Questioning my game this morning....(LONG)

[agroves]

I'm questioning certain aspects of my game this morning. I bowled in another Swiss format tournament over the weekend. The shot is always the same at this house. It starts something like a slightly longer Viper pattern and then transitions in as the day goes on.

I struggled the first day from the start. Hitting the pocket was not an issue at all. But, my margin of error for carry was an issue. My first turkey came in game 5 and I finished the day at plus 35. I started watching the guys that were carrying. Most were playing inside of me and most had higher rev rates than myself.

The next day started out okay. It was strike at will in practice but my carry started to fade the last couple of shots(perhaps due to the 30 minutes of practice they give us). So, I moved a pinch deeper at the arrows when the lights came on. I started okay with a 210 and 217. The next game was a 193, with 6 single pins and one open. The next two games were the best two of the tournament as far as my ball reaction and carry went. I shot a 235 and 225, opening the 10th in both...once b/c I was stupid and once b/c I 4-9'd. Overall, I averaged 209 or 210, which is the worst I think I've done in these type of events.

There were some guys averaging near 240 after 12 games.

For those that don't know me, I'm alittle old school in my style. I'm more end over end with very little axis tilt. I do have axis rotation, but lack axis tilt. I generally keep the ball in play, which is evident by the fact I generally average 200+ on most sport patterns. However, when the lanes give me margin for error to hit the pocket, my carry isn't nearly as good as those with higher axis tilt, whether they out rev me or not. To be quite honest, I don't know how to "hook" it more without hitting up on the ball. That is how I learned, with plastic and urethane, you could do that....but not with resin.

For the record, I don't hit up on it now. I've gotten away from that over the past few years.

My self examination this morning tells me something needs to change in my game. It doesn't have to be a permanent change, but there needs to be another dimension that will increase my carry percentage when hitting the 1-3 isn't a problem. If the lanes get tight, I want the option to revert back to my old school ways to keep the ball in play. In recalling this weekend, I never messengered out a 10 pin, knocked out a half 10 and only tripped on 4 pin.

[BubbaRay]

There are many factors that determine your carry percentage. The most important of which is pocket entry angle. The simple fact is good pin carry is as much about proper alignment to the break point as it is about the bowling ball. In today's world of the average bowler brings 6 balls just to bowl league. With different finger positions, you can make a hook monster go straight or a very tame ball hook the lane. But that is the extreme of what someone with a good hand can do. how you can fine tune your ball reaction to increase control and pin carry just by using different finger positions. This can greatly increase your carry percentage and give you easier spares to shoot at. You have to try each finger position yourself and pay close attention to your ball reaction.

Try spreading the index finger wide and throw it and watch the ball reaction.
In most cases that will give you a stronger back end reaction. Sometimes that alone is enough to get the 10 pin out or
make the ball "turn the corner" a little harder when you need it to.

Now try pulling your index finger in closer to your middle finger but leave just a little space. This is less spread than our "base" starting position. For most people it is best not to pull the finger all the way in tight against your middle finger, because the ball can feel a little unstable in your hand. So leave just a little space. This time when you throw the ball it will go longer down the lane with a less pronounced back end. You can use this when your line just starts to dry out or you just need to get the ball further down the lane before it hooks.

Next try sliding the index finger in and leave the little finger spread wide. This will give you more end over end roll and take a lot of hook off of the ball. This is good to use when the the lanes are hooking a bit much or you need to play a very direct down and in line. If you really need to get behind the ball then try also to roll the ball more with the little finger.
Yes I know your little finger is not in a hole so how can you roll the ball with it? Well this lets you guide the ball with the little finger. Make your little finger go toward your target and feel your little finger come up the back of the ball. If you have never tried it, you will be amazed how much you can change the roll on a ball just by rolling it more with the little finger or your index finger. You can also squeeze ever so slightly with your ring finger in the hole and lead and roll the ball more with that finger than the middle finger to yet again change your roll and ball reaction. The same goes for your middle finger.

you could try curling the little finger under and spread your index finger wide. To curl your little finger just bend it at the first joint so the ball will be next to the finger nail. This can be a little painful the first few times you try it. But most people don't have a problem with it after a while. Now when you roll your next ball it will tend to go longer down the lane but come back strongly on the back end. Some people have a hard time with this one with pain in the hand or fingers. If that happens to you then don't keep doing it.

Notice I have not said anything about changing your revs or changing your release in any way. Only changing your finger positions. These finger positions are for fine tuning your ball reaction to help it match up better with the lane and pin carry. To be able to use these finger positions effectively, you must practice them and understand what they do for you.

[agroves]

Did you cut/paste from Ron Cliftons site?

[BubbaRay]

Yep. Ron has some good advice for better Pin Carry. Try these trips and see ifd they hel

[agroves]

I've used a variety of them over the years and some this weekend. Nothing gave me consistent carry except tucking my pinky, which helped periodically throughout the tournament.

[Thepainscoming]

andrew, i know im not the best but i had a sick high track, and this helped me lower it. in the swing, i take my wrist and have it on the inside a tad, or on the left of the ball in the swing, then i actually try to spin my hand at release a tad and it lowered my track. ur inside of it so u wont or shouldn't get to be a "spinner" but it should lower your track a bit and it gets it to push farther and react harder.

[Rowdy]

I've used a variety of them over the years and some this weekend. Nothing gave me consistent carry except tucking my pinky, which helped periodically throughout the tournament.

Did you remember to move the index finger out as far as it would go too?

[agroves]

I've worked hard the last couple of weeks to cure some flaws. My coach and I have been working on adding some more spine tilt at the release point. To do that, he had me start tilted forward alittle....ie keeping my weight on the balls of my feet.

For some reason, I tilted EVERYTHING forward. This made my swing start in a lower position and thus my timing has been very hit or miss. My timing has ALWAYS gotten outta sync when I lower the ball in my stance. I worked on it some more last night and the last 10 shots were the best 10 shots I've thrown all season.

I hurt my supinator muscle [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supinator_muscle] about a month or so ago. This has been, at times, very, very painful. It hurts alot more when you are throwing the ball bad and grabbing shot after shot.

But, I think I've found a hand position that I like that will also relieve some of the pressure from that muscle.