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Physical Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [61-80] Tim July 1, 2006 Houston TX If you were to help a beginning bowler with a medium hook, where would you have him stand with his feet, and look with his eyes for a target? Thanks, Great Bowling to you, Tim Hi Tim, It depends on the lane conditions that the bowler was bowling on, but I would recommend targeting around the 2nd arrow (10th board) and adjusting their feet until they are hitting the pocket. Depending on the lane conditions, they will most likely have to adjust their target as well. Rich May 27, 2006 Phoenix AZ Here is a good question: What kind of common injuries that you know of do tour players get? Also, what kind of injury if any have you got or had in the past? Hi Rich, Bowlers have problems with their knees, wrists, hands, fingers, thumbs, elbows, shoulders and back. I have had problems in all of these body parts and now I usually have minor aches in all of these body parts when I bowl. Victor May 3, 2006 Ft. Myers FL Congratulations on your awesome achievements and on an amazing career. Your taking the time to help other bowlers is greatly appreciated. I have seen some bowlers have their thumb swell while bowling. My problem seems to be the opposite. My thumb tends to shrink after a game or so forcing me to add tape as the night goes on. Is this something you have experienced or do you believe this to be common in bowling? Thank you and best of luck to you. Hi Victor, For me, I will usually have to take tape out as a block goes on. For this reason I usually recommend to every bowler to make their thumb hole a bit bigger than necessary and add a few pieces of tape so that the thumb will fit. As their thumb swells, take out some tape so that you don't need to run to pro shop to get the hole worked out. Patrick December 28, 2005 Rockford IL Dear Walter Ray, I have been bowling for 16 years now, and have always had a problem with throwing the ball too hard. I now have a high reactive ball and the ball does not want to react fast enough when I throw it hard(not surprised by this). Do you have any tips on how I can slow myself down so that I can throw the ball a little bit, if not a lot slower? It is a hard habit to break. Please let me know. Thanks. Hi, Throwing the ball slow is actually easy. It is throwing the ball with the same speed which can be difficult. Scoot up on the approach, take a smaller backswing and don't accelerate with your arm through the release. It is more of a case of getting used to throwing it that slower speed so that you can be consistent. Good luck! Edgar December 24, 2005 Richmond CA How do you roll a "Maximum side roll"? I really need some info about this sir. Can you please at least give me some tips on rolling a maximum side roll. Alright so please email me back about this sir I would really really apreciate it if you would. Hi Edgar, To get a maximum side roll takes lots of practice. I don't get a lot of side roll, so maybe I'm not the best person to ask. But you would like to release your ball as if it were a football being tossed underhanded with a nice spiral. The problem is that a bowling ball weighs a lot more and is hard to do that with. Some players have practiced this with a lighter ball or even by not using their thumb. Cheryl December 19, 2005 Holbrook NY Hi, I bowl in 2 leagues and developed "tennis elbow" from an ill fitted new bowl. I am currently going to physical therapist and on anti-inflammatories. Its only been 3 weeks since I last bowled. How long is it until I can bowl again. I love the sport and I would die if I had to quit for good. Thanks, Cheryl Hi Cheryl, You need to ask your Dr. when it is OK to bowl. It isn't necessarily from an ill fitted bowl, but that would help to cause an injury. I certainly hope you don't quit bowling. You might have to go down to a lighter ball though. Good luck! JP November 16, 2005 Illinois Physical Hi Walter Ray, I am writing to you because to me you are the most accurate player on the pba tour and have been for over 15 years. I have been having real problems hitting the same target consistently and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for how you hit your target so much. I am averaging about 190 right now but i miss my mark 3 to 4 times per game. I hope you do well in the USBC MASTERS this week, cheering you on for #41. Hi JP, Thanks, I did bowl well at the Masters, but so did my opponents. I like to work on having a good follow through and hitting my target. Keep working on it. Ron September 5, 2005 Manhattan KS Hi Walter Ray, I had a good question: I tend to have a lot of problems with blisters-both on my thumb and fingers. I sometimes try