For Top Technique, Don't Forget the Finish - bowling tips

Bowling Digest, Dec, 2000 by John Jowdy

Ignore the final steps at your own risk: Some bowlers may flaunt the fundamentals, but a few basic tenets should be followed in order to get the most from your game

IN THIS ISSUE JOHN JOWDY WILL CONTINUE his discussion of the basic components of successful scoring technique. This issue will deal with three of the seven most important aspects according to Jowdy. He ended last issue's column with a mention of the knee bend, so let's begin there.

The KNEE BEND is one of the prime requisites for a solid game. It was one of the most positive forces in the game of Don Carter, who was recently acknowledged as one of the three greatest bowlers of all time. The stoic Hall-of-Famer utilized a low, crouched position and shuffled to the foul line with his nose seemingly to the ground, kept his elbow bent throughout the swing, and finished by almost pushing the ball down the lane. In fact, Carter executed in a manner totally opposed to basic fundamentals--except for one important factor: his knee bend, which was the impetus for one of the most accurate shots in the history of bowling.

There is a misconception among some teachers of bowling regarding the proper knee bend. Too much emphasis has been focused by some on the bending of the knee in the sliding step, while little or no attention has been placed on the step preceding the slide. That's a mistake. The third step of a four-step approach is the most prominent and meaningful step of the entire exercise. It's the catalyst for descending into a slide that is vital for releasing the ball from a low angle. The third step is also known as the power step, and is utilized to push into the slide and into a low, firm position. This prevents the body from rearing up at the line.

A deep knee bend in the third step of a four-step delivery can be far more effective if it's short and quick, because it enables a bowler to descend easier to assume a sitting position. A long third step will hinder any attempt to "take a seat," creating a block in the knee bend and resulting in the bowler rearing up after the initial slide.

Deep knee bends are trademarks for such outstanding past and present PBA players as Parker Bohn III, Chris Barnes, Jason Couch, Tim Criss, Norm Duke, Dave Husted, David Ozio, Amleto Monacelli, Brian Voss, Rick Steelsmith, Pete Weber, and Ricky Ward. Marshall Holman, recently honored with a place among the 20 greatest bowlers of the century, attained his lofty standing by virtue of a deep knee bend that concluded in a low, outward trajectory.

Mike Aulby is a 26-time PBA champion, the only player in history to win the ABC Masters three times, and the only bowler in PBA history to annex all five major championships: the PBA National, the Touring Players Championship, the U.S. Open, the ABC Masters, and the Tournament of Champions. The one chink in his armor is the inconsistency of his knee bend. Though his record seems to refute the importance of the bend, Aulby is prone to occasional slumps, which are due principally to his sporadic failure to descend on the power step.

Aulby isn't alone among successful players who don't possess textbook-model knee bends. Justin Hromek, John Mazza, Bob Learn, Ryan Shafer, Butch Soper, David Traber, Jess Stayrook, Guppy Troup, and Wayne Webb all have fared well in the pro ranks despite their inability to execute ideal knee bends. But with the exception of Stayrook, all are rather small in height, an advantage that permits them to release the ball from a low position.

A strong RELEASE is the envy of all bowlers. Most great players are blessed with this God-given talent. Many develop a desired release through study and practice. Others are simply unable to position their hands in the proper manner and are comfortable in relying primarily on accuracy and simplicity to attain their goals.

In the era of robber and polyester balls, it was not uncommon to see good players release the ball on the upswing. This was a technique referred to as "lift and turn" and was not perceived as the critical flaw it is today, because the balls made in the past didn't contain the gripping characteristics of today's modern missiles.

What constitutes a strong release? Not so simply put, it's the ability to place a ball well in the back of the hand, have the patience to wait for the proper release point, maintain the hand position to the last moment, exit the thumb, and drive the ball off the front part of the hand with strong finger rotation.

How difficult is it? For those who are not naturally inclined, it can become quite difficult to coordinate the release with the release point. They are movements that demand split-second synchronization--they go together, or go nowhere. A great release at the improper release point is nearly useless.

The ideal release point, as I stated last issue in the footwork section, is an area somewhat prior to the ankle in the downswing. The ideal release is executed by exiting the thumb, transferring the weight of the ball to the fingers, and driving the ball from the strongest leverage point. The thumb release should be approximately six or seven boards from the sliding foot, provided the slide is in line with the previous step.