Expert: - 9/15/2009

Question
where do I stand on the approach to find the 1-3 pocket. I stand on the 1st board target board 10 .And how can I get more lift and spin on my bowl? Thank you

Answer
Irene,
I always want to make sure I understand the question so please bare with me.

When you say you stand on the 1st board, (as a right hander) I understand that to mean (because you slide with your left foot) the left foot starts out one board left of the right gutter in your setup (the gutter edge is 0 board, counting across to the left gutter which is 41), putting your shoulder and the swing plane of your body out over the gutter. To hit the 10 board you'd need to drift (or walk left quite a bit) to line your swing up, so it can roll the ball over the 10 board. Is that what's happening?

Or by 1 board do you mean center of the approach (1 right of the big dot, which is the 20 board, or you would be setting up with the left toe at the 19th board)? Please let me know. What are you hitting with the current alignment?

Getting lift and rotation can be accomplished with a small nerf (or the like) football. Take a small football and practice throwing it under hand to a partner or into a couch or whatever. Your intention is to get the football to spiral perfectly. To accomplish the spiral, you'll learn to twist the wrist and turn your hand to achieve it. That same motion is what you want your hand and wrist to do with your bowling ball. The tighter the turn and and more rotation of the football will reflect your proficiency in improving your release.

Don't be afraid to do this practice drill allot (30-100 repetitions each session) and often. You will only create the effective muscle memory you want when you can spiral the ball 30 to 50 times perfectly. Any wobble or anomaly when throwing it is not helping. So like any athletic practice session, concentration in practice allows you to just relax (let the muscle memory take over) and perform in competition.

Thanks for the questions. Let me know more so we can better answer the first part of your question. Good luck and good bowling.