RealTalk #3 HOUSE SHOT to easy or to hard? - RealBowlers2024-03-29T12:39:40Zhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/forum/topics/realtalk-3-house-shot-to-easy?feed=yes&xn_auth=noI have really tried to keep m…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-10:2153999:Comment:305222009-08-10T12:49:52.230ZBruce Richardsonhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/BruceRichardson
I have really tried to keep my mouth shut... which some of you know is difficult for me to do.<br />
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Let me give you MY opinion on a least one of your questions -- If someone can't hit the shot does that mean there is no shot?.<br />
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Well the answer is.... the is ALWAYS a shot. It might be an easy shot to some and not others. It might be a bad shot to all. It might be a good shot that is very difficult. It might be a bad shot that is easy. It might be a shot that makes bad bowlers good and good bowlers…
I have really tried to keep my mouth shut... which some of you know is difficult for me to do.<br />
<br />
Let me give you MY opinion on a least one of your questions -- If someone can't hit the shot does that mean there is no shot?.<br />
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Well the answer is.... the is ALWAYS a shot. It might be an easy shot to some and not others. It might be a bad shot to all. It might be a good shot that is very difficult. It might be a bad shot that is easy. It might be a shot that makes bad bowlers good and good bowlers bad. It might be a shot that gives you very little room for error. It might a be shot that all roads lead to the pocket. I might be good on monday then bad on thursday because it rained and its humid..... GET MY POINT! I could fill up the page with all of the what ifs in the world.<br />
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Now I will give the disclaimer that maybe since I have been bowling just two years that maybe I don't know enough to even respond or might not be considered worthy of communicating on this level with the "better/varsity" bowlers (I barely make the JV team). But I will tell you this... I work hard at being a better bowler and making the game easy so I can feel good about myself is not going to help me accomplish that goal.<br />
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Give me a sheet of ice or a lane of concrete. I will attempt to pick the right equipment and make the appropriate adjustment. There are times when I'm very lost and there are times when I luck up and figure it out. BUT I DON'T QUIT!! REAL BOWLERS don't either. Easy. Scratch bowlers are the…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-07:2153999:Comment:301512009-08-07T06:13:47.595ZRandall Harvillehttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/randallharville
Easy. Scratch bowlers are the minority in a bowling center. The average once a week bowler does not want think about figuring out a difficult lane pattern. Therefore, house shots will always be too easy for the skilled players. You have to keep the masses happy to stay in business. "Real Bowlers" will always figure out the "shot", easy or difficult. Did I say "Real Bowlers"?
Easy. Scratch bowlers are the minority in a bowling center. The average once a week bowler does not want think about figuring out a difficult lane pattern. Therefore, house shots will always be too easy for the skilled players. You have to keep the masses happy to stay in business. "Real Bowlers" will always figure out the "shot", easy or difficult. Did I say "Real Bowlers"? I just wanted to add one more…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-07:2153999:Comment:301462009-08-07T01:12:12.174ZTIM MCNAIRhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/TimMcNair
I just wanted to add one more perspective to the house shot debate......with the evolution of ball bowls(more dynamic and versatile) it would seem only feasible to change the lane conditions to match the advantage of the high powered balls. Like one blogger stated in a previous post.....he got more satisfaction achieving a honor score on a more difficult pattern than he did on a wide open HS. 300 games and 800 series are still big accomplishments but they dont get the same respect and reverence…
I just wanted to add one more perspective to the house shot debate......with the evolution of ball bowls(more dynamic and versatile) it would seem only feasible to change the lane conditions to match the advantage of the high powered balls. Like one blogger stated in a previous post.....he got more satisfaction achieving a honor score on a more difficult pattern than he did on a wide open HS. 300 games and 800 series are still big accomplishments but they dont get the same respect and reverence as they did 10 or 15 years ago, why?? Because the equipment(balls) has trumped the lane conditions.....i dont know if some of you remember this but years ago the AJC(newspaper) use to post some honor scores in the sports section. Can we get that respect back to the game? Yes we can!!!!:) A typical house shot is an oi…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-07:2153999:Comment:301442009-08-07T00:14:23.004ZKenny Taylorhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/KennyTaylor
A typical house shot is an oil concentration between the 10th boards on each side, 39 to 44 ft, at a ratio between 3:1 and 5:1 (per Kegel.com). The lower the ratio the more difficult the shot. The conditions have gotten easier over the years with the development of lane machines. Originally extra oil was placed in the head area to compensate for dissipation of oil in the area where the bowlers lay their bowling balls down. This is similar to weight blocks in bowling balls which originally were…
