Two-Handed Bowling: Practice Time for Medium Pattern

In this Free Video, Scott Pohl, owner of On Track Pro Shop, explains what Jackson Helllen is seeing out there before bowling for score.

Idle, Rocket Ship, and Phase 2

Going into practice time we’re getting ready. We’re going to get those three bowling balls out. In particular, the solid coverstocks, the most consistent ones. They’re going to give us the best read on the lane going forward.

Jackson plans to start with the Idle. This allows Jackson to be a little bit further to the right in general, right around the second arrow, playing a little bit straighter up the lane. After a few shots with the Idle, he pulls out the Rocketship and gives that a few shots. He evaluates the ball motion front-to-back and side-to-side. He moved a little bit inside of where he was playing with the Idle and it gave him more of a swing shot.

Finally, to finish up with practice time, he is going to try the Phase 2. When Jackson threw this ball it forced him to be closer to 13 – 14 at the arrows while swinging the ball further right.

Decision Time

All three bowling balls gave him a good look, so what do you do with that? Pohl recommended avoiding the Phase 2. Starting further left on a lot of patterns is where the flat part of the lane is and it can be less forgiving as you progress throughout the block. What did Jackson decide? He wanted to go with the Idol. He was comfortable starting further right.

The lane graph showed a lot of shape was involved on the Autobahn in this part of the lane. He has a lot of room to throw and still hit the pocket. He liked going straighter and this allowed him to do that. A 3000 grit was the right finish on this bowling ball.

Making the decision to start as far right as he can on this pattern allows him more room to move left as the lanes transition. We think they’ll break down quickly so the more room he has, the better.