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Physical Q&A [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] Tom September 4, 2003 McKinney TX Walter Ray, Do you ware any knee supports or foot supports while bowling? I use a rubber sleve myself since my knee surgery several years ago and it has helped raise my average. The foot question is using anything besides "Odor Eaters" like foot cushions or anything within your bowling shoes to improve arc comfort or provide support? Good luck on the upcoming swing and will see you in Dallas next year. Hi Tom, I do wear a knee brace when I bowl as a preventive maintenance procedure. I haven't had any problems with my knees in several years, but I don't want to take the chance of it happening again. I don't wear anything in my shoes besides socks at this time. At least my wife hasn't complained yet about any smells and my feet seem to be doing OK. Mark September 2, 2003 Mesquite TX Hello Walter Ray and Paige, Just wanted to say hello and ask you some advice on a knee problem that I have been having. About a two years ago my knee started to hurt when I bowled. I have tried adjusting my slide from using not so much slide to more slide and the pain still remains. I can play any other sport like tennis or basketball or golf or even run and have no pain at all. But once I have bowled just 3 or 4 frames the knee starts to hurt on the left side and by the end of my 3 games in league, it is very soar. I have been wearing a brace, which has helped me enough to at least continue bowling. I was wondering if you have any advice on what my be the cause of my knee pain? Bad slide or exerciese or different knee brace ect. Thanks again and I look forward to your reply. Mark Wenholz Hi Mark, You may need to go see an orthopedic physician. I wear a knee brace when I bowl and it does help me also, but I am not a Dr. Unfortunately a good knee bend may be the culprit and you may need to have less knee bend to help your problem. One Dr. I saw suggested that I not bowl as much, but I told him that was how I made my living! There are many exercises you can do to strengthen your knee, but you should consult a physical therapist. Good luck. Daniel June 29, 2003 Lancaster OH Hi Walter Ray, I enjoy watching you bowl very much, and am especially pleased with the way you don't use profanity on the telecasts when you're miked. I also like your sense of humor. I do have a question for you about coming back to bowling from a sports injury. What would be the best exercises for my leg after knee surgery to strengthen it, since it is the leg that I slide with? Right now I am sort of reluctant to try going to the line very fast for fear of falling. I only bowl in a league once a week, and practice maybe one other time a week. Also, I was born in Bremen, Ohio the home of Jim Knisley. He has said that he pitched horseshoes against you many times. As far as I know, he doesn't bowl. To me the two sports would be sort of similar in delivery, etc. Am I correct in this thinking? Thanks in advance for your answer, Daniel K. Ansel Hi Daniel, I don't always behave myself when I am competing. I do use profanity from time to time when I bowl. I am not perfectly behaved, but I try to do my best to conduct myself in what I consider to be a professional manner. I truly feel that a person should be able to control themselves, especially when they are on a television show. It isn't always easy and sometimes I do lose my temper, but I try! I am not a physical therapist so I don't think it would be proper to prescribe an exercise to strengthen your leg and knee when it might not be the best for you. I would seek out a physical therapists so that you can do it right. I would suggest trying to find a "sports therapist" so that they have a good grasp of how you will be trying to use your knee. I agree about being cautious with your slide. I also have had problems with my knee and on certain approaches I tend to be very careful. Jim Knisley was a great horseshoe pitcher and he beat me many times over the years. He hasn't been very active in horseshoes in recent years. I don't believe that he was much of a bowler, but was a top notch billiard player. I do agree that bowling and horseshoes have very similar motions, but quite different releases. James June 26, 2003 Sydney Australia I recently have become aware i have a knee injury that was dianosied as patella tendonitis, i was told to take time off, and that it was very likely for the pain to return after the lay off. Then I went to a physio and he told me the same thing, and the extra part of if i change my approach it may not hurt or return.... Since I bowl of the wrong foot as a result of a disability I have all the pressure on the right leg/knee as i bowl with my right hand.... I have been icing it and doing streching and exercises for 2 weeks.... I found myself want to bowl so badly... and i did..... stupidly i guess.. and I experimented with sliding differently.... it hurt about once every 4 or 5 shots on average instead of every shot as