Take it With a Grain of Salt – Coldwater, OH Part 2

Trusting a PBA practice session is a lot like trusting the customer who tells you that “the check is in the mail.”  You know that it’s not true even though it makes you feel a little better in the moment.  However, the moment that customer leaves you just know that you’ve been fed a lie. 

This is a note to everyone considering bowling a PBA event; the pattern on the lane is not the reason to go to the practice session.  Many high level pros do not participate in practice sessions because they know that the pattern on Friday is seldom what is on the lanes on Saturday and/or Sunday.  They have been tricked by the pattern before and gotten burnt.  However, do not fall into that trap as a new player.  Go to the practice session!  Get the experience!  Just make sure that you don’t make up your mind about how to play the lanes on Saturday based on Friday evening.

I maintain that a practice session is a vital aspect of the tournament process.  A responsible and astute bowler can learn a lot in a practice session, even if the pattern is obviously different.  First of all, the approaches in a bowling center WILL be consistent barring intense climate change.  Familiarize yourself with your environment.  If there are lanes against the wall or with unique tendencies, get to know the topography of the center.  Furthermore, a lot can be learned about lane play without ever seeing the actual pattern.  A clever player can surmise if a portion of the center hooks more, earlier, later, etc. by bowling on anything.

Furthermore, practice on a competitive pattern with the people against whom you will be competing is incredibly valuable.  Ultimately, it is not a house shot and it is two hours to learn and watch others.  I have learned as much about the game during practice sessions from intelligent pros as I have anywhere.

The pattern was the Tournament of Champions pattern, but on wood with extra oil in the first 15 feet to help it hold up to the traffic.  The result was a great deal of sensitivity in the pattern.  Speed, trajectory through the front of the lane, accuracy, and playing the right zone were all vital.  This does not mean that a pattern is unplayable.  However, the player absolutely must be deliberate about selecting a ball that will minimize the inconsistencies in the pattern, utilize his or her strengths, and be aware of what other players are doing to the pattern (for better or for worse).

Because of the surface, I needed a ball that would clear the heads, but was strong enough to make it “up the hill” at the end of the pattern.  It could not be so strong as to make me open my angles, as that would lead to splits, but needed to create either a board of hold or a board of hook if I missed.  The solution was either a Raptor drilled 70 x 30 @ 2 ½ that would clear the front and tumble at the pocket or one of my Sigma Tours.  The Raptor and my pin up Sigma (60 x 40 @ 5) created a bit of hook if I missed away.  The pin down Sigma (40 x 60 @ 5 with a P2 hole) created a bit of hold.  I had a great look on the gutter with all three, but for some reason, the shot did not hold up very well when I threw the Sigma on it.  Obviously, the surface on the Sigma coupled with the surface of the lane was creating problems. 

During a two hour practice session I am always convinced my look is great for a while and that it is terrible for a while.  Unfortunately, this practice session ended just as I convinced myself that my ball reaction was not so good.  This pattern, as always, was a riddle that I had less than 24 hours to solve.