Expert: - 10/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Warren, first day on the site, looks great. First of all I'm a left handed bowler. Just purchased lane masters sure strike, and I bowl on wood lanes.My ball is just sliding down the left side, the ball just won't finish. how do I get my fingers to rotate the ball? Thanks for your time!!!!!

ANSWER: Dominick,
What do you average? Did you hook a previous ball? How hard do you throw the ball? How is the new ball laid out (where are the holes in relations to the pin (top of the weightblock), and center of gravity)?

The key to ball reaction is getting the ball to slow down so it can transition to the hook phase.

Getting the ball to rotate is about rotating your hand from behind to the side of the ball. The quarter turn at the point of release is the key.

Thanks for the question. Bowl well.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: average 170, no previous hook, mid 15 m.p.h., dot is right above my two fingers. poeple say its like I throw a back up ball, so it slides first than very late it starts to roll. i can't grasp the concept on my release to let the thumb come out first and than let your fingers rotate the ball. I tried even bending my pinkie back. Should I try standing back so I will end up further away from the foul line, giving the ball more time to roll.Thanks again!!!!!

Answer
Dominick,
Sounds like you have a pretty generic ball layout.

To develop some hook, you need to overcome your current muscle memory.

Try a one step drill, where you stand about 4 feet behind the foul line, swing the ball from the same position as you start it, but don't incorporate any steps, just push into your slide (moving/sliding the slide foot forward) as you release the ball. Are you sliding with your right foot? Your swing maybe causing the backup. If your swing isn't straight, you may have to fix it first.

Concentrate first on controlling how the ball rolls out of your hand. With the ball in your (left) hand, thumb pointing at 1:00 and fingers at 7:00 o'clock, let the ball roll out/off your hand (if it is NOT letting go of you, you may have another issue). The ball should, at the very least, be rolling straight. If pitches aren't restricting you, a basic roll should occur. The slower speed and exaggerated delivery ought to highlight the effect.

Thanks for the questions.