Expert: Russ King - 7/27/2007

Question
When I am bowling my ball will hit the pocket well or looks as if it is hitting it well, and I have been leaving the 9 pin standing.  What is the cause for leaving the 9 pin.

Answer
The ball will hit on a solid strike the 1,3,5,9.If you are leaving the 9 on solid (not high pocket hits),the ball is on such an angle it will hit the 1,3,5,8 hitting the 5 not on the right side but, driving so hard the ball is either directly dead center hit on the 5 or even hitting the 5 on the left a touch pushing the 5 straight back to the left a touch going by the 9.This means a too hard an angle into the pocket if coming in from around 1st arrow or a very late snap just infront of the pocket inside near 3rd arrow.
There are a few ways to tweak this without much change in feel.You can spread out your pinkie a bit on your grip,bring in your pointing finger closer to your other fingers,straighten out your wrist a touch.Rotate your thumb position 1/2 hour ( clock time)say FROM 1 o'clock to maybe 12:30 going 1/2 hour each time until you get what you want.In your form, you can reach out & down to your mark instead if hitting up so hard at release.Hitting up at release developes skid/snap. When you reach out stretching , the ball has an arc type of line reducing the snap/angle into the pocket.A more delicate way is hitting 1/2 pocket hits changing the deflection of the pins. Even 1/4 swishers if you have to.I do all of the above to change carry.