| Technique | ||
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Technique Q&A [1-20] [21-40]
[41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] HAN May 19, 2005 Garden Grove CA DEAR SIR I HAVE BEEN COPYING YOUR STYLE FOR A LONG TIME. I LIKE IT VERY MUCH IT MY KIND OF GAME. I AM ABOUT A 210 AVERAGE BOWLER. MY QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN U NEED TO SPEED THE BALL UP MORE THAT U NORMALLYM THROW. DO YOU ACCELERATED YOUR ARM SWING MORE OR YOU JUST LOFT THE BALL MORE TO KILL THE HOOK. I AM ABOUT 5FEET 7. SHORT GUY WHO IS HAVING MUCH PROBLEM OF GENERATING BALL SPEED. YOUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY AN GREAT ADMIRING FAN HAN NGAC BEST WISH ON NEXT YEAR TOURNAMENT OF BREAKING EARL ANTHONY RECORD I KNOW YOU WILL DO IT. PERSONALLY I THINK THE NEW FORMAT STINK. GOOD LUCK CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU DO IT. Hi Han, For more speed I will start as far back as I can on the approach and try to push the ball a bit higher on my push away and have a bit higher backswing. I normally don't let my backswing get too high as I feel that I lose control and that isn't good either. I don't normally loft the ball when I am trying to throw the ball harder, but when I am trying to hook the ball. Joel May 17, 2005 Singapore Mr Walter Ray, I've been playing competitive bowling for about 5 years but my scores have not seen significant improvement for just about that length of time because I am not really dedicated to the sport. So I have a few questions to ask you: 1) I've been a fan of two types of players: One being the hi-speed spinner bowler and the other being a hi-rev hook bowler. Since I am in preference of the former (I don't like the idea of losing accuracy for more rev) I would like to know if converting to spin-bowling now would be advisable since the Pre-University division's season is coming to a close this Friday and I'd have exactly one year to make it good. I am currently playing a straighter hook style that, yes, is NOT subjected to lane conditions, but doesn't hit really well in terms of strikes. 2)The only proper way of training is through the coaches in Singapore, self-training almost always never works. However, what should I do in the event that I'll like to do extra training without the supervision of the coach? Thanks for your time, and I wish you future success on tour. Regards Joel Hi Joel, I am not that familiar with the spinner type of release used in some parts of Asia. Coaching is almost always a good thing, but practice is really the only way to improve. As long as you have good fundamentals, it isn't necessary to have coaching. But if you develop a bad habit, a good coach should be able to help you get rid of a bad habit with work and practice. Jason May 11, 2005 Edwardsville IL Hello Walter Ray, I am wondering if you can help me determine what kind of style I bowl. I think i am a full roller but I am not sure this is correct because I can't find any information on the net. I am right handed and have high speed on the ball. I use a four step approach. I keep my wrist straight throughout my backswing as if I was shaking hands. All of the spin I empart on the ball is from the fingertips. My game is consistant just under 200 with a smooth arc down the lane. Thank you for your time and good luck in the upcoming season, Jason Hi Jason, The easiest way to determine if you have a full roller is to look at the track on your bowling ball. There should be a scarred part of the ball that goes around the entire ball. Also if you ball on a freshly oiled lane there would be an oil ring around your ball. If this ball track goes between your fingers and thumb then you throw a full roller. A 3/4 roll is when the track is left of your fingers and thumb (looking at the ball with the fingers away from you and the thumb hole closer to you) for a right hander. If you still can't figure it out, take your ball to a pro shop operator and they should be able to help you. Jerry April 23, 2005 Taejon KOREA Hi, Walter Ray. First please excuse me call you Walter Ray. Even if I've not seen you until now face to face, I have been watching your game through TV or Internet. I think I am one of your faithful fans. I am also a pro bowler in here, Korea, since 7 years ago. I was so lucky to be a pro because I had another main job so that made me always be lack of practice. During the preparing period to be a pro, I had to wearing a long big wrist protector to make straighter shots consistantly. The try worked well and I could make 205 average throught 60 games for 4 days. After being a pro, I decided to change my bowling style to more speed, more revs, more hitting power. But since then I have suffered by bad release timing. Sometimes I can not escape my thumb from hall to make my thumb be hurt. If I enlarge the hall to make easy to release, I cannot keep my proper delivery timimg to lift a ball. The ball just fall down on the lane without any lifting and the ball just pass the lane without my intention. I don't know what is my problem. Until now I have tried several attempts. Changing steps, Taking defferent grips, Changing