Expert: Chip Aki - 10/5/2008

Question
Hi, Chip!

What can I do to increase the percentage of time I get 'pin action'?

Sometimes I have it, sometimes I don't.

I have been bowling on leagues for 34 years and pretty much bowl a straight ball.

I am using the same 16 lb. ball I purchased back in the mid 1970's.  Obviously, the ball is not 'shiny'.

When I do have pin action, it's great.  Many balls that hit the pocket (on either side) produce strikes or at least 8 or 9 counts that are not difficult to convert.  Even 'off' bowls often produce 7 or higher counts that are not difficult to convert.  With pin action for (most of) the game, a score in the 140s, 150s, and higher is easy to achieve.

When I don't have pin action, it's frustrating.  Few balls that hit the pocket (on either sides) produce strikes and many produce splits.  An 'off' ball, even missing the pocket by a fraction of an inch, may produce a 4 or a 5 count that is difficult to convert.  With no pin action for (most of) the game, I struggle to achieve a score of 100.

In the past year and a half, I seem to have been getting less pin action.  Admittedly, I had to suspend bowling during the first half of 2008 due to so-called 'tennis elbow'.  Prior to Spring, 2007, my average had been in the mid to upper 130's.  It has since dropped to the lower to mid 120's.  I can't seem to even bowl a 400+ 3-game series anymore.

---Jay Fleisher

Answer
Creating pin action can be a tricky proposition, even for those bowlers that hook the ball.

There are a couple of different things to look at.  If you can create more angle into the pocket area, by moving your feet right or left, that will help.  Also, if you can get the ball to roll more as opposed to spinning, that will help as well.  Slowing the ball speed a bit will also help.  By doing that, the pins that are knocked down will stay on or near the pin deck to hit other pins.  Throwing the ball harder can make the pins move faster, but not always in a direction to hit other pins.

It might be time to upgrade to a reactive resin ball that grips the lane better too.  When doing that, you could probably drop to 15# equipment and take some stress off of your elbow and gain pin action.

Good luck,
Chip