1 Step Forward, 5 Steps Backwards.

[Gunz1911]

So I am in a slight bind right now. For a back story:
New to bowling, started out with a 13# Mistfit for my first ball. I was doing good with it, but it was uncomfortable at times so I got a wrist support and was doing very well. Bowled my first 200+ with that combo. However after talking to a few people and reading forums here, I decided to get a new 15# ball.

I decided to go with a DV8 Brutal Nightmare, Thinking I could tone it down a little with the layout and make it a decently aggressive ball that will give me some good pin carry. Now when I went in to get it drilled, I had the pro-shop look at my other ball. He informed me that it was drilled about 1/2" too short on my span and the finger holes where a few sizes to small.

So fast forward two days I get to pick up my new ball with a better layout that seems to fit much better. I bowled a few games at that alley right after getting the ball to make sure it fit decently and got 148,156 and 178, which is average for me. Then I start bowling THS at the alley that is close to my house and I am around 100-140's. I cannot get the ball to react to me at all, I can get it to move maybe 1-2 boards and that's it. When I hit the pocket decently I always leave a 5, 7 or 10 pin. However If I hit the Brooklyn style I seem to be able to pick up strikes a lot easier.

I am so new to bowling, specially learning new balls, that I am trying to move all over the place, change how fast I approach, or anything else I can think of to try and get some movement or at least get it to go where I want.

I tried to measure my speed today and from what I can tell using http://www.csgnetwork.com/bowlingballcalc.html
I am anywhere from 2.2-2.5 seconds which is 16.3-18.5 MPH
I have no clue what my rev rate is.
I still think I am pushing it down the lane, but slowly getting over that.

I know it is almost impossible to tell without video, but any input you guys might have is most welcome!! I am going to try and get some video this week when I can.

[unclemantis]

Welcome to the board! That is all I can say. I am looking forward to see what the others say about your bind!

[Tampabaybob]

Gunz, Welcome to the boards. Well, lets see. At first you're throwing a 13# ball and if I understand you correctly that ball would hook at the THS house. Correct? Then you go to a 15# ball, with a better fit, go back to the THS house and the ball wouldn't hook. Correct so far ?

So here's my theory. If the THS shot is a true THS shot (meaning heavier oil is between the 2nd arrow [10 board] and the 6th arrow [30 board] ) then with this new aggressive ball you should roughly be dropping the ball on or about the 12 or 13 board (at the foul line) and shooting the 2nd arrow, trying to swing the ball out to about the 6th or 7th board at the break point. IS THIS where you were aiming? Because you're a newer bowler, many times we find new bowlers trying to go almost straight down the middle of the lane. This is where the heaviest oil concentration is and you really have to crank the ball in order to do that.

I'll wait for a reply before I go any deeper into this. By the way if you have a video camera or video on your phone throw a few frames and video yourself bowling so I can see what's happening. That's the best way for us to tell. Let me know.

[Gunz1911]

When I started out doing good with my 13# Misfit, I would line up just forward the the rearmost dots on the approach, with my right foot being inline with the center dot. I would get a decent amount of movement out of the ball and enter the pocket relativly well. I tried the same starting position for most of the day yesterday and now that I read your post Tampabaybob, I can see myself trying to go down the center of the lane. I have been trying to hit between 2nd and 3rd arrow when I can actually hit them accuretly.
I am going back to the alley on thursday when it is $8 to bowl for as long as you want. Going to try and just take it one frame at a time and work on my approuch and release. So far my plan is:
1. Slow down!
2. Work on release
3. Align more to the right to try and get my ball out of that heavy oil.

Hopefully this works, and If my wife comes with me then I will be asking her to shoot some video on me. Doesn't always come out that great but will see how it goes.

[Greenday]

Just how heavy is the oil? If the oil is very light, a heavy oil ball like the brutal nightmare will burn up a lot of it's energy and will lose impact.

Also, as Tampabaybob pointed it out, it could be as simple as playing too straight up inside, relying on the oil to carry your ball into the pocket. Might have to bounce it a little outside.

[Tampabaybob]

Let us know how you do on Thursday, what your scores were, where you were targeting, and what kind of ball reaction you were getting. Be sure you are watching the target you're trying to hit until the ball rolls over it. Do not look up from that spot until you actually see the ball there.

[Gunz1911]

I may have understood it wrong when I read a different post but when your ball "Burns out" Doesnt it have to be in its forward roll? Mine normally hasnt left the skid phase until it is right on top of the pins, or already into them. Now that it is the day after and I am visualizing what I was doing, I can see myself going through the middle almost the entire length of the lane. I don't know how often the alley I go to oils their lanes, I just know they give them a good cleaning and re-oil before the leagues come in. I do normally go over right after work, So maybe the oil is just really fresh cause there has not been a lot of people using the lanes yet. I plan to go home today and tomorrow and just practice my release at home then try it out on thursday, staying more on the outside and seeing if that helps.

