical house shot was I had to move 9 boards right on the approach with my feet & shot my normal down & in from 5

[Knight9299]

Second week on the Viper, 760 over 4 games. Whoever gave the tip about writing down your marks, I owe a beer. It took me until half way through the second game before I found where I was last week. :rolleyes:

[Steve1591]

Shot 2 weeks (doing 3 weeks of each pattern) on the Chameleon,,, 648 & 587... missed 5 easy spares (TOTALLY out of character) BOTH nights.
Only difference I noticed from the typical house shot was I had to move 9 boards right on the approach with my feet & shot my normal down & in from 5

Sounds similar to the league i bowl in on tuesdays..we are doing 3 weeks of each pattern then a special one the last week..we also started with the chameleon, tomorrow will be our second week with it :D

[BubbaRay]

We started our PBA Challenge league tonight and started on the CHAMELEON.
Two man team , two teams on a pair. Bowl 4 games. 1 point for each win and 3 points for total pins. Started the league tonight with 798. I was happy with that. The lanes were a tad squirtier than usual for that pattern though. My Partner and I won 5 out of 7 points so it was a nice start to the league.

[Steve1591]

Thats what i forgot to post...

Our PBA Experience league is singles competition with adults and youth, getting awarded cash or scholarships at the end based on the amount of points gained..We draw for a lane when we get there, so whoever we bowl if random for that week, we bowl with 4 people per pair (3 games), moving a pair to the right after each game..

After the 3 games, the top 5 youth series, and top 5 adult series go to stepladder..

5 pts for 1st in sl
4 pts for 2nd in sl
3 pts for 3rd in sl
2 pts for 4th in sl
1 pt for 5th in sl..

1 pt per game won for the 3, and 2 pts awarded for totals..

Bowl on another ss league, but we just bowl 4 games there, moving after 2, i must say i like the format of this one much better..gives it more of a competitive feel :rolleyes:

[Knight9299]

Monday was the last night for the Viper. I went out with a thud and a 712 over 4.
I'm hoping somebody can help me out. It's only 4 bowlers a set. The other team were both high rev heavy duty crankers. Anyway as the night went on their line got better as my line got worse. Carry down was crazy. Can crankers move oil like it seemed to? And if so what is a guy to do? My feet were at 28 and with my mark at 18 to 17. I moved to 30 throwing back to 21, but kept tugging it. When I did this I switched from the BWP to the BWB.

Shark a week from Memorial Day. Any tips?

[BubbaRay]

Carrydown can be cause from many types of bowlers and the lines that they play. To battle carry down you usually try and find the oil line and play down it with a ball that will read the mid lane , Usually a ball with the pin under the fingers to get the ball into a heavier roll. Usually the skid/flip layouts are not good for carry down because it will only make the ball more squirty.

As for the Shark patter, I think you will like this one. oil length is 44 feet, longest of the patterns. Most players move to the center of the lane as the ball will not hook back to the pocket if it strays to far outside near the gutter. Scoring is generally high. You might want to have a surface adjustment to your ball with a lower grit abralon pad. On a long oil pattern such as the Shark, you want your break point closer to the pocket.

[Rowdy]

Sounds similar to the league i bowl in on tuesdays..we are doing 3 weeks of each pattern then a special one the last week..we also started with the chameleon, tomorrow will be our second week with it :D

Kinda defeats the purpose of the league if you see the same pattern 3 weeks in a row,doesn't it???

[jedi47]

Kinda defeats the purpose of the league if you see the same pattern 3 weeks in a row,doesn't it???



I TOTALLY agree........
In the PBA Experience league I'm in we also do 3 weeks on each pattern. I think it'd be more of a challenge to change each week.

[tjb0621]

ok guys let us know what balls and layouts you are using so some of like ME won't be so embarrassed when it's our turn.

[BubbaRay]

Last Monday night on the CHAMELEON, I use a CV with a strong layout on one lane and my polished Bite on the other with the pin 5"from my PAP and the Mass Bias in the 45 degree position.
The line I played was 15 to 11 and back.

[TenPinSniper]

Personally after bowling a PBA this season and the past season, I prefer keeping the pattern the same for 2,3,4 week at a time. It gives you time to figure out how the patterns in your league are going to play.

Keep in mind these patterns don't always play like the one laid by the PBA. The PBA does not have an oil rotio requirement it holds itself too. They have atleast in the past toyed with the Left side of the try and give the Lefties some of the same issues the Righties have to deal with. Did not work out to well.

