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Bowling/Questions Answered by Expert Susie Minshew
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Bowling Balls left in car | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: Is it true that if I leave my bowling ball in the car, the heat can crack the ball? A: Drastic changes in temperature can definitely affect your ball. I have heard of balls that cracked ... | |
| Rev rate vs speed | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: How do I increase my rev rate without reducing my speed? A: There are many techniques for increasing your rev rate. Doing it without muscling is the key. Revs ... | |
| breakpoint | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: are the modern pro bowlers using a breakpoint management system for targeting and reading the lanes ... A: There's no other way to bowl and be effective. The breakpoint is the point where the ball changes ... | |
| PAP | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: .. My question is in relation to my PAP. My PAP is 5 1/2 over and a 1/4 up. What does that mean in ... A: Tim! You are correct that your PAP is an indicator of your release axis. To really get the answer ... | |
| Help! | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: Hey Susie, love your website and hearing you on the Internet Bowling show, Let's go Bowling. ... A: Yo, Michael! Thanks for the questions. Jeez, your description sounds so familiar! Can't I play ... | |
| Back up Bowler | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I'm a new bowler and really starting to have fun. I'm throwing what everyone is telling me is a ... A: Denise! Great question. the term backup ball refers to the way your ball is rotating. Assuming you ... | |
| identifying old bowling ball | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: Its an AMF sumo ball with an id# of 21c8402. Any info would be great. Drew A: Drew! Ahh, the Sumo. Quite the ball in its day. The technology of the Sumo is quite old and I can't ... | |
| Carry | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: Susie, For us "straighter" down and in players, what tips do you have for getting as much carry and ... A: Michael! Carry is dependent on several things, some of which you cannot control, like the alignment ... | |
| Grip and ball placement in hand | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I use a relaxed fingertip grip and have always wondered about where the ball should be placed in the ... A: Gordy! Where you hold the ball in your hand depends on what you want the ball to do. Let's talk ... | |
| proper stroker technique | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: Susie, I am wondering about proper stroker technique and the "modern" game. I remember watching a ... A: Michael! In my opinion, body alignment is the biggest secret in bowling. If you are not lined up ... | |
| possible ball weight change | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: Susie, I love your website and enjoyed listening to you on the Lets Go Bowling show. Anyway I have a ... A: That's really different. If the ball fits you well, you ought to be able to throw your version of ... | |
| possible ball weight change | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: Susie, I love your website and enjoyed listening to you on the Lets Go Bowling show. Anyway I have a ... A: Michael! Thanks for the kind words. It's always good to know your stuff is not just floating around ... | |
| Choosing the right ball | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I am currently using a used Ebonite Omega Lion ball to learn how to hook and I want to get a new ... A: Erica! Ahh, the Lion. I had one and truly loved it! It was a great ball in its day and that day is ... | |
| averages | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: What web-site can I go to in order to find league averages? A: If you are bowling in a USBC sanctioned league and your league secretary has BLS and the Perfect ... | |
| bowling | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: Can you please tell me where and when is the next Professional Amature Open bowling tournament is ... A: Robert! I actually don't know what a Professional Amateur Open tournament is. Usually tournaments ... | |
| thumb hole tape | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: where is the proper way to insert tape if needed ie., in back or front or one sides of the drilled ... A: LD! Taping is an art. How you place tape in the thumb hole and what type of tape you use is really ... | |
| First ball | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: For a right-hander, if the first ball on the 1-3 side is called "Brooklyn", what is it called on ... A: Ron! The 'pocket' for a right-handed bowler is on the 17th board, between the 1 pin and the 3 pin. ... | |
| finger placement | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: where is the best place to place your index and pinkie. I've tried to tuck it. resulting in mt ring ... A: David! Here are the answers to your questions: 1. Yes 2. It depends on what you want the ball to ... | |
| Bowling Shoes | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I bought a pair of Dexters SST1 S8 sole and h5 heel. I threw 2 balls and found the heel digging in ... A: Robert, Miss those Linds, huh? :) From a quality and lasting a long time standpoint, you can't beat ... | |
| switching balls in league play | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: when should you make a ball change? Last Sat i shot a 256 1st game 268 second game and a 159 the ... A: Allen! Excellent question. Since I have no idea what kind of surface and pattern on which you ... | |
| Hook Release | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I've been trying to develop a hook, and I've had some difficulty. I spoke with my Pro Shop operator ... A: Joshua! The Freeze is a great entry level reactive ball. Depending on the lane condition where you ... | |
| lane conditions | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: What is the coefficient of static friction of the average bowling lane? A: Dan! Great question, however, the answer varies depending on the type/manufacturer of the lane. You ... | |
| lack of improvement | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: My wife has been bowling for over 5 years and has a 115 avg. She bowls 3 times a week. My wife is ... A: James! Averaging 115 is certainly no fun. It takes a lot of skill to throw with a fingertip grip so ... | |
| Dropping ball on approach | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I bowl in a league and there are 1 or 2 bowlers who drop their bowl on the approach before they get ... A: Judy! There are numerous reasons that people lay the ball down behind the foul line. It is not ... | |
