Expert: - 12/16/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am a 59 year old stroker who carries a 215 average over two leagues and area tournaments. I have worked hard to keep up with the young power players but have two limitations. One is knowledge of ball layouts to maximize my carry (which is a topic for another question) and the other is a visual thing regarding my targeting. I sight and see the ball go over the 5th board but in reality I roll over the 11th board. This has been constant for the 40 years I have bowled... my eyesight (probably because of a dominate eye) deceives me! I can't be the only bowler this happens to. Do you have a suggestion.. it is extremely difficult to figure out angles and spots for spares if I miss by 6 boards every time. What I have done over the years is just ignore this problem. I rarely tell people where I am aiming because they would be constantly correcting me. Is there a pro who really doesn't see where his ball rolls?

ANSWER: Nelson,
Your dominant eye (if you have one) will definitely deceive you.

Not seeing you roll is a huge disadvantage, but it sounds like, and there could be other things going on, you might have a drift or set-up glitch.

When you set-up where is your slide foot (when you target 5 board/first arrow)? Where is it at the foul line? Do you account for any drift? Where do you hold the ball (in front of your chin? your belt buckle? your armpit? shoulder)? How fast do you throw the ball (have someone time you, from ball leaving your hand to ball hitting the pins)?

Occasionally, bowlers, (who target with their eyes,) don't line up their shoulder (the fulcrum of your shot leverage) and key to the swing plane with the proper target. If your shot shoulder (RH or LH?) is aligned with 5 board at set-up, but you drift 6 left (for a Right hander) your shot will travel up 11 even though you're looking at 5. You see the ball hit 5? How do you know you hit 11? Video?

You may wrap the ball in your swing, how does it fit? Is your swing fairly straight? Please provide more and we can try to get down to the problem.

Some pros are feel bowlers. Sunday's PBA broadcast revealed how Wes Malott targets and he's kinda successful!!

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply. In my set-up I have my left foot on the middle dot and that is pretty much where I end up at the foul line (no drift). I hold the ball at my arm pit and have a fairly free straight arm swing. My speed is relatively slow, probably 14-15 mph.
You might be onto something because if my foot is on the middle dot and I try to hit 5 the ball would be in the gutter, or definitely would not cross enough boards to get back to the 1-3. I do not have a huge hook.

If however I move 6 or seven boards right at set-up I feel like I would be pointing the ball to the pocket and I have a hard enough time hooking the ball as it is. I think this might be the shoulder thing you are getting at. I am under the impression that an open shoulder produces more hook? At least I feel like crossing some boards provides me a more aggressive release.  Also given my sighting issue I would have to aim at the gutter to hit 5. Lastly the center of the ball and the edge of the ball provides a very large margin of error.

I am definitely a feel bowler who can repeat shot after shot, but have trouble making small moves as conditions change, because of my targeting issues. Tonight I bowled my typical 660 without being able to find a shot early or late. I got zoned in in the middle but couldn't make the slight adjustment to maintain my line.

Usually my successful moves involve targeting further down the lane so I do not lose my line, arm swing, feel.

What do you suggest?

Answer
Nelson,
If your starting on 20 (middle dot) and looking at 5, but sliding at 20, middle of your chest to your shoulder (middle of the arm) would need to be 15 inches wide to be lined up right. Are you a former NFL Lineman? Same set-up, look at 10 (second arrow) what do you hit?

You said you open your shoulder. But your target line while right of your body results in a ball path pulled in toward the pocket (you hit 11).

A couple things, your not hooking the ball alot, 11 to 17 (the pocket), but your hitting the pocket enough to average 215. Your targeting, results in trouble with some spares. You need to find out what you hit when you throw a bowling ball. More on this later.

Loosen up your set-up. Move 3-5 right of normal (throw a couple), see what you hit. Throw a couple moving both right and left of 15th Board (set-up for your slide foot), note how your target line changes.

The open shoulder allows for area right, you will swing the ball (push it right)if the shoulder is open. But, if you don't hook it much, a path into the driest area of the lane, outside 10 board (second arrow on most Typical House Shots) isn't creating more hook for your ball speed.

When rolling straight down the lane, there is no need for the shoulder to be open. But give yourself enough wiggle room (a couple inches/boards) as you work and seek the feel that is comfortable.

You've described a tug to 11 board in your game. You may be consciously trying to keep your shoulder open (to create more hook), but because of the proximity to the gutter, are then tugging the ball (removing an possibility of fluid and quick rotation around the ball), pulling it inside your target (pointing to the pocket).  

Try moving forward and back on the approach also. You can maintain whatever is going on, and be able to lengthen the lane (backing up gets the ball on the lane sooner, using more lane, allowing more time for the ball to hook when the lane is oily) or shorten the lane (putting the ball out over the foul line further, allowing the path of the ball to be shorter, using less lane for when the lane is drier/hooking).

You mention the center of the ball and the edge of the ball. The track on your ball is less than 1/16 of an inch wide, half the ball can hang out over the gutter without the ball being in danger of falling in. Is that what you meant?

Your targeting for the pocket and spares must utilize your armswing, your hook potential, and the position of your body to hit what you are shooting at. You sound like you may have tremendous potential, but are completely bass ackwards and still performing well. Can you find a coach? You need eyes on what your doing, to fix some positioning, set-up and execution issues? Thanks for the questions.