to crank the ball and it seems like there is a lot of friction. (I know that Mark Roth and Pete Weber always have seemed to have a lot of hand problems.) However, even more, it just seems to be that I bowl a lot of games. Often, I will go out and bowl 10-15 games at a time. To be honest, I don't think I will improve a lot if I just don't practice a lot. I know it's kind of a pain when I have blister problems because then I have to let my hand rest for a day or two. Would you have any suggestions about what to do to prevent blister problems in the first place or deal with them so at least you can continue to bowl? I greatly prefer to not have to take days off. I'm quite familiar with Nu-Skin products and use them regularly. Do you have any home remedies? I've heard of people sticking their hands in raw potatoes, soaking their hands in solutions, icing them down,! etc. Do you have any secret home remedies for dealing with this? Thanks. Ron Stelter Hi Ron, Since I was fortunate to have my first ball drilled for me which didn't cause me any blisters with my release I don't have this problem. I know some players always have problems with their thumbs. I would check with a good pro shop operator. There may be some pitches in your thumb hole which might help. Ron August 9, 2005 Manhattan KS Hi Walter Ray, I'm having a very frustrating problem. My game seems to be improving steadily, but I'm not able to practice as much as I like as I seem to be getting a lot of blisters. I think it's more a matter of just bowling a lot of games than an ill-fitting ball. I will sometimes bowl even 12 games in a day. But then other days none as my thumb particularly is a mess. I mean, I use the Nu-Skin type of products, but they don't seem to be nearly as effective when you have an open wound and the problem is right on the joint. When you have any suggestions besides just not bowling as much or taking days off? I really would like to get good. I mean, I've heard some pros like David Ozio bowl up to 100-150 games a week and a pro tournament can often have 42 or more games. I mean, the pros don't just go on the disabled list. I know I often will make bad shots and miss spares just because my thumb hurts me so much. Will ice help? Heat? I guess Mark Roth used a potato? I saw once where Pete Weber started wearing a golf glove on his hand because his fingers were getting so cut up-but he cut out the thumb? Wouldn't it be possible to also wear a full golf glove, even for the thumb? I suppose everybody is afraid the ball won't come off their hand cleanly if the thumb hangs? Any suggestions much, much appreciated. Ron Hi Ron, If you are only used to bowling 3 games a week and then start to bowl 12 games a day it wouldn't be surprising that you would get a blister on your thumb. But if have been bowling a fair amount for a while and you are getting nasty blisters, then it sounds like you need to talk to your pro shop operator and see if they can figure out a better pitch for your holes. I always have my thumb hole a bit larger so that I can add tape and then take some of the tape out if my thumb swells a bit. I also like to use the thinner black tape (I used to use electrical tape) as opposed to the thicker white tape (many used to use adhesive tape). The black tape normally is much smoother than the white tape. Yuma July 21, 2005 Peoria IL Hello Walter and Paige! Congratulations on winning the best bowler award Walter! I was watching a re-run of a pba telecast and it mentioned you have a pinched nerve in your back. What do you do to alleviate this condition? Keep up the great work and good luck breaking 41 titles!! Thanks in advance! Hi Yuma, I don't have a pinched nerve in my back. I have had more problems with my neck starting around 10 years ago. I found that sleeping on my side or back was better for my neck. Over the years I have had massages and seen my share of chiropractors. Brian August 8, 2005 Winter Park FL Hello Mr & Mrs Williams. I enjoyed watching you this weekend at Casselberry lanes. The question I have for you is this. What exercises do I need to do for strengthening my wrist? About 5 years ago I had an accident with a forklift and I broke a few bones. I use a wrist brace but would like to do away with it. When I throw without the brace I realize how weak my wrist is. The only thing is......... since the accident, I have shot two 300's and am at a 214 average. If I do away with the wrist brace it will be like starting over. What is the best thing to do? I look forward to flying home to see family this coming Feb. in Buffalo NY and seeing you guys in action at Thruway lanes. Walter might want to stay with the Angelos or Tommy Baker (laughing) Thank you for your time, Brian D Flis Hi