previously..... but as i write this my knee has long sharp pains..... i have iced it down and its not as bad. I want advice... i fear that I may have to give up the sport i love.... i'm only 19 and i dont want to be permenantly hurt Hi James, It sounds like you need to listen your doctor and therapist. You might want to ask them what else can be done since you really enjoy bowling and don't want to give it up. There may be some exercises they can suggest to help you strengthen your knee. Some doctors don't understand that some people really love to bowl. I had a similar thing when my knee hurt quite a bit 5 years ago and the doctor suggested that I not bowl so much. He didn't understand that bowling is my job and that I love to bowl. I now use a knee brace when I bowl now. You might have to take a break from bowling, but in the long run you will need your knee to walk! Mark June 19, 2003 Watsonville CA Hi Walter Ray (and Paige), Back in 1981 I became a member of the Professional Central California Bowlers, and was looking forward to Bowling as a PBA Member. Unfortunately (1984) at age 29 my dreams were ended by a knee problem, it (my left knee, I'm right handed) ached 7 days a week. The doctor gave me 2 choices 1 have an operation and the other quit bowling. Back then I had a high backswing and a tremendous amount of rev's. Today I let the ball hook rather than make it hook. So my speed is a little less now, aroung 18 1/2 MPH. My ball driller still says I can make a brick hook. I can bowl 6 - 9 games a week without any problems and I never had the operation. I'm 48 now and finished the season with a 223 average. But as you know it was on an easy house shot. I can't wait till October and will be rooting for you to surpass Earl's record. My question is How's your body holding up? I mean knees, wrist etc. If you don't pass the record this year I still want to see you pass it next year or the year after. And having ended my professional dreams I was curious about how much longer you'll be at your peak. Good luck and thaks Paige for maintaining this web site. Hi Mark, My body is holding up OK. I have a few aches and pains. I also had a problem with my left knee also and now use a knee brace. I feel that it would be at least 3 years before I could catch or even pass Earl Anthony's 41 titles, but I will give it all I have in every tournament as I have always done. I hope that I can last a few more years. Thanks. Lee June 12, 2003 New York NY Hello Walter Ray, I have a question. I have been bowling for 15 or more years now. My left knee is starting to hurt, I know I have a hard step before releasing the ball and my ball speed is between 15.9 - 16.7. Do pro bowlers, including yourself, have problems with their knees. If so, what is the solution, or prevention. Thank you in advice. Lee Hi Lee, About 5 years ago I was in a tournament in New Jersey and had a sharp pain in my left (sliding) knee. I started to wear a knee brace whenever I bowl and still do. If you are overweight it would help to lose some weight, I am only about 20 pounds overweight and that is one of the things the Dr. told me. The other thing is to strengthen your knee and leg. I would recommend that you find a physical therapist as I don't want to give you advice as to what would be best for you when I don't have the expertise. I know that Mark Roth and Earl Anthony also had knee problems. There is a lot of strain on the sliding leg of a professional bowler. Good luck. Allen May 19, 2003 Romulus MI Hello W.R.W., I'm a very big fan of you and have a question that a pro like yourself can answer. I bowl left handed with an avg. to above avg. revs and my ball speed is about 14-15 MPH. I have a 15 lb. Ebonite Urethane Ball that I got from Meijer and just added a 15 lb. Brunswick Monster Frenzy to my arsenal. I started my first league with a 109 avg. and finished with a 145 avg and it seems that I'm improving every time I bowl. My question is, I've noticed that I'll bowl 10 games in a three day period and my wrist will hurt and become weak when I release the ball. I am unable to bowl my usual ball for at least a couple of days. I do wear a wrist support when I bowl. I am very comfortable and have no problems throwing 15 lb. balls. Should I drop down to 14 lb., do some wrist excercises and/or keep doing what I'm doing (if I keep doing what I'm doing will my wrist improve?). Thank you for your time. Allen. Hi Allen, Even though bowling may not seem like a very strenuous activity, it requires the use of some muscles which most people don't use very often. Wrist exercises definitely will not hurt anybody with their bowling and even finger/hand exercises would probably help. It is also possible that your bowling ball doesn't quite fit you. You could take your ball back to where you got it drilled or to a different pro shop to get a second opinion. If you have trouble bowling more than 6 games in a row then something might not be quite right. The ball may be too heavy, you need to strengthen you wrist, arm and or hand, or the ball isn't drilled