Thoughts on "My ball won't hook anymore" problems

[GoodGravy]

Just looking for some general advice on what are some possible quick fixes or things to check on when the ball is just not getting to the pocket.

Here is the scoop: Previous week was dead on in league, ball was moving well and great carry. Fast forward to this week, similar situation, but ball moved very little with almost no carry. Lets assume the following:

1. Ball was clean and surface was good
2. Lane conditions were very similar (as close as can be with 'normal' THS oil)
3. Rev rate and speed were close to same

Understanding that this is very difficult without any real frame of reference, but just some general thoughts on when you are throwing and all the sudden the ball is not moving the way you like, what's the first thing you look at to correct it?

[edpup316]

Well If im taking into account the things you mentioned I would say that it may be the ball has probably absorbed its limit of oil and needs to be baked to get the oil out.

How often do you resurface the ball though? It may be nice and clean but if its suppose to be at 2000 and its been 3 or 4 months than its probably not at 2000 anymore. The lanes are around 500-1000 grit i believe(got that info from my friend who went to the USBC in Texas for a lesson) so prolonged friction against lane will dull the ball.

[classygranny]

I agree with edpup316, but if you are looking at mechanics, I would first look to see if I'm holding the ball in the correct starting position (I tend to rotate mine without thought), check for correct wrist position making sure it's not breaking, and check for finger position, have you maybe pulled your index finger in without realizing it, pushed your pinky out? Also, your timing might be a fraction off and you are pulling the ball into the oil area without even realizing it. Sometimes we tend to relax our concentration in the little things without realizing it.

That's my take on what I would do, but I'm no expert!

[got_a_300]

A few more things to consider as to why it wasn't reacting the same

1. how was the weather?
maybe it might of been more humid making the lanes slicker


2. were there bowlers on the lanes before you?
if so maybe they were throwing plastic balls causing carry down


3. were the lanes back ends stripped good enough?
if not then there could have been carry down left on them


4. as edpup316 said maybe the ball is just oil soaked to its limit

[Greenday]

I find that most of the time when people complain about dead balls, it's usually a maintenance issue.

Do you clean your ball after every session with ball cleaner?
Do you wipe off your ball between every shot?
How many games since the last deep cleaning (Ball bath/oven bake/etc.)?

If your answers aren't "As soon as I get home/Yes/Less than 100", there's a good chance it's absorbed too much oil and needs a deep cleaning.

If maintenance isn't the problem, it could be something as simple as just too weak a wrist position.

[billf]

Seeing as I soak and resurface my balls around 60-75 games and do wipe after every shot and clean after every three games, personally I would have to assume it's my physical game. Lazy balance arm is my usual culprit.

[GoodGravy]

Thanks all for the help!!

I'm a bit OCD when it comes to ball cleaning---wipe down after every shot, use cleaner after every set, soak ball after approx. 50 games---although I would never count out a saturated ball...

I would suspect that it has to do with wrist and/or weak release. I am headed to practice tomorrow, so I am going to go step by step. If still not where I want it, I may drop off my ball for a full re-surfacing...

[edpup316]

I find that most of the time when people complain about dead balls, it's usually a maintenance issue.

Do you clean your ball after every session with ball cleaner?
Do you wipe off your ball between every shot?
How many games since the last deep cleaning (Ball bath/oven bake/etc.)?

If your answers aren't "As soon as I get home/Yes/Less than 100", there's a good chance it's absorbed too much oil and needs a deep cleaning.

If maintenance isn't the problem, it could be something as simple as just too weak a wrist position.

Spot on. When I worked at the pro shop, I would say every 8 or 7 out 10 that came in saying that they needed a new ball cause they'er other ball just died when all they needed was to have it cleaned or baked and the surface brought back to stock. You would be surprised how much of a difference there is between 1000 and 2000 abralon and an even bigger difference between a polished ball and that same polished ball thats been used for 4 months. Its huge.

[Tampabaybob]

Just looking for some general advice on what are some possible quick fixes or things to check on when the ball is just not getting to the pocket.

