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Technique Q&A [1-20] [21-40]
[41-60] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [241-260] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360]  Aaron November 18, 2002 Greensboro NC Mr. Williams, Jr, First off i just wanted to let you know what a joy it has been to watch you bowl so well on the tour this year. I really think you're the best representative the PBA has right now in terms of gamesmanship, composure, and just pure consistency week after week. So thanks for putting on such a spectacular show. My question is: I have been bowling since i was a kid, but only recently have I started being serious about it. I'm definitely still a beginner but I think i am catching on fast and my average is getting better every week. A fellow bowler watched me for a few frames a couple weeks ago and told me that i needed to slow down my arm because it was "all over the place" on the backswing. This has greatly improved my control, however it has decreased my power and hook. Do you have any suggestions on how i can maintain my arm speed at a moderate pace, while also throwing the ball with power and proper hook? I know practice makes perfect, but it would be great to have the correct techniques in mind when i practice. By the way, I'm a lefty, don't know if that makes any difference. Thanks in advance for any help or ideas you may have. And again, terrific job this season, and best of luck on the long road to Taylor, MI. Cheers, Aaron Rosenthal Hi Aaron, Control and power don't always seem to go hand in hand, but with practice they can. You might want to find a good coach in your area who can work with your technique and improve upon it. Being a lefty or a righty shouldn't make any difference on how you throw the ball. The sooner you get rid of any bad habits, the easier it is to replace them with good, solid techniques. Good luck and thanks. Jeremy November 18, 2002 Albion IL I hope this is where this should go. I have a decent average about 190 bowling with a torn rotator cuff, but I have been getting way to much side roll or slide out of my ball as of the last few years. It doesn't feel that i am getting any fingers up through the ball and feels like my fingers are just sliding out as i turn rather then coming up through the ball. Hi Jeremy, Maybe you should try and lift more with your fingers when letting go of the ball. I don't know if because of your injury you need to be careful, but maybe you created that habit when you started bowling again or before you had it worked on. It sounds like there is a bit more oil on the lanes than you like. You might want to sand a ball or you could buy one of the many aggressive balls to get more hook. You could ask your local pro to help you with lessons or to recommend a ball solution. Good luck. Vinny November 16, 2002 Farmingville NY Hi Walter Ray, I'm a big fan and enjoyed your victory last week (11/10/02). Here is a question about technique. What is the difference in reaction when you come out from underneath the ball, as opposed to coming out on the side of the ball? Good luck on tour. Thank you. Hi Vinny, When you come up more behind the ball the ball won't hook as much. I tend to come up behind the ball more than most of the pros and I also don't get as many revs. I can get around the ball a bit, but again not like a lot of these guys. But I am able to play many different shots and parts of the lanes which is a big plus. William November 9, 2002 Bakersfield CA Hi Walter Ray, I am new to bowling and I have a question about a type of grip that I use. I use a grip where the only finger that I have inserted into the ball is the middle finger. I do not have holes drilled for the ring or thumb fingers. The middle finger goes in up to the first joint. This type of grip feels comfortable but my question is can this type of grip cause any potential arm or wrist problems since its not as common as the other types of fingertip and semi-fingertip grips? Thanks and the best of luck to you on the PBA tour. Hi William, Most bowlers use their thumb and fingers to grip the ball. It sounds like you aren't really gripping the ball. There are many players who find that by not using their thumb for gripping, the can get more revolutions on the ball. I would think that by only having a single finger for gripping that you might be giving up a bit of control. But that doesn't mean that you can't do extremely well with your grip. As far as problems with your arm or wrist, by not using your thumb, you may increase problems to your wrist. I don't know if that would effect your arm or not. If you did use your thumb, and only the one finger that might cause some problems with your hand. But I am not a physician and would be guessing about those problems. Good luck and enjoy the game. Ken November 5, 2002 Philadelphia PA Dear Walter Ray, I have have and seen heard that you are an excellent spare shooter. I am trying to improve my spare shooting. I bowl the Amateur Bowlers tour east region and I carry around a 192 tournament average. The oil patterns that we are getting now in the ABT are basically reverse patterns dry inside and wet outside and are fairly difficult to string strikes on. Therefore, your spare game becomes very important. I have heard a lot of opinions on the best way to roll your spares. Some people say use a plastic ball that is one pound lighter than your