right for you. Good luck and keep improving. Willie February 21, 2003 Brookhaven PA WalterRay yesterday i hurt my knee while bowling so when i got up this morning i could barley walk it hurt to move my knee I'm scare that i might be able to bowl very well can you give me advice on what to do thank Hi Willie, I recommend you see a doctor. That is not something that you want to fool around with. Sean February 10, 2003 Mineral Ridge OH Walter Ray, I remember hearing that you used a massager on your legs sometimes, and I wondered what you used and how it helped. I have some leg discomfort sometimes after bowling as little as 3 games, and wondered if what you used would be helpfull. Thanks and congrats on the U.S. Open win Hi Sean, I use a knee brace on my left leg. I don't have a massager for my legs. However every once in a while I will get a massage from a massage therapist, but mostly they will work on my back and neck area. You might want to talk to a physical therapist about what might help you. Kevin February 9, 2003 Juniata NE Do you do any wieght lifting during the year? Hi Kevin, I don't lift weights while I am on the road, but when I am at home I will use an exercise machine about once a week. Steve February 7, 2003 Castro Valley CA When the PBA tournament was in Reno located at the Hilton years ago, you were having dinner at the sametime I was when I had shook your hand and wish you good luck. At that time you still lived in Stockton. You ask me were I was from. I responed that I bowled at Earl's Dublin Bowl. I'm sure that you don't remember. I would like to know, when do you take your eyes off your area/target? Who advises what type of equipment should be used under certain conditions? Do you use muscle in your delivery or are you completely loose? Do you feel that there is a real need to be concern about cover stock rather than the type of block and drill pattern? Do you have a coach and could it be Richard Shockley? How much time and effort did you invest to reach your plateau? I really believe a man with your talent was born with it. Have you experience a certain pattern condition that you just couldn't find the combonation? Your answers to these questions answers my questions to me. Thanks for your time and I wish you the best of luck and hope you achieve your endeavors. Hi Steve, I take my eyes off of my target just after my ball goes over it (hopefully). We aren't allowed to have coaching while a block is in progress. I also don't have anybody who suggests what ball to use or where to play during qualifying, but sometimes one of the ball reps with one of the balls I am trying to use will make a suggestion which I may or may not listen to. I feel that I muscle the ball more than having a free swing. I think that the cover stock is more important than the insides, but the insides can add something to the cover stocks. I don't have a coach. I bowled one year when I was 11-12. I started bowling again in the spring of 1977 when I was 17. I bowled for the rest of the year and didn't bowl the first 8 months of 1978. I have pretty much bowled from then on. I joined the PBA in the summer of 1980 and went on tour in the winter of 1983 full time. In 1986 I was Player of the Year. I probably didn't practice as much as other pros as I think my horseshoe background helped me get better with out bowling more than 25 games a week. There are some patterns that put me at a disadvantage, but I can usually figure something out to be somewhat competitive. Joseph January 5, 2003 Brooklyn NY Hello Walter Ray and Paige First I would like to say that I am a big fan of yours and wanted to thank you for signing my Bowling Pin at the Cambridge Credit Classic at Syosset lanes. I consider myself a bowler with potential, but with one major flaw that I seem not to be able to get ride of. Right now I have a really nice wicked hook (Can hook over 40 Boards), but with 1 very big flaw; I RELEASE ON THE UPSWING instead of releasing on the down swing. All the bowlers at my center (Maple lanes, Brooklyn NY) and my coach George Sabatino (Formerly a PBA member himself) says that if I want to get my average over 200 I have to release on the down swing. I am also considered to be a Heavy cranker bowler. Many of the old timers (strokers) don't like the amount of revolutions I get on the ball, they say it's not needed and I am over cranking the ball. I know that it's much harder for me (crankers) to make the same shot after shot then it's for the stroker type player due to the many boards I can carry. If I get handsey I can over hook it, or if I get lazy I will go lite. So my question is the following: Is the above true? And what is the easiest and best way to correct my improper release. Thank you very much and best of luck in the mid session Joseph Faraci Hi Joseph, I think that you will find that most bowlers release the ball more on the upswing as opposed to their downswing. But a lot of coaches frown upon hitting up on the ball, which I do at times when I am playing a bigger hook with an inside line. As long as