Here is the scoop: Previous week was dead on in league, ball was moving well and great carry. Fast forward to this week, similar situation, but ball moved very little with almost no carry. Lets assume the following:

1. Ball was clean and surface was good
2. Lane conditions were very similar (as close as can be with 'normal' THS oil)
3. Rev rate and speed were close to same

Understanding that this is very difficult without any real frame of reference, but just some general thoughts on when you are throwing and all the sudden the ball is not moving the way you like, what's the first thing you look at to correct it?

While all of the comments to your dilemma were pretty accurate, the one item not mentioned was "The Dead Zone". Let me clarify for anyone who doesn't know what it is. The dead zone is the area at the end of the oil pattern, somewhat carry down, but more importantly oil that has been "pushed" into "YOUR" track area. Now, let me make a couple of assumptions and I'll try to see if this may fit your circumstance. You were playing on a THS shot and playing somewhere from the second arrow to the right hand gutter. Right? Someone else and possibly more than 1 person you either bowl with on your team or that was on the opposing team was shooting 3rd arrow or deeper. Still guessing but am I close? Anyway, those people plying deep have been "pushing the oil out to your "area" (maybe even break point) and all of a sudden your ball won't finnish. Still with me? Now, what can you do in this situation? This is one of the hard things to compensate for, if you shoot that outside area and have a bunch of crankers bowling with or against you. What you need to do is find an area (usually left of where you were playing, and get you ball into that dryer area that the other bowlers have created. Not the easiest task, but this is why I always tell bowlers to pay attention to the other bowlers on your lane and try to figure out where you "may" have to move in a game or so. In some cases you can change balls to over come that but you still run the risk of having your ball start to slide just a little (again) before you hit the pocket. Moving inside a bit is my first choice, and if doesn't work, I drag out the other two balls and try them.
Can be very frustrating, but my guess is that your ball did not change that much in one week.

[Stormed1]

One other thing not mentioned is a malfunction in the oiking machine and as a result not as much oil as normal and the ball was burning up. Trying a weaker ball and seeing the reaction can confirm. And as mentioned above that large of a change in ball reaction would not happen that quick

[GoodGravy]

Great help all around!!!

It seems that in this case, I was releasing my ball just a tad early which cased a very shallow axis tilt...and I was carry a little to much speed to complicate matters more. I slowed down and concentrated on releasing the ball after I 'almost' completed my slide. I was able to move back left (yes, I was compensating by getting into the second arrow 'no man zone')and start throwing back over 15+ board.

Much better!

I may write down some of your ideas and put them in my bag, just in case I run into this again and can't figure it out!

[classygranny]

Great help all around!!!

It seems that in this case, I was releasing my ball just a tad early which cased a very shallow axis tilt...and I was carry a little to much speed to complicate matters more. I slowed down and concentrated on releasing the ball after I 'almost' completed my slide. I was able to move back left (yes, I was compensating by getting into the second arrow 'no man zone')and start throwing back over 15+ board.

Much better!

I may write down some of your ideas and put them in my bag, just in case I run into this again and can't figure it out!

I have what my teammates, hubby, and sister refer to as my "bowling bible". I keep notes from here, from coaching sessions, those "light bulb" moments while I'm bowling, reminders of what I need to work on for the coming up session, etc, etc. Then I review the previous coach session and my goals of what to concentrate on for the upcoming session while i'm waiting for the bowling league to get started. Then if I get into trouble, I have notes in my folder/notebook that I can easily refer to - and yes, they are in alphabetical order for the most part.

I would suggest everyone do this until you are bowling at the level you want to plateau at. I find that just writing the information down (maybe never looking at it again) will often help me to retain and recall the data easier.

Of course, you have to remember to - I can't remember very well, so I rely on any little trick to help me in this way, so you may want to just take this with a grain of salt.

[Judy clemons]

i like this ideal that is what I need a bowling bible I am always jotting notes down but in reality I tended to lose them I
never had them to go back to maybe this will help me keep up with them but how in the world do you manage to put them in alpha order?