strike ball. Some people say just break down your strike ball, (throw it with no side rotation or lift). What do you think on this subject? Do you find a lot variation within individual houses when rolling your spares straight? Is the thumb pitch in your spare ball the same as all the others? Thanks Ken. Hi Ken, I use the same weight ball and drilling for spares and strikes. I wouldn't recommend a lighter ball, but you could probably throw a lighter ball harder. I use a plastic ball and a straighter release to pick up most of my spares. If you throw the ball perfectly straight then it really doesn't matter what type of ball you would use, but most people don't throw the ball perfectly straight. Keep practicing your strikes and your spares. Tom November 4, 2002 Glendale AZ Dear Walter Ray, Let me start by saying I have been a fan for a long time. I am having a problem with my ball diving into the head pin at the last minute.I also have a had time mentally staying foucused.I am a league bowler and would love to do more than just league.I have tried all that I know and could use some help.Good Luck and wish the Best for you and your Family Hi Tom, It sounds like you need to move inside a bit (left for a right hander) and keep your speed up. Staying focused is something that is difficult for many players. I would concentrate on as few things as possible, such as your target and having a good follow through. Keep working at it. Don November 4, 2002 Dumfries VA Walter Ray, I watched the match you had with Danny Wiseman at the Miller Open on November 3, 2002. You startde the match with 2 solid 9 pins, a strike, a soft 10 and then flushed the next 5 or 6 shots. My question you is what adjustment did you make to get the ball settle in to high flush without over hitting. I am a straight player and love to go up the boards; however there are times when I will leave solid 9's, stone 7 pins and am not quite sure what adjustment I should make. Any advice would greatly be appreciated. Hi Don, I am trying to remember exactly what I did. I think I just tried to keep my speed up a bit. A solid 9 isn't a bad shot, but it is a pinch on the high side. If I felt like I threw good shots and left a solid 9 or solid 7 I would probably move 1 and 1 left to go a pinch lighter in the pocket. John November 4, 2002 Philadelphia PA Walter Ray, at what speed do you throw the ball. I throw the ball like you do but it it's hard to gauge the speed on TV. I am usally between 16.5 and 17 mph. John Hi John, It depends on how I am throwing the ball. When I throw it hard and straight I might be up near 19 mph, and sometimes I will slow down to 15, but my 'normal' speeds are probably around 16 - 18 mph depending on what I am trying to do. Wilson October 29, 2002 Richmond Hi Walter Ray!!! How can I inprove my delivery speed on the lane and also my rolling speed after the delivery?? Hi Wilson, I am not sure what you are asking. Do you want more speed or consistent speed. Consistency comes with practice. More speed can come from a bigger arm swing, especially a bigger back swing and bigger steps. Mike October 28, 2002 Johnstown NY I can't seem to control the hook ball of mine, is there a way I can improve that? P.S. I also threw a 200 game back two weeks ago. Hi Mike, Practice is the best advice I can give someone who is trying to improve. Good lessons are also a good thing. Keep improving. Bill October 4, 2002 Grand Prairie TX Dear Walter Ray, I am your biggest fan,(like you never hear that) and had the pleasure of being introduced to you by Billy Yinger a couple of years ago. My question for you is about my technique and style. I am a 220 plus average with several 300's and the house record at Forum Bowl in Grand Prairie. I want to take my game to the next level (regional tour). I have emulated your style since I can remember, but some local regional players suggest I change my game to a more conventional style (Ozio, Voss). I have tried this at times with limited success. I am curious to know your thoughts on this and how often people have urged you to change your style. Thank you so much for your time and good luck this year on tour. I am looking forward to your response and seeing you at Don Carter here in Dallas. Bill Holloway P.S. Some players tell me that you "plant" at the line, with little or no slide. From all the video I have seen, I think you have a medium slide. How do you think your slide is? Hi Bill, I do have a slightly unusual style, but it has worked very well for me. If I was to teach someone, I would suggest a style such as David Ozio or Brian Voss because they have very nice swings and simple is usually better. I tend to 'muscle' the ball either by throwing it hard and straight or by trying to hook it. That works for me, but is not considered textbook. I am flattered that you have tried to emulate me. Does that mean that you can throw it hard and straight and also slow and hook it? It sounds like you are doing pretty well. Bowling in regionals should give you plenty of competition and hopefully you will enjoy it. The other major difference is that the regionals are normally bowled on lane conditions which are much more difficult than those you normally find in leagues. Dave September 30, 2002 Wauseon OH Hi Walter Ray, I'm one of your biggest fans and i like watching you on tv my question is if you are a left handed bowler and you are on the last frame with 11 stikes and