Tips for Bowling: Christmas Tree Pattern

Try these tips for bowling the Christmas Tree Pattern which heavily capitalizes on the notion that there is a lot more to bowling than meets the eye of the casual observer. To the untrained observer, bowling itself is merely a game where players use a heavy ball to knock down a number of obstacles that are placed on the other end of a long, flat corridor. If this were the entirety of the game, it would not be surprising if it were an obscure sport. As it stands, however, it is an international pastime with a large number of aficionados who all have their own tips and tricks to score higher and win over the other competitors. When listening in to the conversations between seasoned bowlers, you will soon learn that there is so much more to this game than meets the eye.

One such item that rarely factors into the mainstream perception of the game is the oil pattern. The bowling lane will need to be cleaned and the wood or synthetic material preserved. To this end, many proprietors use a specific kind of oil that not only protects the floor material, but also adds the glossy shine that is so pleasing to the eye. Experienced bowlers know that there are different kinds of patterns that emerge when the oil is applied, and during tournaments bowlers work long and hard to find out the patterns that have been laid down; one such pattern is referred to as the Christmas tree pattern. This pattern refers to the fact that the oil is laid down in a Christmas tree shape pattern, leaving certain areas of the lane dry.

Here is a list of Christmas tree pattern bowling tips you can practice:

* Assuming you are right handed, it is important to move the ball closer to the right side than you might ordinarily do. The goal is to take advantage of the fact that there is not much oil laid down to help your ball to project to the pins. If you are left handed, obviously you are aiming for the other side.

* Experiment with your desired breakpoint. You may need to move your stand point more than you might need to move your target. Before changing your aim by three boards, decide instead to move your feet, and adjust your aim by only one board.

* Do not be afraid to waste a ball or two in trying to find out how far the oil pattern reaches. Novices wrongly believe that the oil pattern will reach all the way to the pins, whereas in reality it may only go as far back as 35 feet. This is the reason that practice play is so important before you decide to keep score!

* If the oil is very heavily applied, be sure to use a ball with a dull finish. A shiny ball will make adjustments to the Christmas tree pattern harder since the ball will be more inclined to roll the direct line.

As you can see, while a Christmas tree pattern is something that pros love to grapple with, there are some tips and tricks the average bowler may use to also shine at the game. The most important aspects of playing this pattern are – for the intermediate bowler – to fist of all recognize the pattern in the first place, and then gain a feel for the length to which it is applied. Frequently the latter is forgotten when the former is recognized to be a part of the game play, and the excitement over finally having seen the elusive Christmas tree pattern takes over.