| Technique | ||
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Technique Q&A [1-20] [21-40]
[41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [241-260] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] Lento January 26, 2004 Hong Kong Congratulations on your abc win!! The problem that keeps bugging me is the thumb release. Do any of the pro bowlers stay conscious on the release timing of the thumb, and do they make conscious adjustments? Hi Lento, I would say that pros don't think about their timing of releasing the ball. It is more of a natural thing. Just as if you would toss a baseball, I am sure that you don't think exactly what your fingers and thumb are doing when you let go of a baseball. The same applies to a bowler. The more you practice, the more it becomes 2nd nature. Good luck! Tony January 25, 2004 New Orleans LA Hello Mr. Walter Ray Williams Jr., I watched you bowl on ESPN every chance I get and I really like how you bowl. I was wondering if you could tell me where you stand on the lanes and what mark you aim for. Also, I would like know which types of balls would work well with that technique. Thank you, Tony Hi Tony, Thanks for your support and kind words. It depends on the lane conditions and how I am trying to play the lanes as to where I stand and where I am aiming. If I am going straight I will probably play up around 7 with my feet starting so that my left foot is left of the 12th board. I don't drift very much when I go straight. When I play a big hook inside I might play as deep as 30 with my left foot left of the 37th board and I will drift another 10-15 boards left so that I would be sliding left of the gutter cap. Most of the balls will work with either play, but it does depend on how much the lanes are hooking and the type of release as to exactly what ball I will use. I hope this doesn't confuse you too much! It's sort of difficult to explain. Shawn January 13, 2004 Cincinnati OH Hello, My Name is Shawn A. Ridings I have a question on what flare on a ball means. See I have been bowling for about 1 and half years and average around 195 - 203. I throw a little more at my target then hook into my target. But when the lanes call for hook I throw my best ball and it has about 8 rings of flare around it with no hook or very small hook. Could you please explain what this means. Thanks Hi Shawn, When the ball touches the lane, the oil traces on the surface of the ball. A ball that doesn't flare would have one ring, while a flaring ball will have oil lines next to each other. The more flares you have will mean that you have more revs on the ball (if the ball flares). The flares will stop at the end of the oil pattern so a shorter oil pattern will have fewer flares on your ball than a longer oil pattern. You could also ask your local pro shop operator any other questions and they should be able to give you more detailed answers. Brad January 12, 2004 Sheridan MI First off I'd like to say I'm a big fan or yours and I wish you the best of luck with this year's season. Whenever I watch the PBA, I notice you, and many other bowlers, blow warm air on the ball. At least that's what it looks like. I've been wonderin' for quite a while what purpose that serves, if it has any at all. I'd like to thank you in advance for your help, and I'm lookin' forward to watchin' you on TV again. Sincerely, Brad Hi Brad, I blow in my thumb hole to put a little bit of moisture so that it gives a nice feel in the thumb hole. Don January 11, 2004 Truxton NY First congrats on your win today.I always enjoy watching you bowl.I have asked a couple of questions before and they have helped me with my confidence,and I thank you.But here is my new "problem"I have gotten more consistent by practicing and thinking less on the lane and more at the table off the lane,it has helped,but I can't seem to get very many strikes going at all?????(ex-I ave 195 everywhere I go with a max of 4-5 strikes/game)?????I am a very good spare shooter,but horrible striker.........I know i have it in me,I am just plain confused as to how to get my game going.spares come easily for me,and that is because it is a straight line.....no guess work there.I was wondering if you might suggest trying a straight strike line as well....I just don't know what to do,it is very frustrating,I have the reverse problem with bowling.....please help......(if you can) thank you Don Hinshaw Hi Don, It sounds like you throw the ball very straight. You might want to try and get more side roll on the ball to get more strikes. Or maybe you aren't playing the lanes quite right. If you aren't playing the lanes properly that makes it very difficult to score high. You might want to ask a teaching pro or a local pro who can help you. There might be something else you aren't quite doing just right. Good luck. Steven January 7, 2004 Springfield OR Walter Ray, i have been bowling for a quit awhile.and i just won a ball.they gave me a 170- bucksso i decided to get a hammer sling blade.the ball works great.so great that a week after i got it i got my highest score of a 265.then i had a doubles tournament.and i decided to have a practice game because i have never bowled there before,i bowled a 275.i had 9 spare and a 6 spare and all nine in a row then i got nine at the end .