you throw a 7-10 split how would you go about trying to pick that split up and winning the tournament thanks again for your time dave pfund Hi Dave, I guess this is a trick question. If you leave a 7-10 after 11 strikes in a row then you don't get a chance to pick up the spare as the game is over. If you have to pick up the 7-10 in the 10th frame to win a match I don't think it makes a difference whether you are left handed or right handed. I would throw the ball as hard as I could at the corner pin closest to the ball return, 10 on the left lane, or 7 pin on the right lane and pray. You also are better off if you hit the pin on the lane side of it. You basically need to bounce the pin out and that takes some good speed and a fair amount of luck. I have picked up the 7-10 a couple of times and I don't throw the ball as hard as some of the pros. Tim September 22, 2002 Chatham IL Walter Ray: When shooting at single pin spare shots, I throw a plastic ball with an underhand release and no rotation. Is this your preferred method of shooting single pin spare shots? Also, do you use a plastic ball with multiple pin spare conversions? I tend to use my strike ball especially with double wood left standing as I sometimes have difficulty converting spares such as the 3-6-10. What is your recommendation concerning multiple pin spare conversions? Thanks much and the best of luck to you on the tour this year. Tim Hi Tim, I use a plastic ball with little side rotation on most of my spares. I would use my plastic ball for a 3-6-10 as it isn't double wood, but on the 3-6-9-10 I am more likely to use my strike ball. Depending on the situation I use my plastic ball for picking up the 2-8 and 2-4-5-8, but sometimes I will use my strike ball. Keep practicing your spares and good luck. Dave August 31, 2002 Altoona PA last year i averaged 205. but i have been doing some reading trying to improve. one of the faults that these books pointed out was that i am overcupping the ball. now i have always had a small amount of bend in my elbow but it did straighten out when i uncupped. but i could get no revs on the ball. the higher my backswing the less accuracy i have. my question is how can i get better accuracy and more revs without violating what the book is telling me. thank you in advance for your response dave noye altoona, pa Hi Dave, I don't know what books you have been reading, but it sounds like they are teaching from the 'old book'. As you might know, most of today's top players use a lot of wrist cup and elbow bend. Even from days past, two of the best bowlers ever, Don Carter and Earl Anthony had a bend in their elbow. There were also two of the most accurate bowlers ever. Getting a lot of accuracy and lots of revs seems to be what everybody wants, even me. Unfortunately for me I don't get lots of revs, but I can sometimes be very accurate. I think that it is more important to be able to duplicate shots, no matter what they happen to be. The extra revs can amplify a lane condition so that if it is a bit easier it might become really easy, but if the lanes are difficult they may become even more difficult for the crankers. If you can hook the ball I wouldn't forget how to do that and likewise it is a good idea to be able to throw the ball straighter at times. It takes a lot of practice to become proficient at anything and you need to figure out what works best for you. Keep practicing and the accuracy should get better. Rob August 14, 2002 Camarillo CA Walter Ray: I recently had a conversation with Joe Merril at his pro shop in Ventura, CA and he told me that he had bowled with you back when you first started on tour. As we were discussing the relative merits of throwing a big power hook vs. going more direct to the pocket, I was surprised when he told me that you can hook the ball more than virtually anyone, but choose not to. Can you explain your reasoning? Thanks in advance. Hi Rob, Back in my earlier days of professional bowling I did hook the ball a bit more, but I could never hook the ball as much as some of the guys. What I do now is slow my speed down to get the ball to hook which isn't the same thing as what some of these kids can do to a ball. Of course way back then, the early 80's, the players didn't all hook the ball as much as they do now. I also decided to learn how to throw the ball straighter when at a couple of tour tournaments I couldn't keep a plastic ball on the right side of the head pin and had to watch the straight players do all of the scoring. I then found out that I threw the ball a bit better when I went more direct. I think the biggest asset is to be able to repeat shots no matter how you throw the ball. A big hook doesn't do any good if you spray the ball or don't have a consistent rev rate. A dead straight ball is also tough to score really high with because you have no room for error. A hook is good to take advantage of the lane conditions and get some angle into the pocket. I hope this helps answer your question. And tell Joe hi. Tim July 31, 2002 Chatham Walter Ray, At the beginning of a block, what technique do you use to determine where to play the lane? Once you've determined where to shoot, do you normally target at the breakpoint or do you adjust your target depending on lane conditions such as what oil pattern is layed down? Thanks, Tim Hi Tim, Usually we have a practice session at each tournament and the players get an idea