Is it "ok" to loft the ball?

[v33dubfox]

If I want to get some "normal" rotation on the ball and keedping my hand behind the ball (not outside...), is is a lot easier when I loft the ball. This is an example of what I mean by lofting the ball (not me playing lol) http://www.buddiesproshop.com/p-3629...ling-ball.aspx

Mika Koivuniemi (sp?) is often doing that. What disadvantages could I find with that?

[BowlingObsessed]

Lofting delays hook because it takes the head area of the lane out of play due to the fact ball isn't physically touching the lane surface. The only disadvantage I can think of for lofting on a routine basis is when your ball is having trouble hooking and you want to get it onto the lane sooner so it can gather friction quicker might be difficult because you're not used to doing it. If you can teach yourself how to do both and when to do one over the other, it can be a big advantage.

[greycat]

consistancy is a big issue landing the same spot, same revs, and getting the same rotation on the ball. I have lofted to arrows and don't like doing it. I would guess the best way to use this is so that the ball breaks on an inside line near the headpin. I notice with myself that the ball will have lots of rotation late on the lane but the break is so late a wide shot is a dud.

I think if you are lofting to throw a ball with your hand behind the ball it sounds like you are hanging. This means the pitch need to be changed on the thumb to release sooner.

[chrono00]

yea, the main problem with loft tends to be consistincancy. if your 10 in the pit on first frame, and light on the next shot lets say. it's hard to tell a lot of times if your lofting say 8 feet past the foul line or 10 feet, and to know to play that again too.

I've been lofting some of my spare shots recently to try and straighten my shot out, and it has tended to work if I'm hitting my mark.

my one friend chucked the ball dam near 20 feet down the lane and averaged in the 190's though (before he broke his hip) if your good enough to loft to the same spot everytime it can work. but it is a bit tougher to be consistant with.

[resstealth]

I avoid lofting at all costs, would only do it if the lanes were bone dry. Consistency as others have said is your main issue. When you're lofting the ball out, you're exerting more force behind the ball, and when you're using more arm, your accuracy suffers.

[DanielMareina]

Lofting on a regular, fresh shot is not recommended. The longer the ball sees friction on the lane, the more power it can generate from the core. When the heads start to burn up, then a lot of that power is wasted in the first couple feet of the lane. This is when people loft the burned up area, to make sure their ball has full power at the end of the lane. I do find that lofting will hook a little later on the lane, but it also makes a more abrupt turn once it sees friction. I would suggest not lofting the ball as your normal shot, but it is a good skill to possess when you need it. Depending on the oil pattern, some lanes don't have oil for the first 12-24 inches of the lane, so setting the ball down after where the oil starts is very important. My house shot starts at 12" and the tournament I bowled the other day starts at 24". I had to add a little loft to my shot, because I usually set it down around 16-18" after the foul line. Just something to keep in mind.

[martin]

i try not to loft the ball.. when i loft the ball, my accuracy goes wayyyyyyyyy off the mark

[aussiedave]

If I want to get some "normal" rotation on the ball and keedping my hand behind the ball (not outside...), is is a lot easier when I loft the ball. This is an example of what I mean by lofting the ball (not me playing lol) http://www.buddiesproshop.com/p-3629...ling-ball.aspx

Mika Koivuniemi (sp?) is often doing that. What disadvantages could I find with that?

Poster BowlingObsessed got it exactly right.
Additionally, some bowlers I know use the loft to get the ball even further down the lane when they are hooking too much - less time on the lane = less hook, or boards covered.
I personally prefer more subtle methods for reducing hook, like hand position at release.
I think getting the ball more than 4-5 feet out past the foul line is gonna take more effort the further you try to toss it.
An old bowling partner taught me to imagine a tea towel on the lane just behind the foul line and try to keep the ball over that gap. The reason being that the oil pattern doesn't actually start until about 12 inches past the foul line anyway.
ad.

[martin]

An old bowling partner taught me to imagine a tea towel on the lane just behind the foul line and try to keep the ball over that gap. The reason being that the oil pattern doesn't actually start until about 12 inches past the foul line anyway.
ad.

ah heard of that.. there's 1 coach i know of who's gone as far as saying "are you afraid of your ball cracking?" if somebody went too smooth (doesn't loft past the towel)

[striker12]

yeah dontloft soo much only time when you ever see people do it is when they know how to do it and got years of practice with it or when the lanes are burt out where they need to get the ball more down lane soo it can move into the pocket rather then going high