you can repeat shots, that is the main thing. It might be easier to repeat shots if you throw the ball straighter, but a lot of the younger players would rather hook the ball. If you want to be very successful, it might not hurt to learn how to throw the ball straighter to go along with your hooking release. Being able to do more than one thing can be a big help in bowling. Good luck. T. Mark December 29, 2002 Atlanta GA Walter Ray, I would first like to thank you for your reply to my message regarding advantages of physical size within bowling. If you remember, like yourself, I am a larger player at 6'4", 215 lbs. and I sometimes feel that this is somewhat of a disadvantage in maintaining balance with my higher center of gravity when reaching to the floor during release. As a beginner, did you find it difficult to compensate for this? Also, I belong to a gym and work out fairly regularly, so I would like to know what sort of conditioning you might recommend to supplement my bowling game. Thanks in advance for your reply and best of wishes with your continued success. Sincerely, T. Mark Allred Hi T. Mark, I first learned to bowl when I was 11-12. I wasn't that large. Even when I started bowling again at age 17 I was very thin weighing around 160 pounds at 6'2". I don't know that physical conditioning is necessary, but it can definitely compliment a player. I would recommend stretching exercises and strengthening your wrist. Flexability may be more important that strength, but the way the younger players throw the ball with revs and speed, strength wouldn't be such a bad thing. The thing to remember is that repetition is more important. Robert Smith is a great bowler because he is also able to repeat shots besides being able to throw it harder with more revs than about everybody. But I do a pretty decent job and I don't throw it excessively hard or with lots of revs. T. Mark December 15, 2002 Marietta GA Walter Ray, In watching your television performances, I've noticed that you seem considerably larger than most of your opponents, so if you don't mind my asking, I was curious as to your actual height and weight. I too am a larger bowler at 6'4", 215 lbs. and I would like your opinion as to whether additional size is of greater advantage or disadvantage. Thanks in advance for your reply and best of wishes with your continued success. Sincerely, T. Mark Allred Hi Mark, I am above average height at 6' 2" and weigh about 200 pounds. A lot of people tell me that I look larger on TV. That could be because TV's tends to make people look a bit bigger and a lot of the other pro bowlers are not very large. I personally don't think that my size is an advantage or disadvantage. That is one of the good things about bowling, it isn't a sport which physical size is an advantage. Randall December 13, 2002 Benton MO Walter Ray is approaching retirement age for most pro bowlers. With this in mind will he continue in bowling and pursue the "senior circuit" or will he go back to horseshoes and try to pick up another world title there? Hi Randall, I don't know what age is retirement age for a pro bowler. There are quite a few guys on tour who are older than I am. I figure that I will be able to bowl on tour for about 3 to 5 years and maybe longer. It all depends on how my body holds up. I will probably bowl on the senior tour when I am old enough. I have never left horseshoes, but I don't play quite as well as I used to. I would like to again win the world championship, but I need to get my horseshoe game up to a better level. Jim August 15, 2002 Las Vegas NV Walter Ray, I'm 43 years young and just got started back into bowling about 3 months ago. I am a type A personality which is why I'm bowling in 3 summer leagues and 4 winter leagues. I keep in pretty good shape and am 5'11 about 181 and although my body is okay for bowling, I can't seem to bowl more than 3 quality games. Lately I'm able to get close to a 4th yet what can I do to get my hand stronger for bowling and in your opionion, how long of a period of steady bowling before I'm able to bowl 6 quality games? Thanks much. See you on ESPN! Hi Jim, The more you bowl, the more games you will be able to bowl without getting worn out. However just because you bowled a bad score doesn't mean that you are finished for the day. Part of the attraction of bowling is that the games are actually very short so high and low games are a part of it. Nobody hits within 10 pins of their average on half of their games. But you could get a rubber ball to squeeze to help strengthen your fingers and grip and for your wrist get a small weight and do wrist curls. I would ask a weight trainer exactly what tools would be best for you. You mention that you bowl in several leagues. Do you also practice outside of that? A couple of days a week where you bowl 5 to 8 games a session would help a lot. Good luck. Shane July 22, 2002 Hondo TX Walter Ray, When I bowl bad and lose my concentration, I like to have fun seeing how fast i can throw the bowling ball. The bowling establishment