Expert: Chip Aki - 10/6/2004

Question
I am a southpaw and I stand on or just to the left of the third dot from the left and I throw on or just to the left of the second arrow.  I throw a fairly straight ball with backend hook but my only problem is I have to be absolutely perfect if I miss my mark by even 1 board I will miss the pocket.  My question is where should I stand I would like to try and deliver a more curved path to the pocket.  It makes me mad when my friend who aims at nothing, has terrible positure and actually launches the ball gets strike after strike but I do everything correct but don't get rewarded for it.

Answer
If you dont have any room to miss at all, you may be playing the wrong part of the lane, or a ball that is not strong enough to let you play where you want to.

Keep in mind though, there is not a ball that will let you play a part of the lane that the lane condition does not allow.  Even though you may not hook the ball a lot, moving around on the lane may help you find a better place to play.  Watch where the other bowlers are getting there ball to break to the pocket and line up so you can hit that same spot down the lane.  You may have to hit if with a much straighter trajectory, but they are showing you where the breakpoint is.

Good luck,
Chip