pitches and spans. But nothing helped me. Walter! Please help me. How to make stable grip? How to make stable delivery? How to make consistant release? Sncerely yours, jerry Hi Jerry, It sounds like you need to see a professional instructor who can help you. Since I don't know how you bowl or what you are trying to do I can't really give you good advice. Ask the good local players if they use a coach and are happy with them. That would be a good place to get some input! Steve April 11, 2005 Johnstown PA Walter Ray, I am 28 and have averaged around a 200 this year but one thing happens to me consistantly. My ball breaks very strongly in the first game but seems to flatten out by the end of the night. I start 4-5 boards to the left of the center dot and throw the ball over the 2nd arrow about 14-14.5 mph but by the end of the night I am at the center dot and there is virtually no break at the back end. The ball is dry the first game but it seems to change very quickly in the 2nd game and I can't get it off with a towel. It's almost as if the ball is eating the oil the first game and becomes saturated to the point a towel can't even get it off. Would this be the problem in my break at the end and is there something else I can do to keep the snap at the end? Thanks, and good luck in the future. Steve Hi Steve, It sounds like the oil is carrying down to the back part of the lane that will actually make the lane play 'tighter'. Is this happening to other players or are you the only one with this experience? It is possible that the ball is becoming saturated with the oil from the lane, but the next week when you use that same ball it shouldn't hook as much. Is it possible that you also pick up your speed as the night goes on. The harder you throw the ball the straighter it will go. Phil April 10, 2005 Louisville KY Hi Walter Ray, great website! My question is about my approach. I am a former youth bowler 145 average, 1 time a week about 18 years ago. Now, I am a begginer adult bowler 135 average (rapidly rising) in my first season 1 nite a week. I am really enjoying the game and hope to make it a 2 or even 3 time a week endevor. No big asspirations, just fun and challenge. I feel my average is low right now because I am trying out new technique.As you well know, Bowling is alot different now. Well i finally have foud a release and armswing that seem to work for me as reflected in my scores in the last 4 weeks, none under 160, however, I feel my approch is holding me back from finding a form that I can start to fine tune and become a truely good bowler. I use a 6 step approach and I feel as if that extra step of carrying the ball gives me better balance when I arrive at the foul line, but I Know that a long approch is much more difficult to trouble shoot and can cause inconncistency. I would like to go to a 4 or 5 step. can you suggest any exercises I can do at home to become familer with a different approach when I dont have time for real practice at the lanes? thanks for making your knowlage available like this. Hi Phil, I don't know that a 6 step approach is that bad. But if you really want to change then here is my advice. Basically you need to start with your other foot if you really want a 5 step approach and get your ball moving in your 2nd step. It is difficult to get used to this without bowling. I would advise going bowling for several games and only concentrate on your footwork. Hopefully it will fill more comfortable and you won't need to think about it. Josh March 31, 2005 Gibson City IL Hello Walter Ray, I would like to start by saying you are the best there ever was or is. I have noticed that many people say i have a very solid game. My mental game is there, my spare shooting, my ability to adjust is there, but I seem to have a problem with my grip. I have talked to my pro shop guy and I get the same answer from everyone is that i am gripping my ball too much causing some inconsistency. He told me my thumb hole is drilled perfectly but I am still gripping and try to keep a relaxed grip. I dont understand how to accomplish this. i have been bowling a long time so it may be imbedded in my mechanics so it will probably be a tugh habit to break. Any help would be appreciated. Hi Josh, I don't know if I can help you on this as I feel like I squeeze the ball quite a bit myself. This isn't really helped since I have a lot of bevel on the inside of my thumb hole which allows for a quick release. I have went with using a cork insert on the inside of my thumb grip. I have heard that a relaxed grip allows more revolutions, but I don't know for sure. As long as you can do the same thing over and over it doesn't really matter how you do it. Good luck! Mark March 23, 2005 Collierville TN You have said that you like to play fairly straight. How did you discover that you liked the heavy end-over-end rolling style? What made you think of that style rather than trying to hook the ball? I ask because you play relatively straight and roll the ball much as Earl Anthony did and it seems like more people would be copying you given your success. Hi Mark, When I first came on tour I guess that I hooked