For Versatility, Choose the Semi-Roller - bowling tips

Bowling Digest, August, 2001 by Bill Spigner

* What's the difference between a full-roller and a semi-roller? Does the ball roll come from a stroker or an end-over-end shot?

The full-roller track rolls between the thumb and finger holes and is 27 inches in diameter, which is the full circumference of the ball. This track runs through the center of the ball with little or no tilt and very little side roll. This type of track is caused by the bowler having the hand in a closed position at the top of the swing. Therefore, when the thumb is released, the fingers are at about 3 or 4 o'clock (8 to 9 o'clock for lefthanders). The bowler actually rotates the fingers clockwise to about 5 o'clock (7 o'clock for lefthanders), producing the track between the finger and thumb holes. A full-roller is not a very effective ball roll for getting strikes; without side roll and axis tilt, you cannot get enough angle of entry into the pocket to carry. Also, because of the rotation, you can't move inside and create as big an area as the semi-roller when the track opens up.

The semi-roller track is the easiest one to achieve, one that tracks outside the thumb and finger holes within one to two inches of the thumb hole; each rotation of the ball covers about 23 inches. To achieve this roll, the hand is placed behind the ball, slightly open at the top of the swing. As the thumb is released, the fingers rotate in a slight counterclockwise rotation. The hand remains behind the ball, but the ball comes off the hand toward the inside of the hand. This helps produce the axis tilt and side roll that is vital to an effective strike ball.

One other type of ball track is the spinner. The ball track for the spinner is way outside the thumb and finger holes, three to five inches from the thumb hole and a track diameter of 18 inches or less. The hand opening at the top of the swing, with the fingers at about 8 or 9 o'clock, creates this type of roll, with the fingers rotating to about 3 o'clock at release. A spinner is a tough track to use where you are trying to get the right amount of side roll and axis tilt, especially when you're trying to roll on a lot of different lane conditions. On very oily lanes, a spinner will spin too much and not break early enough to be effective.

The most versatile type of ball roll is the semi-roller. Most top-level players roll this type of shot. But just having this type of track does not mean your ball will have the revolutions and hook that's needed for an effective strike ball--you also need the right amount of lift and turn for enough action.

* I'm 73 with an average of 162 in a senior league. I throw a stroker with my thumb at 2 o'clock and rotate at release to 12 o'clock. For the strike ball, I generally stand with the inside of my left foot anywhere from the 21st to the 26th board, and my target is anywhere from the 7th to the 12th board. My games are pretty inconsistent. I can throw a 150, a 200, and then a 130 in any order depending on lane conditions. I need to make more spares. I use only one ball. How do I throw a straight ball to make spares? And once I develop my straight ball, where do I stand and aim?

I have one recommendation for your release. You have your thumb at 2 o'clock and turn it to 12 o'clock. The problem With this is your hand is open, and if you don't generate enough armswing speed, you actually have to slow your hand down to try and turn the ball. Try starting with your thumb at about 10 o'clock and concentrate on your hand not opening during the swing. Keep your fingers at about 5 o'clock. When the thumb starts to release because you don't have to turn to the release position, you can concentrate on accelerating your armswing to get more speed on the ball. This will make the ball feel lighter--you will have fewer moving parts--and your scores will be better simply because it will take less effort to throw the ball.

For your spare shooting, get a hard plastic ball. Throwing the ball straight takes lane conditions out of play. There are many different methods of spare making. Becoming a really good spare shooter is very difficult, every bit as difficult as playing your strike ball right, especially if you are a tournament bowler. If you're bowling in just one house, you want to keep your spare play as simple as possible. Using a hard spare ball will cut the hook down. Start off using the middle arrow for all your single-pin spares.

First, find out where you would stand to make the 7- and 10-pin. Finding your starting points for these two pins helps you develop your strategy for any other spare. For example, if you find you have to stand on the 20-board and look at the 4th (middle) arrow to make the 7-pin, that is your base of operations for the left side. To make the 4-pin, move your feet two boards left to the 22nd board, and for the 2-pin, move two more boards to the 24th board. Now do the same thing for the 10-pin. Once you find the best spot to make the 10-pin, move your feet two boards left for the 6-pin, and two more boards for the 3-pin. Learning how to pick up these six key pins will unlock the door toward making many other spares. These are your key pins for all spare play; for example, if you leave the 3-10, you need to get the ball to where the 6-pin is.