How To Read The Lanes

Perry asked me one night this past week, "How can I learn to read the lanes?" If you remember him, Perry has been asking questions of myself and many of the high average bowlers in the area since last year. If you remember him, you will also know Perry has read many of the articles I have written. (He has also, no doubt, has read anything he can lay his hands on because of his "thirst for bowling knowledge.") He truly wants to learn as much as he can.

Well, that night, I gave him my standard answer about knowing the oil patterns, lane conditions, and knowing your equipment well. I told him about practicing and paying attention to his ball reaction on the lane. I told him about knowing all his options so that he would be able to make changes throughout the night. We talked about the different balls in his arsenal with several pin positions, different hand rotations, and changing marks and breakpoints. I believe I confused him ... and myself. That is a lot of things to have to pay attention to, don't you agree?

I was watching a recorded video of a past U.S. Women's Open Championships match and the commentator said something to the effect of, "the changing technology in bowling has made it necessary for the bowlers to learn more in detail about specifications rather than the olds days of buying a ball, drilling it out, and making it work on the lanes." Boy, how true that is.

Do you notice the "ball reps" on the PBA telecasts? Those are the guys that are giving much needed advice to the finalists when they are throwing their practice balls during the commercial breaks. They have become a mainstay on the PBA Tour. But, for us guys who can't afford the "ball consultant" or don't have the ability to change our bowling balls "at will," we probably need a simpler methodology for making adjustments to the lane conditions we face in league play or tournaments.

Let's start by stating that you should continue your thirst for knowledge and read as much as you can about our changing sport. You should also continue to practice and try to master the techniques that you are learning. You can also incorporate new venues to your store of learning by watching online videos about bowling from all over the world. (Remember that when you are doing searches over the internet, "tenpin bowling," is also a key phrase and that "bowler" is also a term used in "cricket.")

Back to our league and tournament competitions at the local level. We do not really "read the lanes;" what we really do is "read our ball reaction to the lane condition." And guess what? - that is exactly what we have been doing ever since we began showing an interest in bowling better and that is what we will continue to do regardless of all the new specs we learn about our equipment.

Here's my "Choc-List" for "How To Read The Lanes," (aka "Reading My Ball Reaction To The Current Lane Condition And Current Frame I'm Bowling In"):

1) Trust and Confidence. You practiced with a purpose and you have self-assurance that your approach, timing, release, and all other physical aspects are as perfect as they can be. You don't have to second-guess yourself because you feel great.

2) Pay Attention. Where are the other bowlers rolling their balls to get strikes? What types of balls are they throwing? How are the pins falling? Are you missing the pocket to the left or to the right? Are you leaving a lot of ten pins?

3) Awareness and Anticipation. If you're hitting solidly then suddenly go light, do not assume it was your mistake (see #1, above). There are other bowlers on the same pair of lanes and they do not bowl in exactly the same way that you do. Keep in mind that the lane condition will sometimes change with every shot. Between frames and before your next shot, be prepared to make an adjustment.

4) Intuition First. All your bowling "book-learning" knowledge is stored in your mind. All your past bowling experiences are stored there, also. Sometimes, they unconsciously merge and come up with solutions to your problems. If it tells you change balls, do it. If it tells you change angles, do it. You may be surprised at how your intuition will serve you.

If you don't make a needed adjustment or change when your ball is not getting you strikes, the loss it yours. If you move and the ball strikes, then it was the lane; if it doesn't strike, you are no worse off then before you tried and you can try another adjustment. The pay off if that you won't be saying, "I should have moved sooner," when the night is over. More bowlers complain about NOT having made a move then complain about HAVING made a move.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)