Bowling an 800 series is a good deal in the sport of bowling. I think rolling a 800 series is harder than rolling a 300 game even though I have not rolled an 300 game but I have rolled 2 800 series in league play and come close to rolling a third 800 game, I rolled and 784 in league. Right now I have a 800 series ring and a 800 series award, so I know how to bowl an 800 set and I will show you what I did? how I did it? What I did? and how to stay focused while bowling.
I am not a pro bowler, I just learned how to bowl from watching other people bowl and bowling period. It took me a long time to get good at bowling and right now I am averaging 195 right now and it’s slowed down cause I took one year off for the birth of my son so my skill has dropped but I am now back in the league bowling so let’s talk about how I bowled an 800 set and what tips I leaned while I was doing it.
You must practice and practice:
The one thing that I did on the day I rolled my first 800 set was get to the bowling alley to shadow bowl or use the 10 ten practice before the game start. I was on a two man league and it started at 9:30 at night so I got there at 9:15 and suit up means I got my bowling shoes on, I tape on thumb so the ball can come off my hand easier and placed all 3 bowling balls on the rack. What I like to do is use all 3 bowling balls during the ten min practice or warm up and whatever ball looks the best, I will use. The ball I chose must hit the pocket strong with room for me to move left if I need to so I can keep using that ball. I think one of the worse things that will mess up a great game is changing bowling balls cause you don’t know how it’s going to do on the lane. Sticking with one ball to me is better for the 3 games but if you have to change your ball go ahead.
The ten min practice is a must, after a few shots I knew what ball to use and the first 800 set I shot I used the Yeti unleashed by radical bowling. It’s one of my best bowling balls right now and I use that ball to pick up spares as well. Another reason to show up early to see what your opponents are using on the lane and what angle that are bowling. This league was a 2 man league that I was bowling for and the 2 opponents bowling down and end, one bowler was left hander as well so I didn’t have to worry about him bowling on my line. The other bowler with right handed but he bowled down and in so bowling across the 9 or 10 board.
My partner bowls right hand but he has more hand than me so he bowls across 20 to 22 board. So I see all this where everyone is bowling different angles and I didn’t want to bowl down and in cause over time that lane will go away and me and the other bowler will be bowling on each other’s line and I don’t want to slide to much left to mess with my partner line so I using the 17 to 28 board. I was the only one on the line and I played that line all night long so getting to the bowling alley is very importment so you can map out what you want to do.
The mindset:
The best thing you should have is the right mindset. Remember that you have 3 total games to play, so make sure after practice is over and you about to start bowling that you have a line in mind you want to play and sometimes since the oil is fresh, you may want to slow the bowl down by stepping up from your approach to slow down ball speed. You must keep this in your mind, ( I will strike every time) and the first and second frame will tell a lot if you can strike or less hit the pocket to leave one pin. Remember you must have least an 265 score each game so stay focus on stringing strikes together and you can’t miss any spares.
So if you a pin that you can’t get like the ten pin, I would in warm up shoot at the ten pin a few times to find a mark to roll on and that’s what I do for the pin ten. I use a plastic ball, stand on 35 dot and roll the ball on the 3 arrow or 15 board. Something I do miss but right now I am 8 out of 10 on the 10 pin.
So pretty much you will have to hit the same target for the next 3 games without moving your spot much. When you start to move, sometimes we tend to change your hand, ball speed, change ball and for me most times I have more ringing ten pins when I start to move more left.
Both of my 800 sets I stay on the same spot which was, between the second and third arrow. My carrier was good and the third game rolled around, all I did was up my speed a pinch since I was the only one bowling that line, I caught the transition of oil and I didn’t need to move just add a tab bit of speed.
The one thing that I did for both 800 set games was when I grab the ball and got into position or my stance, I most times will wait a min or so before I make my first step on the approach. This time I just put my hand in the ball, got into my stance and just threw the ball. So I bowled much quicker than before and it’s like hand in the ball, get into stance then roll the ball. I found that less thinking in bowling is better for me. I think the more time you stand there on the approach, the more things run through your mind well they run through my mind. It takes the guess work out and I don’t really have to think about it as much. I did that the whole time and I like the faster pace, it’s like I am not worried about what’s going on to move and I have my target to roll to so that’s what I did.
The equipment I used to bowl an 800 series:
The equipment I was were first I bowled my first 300 game with the Yeti unleashed. My second 800 set I used the Roto grip unhinged. I use this tape here, for my thumb so the bowl can come off my hand easier. Your pro bowling shoes, nothing fancy on that part, something that slides very easy in fact if you are looking for a good per of bowling shoes, use this link which will take you to amazon for the shoes I use and that pretty much wraps it up to recap below.
Make sure that you get the bowling alley easier to shadow bowl or that 10 min warm up, make sure that you are there. Next use all of your bowling balls during warm up, I use 4 bowling balls which one is a plastic ball What ever ball looks and feels the best use that one. Try your best not to bowling on someone else line if you can, that way you have the line all to yourself. It’s important to know different angles to bowl. Keep a good mindset only thinking about your mark. Sometimes just getting to the line and rolling the ball without thinking about works best for me. Pick up all of your spares and if you dont shoot the game series you want, take notes on why you shot bad? What could you have done different tonight that will help you next week.
The one thing I notice at my bowling alley, in the summer time the oil on the lane drys up quicker and there is more hook in the summer. In the winter the lane holds more oil and there is less hook down lane. That took me a long time to learn that but now I know. Pay close attention to your ball reaction. Don’t wait to late to make a move. Make a small move left or right maybe 2 to 3 boards.
And that how I did it and you can take these things and use your your game. This is what it takes. After the first game I knew I can’t miss. I had to keep rolling the ball on my line, stay focus.