Be a good sport and play it straight: when attacking the industry's premium condition, success comes by creating greater forward roll to the pocket

Bowling Digest, Spring, 2004 by John Jowdy

THE ABC/WIBC INTRODUCED sport bowling to its membership in 2001-02. The principal motive was to create an opportunity to determine the true skill levels of bowlers. It was a boon to bowlers who preferred to rely on accuracy and the ability to read lanes, adjust hand positions, and change speeds to compete at the highest level.

Consequently, a set of rules for determining lane-maintenance procedures for sport bowling was instituted. According to the ABC, the two main parameters are as follows:

* The ratio of oil must be 2-to-1 or flatter. A ratio of 2-to-1 means the amount of oil in the middle (from board R18 to board L18) can only be twice as much as the oil on the outside board (boards 3 to 7 on either side)

* The amount of oil at 15 feet must be at least 10 units, with a maximum of 40 units. There is no true pattern required, nor a maximum or minimum. This allows bowling proprietors to oil their lanes however they please, based on back-end reaction, out-of-ranges, and so forth.

These basic sport bowling guidelines ,ate rather ambiguous, simply due to the fact that there are no determinations governing the length of lane dressing. Based on these specs, a wide range of patterns and conditions can be generated and still be considered sport bowling.

As confident as I am about my coaching prowess, I do not pretend to be an expert in lane-maintenance procedures, particularly for sport bowling. Nonetheless, I feel the parameters for sport bowling maintenance are far too tolerant and permissive, with regulations that afford lanemen opportunities to take full advantage of loopholes that can negate the prime objective for restoring skill to the game.

That said, how do you attack sport bowling conditions'? In order to effectively over come them, you must take into account the condition of the lanes, The most knowledgeable experts in lane-maintenance procedures will agree that all lane machines are not the same, nor ,are oils and cleaners. All affect the lanes in varying ways.

Lane surfaces are different. In some areas, bowling centers with wood lanes are in fairly decent shape. However, many that are in bad condition pose difficult challenges, even for accomplished bowlers. Although synthetic surfaces look similar, some are smooth while others are rough. Many lanes can be screened out, but those that cannot be screened can severely affect a bowler's performance.

Other factors come into play: Are the lanes flat'? Are there any crowns or depressions'? What about the cross-tilt of the lane? How resilient are the kick-backs? How deep or flat are the gutters'? What are the conditions of the pin decks'?

Assuming all the physical elements of the lanes are credible, the biggest determining factor for scoring on sport bowling conditions is the distribution of oil on the lanes. If you are confronted with a surface that is heavily oiled, it would be prudent to reduce the side rotation on the ball. (This ball reaction is akin to driving a car on a slick road: If you attempt to turn sharply, the car will skid forward. Conversely, rotating the steering apparatus gently elicits greater traction.) Bowlers who "stroke" the ball--that is, those who apply a less vigorous release--become far more effective on heavy oil.

In the event that lanes are fairly dry in the heads, proper execution debunks the practice of lofting the ball 10 to 15 feet out on to the lane in an upward direction. Lofting, as a role, is a no-no. Perhaps "projecting" is a better description for attempting to eliminate dry front ends.

By "projecting," I mean launching the ball eight to 10 feet beyond the foul line in a downward trajectory. This can be accomplished with less knee bend, as exhibited by former PBA superstar David Ferraro and current PBA player Mika Koivuniemi.

In my estimation, a truly honest sport condition will nullify shots delivered by bowlers who are accustomed to "standing left and throwing right" (for righthanders; opposite for lefties). Consequently, I suggest a release that covers fewer boards, yet maintains sufficient power. As a matter of fact, I believe that bowlers who are able to create more of an end-over-end roll hold a greater advantage in sport, particularly when crossing lanes.

This is the formula that enabled Carolyn Dorin-Ballard to become the most dominant force in the PWBA. Dorin-Ballard delivers an end over-end ball roll with unerring accuracy and is seldom confronted with a difficult spare.

Beginning with the 2002-03 season, the PWBA featured sport bowling conditions. Michelle Feldman, famed for her wide-arcing "boom shot," was reduced to a mere mortal and encountered a mild slump. After several weeks of subpar performances, Feldman opted for a straighter trajectory to the pocket and eventually regained her winning form.

In a recent interview, Walter Ray Williams Jr. best described his approach to sport bowling conditions: "On a low-scoring condition, where accuracy and speed control are a must, your mindset has to be that strikes are at a premium and spares and pincount are more valuable than they are on a high-scoring conditions." When asked what angle should be played to consistently tilt the pocket on sport conditions, Williams said, "On a high-scoring condition, there is generally one area on the lane that is producing scores. On a sport condition, you have less area on the lane to get to the pocket. Therefore, you need to use whatever speed, release, or area of the lane you feel comfortable it] order to score."