Speed question

[backahead]

My elbow felt good yesterday so I went to the lanes for some much needed practice. My focus was pendulum action and staying behind the ball. I've wanted to bowl like that for the past month but the elbow caused me problems. So yesterday I did it. My hook was obscene. The lanes I played were very dry.

I figured I could overcome that with speed but for some reason I couldn't get my ball above 11mph. No matter how high I brought the ball on approach I could not get any speed. I ended up just tossing it about 10ft to compensate but that didn't matter either, I was still going across the head pin.

Yesterday was the first time I was truly behind the ball and it felt great to see that hook, but why did I drop 5mph from my relaxed wrist throw and what is the solution? Thanks guys.

[The German Shepherd]

How was your tempo on your approach? Were you by any chance walking more slowly to the foul line?

Jay

[backahead]

@TGS: I started like normal, which admittedly is a slow approach. So I tried to speed it up after the first game and I lost focus on pendulum by the 3rd game. I didn't want to think about that and it wasn't helping anyway, so I went back to my normal speed for the last 3 games.

[Stormed1]

Keep in mind that the speed is measured down by the pins , and that how a ball hooks is it slows down and when the rev rate and speed match it hooks. So if the lanes are dry the ball will slow down quicker and slow down more

[billf]

Dry lanes will affect speed quite a bit. To gain a lot of speed you need to increase the speed of your feet. Starting with the ball higher usually won't yield more than 2mph. Starting with your normal position but with faster feet, your arm will naturally move quicker to keep pace.
When comparing speeds to see what's working for you, try to compare with similar lane conditions.

[backahead]

@Stormed1 and Billf: Thanks guys. I will try to consider/impliment what you said in the future.

[The German Shepherd]

Dry lanes will affect speed quite a bit. To gain a lot of speed you need to increase the speed of your feet. Starting with the ball higher usually won't yield more than 2mph. Starting with your normal position but with faster feet, your arm will naturally move quicker to keep pace.
When comparing speeds to see what's working for you, try to compare with similar lane conditions.

And I would add that you should keep your arm-swing free and not try to muscle the ball. Carrying the ball instead of letting it swing reduces velocity as well...

Jay

[billf]

So true. Many bowler's when they try to increase speed, especially by holding the ball higher, tend to muscle it. Not only does that have a negative effect on speed and revs but can lead to injury (and lower scores).

[backahead]

@TGS and Bill: You guys are correct. My only purpose was pendulum and staying behing the ball. When I tried to speed up I lost pendulum and tried to force it. I want to bowl so bad right now I can taste it, but it's not smart...I need to rest. Plus tomorrow I get 3 free games per day for the next two months.

[Tampabaybob]

Much has changed over the years coaching this game. It used to be raise the ball higher for more speed, lower it for less. I just went looking for an article in US Bowler magazine and couldn't find it for you but I'll keep looking. Basically what's being taught by the "best" coaches is if you lower your ball ( and I'm talking only about 6" lower) your backswing "should" increase giving you a little more speed. Raising it should slow it down. Now with that said, every bowler is going to be different in style and mechanics, but give it a try and see if it helps. In the mean time, I'll try to find that article and post it.

Bob