Expert: Chip Aki - 2/17/2005

Question
Chip:

I have been reading a lot of your advice on-line and I am quite impressed with all the bowling knowledge you have acquired....If you do not mind, I would like to know, if you can....How can I get my ball track off my finger holes or is this something I should really be worried about....I really like the reaction I get bowling thumbless and I do not expect to change because I tried for over two years to bowl with my thumb upon relase and I could never get the ball to hook like it is now....I have good control thumbless and it makes the game enjoyable for me to hook it when I want to - I control the amount of hook by speed and loft when I have too.....Do you have any suggestive drillings I could incorporate into my game in order to get the ball track off my finger holes or should I just live with it?

Thanks again

PM

Answer
What kind of pin placements are  you using now?

Where does the ball track start?  Does it start on the holes or flare over them?

Do you use inserts?

Some bowlers that choose to not use there thumb will track differently than those that use their thumb.  If there is not a loss of ball reaction, I may not worry about it too much.  Especially if you like the reaction you are getting out of the ball.  In the past, we have used some negative pin placements, such as those used for full rollers on bowlers that bowl without their thumb.

Give me a little bit more info and we can see where we want to go.

Thanks for the compliments as well.  I try :)

Good luck,
Chip