| timiing/rythymn | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: i'm confused now after reading so many bowling tips...might be a dump question to ask but i have to ... A: You need a coach who can see what is going on with you. Your timing is late. That's not a bad thing. ... | |
| oil vs. dry | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: i'm confused now after reading so many bowling tips...might be a dump question to ask but i have to ... A: Oil keeps your ball from hooking. Your ball goes through three phases of motion: skid, hook, and ... | |
| Spare balls | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I've been bowling in leagues for over 15 years. I just got back into it after a 20 yr absence. Iwas ... A: Dennis! Welcome back to bowling! As you've noticed, it's a very different game than it used to be. ... | |
| thumb hang up | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: This has been happening to me quite frequently as of late. My thumb has been hanging up in my ball ... A: Don! Yuk. You are in a very ugly and embarrassing place, not to mention how this problem can hurt ... | |
| rotation | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I have been bowling for two and a half years and would probably be considered a stroker or a ... A: Michael! I'm a bit confused by your question. It almost seems as though you are saying that your ... | |
| bouncing a ball | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: Lately I am noticing i am bouncing my bowling ball. I have a fairly fast throw, and i put it out ... A: Anytime the ball is bouncing, it's not in contact with the lane. That's not a good thing! There can ... | |
| pulling shots | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: Im 55 years old and am getting back into bowling after a 3 year layoff. In returning to this great ... A: Seems you already know the answer! Training is not about throwing the ball every time it comes out ... | |
| Equipment | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I have been try to find the right ball for my fiance. She just started bowling 2 years ago, but has ... A: Kyle! There is an expert ball driller and former board member of the International Bowling Pro ... | |
| Mental aspect of bowling. | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I've been bowling for almost 7 years now. But i only started bowling competitively 3 years ago. I've ... A: Ryan! I think you can't deny, nor should you try to suppress, your emotions. We all get juiced. You ... | |
| Getting mores strikes with straight ball | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I am a 60 year woman who has bowled for 30 years. I throw a straight ball due to an injury to the ... A: Linda! Curving a ball is generated by a slight rotation of the wrist so I'm curious about this ... | |
| 5 Pin | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: In canada do you have to play 5 pin on a different type of lane compared to 10 pin, ie will the 10 ... A: Rob! I was just in Canada and saw 5 pin bowling for the first time. Canada is the only country with ... | |
| counting boards in bowling | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: Does the 7 board count applies to everyone in bowling? Just started standing on 20th board and ... A: I'm not sure what the '7 board count' is. My best guess is that you are referring to the ball ... | |
| Mental Game. | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: First, I would like to comment that your website was a joy to read. It's very refreshing to see that ... A: Rich! Yup. You're human all right! I think it's silly to try and suppress or block these kinds of ... | |
| Bowling Equipment | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I am in the market for a new ball. (The last one I bought was an ebonite NVS) I don't have a ... A: Jonathan! You are right to want a difference in ball reaction. All high performance balls do tend ... | |
| Where to put the ball | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm a full roller using a cell ball. Where should I put my ball when rolling on the Kegel Main ... A: Beverley! It's pretty unusual to be a full roller these days. It's actually not a very effective ... | |
| thumb | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: first, congrats on your 42nd question, secondly my question : If I am having trouble squeezing the ... A: Curious question. Why would you think that just because you had the fit adjusted, you wouldn't ... | |
| RH vs. LH | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Can a league bowler change switch bowling hands mid frame? Mid game? Example, a left handed ... A: Here is the quote from the Rule Book. You can find it at bowl.com under Rules. 328. Changing ... | |
| Bowling Ball | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: Well my wife bought me a new ball (Hammer Black Widow Venom) I was out of bowling for a few years ... A: Ron! A ball that is still hooking after one year is quite a ball. Most modern balls have a life of ... | |
| breaking in new bowling shoes | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: I have purchased a new pair of AMF shoes. I stick badly at the Foul line. I'm a long slider and have ... A: New bowling shoes can be way fun to break in as you have evidently noticed! Hopefully, your new ... | |
| marker boards | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: When I watch the PBA on TV they have marker boards to hit. Exactly where on the lane are these ... A: The lanes to which you refer are made by Brunswick and called ProAnvilane. The additional ... | |
| middle finger | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: I have been practicing my bowling, and every time I release the ball it hurts my middle finger bad, ... A: Patsy! This is really a serious issue. Bowling is a non-combat sport and is not supposed to hurt! ... | |
| Bowling. New to the game so I dont know much! | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I have some questions. Is it possible to get a Bowling Ball re-finished or reshaped back to the ... A: Welcome to bowling, Jason! It's great fun and very therapeutic. You get to knock stuff down and ... | |
| Release problem | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: During leagues or practice sessions, it seems that I have no problem with my release. But then when ... A: Since you don't have any trouble with the ball during practice or league, it would seem that the ... | |
