When is adjusting axis of rotation appropriate?

[Hampe]

That 'may' be true...but I stand by the REST of my statement (that you left out) which says I'd change balls, speed, or loft/vertical target BEFORE I'd mess with axis rotation.

I still have to agree with Mike (that one day you will realize how wrong you are here). Changing release is just as fundamental an adjustment as changing balls, speed, loft, etc. Depending on the situation you will NOT "just as easily solve your problems" by changing balls, speed, or loft. For example, on really short patterns you will generally have to take some hand out of the ball, or (to quote a wise man), "you're gonna have a bad time".

It's like the advice people always give with timing and approach changes...it's usually the LAST thing you want to change. Not that you can't do it....not that it's never done...and higher level bowlers may do it as part of their game...but you start getting a beginner/average bowler changing how much he hits up on the ball...I gotta think thats more of a last resort. Just my opinion.

Well who are we talking about then? A beginner/average bowler is going to be just as confused by changing his balls/speed/loft as he will by changing his release slightly. It's a fundamental part of the game and something that every serious bowler should practice regularly. In certain situations it will be the absolute best adjustment you can make.

[bobforsaken]

For what its worth, I'm ball changing way to much as it is. The purpose of my quest to be more versatile using AOR is to avoid changing balls all the time and throwing bad shots when I realize the tape isn't just right.. Changing loft for me is the most difficult since I have a bad habit of dropping the ball on the approach as it is.. my mental key to avoid this is to "Throw it to the arrows" which gives me acceleration through the ball and helps me stay behind the ball more. So lofting the ball (which is what I do all the time) actually increases my revs negating (as I understand it) the purpose of lofting the ball. Trying not to loft the ball just kills any effective rotation. Someday I'll improve enough to do that.

Speed, for me is doable in smaller increments. I do find that ifl I try to increase the speed a lot I lose balance and lose effective revolutions.

Axis of Rotation is actually getting to be a bit easier for me, but I think I need to work on some type of incremental adjustments. I'm going to work on the finger positions as outlined by Bowl's articles. Currently my axis of rotation is directly tied to my cup or cup/cocked.. In other words, my cup is only very slight before tendons in my wrist start directing my wrist to a cupped+cocked position. My normal comfortable release is cupped and slightly cocked. I'm probably around 45 degrees AOR when I do this When I go deep inside my Cocked position increases even more an I probably have 60 to 90 Degrees AOR and a really ugly "Yo-yo release" Going straight wrist seems to be the way I accomplish a lower AOR (say 30 degrees) but if I'm not careful I throw a straight ball.

And of course in all of this, I"m loading my hand differently to currently accomplish change in AOR so I'm of course changing the revolutions.. maybe that is really my problem. I'll work with finger positions today when I practice.

[bowl1820]

Axis of Rotation is actually getting to be a bit easier for me, but I think I need to work on some type of incremental adjustments.

Might take a look at this:

VAR-E System: Changing Axis of Rotation to Change Ball Motion

With the VAR-E Axis of Rotation System, learn how-to alter ball motion more easily. I have found it easier to teach axis of rotation variation by focusing on the center of the palm as compared with teaching it referencing the fingers and thumb. With VAR-E, the key to altering ball motion easily is to envision a clock face relative to the center of your palm.


Click here for VAR-E System: Changing Axis of Rotation to Change Ball Motion PDF

Righthanded worksheet
Click here for /var-e-evaluation-worksheet-rh.pdf

Lefthanded worksheet
Click here for /var-e-evaluation-worksheet-lh.pdf

[dnhoffman]

That 'may' be true...but I stand by the REST of my statement (that you left out) which says I'd change balls, speed, or loft/vertical target BEFORE I'd mess with axis rotation. It's like the advice people always give with timing and approach changes...it's usually the LAST thing you want to change. Not that you can't do it....not that it's never done...and higher level bowlers may do it as part of their game...but you start getting a beginner/average bowler changing how much he hits up on the ball...I gotta think thats more of a last resort. Just my opinion.

We AGREE!

Changing axis rotation is definitely not for below-average bowlers!

You have to have a consistent and relaxed release, allowing you to properly roll the ball before being able to learn this technique.

So, it's not for Aslan. But it is an important technique none the less.