Expert: Chip Aki - 3/23/2005

Question
I have averaged over 200 for the past 10 yrs, and the last 2 years, my average has dropped to 178. The reason it dropped is because I'm lofting the ball out as far as the arrows, and my hand is turning to the right, and I'm throwing a back up ball. I am a right handed bowler, and I used to place the ball down closer to the foul line. I play the fiest arrow from the right side, a down and in player, with about a 6 to 7 board hook, when throwing the ball right. How can I get my arm swing back to where my ball hooks. people tell me that when taking my arm swing back, my hand is turning out .

Answer
Check your pushaway.  If it is going in front of you, then your swing will get away from your body in your backswing and may be causing your problem.  
Turning your hand our is not a bad thing as long as you can rotate it counterclocwise during the release.
If you are trying to lift the ball too much, it will cause you to rotate your hand clockwise, which will cause the ball to back up.

Good luck,
Chip