Another to consider, do we all drill stuff to play each pattern after a couple hours of practice.

Then you also have to consider the fact that most center are not using the Brunswick Lane Machine (Spray) like the PBA uses, my center is using a Phoenix Pad Machine.

I understand the ideal between changing the Pattern each week, more like the PBA. But I'm here to learn, so I'll get more out of 3 weeks on each pattern... allows me to take various balls to see what I like and take notes.

Just my 02 cents.

[Knight9299]

Personally after bowling a PBA this season and the past season, I prefer keeping the pattern the same for 2,3,4 week at a time. It gives you time to figure out how the patterns in your league are going to play.

Keep in mind these patterns don't always play like the one laid by the PBA. The PBA does not have an oil rotio requirement it holds itself too. They have atleast in the past toyed with the Left side of the try and give the Lefties some of the same issues the Righties have to deal with. Did not work out to well.

Another to consider, do we all drill stuff to play each pattern after a couple hours of practice.

Then you also have to consider the fact that most center are not using the Brunswick Lane Machine (Spray) like the PBA uses, my center is using a Phoenix Pad Machine.

I understand the ideal between changing the Pattern each week, more like the PBA. But I'm here to learn, so I'll get more out of 3 weeks on each pattern... allows me to take various balls to see what I like and take notes.

Just my 02 cents.

I'm with ya. However, I'd bowl no matter how they did it. Seeing a couple of the guys from my winter league lose 60 pins off their average really makes me wonder if a house shot is helping or hurting bowling. So far this summer my high game was 205. I felt more in the zone during that game than my 279 this past winter.

[Knight9299]

First night on the shark. 162, 138, 180, 170.
I used a BWB and a Rotogrip Cell. Both OOB finishes.

Started with inside edge of left foot at 20 with my marking being the 10 board.

First game I didn't follow through until the 5th frame. All that oil had me thinking bowl slow- which apparently made me not follow through.

Second game struck the first frame then had 5 opens in a row. 3 of the 5 wash outs.

Third game put it all together but missed a 6 pin in the fifth because I'm an idiot.

Fourth game moved two boards left as I had been missing my mark right all night and that left wash outs. I figured the move would make my misses right not so bad. It did. But I missed a 9 pin in the 9th because I'm an idiot.

Thoughts:
The Bite with OOB finish is money when there is oil on the lane. Didn't use it as much because it was so temperamental on house shots I just didn't trust it. Won't make that mistake again. The fear of speed on the Shark really bit me early. But once I adjusted and put the ball on the lane like I had a set, when the ball hit the pocket pins exploded. It seems to me that with these patterns the balls hit the pocket harder.

[Rowdy]

Personally after bowling a PBA this season and the past season, I prefer keeping the pattern the same for 2,3,4 week at a time. It gives you time to figure out how the patterns in your league are going to play.

Don't you think using the same PBA pattern for a month straight just turns it into a glorified house shot???

[TenPinSniper]

Nope, I wish it was that easy bowl it for month then it become as easy as a house shot.

Personally both formats have their advantages and disadvanatges.

Last season the alley I bowled the PBA Experience was around 25 miles one way from my house. So I could not make the practice day.

So I'd guess what type of ball and surface to take to league, we get to play the shot then we would obviously not see that shot again for 5 weeks. Even with my notes it still did not seem to help.

This year I actually got some what better on the Cheetah. The reason I like this way it that if week one I like my look with a ball it come to league again next week, but I can bring a couple other different balls. The third and last week I know what I liked.. so I can see what i liked. My notes are going to bet better as well.

Sure it tougher to shot something different each week, but I think I learn more this way. So by the third week you actually get to see results. Then you have to clear that and move one to another pattern.

These are PBA/Sport Shots so they really don't get easier, it the bowler getting better.

Plus our PBA-Sport Bowling Patterns are not always exactly like the ones applied by the PBA Lane Maintence Crew. The PBA does not require an oil ratio restriction.

[Rowdy]

Practice day??? Man alive,some of you guys have it easy. Practice time,the same shot for a month,we lay it down and roll on it. You might get 10 practice shots before we start rolling for score.

[TenPinSniper]

Like I said last season I could not make practice day, they offered it all bowlers. Some of the bowler made it to practice.

This season the alley did not have the practice pattern out for the first 4 weeks or so. However last week, they did... and I took advantage of it.

