The "Solid 8 pin"
The true "tap" in Bowling.

The Solid 8 pin!

For the right-hander. You lefties know how to read this article for your point of view so enough said on that.

We've all seen this event and chances are we have all been robbed by this phenomenon. You throw a perfect, flush, shot in the 1-3 pocket only to be denied a strike! It was indeed perfect but you left the solid 8 pin. The true tap in Bowling.

Been there done that right?

So how do we explain this? Well, we've all seen this happen and what appears to be the case is that the ball chops the 5 pin straight back off of the 8. We've accepted this explanation for many years and we still do today. I've also seen this many times on the PBA Tour TV telecasts and the expert commentators always explains what happened in this same manner. "The ball picks the 5 pin straight off of the 8 pin" or words to that effect. This most certainly is what appears to have happened.

Let the truth be known!

What you are about to read (and see for yourself in these slow motion videos) is the REAL explanation of what happened when you left that solid 8 pin. It's not what you think. NO, the 5 pin did not get picked off by the ball. No way!

The fact is that it's impossible for the ball to pick the 5 pin off of the 8 pin as we have all now come to believe. You are about to learn the REAL truth. See below for more details.

I'm going to give you the Quick Explanation first. Then I'm going to enter into a more Detailed Discussion as to what really happens. In here you will find why it's impossible for the ball to chop the 5 pin straight back, off of the 8 pin.

The Quick Explanation

Fact No. 1 The head pin takes out the 5 pin, not the ball.
Fact No. 2 The 5 pin is already gone by the time the ball gets there.
Fact No. 3 The 5 pin is not going in the direction of the 8 pin.

Therefore the ball does not hit the 5 pin as it should because at that instant in time the 5 pin is not there to be hit. You might want to read the above again. :o)

What really happens is the ball hits the head pin first and the bottom of the head pin, deflects off of the right side bottom of the 2 pin and takes out the 5 pin before the ball gets there. The ball does not come in contact with the 5 pin. In other words the 5 pin is already hit and moving into the pit before the ball has a chance to touch (hit) it. So the 5 pin is not there and the 5 pin is not going in the direction of the 8 pin either.

If you're ready to see this for yourself have a look at the videos now...

Seeing is believing

All of the above should explain what your about to see on the video. Seeing is believing!

Here is what to look for when viewing the video…
Watch and follow the path of the head pin.
Watch for what hits what.
Watch and follow the bottom of the head pin
Watch the path of the ball and be aware of what board the ball is on at all times.
Watch the direction of travel of the pins, particularly the head pin and the 5 pin.
Ask yourself what made the pins go in the direction they did.
Ask yourself how is it possible to have the 5 pin go towards the 9 pin when the ball is on the right side of the 5 pin at the apparent moment of contact between the ball and the 5 pin.

The Solid 8 Pin version 1 (right handed)
This video is about 3Mb. Estimated time for dialup users is approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

The Solid 8 Pin version 2 (right handed)
This video is about 600 Kb. Estimated time for dialup users is approximately 3 to 5 minutes.

The Solid 8 Pin version 3 (right handed)
This video is about 3Mb. Estimated time for dialup users is approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

The Solid 9 Pin version 1 (left handed)
This video is about 2Mb. Estimated time for dialup users is approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

The Solid 9 Pin version 2 (left handed)
This video is about 1.3Mb. Estimated time for dialup users is approximately 4 to 8 minutes.

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The Detailed Discussion

One of the most common misconceptions in our sport today is the explanation for leaving the solid 8 pin on an apparent perfect, flush, hit. Well it's true, you did throw a perfect shot and you got robbed. Now, for the first time, you can come to realize what really happened to you.

1. The ball hits the head pin perfect.

What really happens, on our perfect shot, is the ball hits the head pin while it's sitting on the 17 ½ or 18th board. Actually, in this case, the ball is slightly high flush so it's on the 18th board.

Generally when the ball hits a pin, the bottom of this pin will lead in the direction of it's travel. This is due to the fact that the ball hits the pin below its center of gravity.

When the ball hits the 1-3 pocket the head pin is sent to the left in the direction of the 2 pin with its bottom leading. The ball hits the head pin first and then hits the 3 pin next. The result of this perfect entry, is that the ball deflects equally off of the 1 and 3 pin and follows a path, which is continuing along the 18th board.

2. The head pin contacts the 2 pin.

The bottom of the head pin first, comes in contact with the bottom of the 2 pin. The point of contact is to the right of the 2 pin. The result is the bottom of the head pin is therefore deflected to the right by the 2 pin and is sent into the direction of the 5 pin. The bottom of the head pin is still leading. The bottom of the head pin is closer to the pit (the end of the lane) than the ball is at this moment in time.

3. The head pin hits the 5 pin.

The bottom of the head pin makes contact with the 5 pin before the ball does. The head pin got there before the ball did. The 5 pin gets hit by the bottom of the head pin and is now moving in the direction of the 9 pin. That's right, the 9 pin! Notice how the 5 pin leaning. The head pin is deflected to the left of the 5 pin and travels in front of the 8 pin never coming in contact with the 8 pin. The ball is still on the 18th board and has not yet made contact with the 5 pin.

4. The ball approaches the 5 pin spot.

The ball is still moving along the 18th board, to the right of the 5 pin spot. The ball is about the hit the 5 pin. The ball continues to move along the 18th board.

5. The ball arrives where it should come in contact with the 5 pin.

The ball is still moving along the 18th board. The ball expects to hit the 5 pin at this moment but there is no 5 pin sitting there to be hit. The head pin already took it out. The ball continues on the path of the 18th board.

6. The 5 pin is in front of the ball

The 5 pin is now moving in the direction of the 9 pin. The 5 pin is ahead of the ball. The ball has not yet touched the 5 pin. The ball is past the 5 pin spot. The ball continues to move along the 18th board.

7. The 5 pin takes out the 9 pin.

The 5 pin has reached the 9 pin. The 5 pin is slowed down because of hitting the 9 pin. The ball hits the 5 pin for the first time. The ball continues to move along the 18th board.

8. The 8 pin is still standing

The 5 pin and the ball clear the 8 pin to the right and both fall into the pit. The 8 pin remains standing. You got robbed!

Pick the 5 off of the 8! It's not even possible on a perfect hit!

The fact is that it's impossible for the ball to pick the 5 pin off of the 8 on a perfect flush hit.

Here's why…

Fact 1. In order for the ball to pick the 5 pin off the 8, the ball has to contact the 5 pin dead center AND be on the 20th board AND be traveling along the 20th board while going past the right side of the 8 pin without touching it.

Fact 2. On a solid 8 pin tap, and a flush hit (18th board) we clearly see the ball miss the 8 pin to the right.

Fact 3. The ball can not go from the 18th board at the pocket, turn left and get to the 20th board somewhere in front of the 5 pin, then magically turn right again and follow a path going straight up the 20th board at the instant of coming in contact with the 5 pin center. This magical right turn is not possible and clearly does not happen. See video and comments above.

Fact 4. If the ball is coming from the 18th board at the pocket and is going to hit the 5 pin at the same instant the ball reaches the 20th board at a point somewhere in front of the 5 pin, the ball is going on a path and an angle to miss the 8 pin to the LEFT. Once again this is not possible even though, in real life, it does appear to be the case.

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