[classygranny]

i like this ideal that is what I need a bowling bible I am always jotting notes down but in reality I tended to lose them I
never had them to go back to maybe this will help me keep up with them but how in the world do you manage to put them in alpha order?

Well, sorta in alpha. I'm old school. Notebook with notebook paper. Make my notes - different ideas, coach tips, instructions each on a separate page. Then at the top I put a key word, like STANCE - this would have everything that I have changed and am working on that has to do with my stance. So my "form" issues are pretty easy. Stance, Footwork, Balance, Release. The other stuff, I just try and put a key word that I would tend to look for if things go awry while I'm bowling...leaning, timing, release. These aren't as easy. When I really get in trouble, I just start flipping through pages to see if a light bulb goes on and reading/skimming notes usually makes me get my head back into the game - not necessarily what I am reading.

Before I bowl any session, I try and write down one to three things I want to work on. If during practice I see that I am going to have to concentrate on something different then I modify the list and then try and stick with it so I'm not "overthinking" my bowling. I tend to be very competitive-mostly with myself and I am working on relaxing and taking some of the thinking out of my game. The list and notebook help because I can get it in my head, without putting all my efforts into trying to "remember".

Then one section is where I keep the details of my games. Scores, #of strikes, spares, opens, splits - average for night, average for league, lanes, line I started with and ended with, ball(s) used. I'm actually currently tracking each shot leave, target, and actual board hit. Then when we return to those lanes, I start at the same place and find I spend less time trying to lineup.

[DLP]

Well, sorta in alpha. I'm old school. Notebook with notebook paper. Make my notes - different ideas, coach tips, instructions each on a separate page. Then at the top I put a key word, like STANCE - this would have everything that I have changed and am working on that has to do with my stance. So my "form" issues are pretty easy. Stance, Footwork, Balance, Release. The other stuff, I just try and put a key word that I would tend to look for if things go awry while I'm bowling...leaning, timing, release. These aren't as easy. When I really get in trouble, I just start flipping through pages to see if a light bulb goes on and reading/skimming notes usually makes me get my head back into the game - not necessarily what I am reading.

Before I bowl any session, I try and write down one to three things I want to work on. If during practice I see that I am going to have to concentrate on something different then I modify the list and then try and stick with it so I'm not "overthinking" my bowling. I tend to be very competitive-mostly with myself and I am working on relaxing and taking some of the thinking out of my game. The list and notebook help because I can get it in my head, without putting all my efforts into trying to "remember".

Then one section is where I keep the details of my games. Scores, #of strikes, spares, opens, splits - average for night, average for league, lanes, line I started with and ended with, ball(s) used. I'm actually currently tracking each shot leave, target, and actual board hit. Then when we return to those lanes, I start at the same place and find I spend less time trying to lineup.

Love that idea!!! Think I'm going to start keeping a notebook in my ball bag to start doing the same. Since it's all about consistency and being able to repeat what's been done previously, what better way to keep track of that than writing it all down!

[travkoiboi]

Storm cover stocks are the best but you have to take care of them the most. I've noticed with a couple different balls that after I throw ethyl alcohol wipes is the best to get the oil off. It takes about a minute to rid a ball of fresh oil just after throwing. I have never had to bake a ball because I try to not let oil soak in the stock. It sounds like your ball could use a bake then take care of it post-game.

[edpup316]

Storm cover stocks are the best but you have to take care of them the most.

Oh really? Random, extremely subjective and unhelpful. Yes he has a Storm bowling avatar but it doesn't mean he was using a storm ball when the problem occurred.

[Tampabaybob]

Great help all around!!!

It seems that in this case, I was releasing my ball just a tad early which cased a very shallow axis tilt...and I was carry a little to much speed to complicate matters more. I slowed down and concentrated on releasing the ball after I 'almost' completed my slide. I was able to move back left (yes, I was compensating by getting into the second arrow 'no man zone')and start throwing back over 15+ board.

Much better!

I may write down some of your ideas and put them in my bag, just in case I run into this again and can't figure it out!

