 Intermediate Skills
Make angular and parallel adjustments
Lane conditions change as bowling balls repeatedly travel down the lane. With
each shot, the ball absorbs some of the oil and moves oil further down on the
lane. Changes in the oil distribution will affect ball path and reaction.
As lane conditions change, there are two types of adjustments you can make
to keep your ball in the pocket: angular moves and parallel moves.
Angular adjustments, as illustrated in Figure 1, are the most common moves
bowlers use to adapt to changing lane conditions. For example, you may start
your league session standing on board No. 20 and aiming at the second arrow
(which is on board No. 10). As the lanes start to hook more, you might move
your starting position one board inside but keep your target the same, on the
second arrow (or board 10). This is a slight angular adjustment.
| Fig. 1 |
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The 2-to-1 guideline for making angular adjustments means that for every two
boards you move with your feet, you move your target one board in the same
direction. Using the starting point example above, a 2-to-1 adjustment would
have you stand on board 22 and aim at board No. 11. Moving even more, by the
end of the league session you may end up standing on board 26 and aiming at
board 13.
Practice this by rolling a shot to hit the pocket. Then make a 2-to-1 adjustment.
Watch the ball reaction – it will probably be very light in the pocket.
Make another 2-to-1 adjustment and it should miss the pocket completely. The
goal of this practice is to focus on standing where you need to stand and hitting
the target you intend. When lane conditions demand this versatility, you will
have the skill to adapt.
Parallel adjustments, as shown in Figure 2, are made when both your target
on the lane and your starting position foot placement move the same amount
and in the same direction. If you move right two boards with your feet, move
right two boards with your target as well. If you move left with your feet,
move left with your target.
| Fig. 2 |
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