M
Mantis
OK, I have decided to bowl straight and want to know if it is better to bowl strike bowls up the middle, or from the edge of the lane to the middle. Just another dumb newbie question.
Rowey the li'l lefty
Your daily dose of random
It doesn't matter at all. Try both and see which one you like the best. 
T
The Space Cowboy
I agree with TOPHER- I find it best to play at an angle from the right hand side of the lane (right handed) and in between the 1-3 pocket, which, for me, has good pin carry. I think it's well documented that if you hit the head pin dead on then you have an extremely high chance of leaving either 4-6-7-10 or, worse still, 7-10 splits. I personally find it suits me to play at an angle such that I would roll the ball over the right hand edge of the 3rd arrow, but only because I have developed a consistent release. Basically there's no hard and fast rules about a line- it's more trial and error than anything else. Have a fiddle around til you find what suits you, but you need to remember that bowling straight relies more on accuracy not power, don't be wellying the ball down the lane.
Hope that's some kind of help 2 u
Laters
Hope that's some kind of help 2 u
Laters
RobbieB
Rodentus scientificus
The best line for a straight bowler goes like this:
"Teach me to bowl a hook ball please!"
and should be delivered to a qualified coach. :lol:
Seriously though, if you intend to throw the ball straight, point it from the corner. Unless you are using 16lb equipment, you will most likely carry better Brooklyn than in the pocket, and will certainly leave more makable spares in general - no 8-10's or 4-9's, more 5-8/9 combos and less corner pins. That might not be convential wisdom, but it works, especially with lighter balls. You will also have to accept that you will probably never hold an average over 200, unless your accuracy is exceptional.
Get a coach, learn a hook ball and keep the straight ball for spares.
"Teach me to bowl a hook ball please!"
and should be delivered to a qualified coach. :lol:
Seriously though, if you intend to throw the ball straight, point it from the corner. Unless you are using 16lb equipment, you will most likely carry better Brooklyn than in the pocket, and will certainly leave more makable spares in general - no 8-10's or 4-9's, more 5-8/9 combos and less corner pins. That might not be convential wisdom, but it works, especially with lighter balls. You will also have to accept that you will probably never hold an average over 200, unless your accuracy is exceptional.
Get a coach, learn a hook ball and keep the straight ball for spares.
M
Mantis
Thanks for the replies guys. I have been having some success bowling straight and just off centre to the right (I am right handed), but if I stray to the centre we all know what happens and it aint pretty. So, I will take your advice and try a new line from the right side. I will also try to get some practice in with my reactive ball and try to get some consistancy with it. I am bowling a 155 av. with the plastic at the moment, so I will stick with it for the time being for league.
granat
Total Bowlerer
I called into Horsham Bowl on the way back from SA recently and whilst I understand it was Sunday afternoon and the lanes had not been conditioned since Saturday morning, the term tough condition does not begin to describe it. I fully understand your decision to remain a straight bowler for the time being although I'm sure the league condition would be a lot friendlier than what we copped. I must admit I was very surprised when we asked for the lanes to be on practice for a few minutes warm up and were told that not even league gets warm up. :shock:
As I recall when I was a straight bowler I used to angle into the pocket over 7 board with not too much speed to allow the plastic ball to start to roll a bit.
Graeme
As I recall when I was a straight bowler I used to angle into the pocket over 7 board with not too much speed to allow the plastic ball to start to roll a bit.
Graeme
M
Mantis
I dont know who you got at the desk but we get 30 bowls per lane warm up in league.
The lanes are only conditioned three times a week which I dont think is enough to go to hook bowling. There would not be enough consistancy.
The lanes are only conditioned three times a week which I dont think is enough to go to hook bowling. There would not be enough consistancy.
M
Mantis
Had a couple of practice games yesterday and slowed the bowl down to let it roll. It was carrying through the pins a lot better this way. I tried angling from the right foul line dot and got a couple of strikes but could not get the line consistant. The next game I went back to bowling (or trying to) straight down the board three from the centre and got more strikes.
My main hassle is converting spares. Do you guys and gals bowl straight down the board where your line is or do you angle it by lining up the pin with the middle arrow or what?
Cheers
Mantis
My main hassle is converting spares. Do you guys and gals bowl straight down the board where your line is or do you angle it by lining up the pin with the middle arrow or what?
Cheers
Mantis
T
The Space Cowboy
Mantis
The answer to your question depends on what kind of spare you are converting. If, for example, you had a single-pin leave, say, 5 pin or 1 pin, you would play your normal strike line, perhaps moving a board towards the side of your bowling hand to maximise impact, but accuracy is paramount here. For other spares, it's more a trial and error thing where pins left standing right of centre you would normally move left and vice versa. If you have left several pins, you need to make sure you aim your shot so that the first pin your ball has contact with is the one nearest to you. This pin is the referred to by some as the KEY PIN. Once you have identified your key pin you can position yourself so that when you play the shot, it's the first pin you hit. For example, if you've left a 2-5 spare, aim for the 2 pin, if you've left a 3-6 spare, aim for the 3 pin.
I hope thats some kind of use to you
Laters
Space Cowboy
The answer to your question depends on what kind of spare you are converting. If, for example, you had a single-pin leave, say, 5 pin or 1 pin, you would play your normal strike line, perhaps moving a board towards the side of your bowling hand to maximise impact, but accuracy is paramount here. For other spares, it's more a trial and error thing where pins left standing right of centre you would normally move left and vice versa. If you have left several pins, you need to make sure you aim your shot so that the first pin your ball has contact with is the one nearest to you. This pin is the referred to by some as the KEY PIN. Once you have identified your key pin you can position yourself so that when you play the shot, it's the first pin you hit. For example, if you've left a 2-5 spare, aim for the 2 pin, if you've left a 3-6 spare, aim for the 3 pin.
I hope thats some kind of use to you
Laters
Space Cowboy
