Slow Roller

[just tryin]

Hi, been away from bowling for about 40 yrs and like my name says, I'm just tryin again. Right now I was steered toward an Ebonite Black Ice 14# drilled for a full roller and told to throw with my thumb at 10 o'clock. I since changed to a palm and it feels much better, also helped my ball speed which is between 10 to 12. My question is what ball would be better for me either current or older models to help me. Usually bowl on light to med oil and have had a 175 already, nothing great, but I always bowled ducks and hardly any 10's. I would appreciate any help. I posted this on the misc board and found this one, thought it might be a better place to post this.  Thanks, Mike

[azguy]

I have read both your posts ref a ball and I am a bit confused. Are you using the open palm release ? and do you intend to keep it, if that's how you are doing ?

If you do, you will get very little hook out of any ball. It's not a bad thing, but don't expect a large hook with that release. I use it on my spare shots using my strike ball, so it , by nature, will 'calm down' the ball and have very little hooking action.

If you plan to learn a hook, then I'd suggest you start with the Black Ice you have. Learn it and then move up, if you want. Right now I don't see any reason to buy a 'hook in the box' until you decide or learn what you want to do. If you are looking for a ball that will hook , given a different release, depending on the conditions, I'd say to look at

Ebonite..XXcel, Big Time, V2 Sanded, (less hook) Cross Fire, OverTime.

Hammer...Hawg Wild, Razor Blade, (less hook) Doom, Vibe

Storm...Ace, Fired Up, (less hook)Ragin Banshee, Hot Rod Hybrid.

There are many many more, these I've thrown or seen so I can only say from what I've seen or thrown. Track has several good mid range balls as well as Brunswick. This is where your pro shop guys would be better suggesting than anyone online, they see you and know the conditions.

Hope this has helped in some way...Good Luck and Happy Bowling !
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AZ Guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com

Sleep is over rated.

[just tryin]

Hi azguy
I guess where I am is that I want to learn how to develop a hook.  I do have a Robby's Original wrist support and wore it Sunday when I bowled to see what it would do on the suggestion of the Pro.  It didn't help me, however after I came home I tried on the Roby's Gladiator wrist support and as I was coming through my swing, I could feel my wrist  rotating counter-clockwise, is this where the spin comes from and is this what produces the hook ?   I use a Brunswick Groove urethane for spares and it seems to be doing ok right now, but do you think the Gladiator will help me develop a hook since it is drilled for a full roller ?  The ball is tracking either between the thumb and the middle 2 fingers or between the two fingers, should it be drilled differently ?  Thanks a lot for the information that you have given me so far, I understand that your thumb has to turn from the 12 o'clock position counter-clockwise to provide spin on the ball as I swing to get the ball to hook, am I correct in thinking that.

Thanks  Mike

[azguy]

As long as the Black Ice is drilled for full roller, it will be hard for you. I'd suggest you either have it plugged and redrilled or look for something else and drilled with a label drill, but that's just my opinion. I'm sure there will be several others who disagree. I use a modified label drill, modified for me and how little hand i do now, but am getting better.

IMO, a label drill works as a general rule for just about everyone, again, many will disagree, but it's a start. Still, all in all, I'd have you talk to your pro shop guys for the best ball and drill for you.

Hope I have helped.

Happy Bowling !
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AZ Guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com

Sleep is over rated.

[just tryin]

Thanks again for responding, but you didn't mention if the Gladiator wrist support would help my follow through and the turning of my wrist.  I have a couple other balls undrilled and I plan to visit another Pro near me that has a good reputation, I talked to him on the phone and he wants to watch me and get more information.  I felt comfortable talking to him, I might get his advise on the Crossfire and let him fit me.  I have one question for you, when you grip your ball before your backswing, where is your thumb and then were is your thumb on your release.  Slowly I'm putting this together and I was much more consistant on Sunday than I had been, I just want to develop a nice easy swing, I use a 4 step approach and becuase of age, I can't bend as much as I used to, but I'm tryin.  Thanks again, you are the only one that has answered me so far.  Mike

[Pin_Daddy]

If it is difficult for you to maintain a 180 degree surface from the back of your hand to your elbow than a wrist brace can definitely help out.

As far as thumb positioning goes at the start of my drop into backswing my thumb is usually around 4 or 5 0'clock with my fingers around 11.  On a proper hook release (by the book - some bowlers develop other ways) the thumb exits the ball just before the fingers so the fingers are the only things providng rotation to generate revs and hook.

One thing to remember when trying to develop a hook ball is to make sure you aren't coming over the top of the bal with your release.
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Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

[azguy]

Mike,

I don't use any wrist support and to be honest, this is about as far as I can go without seeing you throw, release, so IMO, you'd be better off going to the Pro shop and letting the guy watch you and give you tips/pointers/suggestions.

Don't take this as a 'push off', I just think it's better is you take suggestions from someone who can actually see you and not just try to picture what your release is doing. Maybe some in here can, I can not, sorry, and I don't want to tell you something that would hurt you or start you off in a bad release when you can have someone watch you and do a better job helping you than I can.

As for me, I use a 5 step, first one is almost a half step actually, and the third is larger than the second. I know this is not a good way to do it, but it keeps my timing right , for me, so as you can tell, what works for me, might not for you.

Just go see your pro shop guy and have him watch you and I'm sure he can do a better job helping you than I can online.

Happy Bowling!!

Remember...when all else fails..the 1-3 pocket...picture the one person you you dislike the most...and knock him/her over with the ball !!Works for me !
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AZ Guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com

Sleep is over rated.