My form on video here

[GoodGorilla]

lecanto, fl. I thought many of the power players kept their balance arm out in front until the ball falls on the backswing. I was trying to duplicate a sean rash balance arm, but failed to do so. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zjQbKLpa_A Yeah, looks like sean is rotating his shoulder at the top of the downswing. I thought it was supose to be an effortless thing, but sean makes it look almost violent. I hope I don't hit the back of my leg with my ball trying to duplicate that right. But after comparing my video with the pros, my balance arm is a total mess. I never knew.

I'm still pretty new to bowling less than one year, but I already got an 800 series and a few 700, with over a dozen 600. No 300's, but I missed it by one frame in two different games. I normally average about 180 on screwed up lanes in open bowl. I've been pretty lucky at times, but I usually bowl more than 20 games a week. I've been working on one thing at a time, I never really got serious about the balance arm, sliding, or keeping my foot down yet. Most people say my strong point is being able to create a variety of releases, but my spares are about 50%. Sometimes I get 100%, sometimes I get 0%.

[billf]

Yes, power players put their balance arm out front and use it like a "windmill" to help power through the release.
When the balance hand comes off the ball your shoulders should rotate, with the hips, point it over your target. My thumb will be at my breakpoint helping to isolate it. To keep the thumb in that spot I also have to get lower with each step, just what a power player needs. Then as the swing comes down the hips and shoulders rotate back slightly as the balance arm powers back to your side, fully extended or even slightly behind your body.
Keeping the balance leg toe on the ground not only helps with improved balance but also helps to keep a player from over powering the swing. Accuracy is still paramount above all else so this combination helps to increase power while maintaining accuracy. More power can be generated but that is usually at the expense of accuracy.

[GoodGorilla]

Also as I mentioned in the last reply, try to hold your ball around waist high with your right elbow tucked into your side. Lean a bit to your right in your stance, so that the ball will swing under your chin area. This should give you a nice straight swing plane.

I'll have to try this some time, I've been pretty sick this week and wasn't able to practice.

[Tampabaybob]

Ryan........Believe it or not you're actually not that far away from me. I'm in Seffner which is just off of 75 and I-4. I'll still be coaching on Saturdays during the summer, so if you'd like to take a short road trip down to Brandon, again right off of 75, I'd be happy to spend some time working with you.

Now, one of the things I see you mentioned, is you've only been bowling for about a year, yet you've shot some pretty impressive scores. Anytime I see that, I am immediately drawn to the conclusion that you have a lot of natural ability. That's great to be able to work with. So, let me know, come on down and shoot a few games with me and we'll get you going where you want to be. Either PM me here or send me an email: tampabaybob77@yahoo.com

The bowling center is Oakfield Lanes on Oakfield drive. Easy to find from I-75, may 5 -10 min drive once you get off of the exit. Quicker on Saturday's early when there's little traffic. Just let me know. We start the kids leagues again in two weeks, so anytime after that.

[GoodGorilla]

I use to live downtown Tampa a few years ago. But if I was still living there I wouldn't have taken up bowling. I'm just lazy when it comes to getting coaching, I figure I would spend the money better bowling more games. I don't know the value of having a coach, but I could at least go down there one day and just do some bowling to be friendly. Sometime later this month would be good.

[Tampabaybob]

Just let me know when you want to come down and I'll make sure I'm there. Any Saturday is good for me starting in two weeks. Look forward to it.

[The German Shepherd]

I see a lot of bent angles in your approach and that tells me that you are losing a load of leverage. Your balance arm is bent - wrapping around the front of your body somewhat; your throwing arm bends rather early and your trailing leg bends up underneath your body as you throw the ball. All of these will cause you to lose extension, balance and leverage. Work on keeping your balance arm straight with your thumb pointing downward and also working on your balance, straighter swing and trailing leg.

Jay

[GoodGorilla]

Today I had my first chance to practice using the balance arm better. I played crappy, right now it feels like using the balance arm right is harder than learning how to hook the ball right. When I move my shoulder backwards near the top of the downswing, I don't got a feel for where the shoulder should end so it was stopping at random angles, which directly affected the direction the ball went in. I wasn't throwing gutters, but I had much less control over the ball. I knew that this would happen so I'm not terribly disappointed. What I can tell is that using the balance arm like that dramatically changes the way I throw the ball. It seems like it can add ball speed, I'm not sure because the place I bowled doesn't have a speedometer. Tomorrow, I'm going to an ally that has one.

[billf]

Using the balance arm, more of a free swing, spine tilt and all that, you will see in increase in speed...and revs. All with less energy needed and increased accuracy. Learning the correct shoulder angle is hard to explain here. Basically you want your shoulders in line with each other and with your hips but with all that pointing at your target.

[Tampabaybob]

Bill.....Trying to get Ryan to take a ride down to my bowling center to help him out. He's less than an hour away and I think I could rally help him. Like you said it's really hard to put many of the pieces of information into words. Hopefully he can get down here this summer.

By the way, have you heard from Ben or Scotty? I haven't in 2-3 weeks. just wondering.