This past weekend Scoops and I had the opportunity to bowl with some of the best in Ontario / Quebec. It was a tough pattern (35ft flat pattern on old wood with around 40-50 units) we didnt do terribly (though we did miss the cut). What we learned from this experience are things that every bowler should know. And wed like to share with you. 1) Oil is slippery. No Duh right? What you might not know is that Oil with the same viscosity behaves differently on different surfaces. Where that much oil might have sat forever on synthetic lanes on wood (with a defined track) it transitioned and burned up in areas very quickly. Not knowing how to adjust so that you dont over hook the dry and under hook in the still wet sections around the dry is something you should learn. Not understanding that can lead to confusion as one shot will hook up and another will flag the head pin. 2) If you can, practice on different surfaces. Like the tip before, knowing how Wood / HPL / Pro-Anvilane lanes react will help you make your practice before an event more effective and efficient! (And trust me, there are BIG differences between the 3) 3) Have balls with different drillings. While I tend to throw pin-up equipment a lot, I have a Hammer Taboo with the pin 2 from my PAP with the CG kicked under my hand. Very strong ball / very weak drilling. This ball was perfect for these lanes, but rarely gets used on a normal night. Its OK to have tournament equipment. 4) No matter how much you know, dont forget to keep your eyes and ears open to what you can STILL learn. Watching where people are bowling, hand positions, equipment choices, etc can help you make smart decisions quickly. Knowing what NOT to do will keep you from making wrong decisions even quicker. 5) Dont forget to have fun! Im a smiler and a joker, but even I can get down on myself. When you start to get down just remember its a game. So many people yell / kick / whack and grumble their way through bowling when they should be making friends, talking, and having fun. You would be surprised how often a good laugh can reset your brain and get you back on track. I hope you guys can use at least a few of these tips if you are preparing / bowling events wherever you are. And I hope what we share with you on Lane Side Reviews helps make the game more enjoyable for you.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 23:19:19 +0000