about how and where to play the lanes. I normally look at where the ball crosses the arrows. I don't pay as much attention to my break point. I will change my target based on how I am missing the pocket and how others around me are playing the lanes. Sometimes I don't make the right decision, but sometimes I do. The other part of lining up is to make good shots. PAUL July 2, 2002 TAIWAN I'M PAUL IN TAIWAN I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR GRIP OF BALL CAN YOU TELL ME Hi Paul, I use a fingertip grip with soft finger grips and a personalized thumb grip. Elsewhere on my website are some other details of my grips. Charles June 22, 2002 Redondo Beach CA On my Team, "Charley's Angels", one of our Bowlers Laurie Bates, is a dancer, and every time she gets a strike or something similar, she twirls around 540 degrees after the shot. Everyone laughs when she does that. Since we are Seniors, most of us can't do that, but I've started doing 360's and it works! My average is going up and yesterday, I bowled another 500 series! I think she's discovered something that really works! What do you think? Why does twirling help your bowling? Chucko. Hi Chucko, I have no idea why twirling around would help your bowling. It might be a coincidence or it might be invigorating you. If it works keep doing it, but make sure that you don't get yourself dizzy! Tim June 15, 2002 Chatham IL Walter Ray, I am simply amazed at the accuracy that you have with shooting spares. Since I struggle at times, could you give me some insight into how you have become so accomplished with this aspect of your game and also, such as lining up and targeting? I use a plastic ball in shooting my spares unless it is a double wood leave. My game is similiar to yours in that I am more of a down and in player, but I do not get the revs that you can on your shot. How might I increase my rev rate without sacrificing accuracy? Thanks again Walter Ray and the best of luck to you on the Tour. Tim Scott Chatham, Illinois Hi Tim, I use a very simple plan on shooting spares. If you throw the ball the straight, it doesn't matter what the condition is if you make a good shot, you should be able to make the spare since the target shouldn't change. I target at the arrows for all of my spares. I shoot at spares on the right side of the lane around the 4th arrow and my feet around 30. I aim between the 3rd arrow and 4th arrow for spares on the left with my feet around 10. As far as getting more revs, I am not sure I can help you much with that as I get about as many revs as I can. Try keeping your wrist in a cupped position and then at the point of release you roll your hand back to get the extra revs. This is something that I am not good at which is why I only get the number of revs that I do. Accuracy comes from practice and preferably on tough conditions so that you can tell when you make a bad shot. Wilson May 15, 2002 Richmond What can I do to find the target (Pocket) more easily? Also what I do to make my ball more powerful?? Hi Wilson, Reading lanes and throw good shots are things that help in better bowling. Knowing how to adjust to the different lanes and get an idea of where the oil is on the lane will help tremendously. Normally you move left if the ball is missing the pocket left and you move right if the ball is missing the pocket right. To make your ball more powerful, speed and rotation are key ingredients. But power isn't much use without some accuracy. I would practice on being as accurate as you can, hitting your target. Learning how to hook the ball with a little bit of speed shouldn't hurt too much in the scoring department. The one negative thing about throwing the ball with a lot of speed and rotation is that it can wear on your body quite a bit more. Rayko May 13, 2002 Bulgaria Europe Hi Deadeye I am a bowler from Bulgaria,Europe. i red almost all of your answers and felt quite happy to see that i share the same opinion with you regarding equipment and lane conditions.A am also not a friek about drillings,layouts etc.I put more attention to timing,armswing,footwork and all these things.Accuracy is my word.My problem is that i can not explain all this to my friends who are blaming lanes and balls all the time.Most of them are having terrible timing and armswing,i beat them consistently,but since bowling is quite a new sport in our country and it takes only 185 ave. to sweep the competition, i don't consider it as a big success of mine.My question is - in your long experience how do you manage to explain to friends importancy of approach and timing as a key to the big scores.Weird question i admit,don't answer if you don't like.Thanks a lot Rayko Hi Rayko, Since the players I normally compete against are normally very good bowlers, they almost all have great timing and armswings. But most of the improving bowlers, like the ones you describe, will either get better timing and armswings or they won't improve much. It sounds like what you need are some good coaches in your area. Maybe you could try to get into that since you seem to have the interest. But they will have much more respect for your coaching abilities if you can do what you preach. But you don't have to be a great bowler to be a great coach. And not all great bowlers are great coaches! Technique Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [241-260] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] | ||