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Finding a featured ball for Reno is not easy. First reason is I didn't have the ball I wanted to work with...the Twisted Fury. Second Reason is everybody was using something different. So I will use this section to help readers understand one of the biggest mistakes a bowler makes when they are bowling on what they consider to be very tight, oily, wet conditions. Whatever term you use to explain what you see when you don't get the ball reaction you are looking for.

The first thing I want to say is the object is to knock down as many pins as you can in as few shots as possible. I see bowlers focusing too much of their attention on the lane. They want to see their ball do a certain thing on the lane in a part of the lane that they think is right. OK I  buy into the idea simply because a bowler is comfortable with certain angles and looks on the lane. It doesn't matter if you are an amateur or a professional you get comfortable with a range of looks that is based on your experiences. But don't think for a second that the pins give a darn about what you are comfortable with. The pins are much more important than the lane. And furthermore as soon as you see that the pins are cooperating with your options, you as the bowler will get comfortable in a matter of time.

The first instinct on these conditions is to think friction and angles that are pleasing to the eye. I will tell you the moral of the story now and then give you the story. Lateral shapes and angles on the lane are not as important as shapes as angles through the triangle of pins. Every attempt to get comfortable should first be based on shapes and angles through the triangle not the shapes and angles on the lane. The lane is secondary and is a big reason the bowlers are fooled all too often. To that response I hear bowlers say I can not change my game to something I can not repeat. I agree you should not change your game. There are so many different levels of readers that I don't want anyone of them to think I am talking to the other level of readers. What ever level your game is realize that you are dealing with optical illusions and without changing your physical game you are limiting your performance if you have not practiced seeing the sport of bowling as shapes and angles and appreciate the ability to manipulate these optical illusions.

Every bowler can square up more than they do without changing their physical game. It doesn't matter what your physical level is. You may have to walk a different direction on the approach and you may have to feel crooked  at the foul line but you can do it. The limit of these possibilities is the left lane for a right hander and the right lane for a left hander. I see this at every level of bowling and just because a bowler can cover boards they consider themselves a power player. WHATEVER...that is not important if you want to become a player learn to manipulate shapes and angles of your approach so you can manipulate shapes and angles with your ball reaction.

There are very few bowlers in today's sport of bowling who will square up to a lane and it has nothing to do with whether they can or not it has to do with whether they practice it or not. Let's practice our limitations. If you are right handed get on the left lane. If you are left handed get on the right lane. Put your butt up against the ball return and see how parallel you can keep your ball with the boards on the lane. No cheating...bowl normal and don't think 12 at the lay-down to 8 at the break-point is parallel with the boards. Don't change your swing...don't change your hand...just bowl. See what board is easiest to stay parallel with. Some games will allow a bowler to stay parallel to the first board while others will find that the 12 board is as good as they can do. See what you got. Once you get there practice it. I don't care what ball you have to use or hand you have to use but get good at it and monitor it because you want to get better.

I see too many bowlers at every level of bowling refuse to practice this. I will tell you right now there is not a ball on the market that can compete with a bowler. A bowler who is in control of their shapes and angles on the approach is a master at manipulating shapes and angles on the lane.