A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine and I were watching old PBA broadcasts on my DVR. We watched the pin fall of every shot of Patrick Allen in one game in super super slow motion. It was one of the tournaments he won and he threw a lot of strikes that game. What was fascinating was that not once did the 4 pin take out the 7 directly (he is left handed). In every strike but two the 4 pin bounced off the wall first then hit the seven.

The 2 other strikes were unbelievable but I have since observed it several other times and shown it to friends. The 2 pin after hitting the 4 rides back on the ball until the 2 pin, ball and 8 pin collide all together. The 2 pin flies at an almost unbelievable 90 degree angle off this collision and hits the 7 pin. I have since seen right handers do the same thing, driving the 3 pin off the 9 to take out the 10. In regular speed you would never guess that it was the 2 (or 3) pin taking out the corner.

So if a perfect strike is one where the 4 pin hits the 7 directly instead of on the rebound off the wall, Patrick Allen won back-to-back titles without ever throwing one that I saw.

Cheetah
I am by no means the coach or the bowler that coach
04 is but I learned something from one of my teamates that I use now. He has pulled me aside and
has told me your not having fun. Try this: If all
fails target the 6 pin on wooden lanes along with
your 2nd or 3rd arrow and on plastic lanes like the
Brunswick zones target the 3 pin. Well it worked for
me sunday when I used the 3 pin as target and the
3rd arrow or 15bd. The ball went to about 12bd and
broke into the pocket for a strike. First game 190,
second game with a 5 bagger 204, and last game 168
with an open in the tenth. I hope this helps someone. bowling joel

Your chart is in error... From board 17, to board 17 is zero degrees.

Coach, I'm not sure what you mean. A ball that breaks at the 17 board at 60 feet would really be a straight shot because the breakpoint would be at the pin, but it could still be 6 degrees, right?

To answer the topic question, 2-8 degrees WITH a 2.5 inch offset. Offset means the distance of the vertical axis of the headpin and the vertical axis of the ball.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Originally posted by Goodah Chunky:
To answer the topic question, 2-8 degrees WITH a 2.5 inch offset. Offset means the distance of the vertical axis of the headpin and the vertical axis of the ball. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">This is the question that cheetah really wanted answered:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Originally posted by Cheetahcan you determine a "perfect" breakpoint?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Watching the US Open telecast last night, and other tournaments this year, it's apparent that many/most of the successful pros aren't getting the ball out to the 7th board; they're playing the pattern in front of them. Chris Barnes' ball was breaking optimally from the 10th to the 12th boards in the title match; he was playing the 4th arrow.

We've seen a lot of these guys playing as far inside as the 5th arrow with success; angles into the pocket of maybe a couple degrees at the most. Obviously you can have success without the optimum 6 degree angle!

What are the most important factors for consistently carrying strikes with lower entry angles?

Dave

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Originally posted by 802dave:

We've seen a lot of these guys playing as far inside as the 5th arrow with success; angles into the pocket of maybe a couple degrees at the most. Obviously you can have success without the optimum 6 degree angle!
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Mika was playing between the 5th and 6th!
At least he wasn't walking in front of the ball return.

That last match between PA & Chris Barnes was an amazing game! Lots of mental back and forth!

Those guys are tough!

The perfect breakpoint is achieved when the criteria I posted before is met. So it all depends on where you lined up, what kind of shot you delivered and what was the oil condition at the time you delivered the shot.

Chunky