What technique is best for small statured bowlers?

[Pin_Pals]

I am about 5.5 feet tall and have relatively short arms with stubby fingers. The pro shop owners are exceptionally nice and are encourage me to allow the ball to roll off my thumb and use my fingers to roll the ball. This technique allows the arm to generate power (keeping the ball behind the hand) and the fingers to make the final adjustments for rotation. I cannot figure out how to roll the ball to release the thumb hole without chucking it. This problem is further complicated by my foot technique, which should be coordinated with the upper body and is currently described as an uncoordinated bull charging. Does anyone recommend a different technique for smaller bowlers? Should I continue practicing my current method?

Thank you for your advice,
Pin_Pals

[Shaneshu87]

honestly there is no perfect technique that is a one size fits all, or designed for tall people, short people, skinny people, or fat people. there are several fundamentals that we have discussed in other threads including things such as
timing
consistency
mental control
accuracy

no matter how pretty or ugly your technique is do what works for YOU. we have a guy named Hoppy who is right handed and throws off his right foot, imagine how ugly that approach is, yet he averages high 180s and i have seen him roll a 290. you don't have to throw like a pro to score like a pro, do what works for you and just focus on putting X's on the board.

[got_a_300]

who is right handed and throws off his right foot, imagine how ugly that approach is, yet he averages high 180s

We have several bowlers that bowl on the wrong foot right handers
bowling on their right foot and left handers bowling on their left foot
and they do alright on average about high 170's to mid 180's.

As said before there is no perfect way to bowl you just have to find
some style that works for you and practice, practice, and practice it
until you can do it over and over the same way every time.

Take PBA player Wayne Garber for instance he really has the most
unorthodox approach that you will ever see but he makes it work for
him somehow, anyway here he is bowling.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMgD9WpAt4M

[fortheloveofbowling]

Have you checked to see if there is anyone giving lessons at your bowling center? Like the other guys said, there is no wrong way to bowl. In fact, the first pba tournament was won by a guy named lou campi whose nickname was wrong foot because he slid on his right foot and was right handed. Consistency with what you do is the key.

[Amyers]

Have you checked to see if there is anyone giving lessons at your bowling center? Like the other guys said, there is no wrong way to bowl. In fact, the first pba tournament was won by a guy named lou campi whose nickname was wrong foot because he slid on his right foot and was right handed. Consistency with what you do is the key.

If you can get some lessons from someone. As stated above there is no wrong way to bowl but it is a lot more difficult to master unless you have ways of compensating for the ways you are unorthodox.

[Hampe]

There may not be a "wrong" way to bowl, but some movements are much more easily repeated than others, and in a game where consistency is at a premium, you want to have the most easily repeatable shot you can. That's why it makes sense to have a coach take a look at what you're doing, and hopefully correct anything you are doing that might make it harder to consistently repeat your shot.

[fortheloveofbowling]

I could not bowl as well trying to bowl like anyone else than me. That does not mean you bowl wrong and vice versa. I think good coaches try to look at what you do well and build upon that and change certain things. Also, maybe someone only has the desire to get to a 130 average and feels comfortable throwing it overhand. I think a coaches job is to get that person to the level they desire with possibility of improvement and that does not always mean completely tearing there game down.

[RexTheBowler]

All I can say is study how Ryan "Rhino" Page throws the ball. He's 5'4 and has one of the most powerful deliveries I have ever seen. It might help to look at YouTube videos that show his approach mirrored, so it looks like he's throwing right handed.

[rv driver]

Yeah, I'm 5'6" with short, stubby fingers, and I've often wondered if the taller people generate more speed due to longer arm swing, and if I've subconsciously compensated in some way. I've always had issues with hitting power.