Date: 25 Sep 2006 16:52:32
From: Rookie Roller
Subject: Beginning bowler looking for advice
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A few months ago, my girlfriend and I thought it would be fun to join a
league so I bought a ball and started practicing. Before then, I would
use house balls and would only put two fingers in the ball to throw a
hook. Now with my own ball, I have learned how to hook correctly by
practicing different release positions. At first my hook was somewhat
small only breaking about 5 boards and I was bowling an average of
about 150 and getting scores all the way up to my best game ever of
222. Since then, my hook has increased and my ball now breaks over 10
boards. This was pretty cool at first, but I have found it a lot
harder to control and my scores have dropped to a 130 average. Part of
this drop in average is due to not being able to pick up all of my
spares and so I just bought a White Dot to help me with this. Part of
it is also because I have had to change my strike line and I seem to be
struggling with it. The lanes I play on typically have medium-light
oil and when I first started, I would aim at the second arrow and my
ball would break into the pocket perfectly. Now that my hook has
increased, when I play this line my ball usually burns up before it
ever hits the pocket and I miss left. To try to correct this I have
moved left, but it seems like my ball reaction gets worse the further
left I go. Now that I am forced to play a deeper line, if I'm able
to hit the pocket at all, when my ball hits it doesn't hit as hard as
it used to and quite often leaves ugly splits.
What I would like is for my ball to go further down the lane before
making its move to the pocket and I'm not sure if it's my ball
that's preventing me from doing this, my ball speed, or my release.
I have had some success with launching the ball past the heads and
having it break into the pocket, but I can't do it with any real
accuracy and I don't think it's the correct adjustment.
I have a 5 step approach and if I were to classify my style, I would
say that I was a stroker with a very free swing and release (no
muscle). I don't understand all of the ball terminology yet, but I
can tell you that my ball is a 15 lb. Scout Reactive with a pin just to
the right of my ring finger and that it was drilled by my local pro
shop where I bowl.
Can someone answer these questions for me or just give me some insight
as to something I might be missing or doing wrong?
1. How can I get my ball deeper into the lane before breaking?
2. If I am forced to move left, any suggestions or tips that might help
me play this line?
3. How can I tell if my ball was drilled to hook early and what would
be different for a ball drilled to hook late?
4. The more I move left, the less snap my ball seems to have. Does
anyone have any suggestions on better ball that would compliment my
style and lane conditions?
Over the last few months I have truly become addicted to bowling. If I
could afford it, I would bowl everyday! I watch all of the pros and
video tape the matches so that I can study their styles and releases
and I'm always trying to learn as much as I can about the game.
Unfortunately, my game is now at a plateau and I really want to move to
next level. My goal is to average 180 by the end of the summer and I
really would appreciate anyone's comments or suggestions.
Thanks for your help,
Rookie Roller
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