Expert: Warren Friedl, Pro Shop Owner/Operator, - 6/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: Greetings Warren. Before I begin with my question, allow me first to say thanks, for taking your time to provide us with your knowledge in this sport. It's people like you that helped this sport grow to where it is now.

Now that that's out of the way.... LOL, here is my question. I am a lefty that is currently bowling on house lanes using a black widow bite middle track. Most of the times when I hit the pocket, I tend to leave a lot of 7 pins. I play around the first arrow upto 2 1/2 arrows depending on the lane condition with medium to high speed with a fair amount of revs. Is it due to these reasons? 1. The lanes are getting drier and that my ball is reacting sooner? 2. Do I have to change the axis of my release, adding more side roll? 3. Do I have to change my ball to a ball that skids then flips? A brunswick rattler perhaps? 4. Can I use the same ball (BWB) but move to the left a few boards or maybe move back a few inches so that the ball would hit higher into the pocket?

Also, my finger tends to swell after I bowl. Is it because I pull to hard with my fingers? It's usually the middle finger. Currently this is how I release the ball. I hold the ball slightly tilted to the right. On my swing my wrist is flat not cupped. Then upon release I slightly break my wrist and flick forward creating a scooping motion. Could this pose as an issue? Is this an incorrect way of releasing the ball?

Another thing, I noticed that the oil marks on my track tend to come close to my thumb hole. Should I change the drilling on my ball from middle track to high track or maybe low track?

Kindly let me know your thoughts.

Thanks again in advance for your help.

ANSWER: Richard,
You didn't mention if you leave a solid 7 or if the 4 pin is rattling around (laying in the flat gutter) next to the seven leaving a weak 7.

Some of the reasons you suggest are possibilities. #1 if the strong surface of your ball is causing it to roll too soon, adjust the surface #sand smoother or add a bit of polish#. #2 Your tilt is bigger than optimum, so a stronger release will cause the ball to hook earlier moving you more inside. #3 I don't think the ball is the culprit. #4 Definitely moving should help, but move right and/or back.

A swelling finger is probably a fit issue #torque/pitch/hole size#. Talk to your driller and have them suggest solutions.

Your track is a reflection of your release. Your pitches #and span length# may urge you around the ball more or less. Unless you have a specific fit for a specific roll, how you roll it causes the axis tilt and axis rotation #position of track on the ball).

Thanks for the question. Please follow-up with more info, and let me know if the above suggestions help.

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

QUESTION: Thanks Warren. I'll keep all your advice in mind the next time I bowl. As for the corner pins, they're usually ringing 7s. Most of the time the messenger pins go around them. BTW... if I didn't want to change the surface of my BWB so that I can use this ball on oily lanes, do you think the Brunswick Rattler would be a good ball to use on drier lanes, specifically house league lanes? Also, you mentioned that my tilt is bigger than optimum. Does this mean that I should change my release? I usually position my hand at my desired release all the way through (thumb pointing to 1 0'clock). So moving it from 1 to 2-2:30 to create more side roll won't change the fact that I leave 7 pins?

ANSWER: Richard,
The pin that should knock out the seven is the four. A messenger pin would be something else from the rack being hit over into the 7 (usually the head pin, bouncing off the right sideboard/kickback and shooting back across the deck).

I'm afraid that holding the ball as you describe, with the ball track as you mention, you're over turning the ball at the bottom of your swing. Track shouldn't be as far away from the fingers. What position is the thumb after you release the ball? Are you looking at the back of your hand?

Try the thumb/10 O'clock hand position and don't turn the ball at release. Check out the track, it should be higher to your fingers. The change in ball roll should be stronger, so you'll need to move right a little.

Let me know how it works. Thanks for the questions.




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

QUESTION: Warren, I just want to clarify something about the thumb position. Should I be looking at my thumb while holding the ball on my palm for position? Also, I am a lefty so i'm a little confused when you recommended that I point my thumb at 10 o'clock. Aside from this, i'm good to go.

Thanks again for your help.

Answer
Richard,
If you hold your left hand out flat, palm up, imagine the tip of your middle finger is 12:00, and your wrist is 6:00, picturing a clock face flat on your palm, the thumb is on the 9:00 side of the clock face.

When you put a ball in your hand, imagine the clock face is perpendicular to your palm, with the same orientation. Straight up from your palm is now 12:00. A relaxed position should have your thumb pointing at around 10:00/11:00.  

Take that starting position and roll a few balls, trying to keep your hand from turning. If you see the back of your hand in your follow through, you've taught yourself to turn the ball, but your muscle memory may cause you to turn too much, too late.

Is this a better visual? Thanks for the follow-up.