Expert: Russ King - 8/7/2007

Question
Russ,

Thank you for making yourself available to bowlers, good information on the internet is hard to find.  

I bowl in several leagues in NY, and I am a power stroker or tweener.  Throughout my bowling career (5 years) I have had a problem with my track, as it seems to be too far away from the fingers and thumb hole.  The distance varies, but it is usually at least 1 3/4" away, and can go to 3+" depending on how much I try to hook the ball.

If I try to hold on to the ball longer, in order to raise the track, it has the opposite effect.  I know that low tracks are typically associated with bowlers who turn their wrists early, but I do not think I have this problem, as on most shots I keep my wrist static (the 45 degree delivery).  Even more distressing, when I hold the ball in a "suitcase" delivery, my release ends up with a (correct) semi-roller ball track, which has me very confused.

Although I have been fairly successful so far (able to average 200+) I am worried about the implications of my track for bowling on tough tournament conditions.  

I beleive the cause of my problem is timing as I take a four step delivery but push-away on my second step.  Do you think this could cause the problem?  

Without seeing me bowl, is there anything you can think of that may cause a low track other than early-turn?

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Steve V.

Answer
Several things come to mind.A loose shoulder & broken elbow.If your track gets lower as you move into a deeper line, I would say it is a loose shoulder/elbow.As people move on a deeper line, they tend to open up the shoulder & break open their hips.This helps getting the ball out to the target from the inside line.But the right way is to stand 3 boards deeper & walk to your target keeping the target infront instead of way out to the right (right handed).
 TRY WHEN STANDING ON THE APPROACH, STAND THERE & FACE YOUR TARGET/ARROW.POINT YOUR TOES LIKE YOU ARE WALKING OUT TO THE TARGET.SQUARE UP YOUR SHOULDERS,WAY LESS BEND AT THE WAIST,YOUR EYES FIXED ON TARGET,HIPS POINTING TO THE RIGHT FORCE IF YOU HAVE TO FOE A WHILE AND RELAX!!!DRAW A LINE OR PULL A STRING FROM YOUR TARGET TO THE BACK OF THE APPROACH.YOU WILL WALK ALONG THIS LINE.LOCK YOUR WRIST INTO POSITION ALL THE WAY THRU THE APPROACH TO YOUR FOLLOW THRU.
NOW AS YOU START, PUSH THE BALL OUT TO THE TARGET WHILE STARTING TO WALK TO THE TARGET.POINT YOUR HIPS TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID BREAKING THE HIPS & DRIFTING STEPS.AS THE BALL STARTS DOWN,LOCK YOUR ELBOW.KEEPING YOUR ARM IN TIGHT TO YOUR BODY AT ALL TIMES.YOUR ELBOW & WRIST SHOULD BE LOCKED CREATING A PENDULUM SWING OFF OF YOUR SHOULDER.DON'T SWIVEL YOUR SHOULDER.KEEP THEM SQUARED TO TARGET.YOUR FOLLOW THRU SHOULD GO PAST LINE OF SIGHT UP TO THE SKY WITH LOCKED ELBOW/WRIST.

THIS WILL KEEP A TIGHT NO WAISTED MOTION APPROACH.IF YOU KEEP WALKING TO ALL YOUR TARGETS, YOU ONLY HAVE TO BOWL ONE WAY.THIS SHOULD KEEP A CONSISTENT TRACK.
IF YOU STAND ON FIRST ARROW & AIMING AT FIRST ARROW, YOU ARE TIGHT SIMPLE APPROACH. AS YOU MOVE DEEP SAY 4TH ARROW THROWING OUT TO 2ND,THIS I THINK IS WHERE YOU CHANGE THE APPROACH THUS CHANGING TRACK AREA.YOU STAND ON 4TH FACING 2ND & WALK TO IT.NOW IT IS THE SAME APPROACH BOTH WAYS.
BEFORE YOU STEP UP ON THE APPROACH,PULL THAT STRING & WALK UP INTO THAT LINE.WALK ALONG THAT LINE & KEEP HIPS LOCKED,WRIST LOCKED & LOCK ELBOW ON DOWN SWING.

IT WILL FEEL LIKE CRAP AT FIRST VERY ROBOTIC.BUT HAS TO BE DONE. THEN AS YOU GET USED TO THIS, THEN FILTER IN YOUR STYLE A LITTLE AT A TIME MELDING IT TOGETHER.ALL MOTION NORTH & SOUTH. NO SIDE MOVEMENT.
IF YOU CAN THROW JUST ONE WAY ON ALL LINES, IT WILL DEVELOP A CONSISTENT ROLL & YOUR ADJUSTMENTS GET SIMPLER.

 TRY THIS IN A GOOD PRACTICE SESSION & LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.YOU MAY NEED ANOTHER TWEAKING TO SIMPLIFY.