Home

I really did not know how to write about this show without bringing in lane condition controversy. So first let me say that nothing I write is intended to make controversial statements. My job is about recognizing and adapting to whatever the environment is. Quick recognition is very important. I don't know anything about the day to day maintenance schedule or strategies. All of my judgments are made based on watching bowling balls go down the lane. What I am telling you is based on my judgments of these balls going down the lane.

I have been at every show this year except one (Fairlawn, Ohio) At every TV show the TV pair has been substantially tighter than the practice pair. And no matter how much the TV pair seemed to hook down lane, by the end of practice session they played substantially tighter.

It took about 5 shots to see this show was going to be different. I don't care why and I will leave that to those that want to worry about or make this into controversy. The lanes simply hooked more than expected based on other TV show experiences. Keep in mind I had no bowler on the show I was only there to observe and as always learn.

This was the first time this year that I thought the bowlers were going to be bowling on what most bowlers would recognize as normal transitions. I use the word normal loosely because the lanes would not transition as they normally do on TV.

I left the practice pair anticipating the scoring pace to be high. The part of quick recognition may of been what determined the winner of the tournament.

Once again Patrick (a left hander) was on the show with three right handers. Pete had played in all week, Patrick had been in all week and Chris started out and followed it left as needed.

Patrick is the best left hander on tour at following his own transition. He breaks the lane down parallel and follows it with speed and hand adjustments as well as ball changes.

On this show on this day the three right handers would not be playing the lanes parallel to each other and they seemed more concerned about each other than the their opponent on the left side of the lane.

Pete spent all of practice playing in and using angle to the break point. Chris started to the right with a higher friction cover-stock intending to blow a hole in what was expected to be a tighter environment. Patrick spent time searching. He threw shots in several zones on the lane but it was also obvious he was aware of where Chris (his first opponent) was playing.

Patrick made a deliberate effort to use a dull ball just left of where Chris was playing and right on top of Chris. Don't forget I did not have anybody on the show. Just watching this I had to start shaking my head. Did they think they had a chance at beating Patrick by trashing the lane conditions?

There was plenty of hook, Chris didn't need to blow a hole in the pattern. Pete didn't need to be blowing a hole where he wanted to be and certainly pushing oil sideways on the lane wasn't going to help anybody including himself, He did not need to be playing in (but he had played there all week so I understood). And why was Patrick trashing the lay-down point that was going to be needed in the championship match probably against Patrick.

First of all using dull ball to blow open some bodies lay down area is not very effective when there is that much hook down lane. When a bowler can open up their angles and or increase their speed because there is plenty of hook messing with the lay-down area is not that effective.

Why does all this happen? Because the bowlers develop strategies based on previous experiences and everything they were doing made perfect sense with so called "normal" tv environments. The bowlers did not make quick recognition of a obviously different environment. Patrick fell into a fortunate situation and the other three bowlers beat themselves up.

Patrick came off the TV pair saying he threw several bad shots the lane just sucked the ball back to the pocket. Pete was too sideways on the fresh and 39 feet, of course his ball was going to go longer through transitions and miss the breakpoint. Pete understands angles he just didn't recognize it today.

I was most surprised that Chris did not recognize the difference. I feel Chris is one of the best at recognizing the lane and ball reaction. His ball reacted to the friction too quickly he need something smoother. I was so sure that this difference would fall into the advantage of Chris and his ability to recognize and adapt. As it was Patrick seemed to do the better job.

Patrick used a ball and a line I had not seen him use all week. I could be wrong as I did not watch all of his matches. But he used a particle ball, firmed up his speed and squared up to the lane using more of and arc reaction instead of a cover that responded to the friction too quickly. Kudos to Patrick and his recognition skills. But what was the idea of burning up what you needed later on. I know, you were worried about your first match with Chris more than the possibility of getting to the championship match.

So when we saw the two Patrick's in the championship match, the right two guys got there. They did a better job of recognizing and adapting. Now the stage was set for what could have been a very high scoring and closely contested battle. Except Patrick Allen was bowling on a condition that would be much easier to manipulate and follow.

Just a game earlier Patrick Healey Jr had shot 250, what happened was transition that was effected by his own strategy against Chris. His ball now read early and lost energy getting down lane.

Take it how you want but nothing I said was about controversy or criticism, it was about learning and preparing for the next opportunity.

I learned about individual bowlers strategies and recognition skills. I learned to think more about practice transitions on TV instead of finding a magical ball and or line on TV especially if one of the bowlers has his part of the lane all to himself. Actually I didn't learn that one I already knew it I just wanted to emphasize the point.

We also got to preview and experiment with next weeks 50 foot T of C pattern. Matt was nice enough to run a pair of lanes with an idea of what he wanted to do for the Tournament of Champions. I don't know what your expectations of 50 feet are but I will tell you, I will go into next week with a much more open mind.

Now if I can just recognize and adapt quick enough.

Congrats Sponseur