After a 685 and 698 series, tonight the lane mechanic changed the shot. We bowl second shift and I shot 551. Reason why the mechanic changed the shot???? Scratch league (4 days ago) told him that the lanes were breaking down too fast and they had to move too much during their first shift set on Monday. So mechanic put out enough oil from gutter to gutter to make sure that the scratch crankers didn't have to adjust so much. Resulting in a real mess by the time you get behind a mixed handicap league and you yourself are in a mixed handicap league. This is the house that normally puts out more then 80 units of oil on a 40' top hat pattern, synthetic lanes. And its apparently not enough oil for the scratch league so, now our league basically has just a flattish carried down shot to the pocket. Rocket to the pocket off the corner is what I'd call it. I moved right all night, put away my Tidalwave, put away my NVD, and used my dull sanded Cell off the corner, just a straight shot to the 1,3 pocket. Ended up about 7 to 8 boards right of where I've been the last couple weeks and further right with my target, just pointing it to the pocket. Spares were an issue, because they usually had more then 3 to 5 pins in them (I picked up the 1,5,8, 9). Even when you were in the pocket, carry was still an issue, but at least I was now hitting the head pin.

That's what you get when you have a lane mechanic (and the manager and owners) that doesn't bowl and a scratch league that brings in a lot of money. They dictate the shot. Just when you think that this is what you will have to deal with next week, you never know. First three weeks were not bad. Could be changed back. All depends on how the rest of the week's leagues bowled. But Friday, two shifts, only person that shot anything was also the highest average in our association. I set off the rumor that I shot over 700, that usually gets the mechanic to change the shot, so at least we'll probably have something different next week. Got to be better then this week.

Erin

After a 685 and 698 series, tonight the lane mechanic changed the shot. We bowl second shift and I shot 551. Reason why the mechanic changed the shot???? Scratch league (4 days ago) told him that the lanes were breaking down too fast and they had to move too much during their first shift set on Monday. So mechanic put out enough oil from gutter to gutter to make sure that the scratch crankers didn't have to adjust so much. Resulting in a real mess by the time you get behind a mixed handicap league and you yourself are in a mixed handicap league. This is the house that normally puts out more then 80 units of oil on a 40' top hat pattern, synthetic lanes. And its apparently not enough oil for the scratch league so, now our league basically has just a flattish carried down shot to the pocket. Rocket to the pocket off the corner is what I'd call it. I moved right all night, put away my Tidalwave, put away my NVD, and used my dull sanded Cell off the corner, just a straight shot to the 1,3 pocket. Ended up about 7 to 8 boards right of where I've been the last couple weeks and further right with my target, just pointing it to the pocket. Spares were an issue, because they usually had more then 3 to 5 pins in them (I picked up the 1,5,8, 9). Even when you were in the pocket, carry was still an issue, but at least I was now hitting the head pin.

That's what you get when you have a lane mechanic (and the manager and owners) that doesn't bowl and a scratch league that brings in a lot of money. They dictate the shot. Just when you think that this is what you will have to deal with next week, you never know. First three weeks were not bad. Could be changed back. All depends on how the rest of the week's leagues bowled. But Friday, two shifts, only person that shot anything was also the highest average in our association. I set off the rumor that I shot over 700, that usually gets the mechanic to change the shot, so at least we'll probably have something different next week. Got to be better then this week.

Erin

Had an okay day today, bowled a 180, 171, 192, 148, 163, and 174. I did manage to pick up the 4-7-10 Twice! and the 5-7 once

My BowlSK profile is updated with how I did today.

Justin, I wasn't telling you that you needed a closer target. I sound obvisously and used the conjunction "but," implying that you're on the right Track and giving you advice or something that you could add to what you were doing. If you read the post again, what I was trying to get across is that don't worry about it, spare shooting is all about angles and you have to find the ones that work for you. Developing your eye for the spares takes time and then every now and again you suddenly go blind or get punched in the eye, like my 502 last night. Besides a closer target and you'd be doing the Wes Malott thing where he looks down at the lane during his approach and I'm sure that you want to do that.

I threw a 174, 178, 202, 224, and a 225.

[censored]!!! went for a few games today, 149/160 . i only have the one ball at the moment(Track up-rising) somedays it plays perfect but other days i feel i need something without so much zip (like today!) it just breaks too early on certain conditions. i just ordered a plastic vizy (golf ball) for spares a couple of days ago, so hopefully i can be a bit more consistent in that aspect of the game when i get it. im looking at getting 1 or 2 more balls to go with my up-rising to round out the arsenal as you say. any suggestions on what i should look at? i noticed that Howiegroove and 180fury both have the up-rising so maybe they could point me in the right direction...Cheers

anything Track makes is fine with me. i own a kinetic energy and love it. it would be where you want it to be. which is right behind the up rising. i move to it when the up rising is too much, and it doesn't hesitate to take'em down very very good ball. also had a twisted fury at one time and its a pretty good ball too. i would look into getting maybe a kinetic. tracks on a roll with me and i would recommend them to anyone. also mite try a kinetic. its a little weaker than the kinetic energy. but theres also a kinetic pearl which is suppose to be good. i would like to have one of those my self. hope this helps good luck upriser.

Thanks for the advice 180fury, i'll have a look over here and see if they are avaliable. actually, my local bowling centre doesnt even have a Pro Shop, just a couple of balls (visy) on the counter and a guy that comes in one night a week to drill em. its just not as professional as it seems over in the U.S.A. i'll probley have to get it from over thier again (usa)....costs just as much for the ball as it is to send it...anyway, cheers once again and good bowling!!

I try to stick with anything in the Ebonite family (Ebonite, Track, Hammer, and Columbia 300). Thats all I have other than my spare ball, which is a Roto Grip, I have the same family. My personal opinion of Brunswick balls is that they are made cheaply. The quality has gone way downhill since they moved their production facilities to Mexico. Gotta love American made bowling balls.