What does "fading" mean?

[DLP]

I've heard it from the Pro I work with when watching me and I've heard it from my husband. Both of them say that my ball "fades". Good? Bad? Indifferent?

No idea what it means and I asked my hubby "well what am I doing to cause that?" He couldn't tell me.

[JPbowl]

Only thing i can thing of would be its "rolling out early".
ball starts to hook and doesn't continue.
keeping your hand behind/inside/ under the ball at release (with a good follow through) is what makes it keep going after turning the corner.

[classygranny]

Fading actually means your ball is moving away from the pocket; so if you are right handed your ball is moving to the right before it gets to the pocket - or into the pocket if that is what you intend to do. The movement is also known as a backup ball. If this is truly what is happening, you are probably rotating your wrist clockwise or to the right (assuming right handed). Try and keep your wrist behind the ball and rotate it a little bit to the left as you're releasing the ball. The more experienced guys here can elaborate on this more than I probably.

Also, fading may be confused with "running out" or "losing momentum"; which means the ball is losing energy before it gets to the pocket and just "fades" before it hits the pocket. This is usually caused by using the wrong ball for the condition of the lane, or playing the wrong line. Since you are just beginning and if I remember right you are using somewhat of a straight ball, you might try moving your feet right and changing your ball path to get to the pocket.

If it's the second - confused with "running out"; that is not a good thing as you will not carry very many strikes.

The first, if it's truly a "backup" ball - I know many people that bowl this way and do very well. As a beginner, I would suggest you learn to rotate the ball to create a curve/hook ball, as it will always carry better than a backup ball, at least in my humble opinion.

Hopefully, the more experienced guys will jump in and correct anything I may have misdirected you on, but this will give you something to ponder.

Good Luck

[TCJ]

I've seen some people who throw balls that go mostly straight, then back up (reverse hook) ever so slightly. That's what I'd call fading. Also, I once had a ball that was drilled improperly and it would hook, then reverse hook just as it was hitting the pins. It was the weirdest reaction I've had with a bowling ball.

[JPbowl]

a righty bowling a lefty jersey without throwing a backup ball from the left side of the lane ?

Thats something new. lol

[bowlerRob2]

Since there seems to be varying opinions here, why not just ask your hubby or the pro what they mean by "fading"?

[GeoLes]

If it is truly a "backup ball" ( a ball that moves from right to left, thrown by a right handed bowler), and you want to change it. Understand that is is caused by lifting of the pinky upon release. this caused he ball to spin left right down the lane. keeping the pinky passive will result a flat finish with the ball rolling more-or-less straight. That said, by rotating the wrist naturally to the right on release (assuming a right handed bowler) will produce right-to-left movement instead. - but that's another topic.

Hopfully it is helpful.

If not.... (never mind)

[DLP]

SUCCESS!!!!

Bowled three games tonight and while it wasn't my best it by far wasn't my worst. What it WAS for the first time since I've started was consistent!!!! I got to the point that I was leaving the same 3 pins frame after frame after frame by the third game!

And yes, it is a ball that is doing what TCJ said. I'm a righty throwing a ball that at the last minute decides it's not a fan of continuing to go straight, which is what I want it to do.
I figured it had to do with my release and the end position of my hand so I did two things.
I took my 14 lb ball out and just practiced slowly rolling the ball out of my hand to get used to the feel of what it "should" feel like when letting go. I found this as a recommended drill for teaching technique, and figured since I'm more concerned right now with developing a "memory" for what feels right, it couldn't hurt to be rolling it simply across the carpet and trying to run over the cat. I found out that some of this had to do with my wrist being in the wrong position entirely and my fingers not leaving the holes smoothly.

I also grabbed a brace that I had worn for carpal tunnel some years ago (it has the metal bar on the inside of the hand) so it kept me from bending my wrist forward as well as back. These two things combined and my ball was going exactly where I wanted it.

Thank you!!!
p.s. I also did the drill you recommended GeoLes on my other thread. So I think that had something to do with it as well!!