The house finally conditioned the lanes after many complaints, so they were not extremely dry as usual,I knew what to do I moved my feet right 5 boards moved my target right 3 boards.I was in the 1-3 pocket time after time, Leaving the 7 pin time after time.I did not know how to adjust for this problem.I noticed each time I left the 7 pin the 5 pin was just laying in front of the 7 pin I should mention I am not young, and I am using a 12 lb ball.I would have had a 4 timer if I could carry the 7. I need some help with this problem please.
Scorchy

Too bad the center has to wait for many complaints. Were the lanes just conditioned or were they also stripped?

Quote:

I was in the 1-3 pocket time after time, Leaving the 7 pin time after time.I did not know how to adjust for this problem.I noticed each time I left the 7 pin the 5 pin was just laying in front of the 7 pin

There is always a reason why we leave pins, even on a pocket hit. I see this all the time in leagues where a bowler will be in the 1-3 pocket yet leave pins. All I hear is "I got tapped". As Bill Taylor states, there is no such thing as a tap, there is always a reason why the results are gotten.

For you it might be:

1. Too much deflection
2. You were not high enough in the pocket but that usually leaves the soft 10
3. The ball was not finishing - skidding instead of rolling in the pocket
4. If the lanes were not stripped, then the backends could have a lot of oil and the ball was not finishing.

It is hard to tell without being there and seeing the results. From what you mention I would have tried a 1 board move right on the approach using same mark or even try to slow the ball speed down. If the center continues with this condition, you might have to scuff up the surface of your ball to get it to read the lane better. But since you mentioned the center is usually dry, it maybe just a one time thing. And if you do change the coverstock, then the ball will read the lane too early when it is drier.

What line were you playing?

Quote:

I should mention I am not young, and I am using a 12 lb ball.

Not let's not start using excuses I hope that when I am 81 that I can still be bowling.

Later...Dan

Hi Dan, I do not think I was making excuses. I knew something was lacking in my shot.I didn`t feel that I was tapped either. I agree with you on the tap theory. I do not know if the lanes were stripped or not,I do not know what you mean by stripping, except that it sounds like take all the old finish off, and then oil the lanes.I was
standing with my right foot 5 boards to the left of the center dot and my target was around the 13th 14th board I was hitting it pretty good with my new free no muscle swing. I am right handed,I throw a hook ball.
Thanks Dan for all your help, yes I am 81, but thank God I am not handicapped in any way. I feel I should be bowling better if I only knew how. I also know I am Improving Thanks to people like you
Scorchy

Scorchy,Just a word of encouragement.Its not a easy game to learn but with your attitude i don't think it will be a problem for you.Good bowling.

Scorchy,

You should reference your stance with your left foot (not with your right foot); this is illustrated in various bowling books, advice from bowling coaches and this is the method that I use.

With that said, if your right foot is 5 boards to the left of the center dot, then your right foot is at board number 25 - which means that the inside edge of your LEFT foot would be at (approximately) board number 27.

As Dan has pointed out in an earlier post, your logical move is to move right 1 board (using the inside edge of your left foot) and use the same target (around the 13th or 14th board) on the lane; and then if that move still leaves you the 7 pin, throw the ball a bit slower than your normal speed.

Just one quick note though, "DO NOT" make multiple changes to your delivery all at once; "change one thing at a time", for example:

1. Moving left or right/up or down on the approach.

2. Changing ball speed.

3. Change your focus on your target (either look closer or farther down the lane).

4. Changing your hand position at the point of release.

5. Changing your ball with an agressive coverstock (to make it hook more).

My point is, do number 1 first; if that doesn't work, do number 2 next; and then go to number 3 next; and then go to number 4 next; or as a last resort do number 5.

I hope this helps...

Avid

Thanks Greybeard for the encouragement,When things go wrong it is good to reflect back on encouraging words.

Scorchy

Thanks Avid Bowler, You sure packed in a lot of solid advice. I really appreciate same,I know about lining up with the inside of my left foot. I just have to get comfortable doing it. I am going to print out your tips so I can refer to them from time to time.
Scorchy

Avid Bowler;

I don't mean to barge in but I read and read and read and.....

Just to clarify one thing for me... when you say only change one thing at a time... for instance move one board to the right... if that doesn't work do you stay one board to the right and change ball speed? or return to original position and change ball speed?? I assume the latter but want to be sure...

Everything has to be spelled out for me sometimes...

Then just to be persistant.... assuming the latter is correct do you then keep ball speed slowed and then move to the right a board or start at the original position and change target...

Again sorry for what should be a simple thing, but I'm trying to improve my game the best way I know how, and some times that means I have to ask stupid questions.

Hi Scorchy.
I'm a newbie here and not a pro by any means, but for me, if I'm missing that 7 pin, sometimes moving about an inch back from where I usually stand on the approach will help me get the 7 pins when I'm leaving them. And I move up about an inch to get 10 pins. I think someone else mentioned this earlier here? Good luck!
Dawn

Hope I'm bowling when I'm 81... ok, I'd settle for just breathing.

