Going back to one handed after 7 years of two handed, help needed?

[Hobbit]

Hi guys,

Just briefly, I began bowling one handed hook, after 6 yrs got to 160's and was stuck there, could see little improvement, anyway my mate threw it thumbless, so I tried, then went onto 2 handed , over the next 7 years ave jumped to over 200.. Thing is, I have peaked, I can't really get any further than say around 205-210 ave.. The mistakes that I make several yrs ago when throwing it two handed, are the same mistakes I am currently still making, even though I have worked at these.. Arrghhhhh!! frustration overload at times

Since beginning to read/comment on this forum, my level of interest in bowling has risen.. Feeling very positive about self improvement, and happy to take it right back to basics.. I thought about going back to the more traditional way, and in particular something easier on body (esp after seeing a 73yr old stroker ave 225+ last week, no stress on his body, very smoothe)..I thought that's exactly the shot that I want!!

The thing is I have lost nearly all my wrist strength throwing it 2 handed, and last night, just picked up a house 11lb and began using it, ball was travelling only 13-14 mph, very slow, with minimal revs..It was all I could use that fitted my hand.. Does anybody have any suggestions on getting bowling strength back for my wrist? And also using a 11lb ball for a few weeks to build up strength?!?! Any ideas on how to progress with one handed hook bowling appreciated, as always.
Cheers

[Blacksox1]

Might want to see a doctor about the wrist strength first.
Good Luck

[Hobbit]

Well after 13 games yesterday, hand was sore, even using 11 lb, however today feeling better, still little stiff, looking for specific bowling related ideas on improving strength from anyone? Thinking to stay with 11lb even though it's a plastic dead house ball

Blacksox if pain was persisting I would seek medical attention for sure, but as long as I take my time and not overdo should be ok.

[Shaneshu87]

practice, practice, practice that is about all i can say. you don't have to have 400 revs to average 200+ you don't have to have a ball that hooks from gutter to gutter, you only need 6 degrees of entry angle. your wrist will come back just give it practice, for now i would suggest some sort of wrist support and i don't mean a robby's, my local walmart sells weight lifter wrist supports that just loop around the thumb then wrap around your wrist. i personally used these when i first started bowling again after my hiatus from the sport. it is the perfect support it doesn't "make" your wrist do anything all it does is support your natural motion. get your basic 4-5 step approach down, because timing is everything. that being said good luck sir

[Aslan]

I don't know why you'd go 1-handed...it's a well known fact that roughly 95% of bowlers will bowl 2-handed by 2025.

[Mike White]

I don't know why you'd go 1-handed...it's a well known fact that roughly 95% of bowlers will bowl 2-handed by 2025.

Well known only to those who sniff stinky places.

[Mike White]

Hi guys,

Just briefly, I began bowling one handed hook, after 6 yrs got to 160's and was stuck there, could see little improvement, anyway my mate threw it thumbless, so I tried, then went onto 2 handed , over the next 7 years ave jumped to over 200.. Thing is, I have peaked, I can't really get any further than say around 205-210 ave.. The mistakes that I make several yrs ago when throwing it two handed, are the same mistakes I am currently still making, even though I have worked at these.. Arrghhhhh!! frustration overload at times

Since beginning to read/comment on this forum, my level of interest in bowling has risen.. Feeling very positive about self improvement, and happy to take it right back to basics.. I thought about going back to the more traditional way, and in particular something easier on body (esp after seeing a 73yr old stroker ave 225+ last week, no stress on his body, very smoothe)..I thought that's exactly the shot that I want!!

The thing is I have lost nearly all my wrist strength throwing it 2 handed, and last night, just picked up a house 11lb and began using it, ball was travelling only 13-14 mph, very slow, with minimal revs..It was all I could use that fitted my hand.. Does anybody have any suggestions on getting bowling strength back for my wrist? And also using a 11lb ball for a few weeks to build up strength?!?! Any ideas on how to progress with one handed hook bowling appreciated, as always.
Cheers

I think rather than having lost wrist strength, you've probably lost the timing of the release.

When you use no thumb, your window as to when to apply fingers is really large.

With the thumb in the ball, the window is actually quite small. If you apply fingers before the thumb is coming out, you hang up in the ball.

If you wait until the thumb is completely out of the ball, it's too late to effectively rev the ball.

There is nothing wrong with throwing 2 handed, and that probably isn't the reason to peaked at 205-210.

More likely the problem is you haven't learned the fundamentals of spare shooting.

You should work hard on being able to adjust your axis of rotation.

When trying to throw at most spares, you want a very low axis of rotation.

Considering you'll need to adjust the AoR even on your strike ball for different conditions, the hard work on spares, will also help you play multiple lane conditions.

[Hobbit]

Firstly thank u to all who have responded.. Some great feedback/info I am getting..

Mike, yeah it makes sense re losing timing of release. That window of release time is 100% correct, I'm sure I'm letting it hang in there too long..

My spares, are consistant except for my corner 7 pin (I'm leftie).. Throwing it 2 hands, it misses by a bit after flattening it out, then I try a end over end roll, same result.. I make about 60% of these spares, and I'm left with them the most.. However since throwing it one handed, easy, easy speed, hard and straight, and already shooting around that percentage, so there s light at end of tunnel for my spare game.. My accuaracy with strike balls can be a bit up and down, I can strike 5-6 per game, then within same game leave 2 nasty splits just as easy.. I was hoping that I can develop real accuracy going back to traditional bowling.

Aslan, u mentioned 2025 90% of bowlers two handed???? Love to know your source here ?Anyway, I would love to see Belmo when hes 73 yr of age bowling as he is currently doing. Hope he keeps smashing them down then, but cannot quite see it happening.. My wake up call as it were,as I mentioned earlier last week ,was seeing an International seniors bowler from Japan, on holidays just bowling a few games, he did it so easily.. Basically a traditional strokers shot, and ave over 225.. I'd take that style and ave anyday of the week..He must be doing a lot of things right, and it is considerably less impact on body that 2 handed.

Shaneshu87, I actually still have an old Mongoose wrist support that gathers dust in the bottom of my bag, may look at getting that out, but want to improve without it if possible.

[Aslan]

Aslan, u mentioned 2025 90% of bowlers two handed???? Love to know your source here ?

ROB M.

Thats all you need to know...

[Hobbit]

I must apologise for my ignorance, I'm sure Rob M means something to most people mate..

Either way, u may be partially right here Aslan, there are many more 2 handers out there, trouble is, most of them are the quintessential spray and prey variety!! I've seen in 7 -8 yrs of 2 handed bowling only a handful of excellent bowlers, who are either pro, or that next level down.. There are very, very few of them in reality...like hens teeth!!!!

Most are inconsistent, miss spares, leave splits, yet ave 200 or a tic more.. I fall into that group!

Bowled tonight, new me, one handed hook, 10 games, only ave 158 one handed with a house 12 lb ball (went from 11 to 12lb to see how I could handle extra weight), already my nemesis 7 pin, is improving! My speed is slow as an 80yr old grandma at present, and very low revs, still I can see the potential over time.. Bowled a 193 game tonight, that's a PB, feeling very positive! Have bowled around 30 games over last week one handed and ave just over 150 now, fingers crossed I can develop more speed and revs along the way..

I doubt whether I could have bowled 13 games a few days ago, to another 10 or so tonight as a 2 handed!! Just saying