The ideal strategy for bowling is highly dependent on lane conditions, as the amount of oil on the lanes has a great effect on how the bowling ball will react.
In general, a dry lane creates more friction between the ball and the surface, and this can cause a much greater hook compared to a lane with more oil applied.
So if you bowl with a hook, how can you deal with the extra-strong movement you will encounter on a very dry lane?
The first thing to do is determine exactly how dry the lane is, and whether else you can identify about the oil pattern. Is your ball hooking five boards extra? Ten? If you’re just out bowling for fun, you’re most likely up against a house pattern with more oil on the middle of the lane and less on the outside near the gutters. This basic, forgiving pattern is typically oiled up to 32 feet and then buffed onto the following 8. But each shot takes some of the oil off the lane and pushes it down towards the previously dry area.
Reducing Your Hook on Extra Dry Lanes
One thing you can do is move in the direction where you are missing your target. For example, if you are right-handed and are coming across the pocket and hitting too far left, you can move your stance to the left by the number of boards you are missing. If you follow this strategy, you would need to keep your same target from your new starting spot. Alternatively, you can adjust your target as well so you have a wider angle and longer path to the pocket. Just make your best estimate of the appropriate number of boards, test, and take note of the results.
There are also some technical adjustments you can make if you if you want to generate less of a hook on a dry lane. One popular piece of advice is to adjust your hand’s movements at the point of release. You might want to experiment with less or no finger rotation when releasing. This will result in a more end-over-end motion for the ball as it travels down the lane and less axis tilt, which means less hook on the dry lanes. Some bowlers call this “staying behind the ball” as they release.
Another thing you can do is generate more swing velocity, both during the backswing and downswing because an increase in ball speed will allow less time for the friction to take effect, so your ball will hook less.
A final adjustment you can make is to change your ball due to the drier lane conditions. If you already use a dedicated spare ball, you might want to try that for your first ball when the conditions are especially dry. Overall, you want a ball with a smooth surface texture, often a polyester or urethane coverstock.
How do you try to approach an extremely dry lane?
Dry lanes can be very challenging for the average bowler – mainly the 180 to 200 very bowler – here is a bowling tip that my help angle your hips and arm swing toward the six pin for right hander and 4 pin for the lefties. this will change the angle or you ball to go out more and not so direct.