new bowler

[apoplectic]

Hi I'm David, and I'm new to bowling. I've recently got a Cherry Vibe that the store owner down here recommended,and i was wondering is there any special maintenance tips for this ball.I've got a see saw towel for it but that doesn't seem to be getting the oil off of it too well.Also I have another problem, I play baseball and football and i throw side arm, so a straight swig is kinda hard for me.Also,i completely suck at picking up spares.I've counted and so far I've thrown 4x as many strikes as i have spares,and so far i have only thrown twelve.

Any suggestions?

[Cashbowl Matt1103]

Try learning a realease where you throw the ball on a straight track or not as many revs for spares.

[BubbaRay]

The key to a loose arm swing is keeping your thumb relaxed in the ball. In order to have a relaxed grip in the ball your ball has to be drilled and fitted correctly. If your thumb hole feels loose it will cause you to squeeze the ball and muscle your swing. Inserts in the thumb and finger holes can help give you a more secure fit. The follow through is just a continuation of the arm swing outwards towards your target as the ball comes off your fingers. A well executed release will give you a good follow through. If the ball is released correctly your arm will unhinge at the elbow and your hand will come up to side of your head.

There is alittle trick you could do to keep your arm from going sidearm in the arm swing. I teach it to all junior bowlers and some adults I give advice to.

When you set yourself on the approach put a towel under you armpit . As you go through your delivery and arm swing, keep the arm close to your body so the towel does not fall out from under your arm during your arm swing. This will help in giving you a straight and fluent armswing.

You can do a lot on your own to keep your equipment in shape, and every once in a while you can visit your pro shop for some extra-special treatment. If you like your ball's hook, you need to be diligent with your ball maintenance. For your aggressive hook ball, use three-game blocks as your cleaning schedule, if possible. If you are bowling in a tournament, clean your ball at the end' of each block of games. Even in your practice sessions, bowl three games, then change balls or clean the ball and continue. When it comes to your medium ball, however, you'll find you won't need to clean it as often.

to get the oil out of your ball the best way is to get a five-gallon bucket of hot water and a detergent and scrub your ball with a soft nylon brush, rag, or sponge. This will draw the oil out of the ball and restore some of its hooking power.

[apoplectic]

As for me hooking the ball, I dont even know how to do that yet.I bowl straight up. And the towel trick has helped a lot. My follow through is still by my left shoulder, but its straight underhand untill i release the ball. It will take a little work,but im averaging in the 80s-90s now and i was in the low 40s before :D . Im really glad i got into bowling. The team at my school was one person short,and i got fed up with football after two years of being lobster boy(scandinavians dont do too well in florida outside from 3:30 to 7). And who can resist free bowling? The girls there arent bad looking either ;) .

Also, I'm thinking about waiting till the off season to learn how to hook.