Our knowledge of the Statute of Liberty varies from person to person. But one thing we all know is that it was a gift from France to the United States. Therefore, to complement the Eiffel Tower Sport pattern, Kegel has presented fellow bowlers with the amazing Statue of Liberty oil pattern. As it is one of the longest patterns, there isn’t much to figure out, but always a lot to learn. If you have a league game or a tournament coming that will use this oil pattern, you have come to the right place at right time! So get ready, I will guide you through the pattern, and how to attack it.
What is the Statue of Liberty oil pattern?
Feel the liberty with the Statue of Liberty bowling oil pattern! Being the second-longest Kegel bowling pattern, the Statue of Liberty oil pattern (3447) has a great reputation among the bowling society. However, out of all the Landmark Challenge Series patterns, this one is considered the longest pattern.
This particular oil pattern is 47 feet long with multiple uL of oil per board, meaning there’s no fixed level of oil on each board. This sports pattern was designed for the ever-popular Flex oil machine. There are actually 2 different types of oils (Fire and Ice) in two separate tanks. When the oil is applied to the lane, the Fire and Ice conditioners are blended together. Without the Flex machine there will be no proper mixture of the oils and so playing on that lane would be different than other centers that use the Flex machine.
The total amount of Forward Oil is 15.64 mL and Reverse Oil is 9.09 mL. That gives you a Total Volume Oil of 24.73 mL on the lane. So it looks like this pattern has more oil further down lane. Therefore, as per my theory, this is going to play slicker. I can see this is going to be fun for so many bowlers.
How to attack the Statue of Liberty oil pattern?
As per the Kegel Training Centre, let’s use the rule of 31. Pattern Length – 31 = number of boards where you should set your target. So, 47 – 31 = 16. Therefore, you want your bowling ball to be on the 16 board on the fresh oil. The bowling center you’re at, the kind of bowling equipment you’re using, and also the type of lane (synthetic/wooden) affect where your bowling ball is actually going to be.
What I absolutely love about this pattern is that it allows you to enjoy flexibility. So if 16 board seems a bit too inside, you have the option to go a little further right, let’s say, the 12-13 board at the breakpoint. I lose this SOL pattern so much, I could even play on 9, 10, and 11 board at the breakpoint on this pattern in multiple houses without facing any issues.
The key to success in a pattern like the Statue of Liberty is to keep things straight. In most long patterns, players feel more comfortable going straighter. So, instead of using the surface to overpower the pattern, you should keep things nice and simple. I have personally enjoyed this pattern more than I thought, and let me tell you, it is one of the most versatile oil patterns where you can use a variety of tactics on this pattern and still get your ball into the pocket after a perfect ball travel down the lane.
Considering the high length and high oil volume down the lane, professionals will prefer migrating toward the center of the lane. If it seems like the lane has started to burn up, you can move a bit further inside, but keep your ball strictly straight to hit the pins. Not gonna lie, the higher length is often troublesome even for many experienced bowlers. That’s why you shouldn’t even consider hooking the ball at the breakpoint in an angular shape.
One more thing, don’t be too harsh on the pattern with your ball. If you throw it a bit too hard it will go through the breakpoint alright but will jeopardize your shot before entering into the pocket. Hence, playing from the inside part of the bowling lane is highly recommended. After 5/6 games, you should opt for extreme inside angles to reach the pocket successfully.
Which bowling ball is best for this pattern?
Ideally, you will need something strong to dominate this bowling oil pattern. If you want to get the best reaction from your bowling ball on the Statue of Liberty oil pattern, you have to keep your medium performance bowling ball in your arsenal. But using a strong bowling ball won’t solve all of your problems. You have to be very mindful of your ball’s surface. A lower grit ball will finish weak once the lane starts to burn. If you think you can start with a rough surface ball, be ready to switch to something with a higher grit after a few games.
Since the pattern is just slick and not too heavy, the best option for you will be a ball with a strong core but a weaker coverstock. If you go for a strong cover as well, it will chew up the oil at the head of the lane. Consequently, your lane will get tougher just after one game. The same happens when you use a dull bowling ball.
For the Statue of Liberty oil pattern, I would recommend some of these bowling balls that I believe will do great. Roto Grip Hyper Cell Skid, Roto Grip Eternal Cell, and Storm Snap Lock are my absolute favorite. Roto Grip Hyper Cell is also an amazing substitute. To get the maximum ball reaction and a smooth roll, these bowling balls will get the job done.
Yesterday, I have asked my friend, who is also a bowling coach, about his favorite all for this lane. He has sworn by Storm Optimus bowling ball. He also added that Ebonite Game Breaker 2 MVP did him good in this oil pattern. The Hammer Black Widow Red Legend Pearl is also a great alternative for the Statue of Liberty pattern. I can assure you, these balls will surely perform fine with a good controllable backend.
Conclusion
Feel the freedom of high scores with this Kegel Statute of Liberty oil pattern! The pattern is versatile enough to support all kinds of bowling styles. No matter if you’re a power player, a tweener, or a straight shooter, you will love this oil pattern, no doubt about that. So keep on practicing before your big day, and as always, make yourself proud and happy. Good luck!
