PBA Viper Pattern | VenergyBowling.com | Official Verve! Bowling Website

Viper

Length: 37 feet

A viper strikes with multiple angles of attack. This pattern will challenge players to attack the pins from multiple angles in order to score well.

Description: Viper measures 37 feet in oil distance, and more than any of the other patterns, can yield a wide variety of strategies for attack depending on the type and condition of the lane surface (i.e., wood, synthetic, etc.). The scoring pace is normally medium to high for this pattern.

Scoring: PBA players of all style consider the Viper pattern to have a medium scoring pace.

Ball Types: All style of PBA players favor medium bowling balls for this pattern (mild cover with strong drill patterns or strong covers with weak drill patterns).

2005-06 averages:
Amateurs: 187.4
Non-exempt Pros: 197.9
Exempt Pros: 211.6

How the Pros play the Viper:

Straight players (less than 250 revolution rate):
Where to play: Straighter players tend to start around the first arrow. Adjusting to carry down: Straighter players tend to move further out on the lane while either using the same ball or changing to a weaker ball. Adjusting to lane break down: Most straight players tend to move deeper on the lane and stay aggressive.

Straight players (less than 250 revolution rate):

Where to play: Straighter players tend to start around the first arrow.

Adjusting to carry down: Straighter players tend to move further out on the lane while either using the same ball or changing to a weaker ball.

Adjusting to lane break down: Most straight players tend to move deeper on the lane and stay aggressive.

Tweener players (250-350 rev rate):
Where to play: Most tweeners start between boards four and eight on this pattern, then move deeper inside on the lane as the pattern breaks down. Adjusting to carry down: Right-handed bowlers tend to move deeper with a more aggressive ball while left-handed bowlers move further out with a more aggressive ball. Adjusting to lane break down: When the lanes begin to break down, almost all tweener style players move deeper with a weaker bowling ball.

Tweener players (250-350 rev rate):

Where to play: Most tweeners start between boards four and eight on this pattern, then move deeper inside on the lane as the pattern breaks down.

Adjusting to carry down: Right-handed bowlers tend to move deeper with a more aggressive ball while left-handed bowlers move further out with a more aggressive ball.

Adjusting to lane break down: When the lanes begin to break down, almost all tweener style players move deeper with a weaker bowling ball.

Power players (350 rev rate or more):
Where to play: Almost all the power players start between boards five and 12 on this pattern, then move deeper inside on the lane as the pattern breaks down. A few power players note that they can play further outside than that on some surfaces. All power players highlight that this pattern tends to break down fairly quickly and that they have to make big moves. Adjusting to carry down: As the oil carries down, most PBA power players move deeper on the lane with a more aggressive ball. Adjusting to lane break down: When the lanes begin to break down, a large majority of PBA power players move inside with a weaker bowling ball.

Power players (350 rev rate or more):

Where to play: Almost all the power players start between boards five and 12 on this pattern, then move deeper inside on the lane as the pattern breaks down. A few power players note that they can play further outside than that on some surfaces. All power players highlight that this pattern tends to break down fairly quickly and that they have to make big moves.

Adjusting to carry down: As the oil carries down, most PBA power players move deeper on the lane with a more aggressive ball.

Adjusting to lane break down: When the lanes begin to break down, a large majority of PBA power players move inside with a weaker bowling ball.