i play has a ball speed deal. One time I threw it 27.4 miles per hour. I was wandering if that is extraordinarily fast or how that compared to a to a tour player such as Eugene McCune. Or even you. If you had to amp it up and juice one down the lane how fast do you think you could throw it. And what is the fastest speed you recall hearing of, or seeing. I would love to have you reply to this. Ps. I think you are the greatest bowler of all time, just like jack nicklaus was to golf, not only did he win a lot he had a lot of chances to win, just like you. Hi Shane, I don't throw the ball exceptionally hard. I guess I can throw the ball around 20-22 mph's, but not much harder. I think that many pros can throw the ball around 25-28 mph, but most of them don't try to throw the ball as hard as they can due to loss of accuracy. I have heard that Robert Smith had a speed of 34 mph on a CATs system which is unbelievable. You must remember that not all of the speeds on those systems are that correct. It does sound like you might want to learn how to control you temper and learn how to deal with the challenges that bowling gives you. Good luck. Rick January 29, 2002 Miami Beach FL I have read conflicting information about the approach. Do you recommend facing and walking toward the "target line" that you have selected or do you walk straight in relation to the lane and open or close your shoulders to hit your target line. Thus far, I find it much more effective to walk parallel to my designated target line. Thanks for your response! By the way, My question is about bowling, not horseshoes. Just kidding, Deadeye! Hi Rick, The old school of bowling was to walk towards your target which makes perfect sense. However, if you do that and learn how to hook the ball a fair amount, the ball return gets in your way quite often. Also it helps to drop your shoulder to hook the ball and if you drift left you can 'walk' around the ball easier and then you can walk around the ball return easier. What is really important is that you do the same thing over and over. Ricky Prairieville LA Comments: Hiya Walter, Caught the tour of your home on ESPN the other night, "NICE HOUSE". I just began bowling a few months ago and joined a league and was progressing very nicely when some major back problems set in and was wondering if you have ever had any problems with your back due to bowling and if so, is there any exercises that you do to keep your back in good shape? Walter Ray Replies: Thanks for the comment on our home. It came out very well. We are quite pleased with it. I have been very lucky with my back. I haven't had any problems with it. There have been some intermittent problems with my knee, and I have pulled something in my neck a couple of times.
Justin Feb, 2001Albany OR Comments: Hi, I am a 16 year old bowler who averages about 170 to 190. My high game is a 278, And i still trow a lot of 200 games. The only problem is that most of the time i only can bowl about 5 to 7 games before my elbow starts to hurt really bad. I just recently got the new rock. Which i love to throw. I throw over the middle arrow and go out to about the 5 board. Right handed. but when i release the ball i kind of jerk my elbow to get a lot of revs on the ball. My question is do you have any tips on how to release the ball different but yet still get a lot of revs on the ball to throw the same line. Hi Justin, Since I don't hook the ball that much I am not sure how much I can help you, but here it goes. Most of the guys that really hook the ball have delayed timing. Cupping the wrist helps get leverage under the ball to get more lift on it. But it does sound like you need to adjust your game before you do some serious damage to your arm or elbow. Good luck.
DonAlgonca MI Just wondering if you've ever had to overcome a serious injury and if you did what helped. I recently broke my leg bowling of all things. Stepped in some water and stuck at the line. I know I'm a bonehead for not checking my shoes. I'm kind of leary about bowling again. I don't want this type of thing to happen again. I realize it was a freak accident. Well thanks in advance. Hi Don, I broke my little finger when I was young and didn't really bowl much and then when I was 18 and just getting back into bowling I broke my right wrist. But I wasn't bowling that much and by the time I started to bowl again my wrist had healed it self. I did learn how to pitch horseshoes left handed by those two injuries though. I would suggest you giving yourself plenty of time to heal properly. I know that approaches in bowling can be very finicky. I always slide my left foot on the front of the approach just to make sure that nothing different is on the sole of the shoe. But if something is where I slide I could also take a tumble and that is one thing a pro doesn't want to do. For some reason synthetic approaches are are much more touchy than wood ones. I hope this accident doesn't slow down your enjoyment of bowling. Physical Q&A [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] | ||