Not sliding affecting my ball speed?

[teamxdmatt]

i just started bowling again after a couple of years and i never did slide i just don't feel comfortable trying it but is it affecting my ball speed too? i only throw about 13-14 mph and i have a short backswing as well for some reason i don't like having a high backswing. is my speed ok or do i need to try something i'm just not sure on what to do. i'm putting alot of wrist into the ball on a house shot standing on 30-35 and throwing out with my action packed.

[mdmjdm]

13-14 mph is going to cause you problems, esp when the lanes dry out. Seems like today's game requires at least 15-16 mph, maybe because coverstocks these days soak up the oil like sponges.

Maybe try cheating your backswing up a little at a time, by raising your starting position a little at a time. It should take your backswing higher and increase ball speed a little.

Personally, that is the type of change I make in small increments...last time I tried to make a BIG adjustment to my start and backswing my timing got all screwed up, taking even longer to fix.

[DanielMareina]

Not sliding will effect lots of aspects of your swing. I bowled in street shoes for nearly a decade. It helps you get a lot on the ball, and really crank the ball out of your hand. This is not a good thing for your overall bowling game though. I would recommend getting a pair of Dexter SST's or any shoe with a interchangable slide pad. Start out with a 2 or 4 pad (not much slide) and go from there. It will mess your timing up to slide, but it will take a lot of pressure off your knee and smooth out your release. My average went up 8 pins the first year that I changed over to bowling shoes, and my knee is very thankful too. As for ball speed, the post above me is correct. 15-16 is as slow as you want to throw it if you put a lot of rotation on the ball. And his advice about raising the starting position of the ball is dead on! Good luck!

[teamxdmatt]

i just cant seem to get he approach right on sliding.. and i've tried to use a higher backswing but i havent seen an increase in speed probably cause i don't slide. i'm just lost lol

[DanielMareina]

You can try to speed your feet up. This will make your arm increase speed to keep up, and in turn will increase ball speed. Depending on your current speed, it may be a good idea. If you are already quick with the feet, it may be too fast. Without seeing it, it is hard to tell you what to do. I do recommend sliding though. Just to reiterate

[teamxdmatt]

my approach isn't fast at all . i hope trying to approach faster will help thanks. i do have alot of trouble on dry lanes i don't really have a ball for it. any suggestions on a ball for dry lanes? thanks for your time.

[DanielMareina]

It would help to know what ball you throw right now. The key to picking new balls for dry lanes is to match the ball style with the other balls you have, so as the lanes dry out it makes the transition between balls easier. As far as balls for dry lanes, I would suggest Tropical Heat, Fast, or the Reign by STORM, or maybe the new Slingshot by Brunswick if you want something really tame. I will tell you which one of these balls will work best for you when I hear what ball(s) you throw right now. Until then, good luck on the faster approach!

[teamxdmatt]

right now i'm using an Action Packed by columbia 300.. i bought it off my friend we have pretty much dead on the same span i'm not sure how the drill pattern is on this i will take a picture of it for you. i've let it get pretty dull though i need to polish it back up to factory finish. right now if here is some oil on the lane i can stand on 30 and swing it out to about the 4th or 5th board and it will come back for me probably because of my slow speed. my average is ok but i want it to be better around 160-165 range is what i'm at now but when it comes to dry lanes i'm so inconsistent.

i also have an Xcel but it's sanded right now i would use for heavy oil i think its drilled to go long i will take a picture of it as well. those are mainly the only two i use. i use the action packed more though. i hardly come across heavy oil lane conditions so maybe i should polish it as well?

i will take pics of the layouts when i get home from work. thank you for the help

[mdmjdm]

Getting some surface off of those balls will help, the dull finish just makes it read the lane earlier and smooths out the reaction. The Xcel is definitely drilled to go long and arc, with the pin that far off your PAP. If it snaps at the breakpoint, it must be due to the speed, because that drill is intended to reduce the track flare. That is the one that should have the polish. The other is drilled to pretty much maximise the ball...as much flare as it will get. The pin is up, so that makes it go longer. How many games on those balls? Last time they had the oil baked out? If you really want to tame out a resin ball, simply dont clean it...the oil will build up in it over time and soften the reaction. Of the two layouts, the Xcel has more of a "dry lane" look to it...add a polish to it. As for a dry lane ball, I'm a Morich guy, and they don't have much in that arena...lol. The Solid LevRG is very tame by Mo's standards, and the Mojave simply WONT move in oil, it's for REALLY dry lanes. Forget the Sahara, though...NOT a dry lane ball

WHICH problem with dry lanes are you having? There are essentially two that people struggle with: Early read (IE the ball starts to hook too soon, and just keeps digging) or Over-reaction at the end of the pattern?

With the dull surfaces and low ball speed, I'm guessing the first. Polish will help some, but ball speed is a MUST when they get really dry. The first 10 boards of any house dry out like that, you can also get your breakpoint in to the 10 board or so...there is usually a little more hold in there.

I had a few other ideas for you to try, in addition to Daniel's earlier posts. Look at a target further down the lane. I know it sounds odd, but it tends to make most bowlers extend through the shot better rather than lifting up. You can also get a little more loft on the ball, which can be helpful when you are just a LITTLE high. Getting the ball to hit the lane maybe 2 feet farther can get it off the head pin, useful for a good line that suddenly leaves you 4's and 9's. I'm not talking about LAUNCHING it to the arrows, just a few feet.

Take your time with the increase in speed...it will take time to adjust to. Work on it in the summer, and I'm sure you will have it fixed by winter.

[DanielMareina]

mdmjdm had the layouts pretty well pegged. Assuming that your axis is close to where the weight hole is drilled on the Columbia ball. To tell you the truth, both layouts aren't exactly ideal for people who average where you do. The high flare layout on the Columbia is a good layout, but will have a lot of over/under reaction problems. Especially with a strong layout on a core that isn't great. The Xcel isn't a bad layout, but if it is sanded, that will cause you problems. I would suggest resurfacing the Xcel with around a 1500 grit polish, or take it to 4000 grit abralon. Either will make it a little more of a viable option. With those two balls, you are wide open on choices for light oil ball. Usually I would suggest balls that hook like the other balls you have, but both of those should be replaced some time in the future. I would suggest starting what will be your new arsenal with a Storm Reign. It is a great ball! It will slide through the heads clean, and the core is very predictable and very powerful. Also, you could follow it up with the Reign of Fire to replace both your other balls later on and use that for heavy to medium oil. If you can find out what your positive axis point is, I would be happy to suggest some layouts that would work for you. I hope this helps!