Old school release in a new school world

[Low Revs]

Hi folks, new to the forum here and making my first post.

I started bowling in the mid 90's and pretty much quit around 2000. Around December I started bowling again and now bowl 2 leagues (struggle in both )

My question is, are there any good bowlers out there that still release the ball at 90* axis rotation (hand on the side)? Is it worth the effort to continue to work on my game with this release, or would I be better served to develop a new release?

My average is below 150 right now in a wood house, and I'm just looking to improve. I've got better equipment now then I have ever had, so I'm seeking good advise on how to get better with it.

Any advise is appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Pauley]

Welcome!

My question is, are there any good bowlers out there that still release the ball at 90* axis rotation (hand on the side)

Yes there are. At the highest level I'm pretty sure PDW has close to 90* axis rotation (not 100% sure, but that is what it looks like), and there are countless 200+ average league bowlers that come up the side of the ball. A more "modern release" can be a great, but hard, thing to learn you just have to find out what works best for you.

[RobLV1]

A great majority of league bowlers still release the ball with their hand on the side; probably 90-95 percent. Many of them average 220+. Considering your current average, and the wood lanes, just work with what you have at this point. Practice, along with modern equipment should get you where you want to be very quickly.

[Aslan]

I watched the "ace" of the opposing team we played last night throw a suitcase release. He was using a SYNC…which is a LOT of ball for wood lanes. So he didn't need much revs. He's a 187-189 average bowler. He had an off night last night, but he's dang good and he doesn't even use a 90 degree release…he just comes up the side.

I use an old skool 90-degree release on wood lanes with a mid-performance level ball designed for low oil. I start behind the ball and come up the side. Only about 225 revs, 14.7-16.9mph.

Right now I'm trying to work on timing. With timing and accuracy, especially on low oil/wood…you'll see that average climb quickly. Release adds revs, but getting a ball to hook is a combination of the ball, the drilling, the speed, the coverstock….AND the release. Most would argue the release is at LEAST 65% of that…but as my opponent showed last night…a strong ball (SYNC) on a low oil lane (wood) will hook all by itself…even with 1/2 of a 90-degree release.

So no…I think you can get from 150 to 185 without learning a modern release. On a typical house shot…you could probably average in the 210-220 range without ever learning a modern release. Now…based on what we see at the PBA level presently…if ya ever wanna compete at that level ya may need to learn a modern release OR start bowling 2-handed…but it's still a huge question whether there will be a PBA in 5-9 years…so why worry about it??

[Mike White]

I use an old skool 90-degree release on wood lanes with a mid-performance level ball designed for low oil.

I wouldn't call your release "old skool", more like kindergarden.

[Low Revs]

Thanks for the replies guys, good to hear that there are still people out there with this release scoring. Thanks for the encouragement.

I seem to have better revs than I have ever had, just having some trouble with accuracy and sometimes go on strike droughts that last the better part of a game, or maybe have a series where i get around 6 total strikes. Get plenty of practice shooting spares though!

Still having some trouble getting out of my ball and consequently missing my mark badly when my fingers start swelling. Im planning on trying to go to the next size up in fingertip inserts in a couple balls and see how it works out.

My body is letting me know that I have gotten a little longer in the tooth since the last time I did much bowling. I got in 17 games this week and that is just about all I could take physically. Im getting a little more limber or a little tougher each week, but its still a long way from where I would like to be in order to practice as much as I would like to.

[noeymc]

more or less if you want to be good you need a higher pap meaning you are getting more hand on the ball and push the ball on to the lane

[Aslan]

I wouldn't call your release "old skool", more like kindergarden.

I AM going to remember those type of comments when I become a super famous bowler…FYI.

[Aslan]

more or less if you want to be good you need a higher pap meaning you are getting more hand on the ball and push the ball on to the lane

Realize, thats more of an opinion than a fact.

[Mike White]

more or less if you want to be good you need a higher pap meaning you are getting more hand on the ball and push the ball on to the lane

PAP is usually considered further, or closer.. Which direction do you mean by higher?