| Releasing the bowling ball | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: How can I stop lofting the bowling ball. Do I need to change the pitch of my thumb in order to ... A: Indeed you would be. There are many reasons you could be lofting the ball unintentionally: you're ... | |
| How to get strikes | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I am a very in shape but lean guy at 5'4 and 111 lbs and all muscle. But I do have a difficult time ... A: It will be difficult to average 200 with such a light ball. A minimum of 14 lbs would be helpful. In ... | |
| bowling adverage 3 or 4 years ago omaha nebraska | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking for a old bowling average I had about 4 or 5 years ago at Kelly north bowl in Omaha ... A: Your best bet for retrieving the data you want is from the secretary of the league in which you ... | |
| bowling | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I have had my black widow pearl for about 1 1/2 years now and for some reason my ball varys alot on ... A: Unfortunately, bowling balls die. Sounds weird, I know. The truth of that matter, though, is that ... | |
| Finger Injury | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: The following question has been asked before, but I didn't see an answer. This question fits my ... A: As humans, we change - and we do so frequently. You should have your fit checked at least yearly. To ... | |
| swollen fingers | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: My cousin is going for the national selection for bowling which is due in a week, but has a problem ... A: There is almost nothing your cousin can do at this late date. The swelling, if caused by bowling, is ... | |
| PITCH IN BOWLING BALL | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm left handed. One pro shop drilled a ball 16th right, 7/16 reverse. Another pro shop drilled a ... A: Pitches in the thumb and fingers are based on the flexibility of your hand and fingers and your ... | |
| Middle finger pain | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: 2 parter: I recently went to a shop and had my middle finger changed to 7/8 reverse and 7/8 left ... A: Depends on how long your span is. That's quite a bit of forward pitch in your thumb. That can be ... | |
| I Have A Columbia 300 Yellow Dot Ball | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I Have a Columbia Yellow Dot Bowling Ball With The Number 6V93937 On the Ball I was wondering What ... A: Yellow Dots were from the 1960's or so. Still today, it would be a great dry lanes/spare ball if it ... | |
| Purchasing the right ball | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I am in the market for a new ball. Just got back into bowling and am using my 20yr old 12lb ebonite ... A: There are a few things you need to do before purchasing a new ball. How much do you weigh? Are you ... | |
| Having Inflammation Issues | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I took a 20 year break from bowling until my daughter recently expressed an interest in it. It ... A: Since your hand is not the same as it was 20 years ago, getting a new fit is imperative. In fact, ... | |
| revs | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I have been bowling for about seven years now and i am not very new to hooking the ball. My problem ... A: It takes a lot of work, forearm strength, proper torso tilt, soft hands, and a whole bunch of other ... | |
| wrist lock | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: in bowling, I have a 14 pound Hammer Blue Vibe and I am trying to keep my wrist locked. because I ... A: The easiest way is to get a Mongoose Lifter from your Pro Shop Operator. This is a brace that does ... | |
| hooking late, too hard | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I've been using a 13 lb Storm Hy-Road ball with a fingertip grip for about 4 months. The ball breaks ... A: There are many reasons the ball might make such a dramatic move down lane: not enough speed, the ... | |
| bowling | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Im just starting out to drill my own bowling balls.I've purchased a drill press and ready to go.My ... A: I must say your question concerns me greatly. A qualified Pro Shop Professional must be an artist to ... | |
| Should I go to a lighter ball? | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I just started bowling and I got a 13lb RH Tornado since I can't handle anything heavier. I got ... A: A fingertip grip gives you much more power and control. House balls make everybody equally bad so ... | |
| oil conditions/type of ball to use | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: WHERE I BOWL, THE LANES ARE OILED BUT IT SEEMS TO BREAK DOWN (THE OIL) REAL QUICK SO THAT MY BALL ... A: If you watch bowling on TV, you know that the pros roll plastic balls at all spares. Whether or not ... | |
| PBA Bowling | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: Are the lanes re-dressed between games in tournament single game match play - step ladder format or ... A: It depends on the tournament. For example, if squads of a tournament started at 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and ... | |
| Tournament winnings | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: They always say what the winner receives in prize money. Does the 2nd 3rd or 4th place walk away ... A: It would be quite rare for a tournament to only pay for first place and it would be widely ... | |
| X-Out bowling ball | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I bought an X-Out bowling ball on E-Bay. The CG/Mb/Pin are in line. Will I have a problem getting ... A: It depends on how close together the CG and pin are. There are relationships between the two that ... | |
| buying a new ball | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm buying a new ball for next season. I bowl on medium to heavy oiled lanes. I want a ball that ... A: James, Not knowing your rev rate, axis rotation, lane surface and age, style of bowling, and ... | |
Bowling
Answers by Expert:
Susie Minshew
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Any question on bowling including the playing field, equipment, the physical game, and the mental game.
Experience
Teaching bowling full-time since 1993
Organizations
United States Bowling Congress Coaches Association
Publications
Bowling This Month magazine
Stars and Strikes magazines
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Bowling World
Education/Credentials
United States Bowling Congress Gold Coach
Dick Ritger Certified Level 1
Awards and Honors
Two time USOC Bowling Coach of the Year
Past President - International Bowling Pro Shops and Instructors Assn
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