Brian, I don't really do any exercises for my wrist. I have done wrist curls which I would recommend to anyone who wants to bowl professionally. Another exercise that should help with strengthening your wrist is to get a round stick with a cord attached to it and a small weight on the end of it. Then hold the stick extended and rotate the weight up and down. Thanks and I am looking forward to bowling in the Buffalo area again. It would be nice if it wasn't in the winter time though. Tom June 22, 2005 Enumclaw WA Walter Ray, I just got back into bowling after 15 years. I am using a finger tip ball now. My thumb has a numb spot now is that normal? I have been bowling alot again and really enjoying it. I am 39. Thankyou for your time Tom Hi Tom, It isn't good that you have a numb spot on your thumb. I would ask your local pro shop operator to help you with that. Most bowlers develop calluses on their thumbs, but if you are losing feeling in part of it you may be damaging some nerves somewhere. Mary June 24, 2005 Columbus OH I've been bowling for eight years and I have strong aspirations to become a professional bowler. I average 195 on a house condition and 155 on the sport shot condition. I figure that I'll be ready for the tour in two years. My question is what kind of workout regimen do you do to stay fit and benefits your game. The only thing that gets into the way of my game is fatigue and I know if I'm going to have the stamina that I have to be in great tip top physical condition. I have a large frame body and carry the weight pretty good, but I know that it won't help my game any if I'm not completely physically fit. I have an A and B game. My A game is the down and in shot and my B game is the inside line in which I work on a lot to make it stronger. Hi Mary, I have normally been thin. However over the years I did gain a fair amount of weight (about 45 pounds from when I was 20). A couple of years ago my wife decided to lose a lot of weight and I thought that was a good idea for me also, so I stopped eating everything in sight. Basically I cut down my portions by about a third and lost 20-25 pounds. I don't work out that much, but I do pushups and swim once in a while. Being limber is a good thing and I also need to do regular stretching exercises. But honestly the best thing to help with your bowling is to practice bowling. You don't have to be in top physical condition to be a top bowler, but may give you an edge at certain times. Plus there is the added benefit of it being better for you. James April 22, 2005 Detroit MI Hey walter ray, Just a quick questioon i hope you can help me with. I have been squeezing the ball for the last 20 plus years and i cant stop mentally out of habit. Is there any special techniques i can do or excercises to erase this habit. Im still a 200 plus bowlers but its causeing me to throw to much side spin on the ball intead of forward roll thanks alot james Hi James, I don't know that squeezing the ball is the reason for your side spin. I think that it has more to do with your actual release. I would say that I squeeze the ball quite a bit and I thought that was the reason that I had trouble really putting a lot of hook on the ball. You might want to ask a local instructor to help you. Tom March 1, 2005 Allentown PA Hi Walter Ray, I met you at the Pro-Am event in Rochester in 1997 and that was a big thrill for me, as I have always been a big fan of yours. I was wondering what, if anything, you do to warm up before an event? I usually cannot tell anything about the lane condition from my first 2 or 3 practice balls, because my arm isn't warmed up, and so my speed is way off. So lately, I have been squeezing a tennis ball 5-10 minutes before practice. However, sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn't. Regardless, I would like to be able to throw meaningful shots in practice, that would actually tell me about the oil pattern, rather than spending half of practice just getting my arm warmed up. Thanks, and continued good luck on the Tour. Tom Hi Tom, We get plenty of time to warm up in PBA tournaments. If I didn't have that much time I would do some stretching exercises and take some 'practice swings' with a bowling ball where you don't let go of the ball. Be careful that nobody is around to get hit while you swing. Chris February 11, 2005 Palatine IL Hey i was wondering if you know of any drills or anything that can help me to get my thumb out of the ball a lot fast because i just can't seem to do it. And when i try not to squeez the ball i drop it in my back swing and it goes flying backwards. Please help me. Thanx a lot bye Hi Chris, I am not a ball driller, so I am not familiar with the best pitches to help with your problem. You