Expert: Susie Minshew - 8/9/2009

Question
How can I stop lofting the bowling ball. Do I need to change the pitch of my thumb in order to release the ball sooner? I seem to be losing so much leverage at the release point. Would a deeper knee bent help.

Answer
Indeed you would be. There are many reasons you could be lofting the ball unintentionally: you're too upright at the line, you have too much forward pitch in the thumb hole, you have too much reverse pitch in the thumb hole, the thumb hole is too big, you are squeezing the ball, your timing is off. As you can see, there isn't any way to know what is causing the loft. First I believe you should have your fit checked by an IBPSIA (International Bowling Pro Shops and Instructors Association) professional. You can find one near you at ibpsia.com. Then get a coach. Check out the certified coaches in your area at bowl.com. It's more fun when you do stuff on purpose. By the way, knee bend always helps!