Expert: - 12/23/2008

Question
Dear Sir,
I'm a year into bowling and own a The Sauce by hammer. I've realized that by actually almost spinning the ball, my ball goes much longer and gets a louder strike. Is it true that side revolutions allow more length and more kinetic energy at the pocket? If so, why don't we all throw a spinner-axis hook ball? Thank you for your time and attention.

Answer
Bob,
It's crazy that some store sold you a top line ball. It's like giving a little kid a Maserati to learn to drive in.

Your supposition is correct. A poorly thrown ball (weak release) will go longer down the lane and potentially hook enough to strike, occasionally. That reaction only works on easy house shots.

Using your new ball, you will try to control what the ball does, instead of learning to bowl. Lane conditions are controlled with bowling balls, they are tools. You need to deliver the ball weakly to use it. So, instead of improving and refining your technique, utilizing a basic ball, a strong ball rewards weak play. You never need to learn to execute better, because your not depending on your skill, but your equipment. If you have the wrong equipment, you will bowl badly. You can not out execute bad ball reaction.

I don't mean to rant but the game available today can be made easier with performance equipment on (typically) easy lanes. But, when performance equipment is used on less than optimum conditions, they are very frustrating (hook to much, too little or carry poorly).

A lot of newer bowlers do throw a spinner (weak) release. And when challenged with (fairly) oiled lanes, those spinner players fail miserably. Failing is bad enough, but when you are completely overwhelmed with no option to struggle through, it very embarrassing and demoralizing. Many players in the last 10 years have realized, they weren't very good at the game (outside of their home bowling center,) because they built their games (skills) around the ball(s) and conditions they bowled on all the time. Not learning to bowl, just throwing a ball in the right place for one center. When encountering a person with real ability, they are overmatched, and doomed to fail, so they quit.

Millions have quit league bowling because of the willingness of shop owners to sell naive new bowlers anything, without concern for their building skills, and improving as bowlers. Of course, the worse offenders are Internet sellers that are not invested in any way in your success. They will sell anything to anybody.

Thanks for the question. Again sorry for the rant. Good luck.