Do you have too many options?

[MrSoGood]

Has anyone else experienced this? I started bringing every ball I had to the lanes, for my PBA X league, and found I just kept swapping balls and never found a groove. When I realized this wasn't working, very quickly, I went to a 3 ball rotation which includes my spare ball. I figured out I wasn't throwing the same on every pattern, slowing down, speeding up, more wrist, etc. I decided to do everything the same as I do on a normal house shot, so all I concentrate on is finding the line that works. If I have less options, I find I can adjust much better...and my scores are coming up.

[BubbaRay]

Depending on the Pattern we will be on each week, I will bring 5 balls that I usually throw on the Pattern. Last night we bowled on the Shark and in practice I tried my 2 Angers, 1 with pin under and one with pin up / BWB / NMB'n. I tried everything , slowing down, deep inside and out shot 174 first game. I took a chance and threw my BWP the 2nd /3rd / 4th games and went
223 /254 /223 the last three. Go figure. My pearl at 4000 abralon polished worked better from 13-8 than any other oil ball I had.

[MrSoGood]

Those are good scores BubbaRay, last week was our first week on the shark pattern and scores were pretty low. I got fourth place and I only averaged a 180 over four games. I expect the scores will be higher tonight. One thing I realized quickly is the PBA patterns on wood do not play anything like the videos where they're on synthetics. Unfortunately one of the three houses in my area has synthetics, and they don't run a PBA X or sport shot league.

[idlehourlegend]

First off can never have too many options, to PBA things I usually take 4 with a spare but sometimes 5 depending on how hard the pattern is for me. But usually I dont switch balls more than 2 times during the 3 games, left side = can play with it on my own most of the times, but we're gonna have more lefties tonight so gonna have to take 5. If your not comfortable with changing balls a lot, take your most versatile ball that can be used on more conditions than the rest and just move around with it.

[MrSoGood]

I guess changing balls is just another aspect of the game I'll have to work on.

[Young300]

I have noticed that. I would realize me doing that at some tournaments that I would bring 12-13 balls to. I would really only use maybe 3-4 of them as the day went on and the lanes transitioned. I now narrowed it down to 10 and 10 only. No more. I have the 6 that I need picked out for Junior Gold as well, so that helps a ton. Things have been setting up very nicely for me lately and setting myself up with limited choices has helped me immensely.

[Rowdy]

I figured out I wasn't throwing the same on every pattern, slowing down, speeding up, more wrist, etc.

Well,there's the problem. You have to keep the same swing and change balls for the different lane conditions.

[MrSoGood]

Well,there's the problem. You have to keep the same swing and change balls for the different lane conditions.

Yeah, I know, should've figured that out earlier, but I didn't really realize I was doing it. As soon as I did I thought that'll never work.

[hbhammerhead]

i definitely would rather have too many options, then not enough.

[ravenhammer]

The other thing to remember is you should have a general idea what switching to another ball will do. Ie more hook, earlier breakpoint, etc...

[slap]

In most situations it's a bad sign if I'm making multiple ball changes. Either I'm throwing the ball poorly or I don't have a good read on the lanes (confused).

When I'm on my game I'll usually narrow my choices down to 1 or 2 balls during practice.

[No Mercy07]

No, I just switch the balls when I have to, and just stay in about the same place with my feet. If I can.

[VPmiracle]

We were talking about this some tonight. One guy has 9 balls, one guy brings five. I've got my 3 (spare ball is one). I kind of like having a benchmark ball, throw it, see what it tells me and adjust best I can but it is nice to have something to go to that might work better.

I want to add a Psycho and a Razyr to my blue vibe, replacing my old Columbia 300 stuff which has been good tome. Think that'd give me a decent aresenal. Probably only need the Razyr to be honest, I just want the Psycho.

[TenPinSniper]

I'd rather have more stuff, than not enough... Like Slap said, it not a goodthing if you have to go through 5-6 ball changes but in longer sets... like Single and Double events back to back, you never what can happen. It can work out, if you stay relaxed.