I have what my teammates, hubby, and sister refer to as my "bowling bible". I keep notes from here, from coaching sessions, those "light bulb" moments while I'm bowling, reminders of what I need to work on for the coming up session, etc, etc. Then I review the previous coach session and my goals of what to concentrate on for the upcoming session while i'm waiting for the bowling league to get started. Then if I get into trouble, I have notes in my folder/notebook that I can easily refer to - and yes, they are in alphabetical order for the most part.

I would suggest everyone do this until you are bowling at the level you want to plateau at. I find that just writing the information down (maybe never looking at it again) will often help me to retain and recall the data easier.

Of course, you have to remember to - I can't remember very well, so I rely on any little trick to help me in this way, so you may want to just take this with a grain of salt.

It's funny that yo mention "the bowling Bible". As many of you know, I recommend to all bowlers to get "Bowling This Month" magazine. THIS is what I call the bowling Bible. Go online and you can get this months issue free to look it over. You will get more insight from a couple of issues than you ever could imagine. It's a GREAT resource for ALL bowlers. Here's the link:
http://www.bowlingthismonth.com

[classygranny]

[QUOTE=classygranny;86570]

It's funny that yo mention "the bowling Bible". As many of you know, I recommend to all bowlers to get "Bowling This Month" magazine. THIS is what I call the bowling Bible. Go online and you can get this months issue free to look it over. You will get more insight from a couple of issues than you ever could imagine. It's a GREAT resource for ALL bowlers. Here's the link:
http://www.bowlingthismonth.com

After you told me about this magazine - thread was something to do with the over/under lane conditions - I subscribed. I have already copied a few pages and inserted them into my notebook bible and have kept the magazines in my office for easy reading and rereading.

You are right....it has soooo much information! Every bowler should be reading it.

[Tampabaybob]

I'm so glad you got the magazine. It has a multitude of information about the sport. The articles are well written and I refer to them many times when I get stumped with a question or something I'm working on for myself. Be sure to look one some of the past issues, as there are many, many great articles from those issues as well.

The article I referred to here was in the Nov or Dec 2009 issue, by Rob Mautner. The cove of that issue says "THE DEAD ZONE" . Great article...check it out.

[GoodGravy]

Out for practice yesterday. Took a day off work and it was pretty nice bowing in a completely empty center...was able to really work on some nagging form issues without any distractions.

Anyhow, using a lot of what has been discussed here, I am coming to the realization that with my current wrist/hand nerve issues my 'ol monster hook may be a thing of the past. I started moving right when I just could not get the ball to come back to the pocket and my game came together fairly well.

Don't know why I continue to be so shocked when I buckle down and get back to basics and the strikes start stacking up. No substitute for good knee bend, head up, smooth release and hand out of the ball clean.

[Tampabaybob]

Out for practice yesterday. Took a day off work and it was pretty nice bowing in a completely empty center...was able to really work on some nagging form issues without any distractions.

Anyhow, using a lot of what has been discussed here, I am coming to the realization that with my current wrist/hand nerve issues my 'ol monster hook may be a thing of the past. I started moving right when I just could not get the ball to come back to the pocket and my game came together fairly well.

Don't know why I continue to be so shocked when I buckle down and get back to basics and the strikes start stacking up. No substitute for good knee bend, head up, smooth release and hand out of the ball clean.

Glad to see this. More consistency, better area to adjust to lane conditions, and easier to hit a target than to hit an area. Good luck, stick with this.

[GoodGravy]

One more thing to add to all this....can't believe I didn't mention it before...

About 20 years ago (man...just seems like yesterday!) I was doing a Sports Medicine rotation in college--pre med course work--- and spent a few semesters working with the college baseball team. I learned a number of tape techniques for athletic taping. I have seen some other discussions on this page about wrist support for week/damaged wrists. I can tell you that a good tape job will work better than most pre-packaged wrist wraps out there.

It is a bit to involved to go into any significant discussion about the 'how to' wrap a wrist right. There is a lot of practice you have to do to get the tape to lay right and not bunch up while creating the right support. You might be able to find something on you-tube or Google that would get you started. My best advice, get some good tape!

[Tampabaybob]

So should we be calling you "DR GRAVY ????