(by the way we took third place).and i want to get better by ball by putting more revs on the ball but it is hard to understand how my friends say how to put more revs on the ball.my revs so far are not alot.my ball is like the old old bowling like earl anthony but i'm right handed.i ask you how increase my ball revs,because you are a pro that is a deadeye at all of your shots and i think for me to get better i want to make more bal revs.thanks again and good luck with the second hafe on the pba and also good luck with horse shoes Hi Steven, To get more revs on the ball you would need to cup your wrist and or bend your elbow as you are bringing your arm down to release the ball. You can practice this by putting your arm at the top of the backswing and 'catching' something like a set of keys when you drop them. You will find that you will need to cup your wrist and it helps to bend your elbow. Eon December 29, 2003 Rowland Heights CA Hi Walter Ray, To execute a hooking ball, I was told to have my hand under the ball, and then at the point of the release I will rotate my hand to the side of the ball. I've been doing this for a long time and I havent quite seen the right reaction. Im thinking my ball is doing all the work to hook the lane not my rotation. Could you please give me specific details on how to execute a power ball. I am not looking for a coach, because the release is the only thing ive been having trouble with. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I will always be supporting you. Eon James Santiago Hi Eon, You might want to have a coach help you with your release. A good coach can show a lot better than I can describe it. But if you think of the way you would toss a football under handed with a nice spiral, then that is similar to how you would get a good roll on the ball. Eon December 21, 2003 Rowland Heights CA Hi Walter Ray, I looking pretty much for a powerful cranking reaction, could you please help me execute a fast spinning 45-degree angle hooking ball? Hi Eon, It sounds like you might want to find a good coach. I am not sure what exactly you are asking. Practice is how I got better and that is what is needed to improve anyone's game or technique. Paul December 21, 2003 St. Charles MO Walter Ray I am concerned that you may hurt your back if you continue to force the shot . . .also this could keep you from winning in that it distracts from a more focused target line. I know from my knowledge of Yoga that the key is to concentrate on developing a force and releasing it smoothly in a very controlled manner as you would do if you simply take plenty of time to let the ball swing through the moment of greatest weight concentration as gravity is trying to force the ball out of your hand. I have bowled 846 as well as 300's using this force in this manner. This is basically the reason Earl Anthony had such a good release but he also got his ball started into the backswing using the right foot rather than the left (being left handed) foot resulting in a longer slide with good follow through and extension just like you. Walter I like you as a person and I hope you will win big on the tour just like Mika. Paul cheffy St. Charles, Mo. Hi Paul, It is nice that you are concerned for my welfare. But have bowled with this style for most of my career. I am able to throw the ball a couple of different ways, but they almost always use an acceleration at the point of release. It seems to work for me. Pat December 19, 2003 Ft Lauderdale FL Hi Walter Ray, I just have a thumb question. When you place your thumb in the ball would you say the pad (finger print side) touches the inside of the ball hole, or wouls you say your nail touches the back side of the hole. I know they say to keep your thumb straight, but the natural action is to squeez slightly for a good grip. When I do this my pad (finger print side) touches the inside of the ball. Someone told me my nail should be touching. I see they have inserts that have a shape/curve at the bottom to keep your thumb back, but I was just wondering what you do. Good luck in 2004. Straight is great. Curves are for women. LOL Just kidding. Hi Pat, I would say that both sides of my thumb touch the thumb hole. I don't bend my thumb while it is in the thumb hole. If you do that then your thumb hole might not be small enough. I have a very snug thumb hole and I would say that I squeeze the ball a bit so that I don't drop it. But I hear that to get more revolutions it is better to have a 'looser' grip. Chris December 15, 2003 New Lenox IL Walter Ray, I am presently using a "Night Hawk" Ball, my problem is I feel I'm not getting enough rotation on this ball to properly utilize it, can you give me any helpful tips or hints that I can do and use with my hand or release to get more rev's on this ball. I'm a 190 average bowler and looking to increase this. Thanks any help would be appreciated. Chris Sauerbier Hi Chris, To get more rotation on your ball you probably need to cup your wrist. Another thing you can do is to bend your elbow. A way to work on this is practice 'catching' keys from the top of your backswing after you let go of them. You will find that you need to cup your wrist and bend your elbow to catch the keys. Since I am not a big cranker, you might want to ask somebody who can actually get a lot more revs than I can. But I hope this helps. Brian December 14, 2003 Joplin MO I am 14 years old. I am 6 ft tall and weigh 220. I throw a hook with a 16 pound ball. I have always used a wrist a wrist support. I carry a 192 average but I am now finding myself working on different things to improve my realese. At my age should I continue to wear a wrist support or will it hinder what I am trying to work on with my realese? thank you, Brian Loy Lawson Hi Brian, You are a pretty good size for 14! You might want to do some workout for your arm and wrist; wrist and arm curls, presses. If you throw a hook you should be able to bowl without a wrist support. You might want to try to bowl without the wrist support and see how it goes. If you want to learn how to hook the ball a lot, you will be better off without the wrist support. But if you lose a bit of your hook, you might not be quite ready to give it up. RJ December 10, 2003 Shorline WA Hi I'm 17 years old and I was wondering how to pick up the gereak Charch because last weak I was bowling in a turnament and I left 3 of them but I still shot my persinal best 670. Hi RJ, The greek church, 4-6-7-9-10 for right handers, is a tough spare but it is possible. Unless it is an absolute must to