Seriously Rowdy get off that horse for second... would you prefer to practice on a Sport Shot or House Shot.

Give me the Sport Shot. Sure they all get easier as you play them, but wouldn't that mean you have improved as a bowler?

Considering we pay $20 week, plus $2 a game on the practice day. Considering I normally practice for FREE or $1... not that I'm complaining, just stating. But, I'm happy to pay for these games.... cause I know the more I roll them the better I get.

(BTW, I edit my last post.)

[Rowdy]

Oh you know I'd prefer to practice on the sport shot of the week,but it doesn't work that way around here.

But it is fun to watch everyone scratching their heads,wondering what to throw and where,every Thursday night. Sink or swim time!!!:)

Only 25 miles to the house??? Lucky you,I drive 70 miles round trip to roll.:eek:

[TenPinSniper]

Guess it all depends on the house. Both places I've bowled have offered to lay out the shots one day a week.

My trip last season was around 50 round trip. Glad it seems to have taken off this season... we have atleast 8 PBA Leagues available to bowl in, from 4 last season.

This year I was lucky only have to travel a couple miles. :D

[Sabotage]

Oh you know I'd prefer to practice on the sport shot of the week,but it doesn't work that way around here.

But it is fun to watch everyone scratching their heads,wondering what to throw and where,every Thursday night. Sink or swim time!!!:)

Only 25 miles to the house??? Lucky you,I drive 70 miles round trip to roll.:eek:

i drive 70miles round trip for my thursday night modified house shot league! i feel the pain!

[Knight9299]

Don't you think using the same PBA pattern for a month straight just turns it into a glorified house shot???

I see your point. But they are a much more difficult house shot. That ego thing we all mentioned in another thread- laying the same pattern down consecutively massages those egos- they see some improvement.

[blistershurt]

I drive 80 miles roundtrip to my PBA league I think, somewhere between 80 and 100.

I wish they let us practice on PBA shots, but we set down rules for prebowls, and they're allowing us 3, which means I need to get my knee better post surgery fast.

[Sabotage]

Don't you think using the same PBA pattern for a month straight just turns it into a glorified house shot???

its nice bowling on a pattern for 3-4 weeks. its not like we get chances to practice it any other time around here. the pros get to practice all the time on these shots while i get 12 games and 5minutes of practice before hand.

[Rowdy]

its nice bowling on a pattern for 3-4 weeks. its not like we get chances to practice it any other time around here. the pros get to practice all the time on these shots while i get 12 games and 5minutes of practice before hand.

I understand all that. But rolling on a different pattern each week teaches you to make changes faster,which will carry over when you go back to rolling on a THS. The idea is to get better in your overall game,right??? All rolling on the same shot for a month will do is teach you how to change the coverstock for the pattern.

If I score on these patterns it's all well and good. The main reason I'm bowling in this league is to expand my knowledge of making ball and line changes faster and better than I have been doing.

[TenPinSniper]

Honestly, I've made very little cover changes so far... I practice tonight on the Scorpion. Made my second cover change of the league to try.

First Changes was my No Mercy gold scotch brite and polished, used this ball very little on the Cheetah.

Second Changes was on my Bite, hit it with a gold scotch brite pad.

Honestly I need to do a round or two baths on my No Mercy's. Might Leave my No Mercy at Gold or 2000 Abarlon, but I've liked that surface alot in the past.

The biggest thing for me is the first week, taking some safer selections for what i think I need, then the next week take a couple different selections... the third and last week take my favorite stuff for that pattern. Personally this gives me a btter ideal of what type of covers and cores work best for me on these type of conditions.

If I had the chance I'd bowl on league of each.

To me this is not about EGO, I know I'm no Pro. I'm here to learn and I feel after bowling PBA Experience both ways switch weekly and at set intervals, bowling a pattern 2-3 times then switch is the best way to learn. These patterns DO NOT get easier, I've seen people get better and worse, in this format. Sure if your PBA Tour Caliber, they turn into house shots or closer to it after some practice.

[ravenhammer]

First night of PBA was on the Scorpion, shot 211,232,190,145. The forth game I got tired due to having less people on a pair for warm up, allowing for more shots each, and My normal league is only 3 games. I'll take a 633 every night on the PBA shot.
We are doing 4 weeks on a pattern as well which I prefer.
Rowdy, how many games of practice and qualifying do the Pros do each week? I am sure it is more than I'll get all month.