| It is Thursday and I
am watching the first round of qualifying. They just completed
the first game. I have found a place that I can sit down with my
laptop, watch the competition and give you a little update on
what I am seeing. First of all understand that we are bowling
on a unique surface this week. The first 20 feet of the lane is
AMF HPL 9000 synthetics. The rest of the lane is wood.
Everything is different on wood. So we will see something
different this week no matter what is applied to the lane. The
applied pattern is Scorpion which is 41 feet in length.
Everybody came into this morning with an open mind.
I didn't want any of my guys to have a pre conceived idea of
where how or what they were going to need. The strategy was to
try and be the fastest at recognizing and adapting. Well it
didn't take long to recognize something we haven't seen all
year. There was more hook to the right and quite a few chuckles
when a rt. hander missed to the inside. It is a combination that
will lead to some pretty high scores. I still see a larger
portion of the field trying to attack the lanes left of the
track which does surprise me. The bowlers always have to play
the way the field transitions the lanes. Because there is a
large enough group of bowlers opting to play in different parts
of the lane. In short the applied pattern looks very high
scoring on the right but because of the way the field is playing
them there will be more pair to pair issues this round. The left
side does not look as easy. The ball does not pick up as easily
and the bowlers have not found an angle that gives them hold as
of yet.
I think most bowlers came in thinking they would be playing
left of the track most of the round. The biggest surprise is how
good it looks outside of five. Because of the field and the
track area on a wood surface I do expect the lanes to break down
and force a good portion of the field left of the track but
those that can stay right the longest are going to have a pretty
good head start. Once the bowlers move in it will be interesting
to see what the carry looks like.
I better move along Game two is almost over.
|
Insider Break
(This box indicates I had to leave and
will return as time permits) |
|