make, like the 10th frame and you need a spare, I would suggest going for the 3 pins on the right (6-9-10) and hit the 6 pin a bit on the right. Sometimes the 6 pin will deflect off of the 9 pin and go over and take out the 7 pin and every once in a while take out the 4 also. But this way you should be getting at least 8 out most of the time. If you absolutely must have a spare then sliding the 4 into the 9 can actually deflect into the 6 and 10 a little easier. But it is awfully easy to miss the 4 pin at which point you will have 6 out which is not good at all. Hank November 14, 2003 Philadelphia PA Walter, When you are bowling, do you concentrate to the marks or look further down the lanes? What I mean, do you look at the lane arrows (say second or third arrow) or basically key on where the ball starts its break for the pocket and hit that spot (say five board)? I'm try to come into my own of being consistant, and I notice I'm looking to place the ball where it should start the break. Thanks Hank Galanti Hi Hank, When I bowl I usually look at the arrows or in front of them. I really don't pay much attention to how far out my ball breaks. I know that I probably should, but I don't. My big thing is to hit my target that I am looking at. Paul November 14, 2003 St. Charles MO Walter Ray, I would like to know why you decided to go with the swing that requires you to put power into the shot at the point of delivery. I find it much better to do this early in the second step of the 5 step approach . . .this puts a lot of weight on the right foot getting the ball started into the backswing but the ball weighs practically nothing in the release and you don't have to pull up or strong arm the shot which is a big mistake especially on spare shots. I am amazed that you bowl as well as you do but I have seen people bowl well with some amazing styles. Paul Cheffy St. Charles, Missouri Hi Paul, Everybody is different. I have always liked to put 100% into my shots. So I like to 'accelerate' through the shot. But if this is the incorrect way to bowl, then oh well…it seems to work OK for me! Josh November 11, 2003 Humansville MO To make it on the tour, does a bowler have to have a very noticable curve or a slight one? Hi Josh, Most of the young pros these days have a lot of curve in their bowling balls, but sometimes a slight curve is actually better. It really depends on the lane conditions for each week. Ken November 11, 2003 Gray Court SC Help!!!! i have just started bowling. i can not get the ball to rev. i am using a 15 lb ball. is this to heavy? it sure feels like it. every one tells me heavier the better. can you give me some kind of idea on how to properly release the ball to make it rev.i am left handed. thanx........ken Hi Ken, 15 pounds should be heavy enough to score well. However, it is possible that that weight may be too heavy for you, especially if it feels too heavy. Imagine trying to toss a football underhanded so that it has a nice spiral. That is a similar release that you would like to have with your bowling ball. It takes practice to get it right. Keep at it and good luck! Evan November 9, 2003 Central PT OR Hi Walter Ray: Been throwing competivitly for a few years now with an average of about 40%. The problem is I throw 20%of my shoes perfectly open ,but right. I have tried everything when I practice but still throw right. My goal is to get to the A class and I feel if I can cure this problem I will get there, any suggestions. thanks Evan Hi Evan, The biggest problem that right handed pitchers have is that they tend to miss to the right while left handed ones miss to the left. Probably the main reason for this is that the player doesn't have a good follow through. When you pitch the shoe you should try and have a follow through where your arm is pointing to the sky. More than likely it is coming over towards your left shoulder. Good luck. Todd October 30, 2003 Dalton GA Walter Ray, I love watching you bowl, and I was even fortunate enough to get your autograph from one of my friends who is a habitual bowling caddie. My normal line is one that is very similar to yours (mostly because I've modeled it that way from watching you on TV). I currently average 195, but I know I could average over 200 easily, except that I seem to be cursed with leaving the 10 pin constantly. I've read many ways to fix it, but when I make my changes, subtle as they are, I end up leaving the 7 or 4 pin instead. What can I do to end this single pin madness? Thanks. Keep bowling and I'll keep watching. -Todd Hi Todd, Leaving 10 pins is a part of bowling. It is the most common leave for a right hander. I leave approximately 15% 10 pins. It seems as though it is more like 25% though. I don't know of any special way to not leave 10 pins. If you are leaving 10 pins, you are hitting the pocket which is my first objective. Unless you are very accurate, you don't want to make much of an adjustment. If you were that accurate you would be averaging over 230 or 250 depending on the local lane condition. Keep picking up those spares and keep hitting the pocket. Mike October 28, 2003 Roanoke VA I seem to notice that when i loft the ball a little I get more hook on what seem to be tighter lane conditions. When I sit the ball down smooth I seem to get too much skid. I can't seem to understand this cause all I hear people say is sit the ball down to get the ball to hook on tight conditions. Hi Mike, For me, I get a little more lift when I loft the ball. So it may be that you are getting a bit more lift when you loft the ball and not quite the lift when you set it down smooth. But the main reason they say to get less hook, then loft it, is because the ball can't hook when it is in the air. But if you get more side rotation, then it will end up hooking more. Technique Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [241-260] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] | ||