Thumb trouble

[threeripmin]

i throw the ball 18.5 mph so thats not a big problem. what you need is a free arm swing and if that comes with throwing throwing the ball 18-19 then so be it. you dont want to muscle the ball for speed or to slow it down.

i use a mongoose lifter and i feel that it makes me release the ball a lot better, more revs and just a cleaner release.

if youre going to be throwing the ball 18-19 then you might need a heavy oil ball. i use a reign of fire which is one of the most hooking ball out there. the harder you throw the ball the less time it has to hook on the back end so you need something that will hook a lot.

hope some of this helps a little.

[15brute]

Before the evolve I used a roto grip mutant cell, and I have been told that it is a heavy oil ball. I had the same issues with it pushing through the break point, but that was also when I was having alot more release issues and not getting the revs that I am now. Most people I play against have huge sweeping hooks and play way across the lane, I want to play outside all the traffic and have a quick snap at the end, I just dont know if that is attainable with the way I throw the ball. When I get the release right, I get that kind of reaction out of this ball but I feel like I am concentrating so much on my swing and release, that alot of times I miss my mark and miss the pocket. I guess I will have to keep working on it and eventually it will come around. I am waiting til the end of the current league to start bowling with this ball and start the next league, 33 weeks with the new ball/style of bowling. So with that said, I am limiting myself to very little practice so I dont catch myself in-between forms and really screw my game up and in turn screw my team up. We will see how it goes!

[threeripmin]

you should practice as much as possible! its all muscle memory. your arm swing should be as free as possible and you shouldnt have to think about it much. work on keeping a STRAIGHT free arm swing!

about the line youre playing, try moving moving to the first arrow with you feet at around the 15 board. if it still comes in light then move your feet 2 boards at a time until you hit the pocket good. if you come in high standing at the 15 board then move 2 boards at a time to the left until the ball hit the pocket. if that doesnt work try the same thing throwing over the 3 board then the 4 then the 6 then the 7.

to get better you have to practice! find the best bowler that you can that is bowling when you are practicing, ask them questions and ask them if they could help you out a bit.

during the summer is when most people work on their game since summer leagues dont count for an average.

[15brute]

Three more practice games yesterday, still no issues with clearing my thumb, that issue may be over! Starting to get my follow through to be consistent but I am still consistantly missing the pocket. Average speed is at 19 mph. When I slow down to 18, then the ball does exactly what I want it to do, smashes the pocket an strike! Everytime I got my speed down to around 18, I hit the pocket and the ball reaction was beautiful. Problem is, my natural comfortable throw is right at 19 mph, I have to make myself slow down. I can do this a few times and then I find myself slowly creeping back to the natural throw and in turn my speed raises back up to the 19-19.5 range. So I guess I should change this post from "thumb trouble" to speed trouble!! I feel very goofy when I am approaching and trying to force myself to slow down, the results are there but I just cant make myself slow down very easily. Any tips besides the obvious? I tried holding the ball lower, smaller backswing, shorter approach and they work for a couple frames and then right back to the usual! It usually happens when I have to try to pick up a spare and throw my spare ball which is a straight throw and I'm usually bringing the heat!!

[threeripmin]

where are you playing on the lanes, 1st 2nd 3rd arrow? does your ball break at all on the back end when you throw it your normal speed? there might be a more optimal line to play. hope this helps, i throw the ball 18.5 when its breaking good on the back end but if i pull it left 3 boards my ball speed will be 19-19.5 just because there is more oil in the middle of the lane causing less friction. my spare ball speed is 19.5 to 20. im just saying, try out some other lines before you start messing with your speed.

[15brute]

I usually throw between 2nd and 3rd arrow, with my normal speed, ball breaks a foot or so. Gives me a sweeping arc. Last night in league, that line worked pretty good. If I move right, say between the first and second arrow, the ball hooks more but its a snappy hook in the back end and I miss the pocket. So when that happens, I move my feet right and throw between the first and second arrow, then it seems the ball over hooks and hits the 1-2 pocket. I dont like to make alot of adjustments cause I know that my release and form is lacking right now, and over adjusting will just make some of my issues worse. I feel like its coming around, and I used a line last night that was working but probably not the most optimal but I did get some consistency. Now that the ball is coming off my hand much better, I find myself not thinking as much about the release and I can concentrate on my line more. I think I'm only a couple boards off on my line and I just need to keep working with it.