I'm sure you understand you're giving up quite a bit of pin carry when tossing 12 lbs down the lane. Roll the heaviest ball that is comfortable for you. If your ball has good pace, you might want to think about adding an 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. If you're tired by the end of the session, then you've probably got the ball you need.

Keep doing whatever you doing as it seems to be working if you're hitting the pocket on a regular basis. Make those spares and those taps don't seem quite as painful.

Good luck!

Terry

Dang!!

Thought I was losing it when I saw the lead in to this thread in "Today's Active Topics". I don't remember posting anything recently...and as I recall, I'm "Oldtimer", not "Old Geezer". Oh...it's about another crazy 81 years young old coot like me hooked on bowling...phew.

As i've posted before, our house allows those of us 80 years and over free open bowling, so I'm down there many afternoons. I've developed shoulder impingement problems from repetitive wrong torquing of my arm, so, I'm bowling lefty this summer to give it a chance to heal. The interesting thing is that I'm learning more left handed than I was righty. Don't have the long ingrained bad habits to conend with, and the results show up immediately when I do something wrong.

I'm looking forward to bowling righty again, and to try to incorporate what I'm learning as a lefty.

Oldtimer

Gene,

Avid gave some very good advise. All of what he said pertains to changing the entry angle of the ball to the pocket. It can be frustrating to see yourself hitting the pocket time after time and leaving a flat 7 or 10. Stick with it and use the tips that avid mentioned and you should see those 7's start to go down. good luck.

I thought leaving solid back row pins mean the ball is getting into its roll too fast(or am I thinking too slow? I'm just learning this myself) and it's a tad high in the pocket. If that's the case, it seems like the adjustment you'd want to make would be to change your breakpoint a little further outside I think.

Please correct me if I made any wrong assumptions here because I'd really like to improve my carry percentage as well.

Usually if you are leaving solid back row pins it means the ball was still hooking as it hit the pins, you want the ball to be rolling as it hits the pins.

As the ball encounters friction it starts to lose axis rotation and stop going away from the pocket and roll straight with the boards for a short distance 2 to 3 feet in where the ball turns to roll toward the pocket in the direction of the left over axis rotation, if the ball still has axis rotation to lose or goes too far down the lane to where the ball is still hooking as it hits the pins, then you will leave a back row pin on a solid pocket hit.

This is another "old" thread. No pun intended.

It can also take a while to train your eye to see the difference between solid back row pins and weak back row pins. A 7, 8, or 10 (for a righty) can all be caused by weak hits. A 7, 8, or 9 can all be cause by coming in a little too high/strong. You have to l earn to watch your ball's reaction down the lane and through the pins to figure out which it is.

Might I suggest moving a half a board to the left to get the 7 pin, that's what I do when I leave a 7 pin on my strike ball. Conversely, I move a half a board to the right to stop laeving a ten pin on my first ball as well.

I think heard on PBA telecast it differs on what kind of corner pin you leave. If its weak or Ringing. If its weak i think the ball loosing it energy to finish and kick out that corner pin. Ringing its too strong entering the pocket. Both probally have to change your entry angle. Though i have had sucess with changing ball speed to kick out the 10 pin (righty)

Coch Jim, Have you heard from Gene Brady today and see if any of the tips you guys gave him remedyed his 7 pin problem. He sure sounded frustrated. You guys covered all the areas I would think of. If he still has it, one of the post mentioned the angle coming in. He might want to get some of the people at the house watch and see if the angle coming in might be varying slightly. I take spells of getting in the pocket, but being slightly high but not enough to ge a split, but just high enough to leave the seven or I'll be slightly low and leave that 10. The 7 is usually the one I get bugged with as the floor starts drying, I'm usually not payin attention till I let it get away from me a couple a times. It only take a slight heigth leave that 7.

Coch Jim, Have you heard from Gene Brady today and see if any of the tips you guys gave him remedyed his 7 pin problem. He sure sounded frustrated. You guys covered all the areas I would think of. If he still has it, one of the post mentioned the angle coming in. He might want to get some of the people at the house watch and see if the angle coming in might be varying slightly. I take spells of getting in the pocket, but being slightly high but not enough to ge a split, but just high enough to leave the seven or I'll be slightly low and leave that 10. The 7 is usually the one I get bugged with as the floor starts drying, I'm usually not payin attention till I let it get away from me a couple a times. It only take a slight heigth leave that 7.

Eddie, this thread started way before my time, I was just trying to help Amature who still posts pretty regular. It would be nice to know if any of our advice helped someone, and would help others with the same problems as well if people replied an let us know how their problem was resolved. I can't recall Gene posting here since I have been a member, but it would be nice to know how it turned out for him.

Scorchy,

Add this to your things to try. When you begin noticing you are leaving the 7 pin, look to see if you are coming high or low on the head pin. If you are coming high on the head, take about a 6" step forward from your normal stance and throw your same ball.........speed, mark and hand rotation. If you are coming in low on the head pin, then do the reverse, 6" step back and see what happens.

I can get in a rut with 7's or 10's and make that little adjustment and it helps. Hope this helps.

Live long............bowl strong.

Terry