Expert: - 3/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Mr. Friedl, Me again. I noticed at the thourn. this weekend my track has jumped down low. As per our last conversation about span, I am sending you the info on my span layout. I did not make the qualifier round. I noticed my track, when I got home and it is almost like a spinner. Everyone told me I was throwing the ball great and I noticed my hand was never over the top at release. Still I know I am not taking advantage of the whole ball. I noticed I held the ball(lefthanded), with my hand under the ball, thumb at about 11:30. Everyone told me I was staying under the ball well. Ball feels confortable but I wasn't either executing well or throwing stupid. They put a Kegel shot down, I can't remember the name. Only a hand full of lefties made the cut( 5 or so. )..They said was a flat oil shot Looooong. quick snap. Used a pin high Resurgance. My Raid with pin above fingers slid. Can u help me with how to get more out of the ball. I don't even see any flare anymore on my equipment. You have been hellping me so much, and with so many tourns. coming up. PBA regionals, scratch etc. I got to get this corrected. Span, 4.5 with 0 reverse on thumb and 8thleft lateral, vise std. finger inserts with no pitch or ovals just regular grips 5/8th reverse, to keep my fingers out< a driller friend of mine says I hit the ball too hard. Anyway, maybe that will help. I was really frustrated after this weekend. A lefty friend of mine, Cordell Wilder, played more up the lane maybe 12 to 8 standing 20 on approach. I was 25-28 on approach 16 at arrows with 10-12 break point. But if I moved left on approach and went straighter, ball snapped to hard. Was it just equipment? Possibly maybe Urethane? What about track? Thanks so much for your help. Any needed info., please let me know. Thanks so much again for your help. Jerry

ANSWER: Jerry,
it sounds like your stuff reads too late for longer patterns. How far from your axis (PAP) is the Resurgence pin? Raid is very smooth.

You mention track location but then said people commented you threw the ball well. Not sure from what you describe what's going on. Can you send a picture of the ball tracks of your equipment (mark the axis with a piece of tape)?

You said: "vise std. finger inserts with no pitch or ovals just regular grips 5/8th reverse" Is the "vise std." (Vise's Power Grip option), the flat front, pitched grips? That you've reduced pitch by angling the hole 5/8ths away? leaving you at 1/8 net away pitch?

The "ovals", another ball? or pitched grips in one and oval in the other? Do you have a 1/4 pitched grips, with no forward or away, in one ball, and ovals with 5/8 away in a the second ball? What's your Positive Axis Point?

Thanks for the follow up. Sorry about the results from the weekend. I did a big No-tap Sat. and missed cashing by a split. Sucks to not achieve what you'd like.

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

QUESTION: Thanks again Mr. Friedl, Grips are all the same. Sorry for the confusion. I will have to find my PAP. I think I still know how. The track on the resurgance is about 3-4 inches from finger and thumb holes. Everyone elses I see is up close to the holes. I just have been told I don't use all the ball. Is there an easy way to find pap? I was told to throw a ball, spare ball, first track of oil, set on a flat surface , mark oil ring and with oil ring horizontal, pap is at most top part of ball? All, finger grips are flat, no pitch, inserts are about 1/4 to 3/8ths, thick on finger pad side. If that helps. Sorry for the finish in the no tap. I am shooting in 2 tourns. this weekend, scratch, One is senior the other below 50. When I said people said I was throwing the ball well, they meant, I was staying under the ball and not coming around it. Like my hand IS NOT on the top of the ball at release. Then another one says it is coming over the top. But when I look at my finish position, My hand is palm up. I just don't understand, I am going to the center now and measure all the equipment. I am sure the span is correct 4 1/2" Zero lat. on thumb with 1/4 reverse. Pitch is 5/8ths. on fingers. Thanks again. Jerry

Answer
Jerry,
Easier to do this with some pro shop equipment. But, to get your PAP, identify the first ring of oil on the spare ball all the way around the ball. Draw perpendicular line from one edge of the ring across the grip to the track on the opposite side of the ball. Draw additional lines  about four inches above and below the first, and continue above and below them. The multiple lines should intersect at one point, that is your Positive Axis Point (PAP).

Getting your axis co-ordinates, you draw a line between the finger grips down through the center of the thumb (this is the Gripline). Draw a perpendicular line from the center of the gripline out about 6 inches (this is the midline). Where your PAP falls above or below this line is your vertical axis co-ordinate. Draw another line from the identified point perpendicular to the midline. Measure it's distance from the midline (this is your vertical axis co-ordinate). Measure the distance from the intersection of the vertical line, back toward the gripline (on the Midline). This is your horizonital axis co-ordinate.