kajmk wrote:Jim, what about having to play 5th or 6th arrow or deeper.
Lines where you are up against the ball return or have to do the three step from in front of the ball return.
Extending the line back from focal point to on land target to foul line lay down point.
Am I over complicating this?
K.I.S.S
When the pattern is so depleted that bowlers must move to the 5th or 6th arrow all bets are off.
This system works across the lane.
What follows is the Lane Play procedure which I teach all my competitive athletes.
Lane Play Alignment
First some definitions:
1) Focal point
I first was introduced to this concept in “The See It, Feel It, Do it” manual by Mo Pinel released in 1998.
In his book he describes the focal point as a location anywhere in the pin deck area, i.e., ten pin, six pin and the six-ten pocket, the right gutter or even the right kickback (right handed bowler focal points).
Kegel refined the focal points as shown below in the
Kegel Focal Point image.
Focal Point reference relative to pattern length for right handed bowler.
Short Pattern use 10 pin
Medium Pattern use 6 pin
Long Pattern use 3 pin
2) Visual Point
A target in the vicinity of the arrows. (ex: 2nd arrow)
3) Exit Point
Board location of the ball as it exits the oil pattern (Exit point = pattern length minus 31)
4) Line of Play
A line from the Visual Target through the Exit Point to the Focal Point.
5) Slide point
A five-inch parallel distance from the Line of Play (center of the ball) to the inside edge of the slide sole. Slide foot should be parallel to the Line of Play in the finish position.
6) Adjust for Drift
For the right-handed bowler, the preferred drift is left to right.
Three attachments below reflect the above strategy implemented on Short, Medium and Long Competitive Patterns.
Determine:
1) Focal point based on pattern length
2) Starting Visual point
3) Intersection of the Line of Play at the foul line, then add 5” for the slide point.
4) Adjust Address position based on personal drift.
5) Deliver the ball, check foot position at the foul line
6) Did ball roll over Visual target on the Line of Play?
7) Adjust starting position based on ball reaction.
8) Repeat the process.
The human body best functions in balance, but put a bowling ball in hand and approaches become interesting.
Because of this I only show the appropriate finish at the foul line.
The athlete must determine their individual drift and adjust their starting position to arrive at the calculated finish position.
As always the bowler is always responsible for adjusting the variables to maintain the pocket.