ball speed question

[Scojoy]

I'm having trouble getting my ball speed up and my DV8 is hooking off the lane. I could probably try a more central approach to keep it in the oil, but at my house its a gamble how dry the lanes are going to be. Everyone one who watches me bowl says my backswing should be longer (higher?), but when I try to get the ball higher in my back swing I tend to throw it way right and usually its gutterville. Any idea why this happens ? Would this be a common thing to happen if someone is trying to get the ball higher? It does give me more speed but I usually look like the fool. thanks guys

[noeymc]

you are probably forcing your back swing and you lose accuracy can i ask where u stand now and whats your mark?

[LonelyBowler]

Don't swing the ball, just let it drop! No muscle!
It's all about good TIMING, that's what causes higher speed.

[Greenday]

I've started to do exercises in working the free swing. I set the ball out, then just let my arm swing freely back, then up. Better ball speeds, my ball is getting more length before snapping into the pocket. A lot less tension in my shoulder too.

[MICHAEL]

Don't swing the ball, just let it drop! No muscle!
It's all about good TIMING, that's what causes higher speed.

VERY good advice, I had a bad habit of muscleing the ball! I still do it way to much, and when I do it hurts my aiming! I miss my mark more often. Push the ball away from your body, and let the natural movement give you the speed you need... their are some great threads here that will make it much more clear! Good luck

[Zothen]

Your forcing the ball to do something your body doesn't want to do. Your trying to create faster ball speed by having a higher armswing,but,you are not in rythm with your foot work. My advice is to forget more ball speed and concentrate more on consistancy and accuracy. I suggest getting a ball for the dryer conditions you bowl on. I would also give the central approach a try and I highly recommend getting The Game Changer by Mark Baker.

Zothen

[Scojoy]

you are probably forcing your back swing and you lose accuracy can i ask where u stand now and whats your mark?

I stand at the forward marks, r foot on 30 board, aiming between 2nd and 3rd arrow. approx 14th board.

[noeymc]

try moving 5 -7 boards left and aim between 3rd and middle angle you will hit more oil delaying the hook part see if that helps if not i would adj just the balls surface

[scottymoney]

As said before don't try to create more speed that will make you less accurate. I am around 18mph, when my ball speed goes over 18 the ball starts going everywhere. A guy on my team I would venture to say never throws the ball over 13mph on a fast day and he strikes so much. Keep your ball speed where it is and just move left to a bit more oil as noeymc said.

[swingset]

If you're hooking off the lane, no matter the ball speed, you have too much ball for the conditions.

If you're intent on creating more speed without forcing the ball, dropping your opposite shoulder on the backswing will generate a higher/faster swing and ball speed, but it comes at the cost of a harder to control shoulder and arm pendulum. Pros do it, but that's because they're pros.