[Rowdy]

In most situations it's a bad sign if I'm making multiple ball changes. Either I'm throwing the ball poorly or I don't have a good read on the lanes (confused).

When I'm on my game I'll usually narrow my choices down to 1 or 2 balls during practice.

Exactly.:)

[blistershurt]

I usually stick to 1 ball for the most part, if I'm struggling, I always go straight to my Anger, kill my wrist and finger position, come straight out of the ball, and throw straight up 10 with some speed.

[Street Racer]

if you get confused, just means you dont know your gear well enough...

i take 5 with my everywhere(6 to tournaments) and i use to get confused... but i dont anymore because i know where everysingle one of them fits in my arsenal

[TenPinSniper]

While I agree that changing balls alot isn't the best sign, there is something to be said, about knowing your equipment and when to use it.

Once you get a feel for the ball you should generally have a good ideal when it will work. Now the key is to remember when to use it. Unless your totally lost...

[slap]

That would be an rare occurence for me. Again, as I said my the first post, when I'm confused that's usually a sign that I don't have a good read on the lanes. There is a difference...

While I agree that changing balls alot isn't the best sign, there is something to be said, about knowing your equipment and when to use it.

Once you get a feel for the ball you should generally have a good ideal when it will work. Now the key is to remember when to use it. Unless your totally lost...


exactly. once you have the reaction you're looking for with one ball, making a ball change is a very simple process. In my opinion the hardest part of making a the change is the timing. I know that I'm not the only one who has said "why didn't I make the change 3 frames ago when I first thought about it?"

[TenPinSniper]

Yep it is a very fine at times.

[stretchmike]

i managed to switch the right way tuesday night my pearl was going into pocket to soft i switched to the bite and bam strike city lol

[MrSoGood]

Just reading all your posts on this subject has given me better insight on how to approach ball selection. Thanks!

[can-ham]

I have a three frame rule, when I'm making adjustments (moving my feet and or marks) if I miss the pocket three times it's an automatic ball change. Of course there are other things that prompt a ball change but for league once I find my strike ball (by mid season I'll know as soon as I see the lane assignment) and line. there is a flow of how it breaks down and how you need to move and when to switch balls. I guess it also depends where your opponents and teammates are playing.

But for most no-sport leagues it's rare to need more than two strike balls. If my league was three games instead of four I'm sure I would only need one strike ball 90% of the time.

[steelr43]

I'm about the same as can. If I can't get the line I want in 2 or 3 frames, I'll make a ball change. I only have 3 so the switch is not as hard for me like some of you guys who have a boat load of balls. I'm not saying that is a bad thing either. But I find the less equipment I have, the easier the switch.

[Rowdy]

I'm about the same as can. If I can't get the line I want in 2 or 3 frames, I'll make a ball change. I only have 3 so the switch is not as hard for me like some of you guys who have a boat load of balls. I'm not saying that is a bad thing either. But I find the less equipment I have, the easier the switch.

I may have,"a boat load",of balls,but by the second shot in practice I've already cut the choices down to two balls. At the first sign that I need to switch I don't hesitate to pull the other ball out of the bag. Three frames is way too long to wait,you'll be out of the game in two.

How many balls are in a "boat load",anyway???:rolleyes:

[Thepainscoming]

yacht or rowboat???

[Rowdy]

yacht or rowboat???

He didn't say. Around here it wouldn't be yacht or rowboat,it would be airboat or bass boat.:)

[Thepainscoming]

lol .

[idlehourlegend]

He didn't say. Around here it wouldn't be yacht or rowboat,it would be airboat or bass boat.:)

If it were the bass boat, do you have to fill the live well,rod compartments and gear boxes??

[Rowdy]

If it were the bass boat, do you have to fill the live well,rod compartments and gear boxes??

Of course.:)

It's all part of the boat.