I found my problem

[TJS_7]

Saw a friend of mine he's a good bowler,he watched me throw 2 games.He told me my shot looks good but the 1 problem I have is that my shot is flattening out at the end.I didn't want to keep buggin him so does anyone have anything to help me to get started to fix this flat shot of mine!!! lol!!! I think it's a rotation problem.

[JoshWithrow]

The first thing you could do is try to put more axis rotation on. If you're a high tracker, try lowering your track. Other than that, when you get a new ball drilled, laying out form PAP coords would probably help with that as well.

The only other thing that comes to mind that it COULD be is using the wrong ball on certain conditions. If you use a strong ball on short conditions sometimes it loses it's power early. Try polishing the ball. That should get it to save some of it's energy for later down the lane.

[BubbaRay]

TJ,

Josh gave you some very good advice. Here is alittle more that you might understand,

For all-around purposes, the best ball track to have today is a low-to-medium ¾ roll. Before the advent of reactive cover stocks, the high ¾ track was the best. However, with today's ultra-aggressive ball designs, very high ¾ tracks can and will tend to hook too early, reducing the ball's hitting power.

Also important is the tilt of your track. Track or axis tilt will determine how easily your ball achieves a roll-out state. More axis tilt will reduce the chances of roll-out but will hinder performance on a heavily-oiled lane surface. Less axis tilt will tend to roll-out more, but will roll stronger on heavier oil.

Having more or less axis tilt is not good or bad. The type of track works better is determined by the lane environment on which you bowl.

One factor that all of these tracks have in common is they produce what is called your Positive Axis Point or PAP. Your PAP is the line that runs through the center of your ball and is perpendicular to your ball track. Like the north and south poles on a globe, your ball spins around this line. Your PAP becomes very important when trying to create drill pattern layouts for different types of ball reaction potentials.

Also important is the mid-plane or vertical axis line (VAL). This line runs through your PAP, perpendicular to the grip mid-line. This will be discussed later in greater detail.

[Rowdy]

What do you mean by "flattening out"? If you mean the hook stops and the ball goes straight in the direction it was travelling,that's normal. The ball isn't supposed to keep hooking all the way thru the rack. It's a matter of HOW CLOSE to the pins does the shot flatten out? Too far out and the ball loses energy,too close and you miss the pocket. Too far out? You can polish it,like Josh said,throw it harder or get a different ball. Too close? Try throwing it a touch slower,change the line you use or get another ball. In either,case a good pro shop could change the coverstock on the ball to achieve the desired effect you want.

[TJS_7]

It's close to the pins.The ball gets down the lane and looks good all the way then it just goes flat.So I'd have to say close to the pins

[JoshWithrow]

It's close to the pins.The ball gets down the lane and looks good all the way then it just goes flat.So I'd have to say close to the pins


So it is flattening out. There's some factor that's not coming thru for you. What ball are you throwing, what style of bowler are you, and what conditions are you bowling on?

Again, if you're using a heavy oil ball in light oil you'll experience this. A contributing factor would be having a high track (I have a high track, but I've found out ways to get the ball to retain it's energy and keep hooking on thru the hit), but you can still adjust to help with that.

Ideally the ball, once it breaks, should continue it's hooking motion on thru hitting the pins. This is what we call "finish". When you hear people stating that the ball has no "finish", that's what they're talking about. What exactly is the cause? There are too many variables to tell without having answers to, at the very least, start ruling certain things out.


For instance, on light oil my No Mercy has no finish. It turns and runs straight. Not good OR normal IMHO despite what a guy I bowl with says. And is why I have other equipment (per a few people's suggestions and it's starting to pay off now that I'm figuring out when/where to use said equipment, as well as how to read the lane and know when I should be using something else as well). The Syntactive Sledge is good for light oil, though... has a nice smooth arc that never stops hooking. The Cherry is good for medium where I want to play a line up the 5/10. And the Total NV i'm not sure of because I haven't bowled with it yet.