A typical house shot is an oil concentration between the 10th boards on each side, 39 to 44 ft, at a ratio between 3:1 and 5:1 (per Kegel.com). The lower the ratio the more difficult the shot. The conditions have gotten easier over the years with the development of lane machines. Originally extra oil was placed in the head area to compensate for dissipation of oil in the area where the bowlers lay their bowling balls down. This is similar to weight blocks in bowling balls which originally were to compensate for imbalance caused by drilling holes in your bowling balls, what was a 3 oz counterweight is now a 9 lb core.<br />
There are different degrees of difficulty which can be applied to a house shot, flattenning out the shot, lenthening the oil, moving the "wall" and even reversing the wall. I agree that the better the league the more difficult the shot should be. But some combinations of difficulty are not going to be conducive to everyones game, and on the other hand some lane patterns will help some bowlers.<br />
I feel that the more challenging conditions should be reserved for the professional and semi-professional bowlers who have the time and facilities to work on their game on certain conditions. If you look at the turnouts in scratch tournaments , regional tournaments, and scratch leagues, tough conditions aren't too popular.<br />
And by the way not everyone will average 220 on an easy shot, you'd be surprised how many bowlers don't know how to play a second arrow shot.<br />
Also some houses and/or shots are not conducive to one's game, you got to know when to hold em and when to fold em. I'm gone. Theo - O.K. you got me to tal…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-06:2153999:Comment:301422009-08-06T23:55:57.279ZHiram Millshttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/HiramMills
Theo - O.K. you got me to talk. The flood gates have been opened. Eqiuipment and conditions adding in a lot of ability, has taken good bowlers to great bowlers. It is what it is. This is going to be streight up. A real bowler should't complain about a shot. A real bowler has always adjusted to the shot that was given. No disrespect to those I do respect but, I AM SICK OF HEARING COMPLAINTS ABOUT A SHOTS. That goes for anything or anywhere I bowl. Theo, I heard one of the bowlers in the Eric D.…
Theo - O.K. you got me to talk. The flood gates have been opened. Eqiuipment and conditions adding in a lot of ability, has taken good bowlers to great bowlers. It is what it is. This is going to be streight up. A real bowler should't complain about a shot. A real bowler has always adjusted to the shot that was given. No disrespect to those I do respect but, I AM SICK OF HEARING COMPLAINTS ABOUT A SHOTS. That goes for anything or anywhere I bowl. Theo, I heard one of the bowlers in the Eric D. tourny complain all day long. Please bowl and stop complaining. I bowl on whatever is given to me. My average goes down when I struggled and goes up when I see the shot and adjust right through the night. Come on people...If you consider yourself a good bowler...adjust and just get it! Be prepared folks...Midtown h…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-06:2153999:Comment:301332009-08-06T20:26:20.516ZCrishttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/Cris
Be prepared folks...Midtown has a new shot this year. More grease (oil) :). Otherwise, I just bowl.
Be prepared folks...Midtown has a new shot this year. More grease (oil) :). Otherwise, I just bowl. My position on this topic is…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-06:2153999:Comment:301282009-08-06T19:25:19.152ZTIM MCNAIRhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/TimMcNair
My position on this topic is that i would want the house shot more on the difficult side......not too difficult but definitely not easy as some of the house shots i've bowl on. There is however one catch to all of this......it need to be this way in all houses. My reason being is that if every centers house pattern had the same level of difficulty it would change the culture of league and competitive bowling. One thing i have witnessed over the years about bowlers as that they will adapt if you…
My position on this topic is that i would want the house shot more on the difficult side......not too difficult but definitely not easy as some of the house shots i've bowl on. There is however one catch to all of this......it need to be this way in all houses. My reason being is that if every centers house pattern had the same level of difficulty it would change the culture of league and competitive bowling. One thing i have witnessed over the years about bowlers as that they will adapt if you force them to.....case in point, about 5 years ago very few tournaments in the south put out challenging patterns for fear of drawing low entries.......now it seems that alot of tournament directors are doing it and the bowlers have adjusted their mindset and expectation. Making house patterns more difficult will help the overall sport of competitive bowling......here's how. Bowlers would practice more, some would get lessons and possibly be more of a student of the game, bowling balls and equipment would sell more, tournament interest would increase, and i think bowlers would have more pride in the sport, whether its a hobby or a passion. And everyone wins.....bowling centers, tournaments, pro shops, bowling coaches, etc. Now i know and realize everyone dont have the same interest and level of commitment to bowling and like Kevin said, everyone dont have the finances to be involve in it the same way. My solution to that is maybe we can change the house patterns to be more difficult in the so called more competitive leagues, like the Thurs. nite mens, Jackpot, and other leagues that are made up of your more serious bowlers. Me and my brother are firm believers that if you raise the level of expectations, people will stop blindly settling for anything you hand them. Lets expect more.....it only makes us better. Well I have seen it from a bo…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-06:2153999:Comment:301152009-08-06T18:49:02.009Zadorna haywardhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/adornahayward