[Tampabaybob]

To answer your question, yes some balls do burn out ( speaking about the motion of the ball) but if you're playing down the middle and your ball is "skidding" most of the way then you don't have to worry about burnout. Burnout is when the ball has actually rolled too much too soon and it hits the pocket flat. Your task is to get the ball rolling. By being in the middle (heavy oil) you are forcing the ball to skid and not roll. That's why I suggested to move right between the first and second arrows.

[Gunz1911]

Thanks Tampa, Will try that out! Though all this talking about bowling and reading the forums is making me want to go back over today! Maybe I can sneak out before my wife gets home...

[Tampabaybob]

I hear ya... I've done the same many times !! LOL

[Zothen]

Welcome to the boards!

Here is my suggestion! You stated you are new to bowling and you went from a 13lbs light/medium oil ball to a 15lbs medium heavy/heavy oil ball and are having problems hitting the pocket. All of us on the boards can give you suggestions based on the info you provide,but,without seeing you bowl your only going to therories as to how to help you. I STRONGLY suggest getting a coach to watch you and help you! You can ask the pro shop if they do coaching and if not,maybe they can refer you a coach.

Zothen

[Greenday]

I may have understood it wrong when I read a different post but when your ball "Burns out" Doesnt it have to be in its forward roll? Mine normally hasnt left the skid phase until it is right on top of the pins, or already into them.

Ah, so it isn't actually putting it's stored energy into the shot. It's a matter of balancing when your ball makes the turn and goes into the pocket. Too early and it uses all its energy before it reaches the pocket. Too late and it never actually gets to use the energy. Once again, as Tampabaybob said, try play further outside where there's less oil. This should allow the ball to grab and make its turn into the pocket earlier, allowing the ball to use its energy.

[billf]

Are you throwing a straight ball or a hook? If you're starting with your right foot in the middle and see your ball going down the middle you're either throwing it straight or I'm missing something. If you're throwing it straight, you wasted your money. Put the ball up and learn to throw some kind of hook. It really isn't that hard.

[Gunz1911]

@ Zothen-
Luckily my friend is a coach and is going to come down next weekend to give me some pointers, Plan to take some video tomorrow for the boards too.

@Billf-
I am attempting to throw a hook. I think my biggest downfall on my hook is trying to muscle the ball forward and my overall release. I have read alot of your posts and I believe I need to work on my rotation and tilt, and of course accurecy. All week I have been running through my head how I was moving, releasing and aiming on Monday and I think I just got in my own head and got frustrated, causing me not to think and get everything backwards.

I will update after I go bowling next and hopefully have some frames to post.

[Gunz1911]

Went out bowling today and I have to say it went a lot smoother. I started my first few games trying to slow my swing and ball speed down so I did not really keep track of scores. I bowled 10 games in about 2 hours, My wife was suppose to bowl half of them with me but wasn't feeling good after the 2nd game. My last 3 games I tried my best and ended up with a 178, 219 (New high score) and then 152 (by then my arm was just dead.) I asked my wife to record me a few times on my approach and tried to get my release. Hopefully this link works for my You tube- https://www.youtube.com/user/cfair1911
I thought she got more video than she did, but most of them she either started the video too late or forgot all together. Posted the few decent ones I had, I will try to get a few more when I can.

[Tampabaybob]

Ok, not bad videos, but next time you have her video tape you, have her get you from the point of picking up the ball off of the rack until after the ball hits the pins. That way we can also see what your starting setup position is looking like. That matters ! Now for a critique..... Form is not too bad, very workable. A couple of things I noticed that I would suggest you work on right away, (and go back and watch all of the videos and you'll see what I'm talking about)

1. More left knee bend at the foul line. You're in a pretty good position all the way down and then all of a sudden you straighten that leg as you release the ball. Two things are happening when you do that, first it makes you hang on to the ball longer and loft it (killing some of it's potential roll), and second it throws you off balance. (notice how on most of the shots you fall to the right !)
2. On the last video look at your left foot. You actually came up on your toe to hold your balance. Try this..... as you're taking your steps, TRY to slide as straight as possible at the line ( I teach to even try to slide your foot a little left) By sliding right it opens your shoulders too much to the right and will allow you to easily pull the ball across the front of you (which you did on that last video clip)
3. TRY to slide on the ball of your foot. Your last step going into the slide your foot should barely come off of the floor. You need a little more slide.
4. TRY to keep your right foot (toe) on the floor when you kick it over to the left. This will help you to maintain your balance.
5. Keep your left arm all the way out ....again for balance purposes.

IF you can put these all together, it'll help you a lot. Try to hold yourself in the balanced position "at the line" until the ball rolls off of the pin deck. This will allow you to a) see your ball hit your target, b) watch your ball going down the lane seeing what it's doing or not doing, c) seeing where your break point of the ball is, and last but not least, how the ball is hitting the pins and where it is hitting.

These things will make you a better bowler. Knowing whats going on with the ball is very important information that will tell you what adjustments you need to make (if any).

Good luck, hope this rant all makes sense, but let us know how you make out with the coach also.