A Troubleshooting Guide for Your Game - bowling tips

Bowling Digest, Dec, 2000 by Jeri Edwards

Some problems are common to many bowlers, and although there can be multiple solutions, the best one isn't necessarily the most obvious

WHEN ANY BOWLER OBSERVES A problem in his or her game, the natural urge is to fix it. However, finding the correct cure is sometimes the greatest challenge, because the correct answer may not be the most obvious one. As with most things, there is usually more than one answer for the same question, and the trick is to find the correct answer for your own problem or situation.

In this article, I'll address several common bowling problems and provide a troubleshooting guide for each area. Although there will be several options for each problem, the list will be thorough but not entirely comprehensive--in many cases it helps tremendously to work with a coach who can identify the problem and help construct the cure. The common problems that will be addressed are: (1) The ball or lane hooks too much, (2) the ball or lane hooks too little, (3) dropping the ball, and (4) inconsistency to the target. The answers are included in your physical game, bowling ball choice, lane play decisions, and mental approach.

PROBLEM NO. 1 THE BALL OR THE LANE HOOKS TOO MUCH

This is a common complaint, and my first response is always, "Where does it hook too much?" This is the first thing to identify, because the answer depends on it.

If the ball or lane is hooking early, there are several items to check. The first is where you are playing on the lane. You can divide the lane into three sections: the heads (about the first 18 feet), the pines (the middle portion of the lane, front to back), and the back ends (about the last 15 to 20 feet). Generally there is more oil as you move in toward the center of the lane, so if the ball hooks too early from where you're playing, you may want to move to a line farther inside.

Sometimes, though, even when you move more toward the center of the lane, the ball still hooks too early, so the next item to check is your ball choice. The cover of the bowling ball is the major factor in ball reaction. If the cover is too aggressive for a certain condition--especially dry heads--you will not be able to get the ball down the lane before it starts to hook. In this instance, it would be a good choice to switch to a less aggressive cover stock to get the ball down the lane.

If the lane hooks all the way down, there are other options that will help you to control the hook. Fine-tuning your ball choice with respect not only to the cover stock but core construction and layout can help. When the lanes hook, you may want a less aggressive core and a milder layout. Talk with your pro shop operator for his suggestions.

Lofting the ball out may also be a great option for you. When you do this, the lane will seem shorter. For instance, if you're setting the ball down onto the lane 18 inches over the foul line, you could make the lane hook less for you by lofting the ball farther down the lane. This may mean learning to get the ball six to 10 feet out on the lane. To do this, hang on to the ball a little longer near the release point. When you accomplish this, you'll notice that the ball will go farther down the lane before it hooks.

Another option is to use more ball speed, which will help get the ball farther down the lane before it hooks. The best way to generate more speed is to make your overall motion to the foul line faster, more uptempo. Your mechanics should remain the same, but your motion will be more aggressive, and being more aggressive with your body motion will translate into more ball speed at the release.

Additionally, you may want to back off on the strength of your release, because if your hand and wrist are in very strong positions it will be difficult for you to get the ball down a hooking lane. By backing off your hand position--relaxing your wrist a little and uncocking your hand in your stance, and leaving them that way throughout your approach and release area--you can get the ball down the lane much more easily. The more you cup and cock your wrist, the more strongly you're loading your release. So the more you uncup or break your wrist and uncock your hand, the easier it will be to get the ball down the lane. These adjustments for hooking lanes can make a difference in how successful you are and will allow you to be more versatile when the lanes call for it.

PROBLEM NO. 2 THE BALL/LANE HOOKS TOO LITTLE

When the ball hooks too little, there are several items to consider. One of the first is in your physical game, specifically your timing.

If your timing is early--meaning the ball beats your body to the release--it seems that the ball is gone before you can do anything with it. Your release feels weak, and the ball reaction shows it. The biggest keys to correcting early timing are (1) checking your start to ensure it is timed up correctly, (2) making sure that your armswing isn't too fast in relation to your footwork, and (3) getting your body--not the ball--to lead the motion into the finish.