Well I have seen it from a bowling alley mechanic's point of view. Those that complain are not consistent with their game at all!!!! My father puts out the same pattern Monday to Friday and the same people will come bowl league on a monday and then again on a second night. Monday it's too much oil, and then by Wednesday it's not enough, and 'tells' my father that he did not oil the lanes since Monday (as if they were there all day every day). It sweets me to see people complain about everything…
Well I have seen it from a bowling alley mechanic's point of view. Those that complain are not consistent with their game at all!!!! My father puts out the same pattern Monday to Friday and the same people will come bowl league on a monday and then again on a second night. Monday it's too much oil, and then by Wednesday it's not enough, and 'tells' my father that he did not oil the lanes since Monday (as if they were there all day every day). It sweets me to see people complain about everything else but about them selves.<br />
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To me the house shot is like attrative people.... beauty is in the eye of the beholder...... the shot is in the head of the bowler. I just wanted to add one thin…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-06:2153999:Comment:301092009-08-06T15:39:16.065Zkevin jamisonhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/kevinjamison
I just wanted to add one thing Theo. I personally don't care what shot is out there. We still have to make shots. I know a lot of so called advanced bowlers who would quit after 6 weeks if they didn't average 220 or better. (21 games if you get my drift). But I don't believe in taking pot shots at any bowlers. Lefties or Righties. Bowling has gotten to be expensive. If you bowl in a league where dues are 25 dollars which for 36 weeks is 900 in dues only. Most advanced bowlers get in brackets…
I just wanted to add one thing Theo. I personally don't care what shot is out there. We still have to make shots. I know a lot of so called advanced bowlers who would quit after 6 weeks if they didn't average 220 or better. (21 games if you get my drift). But I don't believe in taking pot shots at any bowlers. Lefties or Righties. Bowling has gotten to be expensive. If you bowl in a league where dues are 25 dollars which for 36 weeks is 900 in dues only. Most advanced bowlers get in brackets and sidepots which could easily put you over several thousands of dollars. It is almost a buisness now and teams make adjustments to put their teams in position to win. I don't remember to many second place finishers. So if you bowl in 2 or 3 leagues plus bowl in numerous tournaments it can add up to the tens of thousands easy. So too easy of a shot is where blind people can come into a house throw the ball and it hits the bump and it walks to the pocket. So yes that is definately too easy of a shot and too hard of a shot can be debated for hours on end. Shoe up, smile and lets compete because we sure don't live in a perfect world. P.S. You guys (McNair brothers), are doing a great job. Don't let anyone tell you guys you are not. Very few tournament and league directors would even have an open forum for the bowlers and management to have dialogue. Keep up the good work and keep striving to do your best. KGJ I agree that every house has…tag:realbowlers.ning.com,2009-08-06:2153999:Comment:301062009-08-06T14:22:34.442Zkevin jamisonhttp://realbowlers.ning.com/profile/kevinjamison
I agree that every house has a different shot. Let me make one important analysis. Most houses are not giving the league bowlers any perks for bowling a 800 series or 300 game. So many are being shot now that you have to pay for your 300 ring from USBC. Open bowling pays way more than league bowling and this is just a fact. In most houses now they are catering to the open bowlers on Friday and Saturdays and trying to figure out how to keep their lanes preserved from the open bowlers and the…
I agree that every house has a different shot. Let me make one important analysis. Most houses are not giving the league bowlers any perks for bowling a 800 series or 300 game. So many are being shot now that you have to pay for your 300 ring from USBC. Open bowling pays way more than league bowling and this is just a fact. In most houses now they are catering to the open bowlers on Friday and Saturdays and trying to figure out how to keep their lanes preserved from the open bowlers and the beat up on the lanes by the league bowlers.<br />
My suggestions is go gutter to gutter and go at least 36 to 40 feet with the OIL. Then it doesn't force all the righties to go and get super soakers like now in some houses because this really tears your lanes up faster. This will force everybody to improve on being shotmakers and not area players. The truth hurts but to be honest most people just want to see it hook and not be shotmakers. This pattern forces people to get back to basics and to be very honest about it if you take away the bump in most houses most bowlers would not have a clue. Gutter to gutter gives everyone the chance to score be it 1st arrow,2nd,3rd,4th, and 5th arrow. Now you have to really put time in to be better than average and have the right piece to match up to the lane conditions and on any given night if you are the one to carry you win big. If not you still can shoot your 650 and be happy.<br />
Just my opinion and I do have over 25 years and numbers to back it up. Time to shut up and play and respect peoples game. Let your game speak for itself. The difference between winners and losers is losers find all the excuses to problems and winners find the answers to their problems. Which are everyone of us ? Just food for thought. KGJ