need to ask your local pro shop operator to help you. David January 22, 2005 Lansing MI Hey Walter Ray, I've come a long way with my game recently and i am now rolling the ball pretty good. my question is i use a little brace from a drug store around my wrist and i was wondering if you think that it will keep me from developing strenth? i can feel the muscles getting sore which \is a good thing. i haven't tried without support. dave lansing il Hi Dave, A wrist support may help you develop a better wrist position. After a while it may be that you don't need that support, only you will know that when you try bowling without it. You probably are still getting stronger even though you are using the wrist support, but your wrist would probably get stronger if you didn't use it. Doing some wrist exercises would probably be a good idea. Mike December 22, 2004 Foster City CA Good afternoon Walter Ray, It's been a long time since I've been able to drop you a note, but figure now would be a good time, since the tour has a couple of weeks off. I've been a fan since your rookie season and also crossed lanes with you in Pacifica, CA during a PBA regional when you lived in Stockton. Since the time I met you again at Serra Bowl in Colma, CA, I tried getting back into bowling on the league level, but seems like the lanes and equipment (still using Brunswick since the 80's) are changing quite a bit and don't want to tear my rotator cuff again (which caused me to lose my chance at a PBA membership due to injury in 1993). What would you suggest (besides stretching, a TENS unit and ice) for being able to get back to a five day practice routine? I dropped weights from 16 to 14, I still crank the ball and took up a six step delivery. My timing is off, but getting there..... Any drilling advice to assist in having the ball react sooner? It's great to see you so close to breaking the record, and am sure Earl would be proud of you when you accomplish it! Thanks for your time, Mike Hi Mike, If you throw the ball slower, it will hook sooner. Or you can sand a ball and it will also hook sooner. The problem with doing both of those is that the ball may roll out which means that it won't hook at the pins which is usually a good idea. For ball drilling you need to ask a ball driller. As far as a practice regiment, that is something that you need to work out for yourself as you know your limits better than I do. But if you can practice at least 5 or 6 games at a time that would be good. Derek November 25, 2004 Pearl River NY Hi Walter Ray, You are known for your great accuracy and hand-eye coordination. I was wondering if you wear contact lenses and if not, do you think the day will come when you will need them to maintain your level of play? Hi Derek, I am fortunate in that I have very good eyesight I haven't needed corrective lenses. I am getting older and every once in while I notice that things aren't as in focus as well as they used to be, so I am sure that I will need to someday have corrective surgery or glasses. Bob December 10, 2004 Hollywood FL Dear WalterRay, I am an avid bowler of many years. As I get older, am now 58, I find that my release is less and less comsistent. My question is are there any off the lanes drills you do to keep you swing and release as consistent as you do? Thanks for your answer ahead of time... my average has dropped from 185 to 160 over the past three years. Thanks again Bob Hi Bob, I don't really have any drills to help me with my swing. But one of the best things a player can do is to practice. Hang in there and good luck. Vadim December 6, 2004 Brooklyn NY Hi Walter Ray, Judging from your guest pictures & watching you on TV you look like a tall man. Being a tall man my self (6'2) and 36 years old I have a lower back pain & my left knee takes a beating during my short slides. The knee doesn't hurt during 3 games on league night it hurts when I practice 7 to 10 games on weekends. Do you have any suggestions for a tall man who loves to get as close as possible to the lane in order to lay the ball down softly, or should I just save my knee & always loft the ball? PS: Good luck in PBA Earl Anthony Medford Classic, get your 41 title. Hi Vadim, My knee first hurt me when I was about 38. Doctors told me it was arthritis and really didn't offer much help besides some pain pills. I started wearing a knee brace shortly after my initial incident through the suggestion of fellow pro Mike Miller. My knee has been pretty decent for the last 6 years and I don't take prescription drugs any more, but I still wear a brace as a preventive measure. I would see a Dr. about suggestions and look into a brace. Physical Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [61-80] | ||