Expert: - 12/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have been bowling for 33 years.  I bowl with a 16 pound ball. I carry a 189 average. I have had my average as high as 200, but can not carry it very long. I am told that I am a full roller. Is that part of my problem? I have also noticed that my thumb nail is black after I am done bowling.  I really want to improve.  Can you please help?

ANSWER: Kim,
What ball do you throw? Is it drilled for your "full roller" release?
Where do you start/stand at set-up and finish (at the foul line)?
What is your ball speed (slow, med, fast), do you know how fast you throw the ball (13, 15, 17mph)?

What, to you, does "full roller" mean? Was it explained to you? When retrieving your ball after a shot, where is the ball track in relationship to the gripping holes? Where is the top of weightblock (called the pin, which is a colorful dot which identifies the top)?

The thumb is an indicator of a fit issue. How does the ball fit? Does it hang in your hand, if you relax your arm and hang it down below your shoulder? Could be span or hole size.

Thanks for the questions, fill in some info and I'll see what I can do.

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

QUESTION: I throw a 16 lbs Columbia Wrath. I would hope that my ball has been drilled for a full roller.  Bill is the manager of the bowling alley in "Gold Dust West" in Carson City, NV.  I am not sure what my ball speed is but I know that I have tried to slow it down a bit. I am trying to life more so that I get better roll. If I had to guess I would say that I am at least 15.
Full Roller was explained to me that I use the whole ball.  that my track runs between my thumb and fingers.  That I roll my ball in the middle of the ball instead of on the side.  It that correct?  I am not sure where the pin is on my ball right now.  It is at the bowling alley in my locker.  I will check and let you know.  I have to say that I have not had this problem with my thumb until I got this ball.  I believe that when I got this ball I asked Bill to drill it like my wrath.  I think that next time I will be measured again.

I hope that you can give me some direction.  I really want to improve.

Thanks

ANSWER: Kim,
A strong drilling in a full roller layout looks like the attached picture (for a Right Handed bowler). Is that what your ball looks like?

The thumb nail issue. Is one side or the other discolored? low by the cuticle?

Improving should be doable. Your averaging nearly 190. Is your spare game solid? Do you leave mostly corner pins? or back row pins (7,8,9,10)?  Or do you roll ok then split as the lanes transition?

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

QUESTION: That is what my ball looks like.  As for my thumb nail looks like it is brused (blackish) low by the cuticle.  My spare game is going ok, I believe that I am leaving more corner pins.  I am thinking of purchasing a new ball.

Answer
Kim,
The blackish bruise could be from too long or too short a span or too big a thumb hole. There is some bending and gripping going on.

Put your thumb in the ball, set your fingers across the finger holes. Where do the creases of your fingers fall across the finger holes? Closer to the front edge? Closer to the middle of the hole? Closer to the top edge of the hole?

Thanks for the questions, look forward to hearing back from you, happy new year.