the ball about in the middle of pack compared to the other players. I would say that I had a couple more revs on the ball compared to Earl, but he bowled in a different era on the other side of the lane. Earl had the ability to change his tilt and was very accurate. After a couple of years on tour and having trouble keeping my ball (a plastic ball) on the right side of the head pin at a couple of tournaments I decided that I learn how to go a bit straighter. Over time I became comfortable with that release and found that it had its advantages. But younger players learn how to hook the ball and now I hook the ball in the bottom 10% on tour. Young players would rather throw the ball like Robert Smith than me due to the way the pins fly when he hits them. Some players learn how to throw the ball straighter when they come on tour as they see that there are advantages to throwing the ball straighter at times. Rich March 17, 2005 Central NY Hi Walter Ray, I am interested in knowing how you adjust to a lane condition that keeps "opening up." In league competition I'm averaging in the 220 area and have been fairly successful, yet as I keep moving left to adjust for the lane hooking more -(synthetic lanes) I have trouble... leaving far too many 10 pins. What works best for you when you have to correct for the extra hook and still maintain enough leverage to carry the 10 pin. Thanks and Best of luck to you out on the tour! Rich Hi Rich, I throw the ball fairly straight, so when I move left and hook the ball I probably get more angle into the pocket. The biggest thing is how well you are hitting the pocket and how often. The other thing is being consistent when going more left and that is where I usually have a bit of a problem. When lanes start to break down, the oil is carrying down and the front of the lanes start to hook more. This gives the undesired result of the ball hitting weaker. You might want to go with a more polished ball, especially a reactive one or a weak ball. Shawn March 13, 2005 Laddonia MO MY QUESTION IS WHEN YOU SHOOT SINGLE PIN SPARES DO YOU AIM AT THE PIN OR A MARK ON THE LANE? BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPERIOR ACCURACY I AM CURIOUS. Hi Shawn, I use targets/marks for all of my shots. I don't and never really have aimed at the pins. Wolfgang March 13, 2005 Vienna Hi Walter Ray! I am from Austria and really hope you will answer to my questions.i am a right handed player and bowl for four years now. i play 15lb. 1.) during my backswing my bowling hand moves inside. most players i see have their hand either under the ball or their hand turns outside. is there a way to solve this problem? 2.) i use a wrist device but often has wrist problems. i try not to force the ball at the release and my wrist is flat and not cupped. all the best for you wolfgang Hi Wolfgang, It takes time to learn how to get a good release. Maybe you should try to practice by taking one step and throwing the ball slowly to get the type of release that you would like. When you feel like you are doing what you want to do, move back and try to release the same way using a full release. It might be helpful to use a video to see what you are actually doing. Kym March 4, 2005 England I am 16 and have bowled for about half a year. i have an average of about 150 and would like to reach 200.my best score is about 203 but i am a bit worried about my hook technique. instead of hold ing my ball round the back of the ball, my hand seems to twist round the side of the ball which makes me have very inconsistent, slow revs. i am using a 13lb reaction ball that was second hand and does not fit me perfectly. how can a create a more moderate speed of revs. i use a polyeser ball for spares 12lb which ai am improving on, i use the dots and the arrows to help me but i am still not improving. i am in a league for my local, but i cannot do what my coaches teach me. how can i improve my game. i am sure about my grip or my release. Hi Kym, You should get your bowling ball drilled by a professional ball driller and it wouldn't hurt to get a couple of lessons from an instructor. If you are having trouble doing what you instructors are asking you to do, then maybe you need to work harder on those things. It takes much time and hard work to be good at anything and bowling is no exception. Quentin March 3, 2005 Chicago Illinois Hi Walter Ray I just want you to know I am a huge fan. I also had a chance to meet you in person back in november of 2004 at bruns wick zone lakeside in Valley Park Missouri ( the kid with the Walter Ray all day sign). Anyway I was wondering what could I do to practice on keeping my balance. I also end a shot by fallong out the shot. Another thing is what can I do to stroke the ball better I try to stay under the ball but always manage to come around the ball instead under it. Please help if you can... Thanks so very much! Quentin Hi Quentin, Getting a coach to work with you might be a good thing. You might be in a bit of a rush if you are falling off to the side. I tend to fall off to the side a bit myself, but only a slight amount. Your release can be helped if you have someone