So anyway I'm rambling, but from my experiences you can fix this... you just have to determine the best way to get there FOR YOU. But don't tolerate a flat ball.

[TJS_7]

I'm using a BWS at oob.I think it's just like you said I need more axis rotaion.I pretty much go up the back of the ball on my release.So I think the ball isn't facing up to the pocket as it comes around.Thats where the rotion comes in.I'm pretty much on a fresh shot for league,the only balls that hit the lanes are the ones in warm up which is about 10 to 15 min.I want to try to get the rotation down first before doing the surface change.But shouldn't oob condition handle a THS????thx for the advice!!!

[TJS_7]

thx for everyone's help!!!got about 2-3 before fall leagues hit so I gotta hit it hard between now and then.Pin is between the fingers (above)if that helps at all

[JoshWithrow]

Even though you're using a polished ball, it's still a highly reactive ball and still requires some oil to get down lane.

Try changing your hand position/release just a bit. May work wonders for you. Good luck with it all.

Also, keep in mind that I'm no pro. The "advice" I offer is from my meager experience.

[TJS_7]

It's cool thx for your time!!!

[Rowdy]

You bet a BWS at OOB will handle a House Shot! And mine flattens out right before the pins,too. Now all you have to do is figure out the shot that will let the ball do it's thing and wind up in the pocket at the correct angle. Think of it as starting backwards(the pocket)and working back to the foul line. You know how much it hooks and when it flattens out,so go back and find the spot that will let the ball hook and flatten out right into the pocket.
You're right about the axis rotation.But try thinking along the lines of tilt. Usually I hold the ball straight up (flat hand).But if I want some extreme hook, I hold the ball with a VERY cupped wrist and turn my hand to the left so my fingers are parallel to the floor. Then throw it hard. You've probably already found out how important speed is with this ball. This ball is SO easy to push right thru the breakpoint and you're standing there wondering what happened to your hook. Try some of this out and let us know how you did. Good Luck

[TJS_7]

your turning your hand at the bottom right????

[NeoWidow18]

Yeah. Rowdy is right. Ive observed the same things with my BW.

And yes you turn your hand to the right.

[Rowdy]

Yup,you turn the ball over at the bottom of the swing. This is a hard and fast move. You really have to snap it. It only takes about a foot for the turn and release. But this is where you get the side roll that will turn into a nice sharp hook at the other end. Think of it like this: The harder and faster you turn the ball over on the front end will affect how hard and fast the ball will hook on the backend.


A thought has just creeped into my head: Does this ball have an X hole? If not,you might want to consider having one drilled. They really help your ball hook.

[slap]

Yup,you turn the ball over at the bottom of the swing. This is a hard and fast move. You really have to snap it. It only takes about a foot for the turn and release. But this is where you get the side roll that will turn into a nice sharp hook at the other end. Think of it like this: The harder and faster you turn the ball over on the front end will affect how hard and fast the ball will hook on the backend.


I'm going to have to nit pick here.

You do not want to turn your hand over the ball, that will create more top spin than roll.

[TJS_7]

no I don't have 1 drilled I'll work on the side roll first cause I just don't have enough of it yet I think once I get more side roll it'll all come together.thx guys!!

[Rowdy]

Slap-I musta wrote it kinda wrong if you got that impression. The move I have in mind is like throwing a football underhanded. Bring the hand up the side of the ball,not the back of it. That better?

[slap]

Slap-I musta wrote it kinda wrong if you got that impression. The move I have in mind is like throwing a football underhanded. Bring the hand up the side of the ball,not the back of it. That better?

I knew what you meant, I just wanted to clarify for those that might not have fully understood what you wrote.

[Rowdy]

Oh. Okay,just wanted to make sure I didn't send someone down the wrong path.

[TJS_7]

do I need a flare increase hole or a decrease hole?????

[JoshWithrow]

do I need a flare increase hole or a decrease hole?????

Increase. You want to generate more hook which is in part accomplished by having more flare.