you trust watch you and give you immediate feedback about how much you are falling off and if they think you need to try to "fix" it! Good luck and hang in there! Javier March 3, 2005 Bucaramanga Colombia I would like to get some tips to have a better shot, i play with a 14 lbs ball, and i play for the right side. I have some problems with my aproach. Thank you for your advises. Hi Javier, I am sure that there are some good bowlers in your area. I would ask them for some lessons. It is nearly impossible to give lessons in a short paragraph especially since I have never seen you bowl. Good luck and hang in there! David March 1, 2005 Porterville CA Dear Walter Ray, Hello my name is david and ive been bowling for 8 years im 15 and my average is 156 and i have a good ball its a Columbia 300 Big Bully and its made for heavy oil but i guess the way i spin the ball doesnt grip the lane and ive tried so many spins it laughable! and i want a spin that hooks so much and is consistant so if you could help me please!!! and thanks for your time sincerly David Sierra Hi David, It sounds like you need to see your local pro for some lessons. But a simple idea to think of is to try and release the ball as if you were tossing a football under handed with a nice spiral. It is much more difficult to rotate a bowling ball, but that is the idea of a really nice rotation. Mack March 1, 2005 Goodrich MI Dear Walter Ray, 1)Do you have any tips on throwing a hook? 2)My average is 120 and i am 11 years old should i get fingertips? 3)I use an eight pounder should i get a heavier ball? Well thats all i got to ask talk to you later see ya. Hi Mack, A simple idea to think of is to try and release the ball as if you were tossing a football under handed with a nice spiral. It is much more difficult to rotate a bowling ball, but that is the idea of a really nice rotation. If you only bowl once a week, you might want to wait on the fingertip grip. It depends on how big you are, but you should be able to go with a heavier ball. Usually about 1 pound of ball for 10 pounds of body weight. But once you have bowled for a while you can up that ration a bit. Chad February 28, 2005 Port Angeles WA Walter Ray, I am a lefty with three different releases. I use an end-over-end, sharp hook and straight release. I use the straight release for spares. What I have trouble with is deciding when to use the end-over-end release and when to use the sharp hook release. What key factors should I look for to determine which release to use? Thank you for your time. Chad Elofson Hi Chad, Figuring out when to use what release and what ball is one of the tough things about being a top bowler. It basically comes from experience and a guess. I don't always make the correct decision on how I should attack lanes. By watching my fellow competitors and who is doing well, that can give me ideas on how I should attack the lanes. The other thing is to let your ball be your guide. Notice how the ball reacts on the outside of the lane as well as the inside of the lane. If you are unsure of a best way to attack the lanes, use the game that you are most comfortable with. Kevin February 24, 2005 Virgilina VA I would like to ask you what did you do to get your swing in your arm to do the figure 8 to keep you from letting your elbow go? I watch your scores on the internet every week. Thanks for your time. Hi Kevin, I don't know what I did to get my figure 8 armswing. It probably came about from my horseshoe armswing, but it wasn't something that I did intentionally. Ted February 24, 2005 MN Walter Ray, What are some of the key differences in between a cranker and a stroker. Clearly a cranker gets more revs on the ball, and they are doing more with their wrists at release, but what is the key to a strokers release in regards to hand position, and the function of the wrist upon release. Hi Ted, The classic stroker would do very little with their wrist at the point of release while only lifting with their fingers a little bit. The power crankers now a days go from a cupped wrist just before releasing the ball to a wrist which might even be bent backwards after the release. This gives extra revs to the ball. Another thing the crankers tend to have is a bent elbow which gives them more leverage when the release the ball. The main thing to remember is that you want to be as consistent as possible. That is what initially makes throwing the big hook so difficult, is that it is tough be consistent with that type of release. But through many years of practice it becomes second nature and crankers have a tough time cutting back their hook. D.C. February 24, 2005 Dardanelle AR I'm a Youth bowler and i average around the mid 180's i was just wondering if when you aim do u recommend using the dots or the arrows on the lane? Hi D.C., Everybody is different. Most of the touring pros use the arrows to target, but some use the dots. There is one top bowler who spots at the foul line and another who uses the pins. I tend to like to spot a few feet in front of the arrows. Do what is most comfortable for you. Technique Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] | ||