Solid 5 Pin

[Club Bowler]

I am new to throwing a hook ball.  I recently got a Brunswick Power Groove, with which I can cover quite a few boards with a stroker release.  I have been experimenting with moving my feet and target to find the best line to the pocket.  Last time out, I kept leaving a solid 5 pin on what looked like solid 1 - 3 pocket hits (I am a rightie).  I start on board 20 and aim for between the 1st and 2nd arrow.  When the ball was hooking too much and going brooklyn, I moved right and rolled the ball over the 1st arrow and found the 1 - 3 pocket again, but still left a few solid 5 pins.  What other adjustments should I make?

[thegame]

5 pins are always because of either too light, or too much deflection.  If the ball looks to be in the pocket, then it is too much deflection.  First thing I would like to know is what ball weight you are using.  It's surprising how many people are using balls that are too light for them, then we can eliminate that as a possible cause.  Next possibility is your ball speed may be too high, and the ball is still skidding and traveling too fast to get any kind of roll through the rack.  That is one of the more likely causes.  If you have the correct ball weight, then I would say the number 1 solution would probably be to slow down your speed a bit, if that doesn't work, after that keep experimenting with moving more right and tightening up your line a bit.  Just look at what you have to look forward to, after you get your 5 pin problem solved then it will be 10 pins that you're always sticking, lol.  Good luck.

[Club Bowler]

Thegame,

Thanks for your analysis.  My ball is 15#.  I think you're right that it was a ball speed problem.  I was throwing faster than I usually do because the backends were really hooking too much when I threw it slower.  I tried throwing a slower ball starting at the 25 board and swinging it close to the gutter.  I actually put a ball in the gutter.  That shook me up so I went back to the 15 - 20 boards and picked up my speed.  I guess I just couldn't find the right line.  I probably should have tried harder to swing it to the pocket from the 25 board or even more left.  Could it be that the lanes were just too cooked for my ball/technique?  I don't plan on getting a second ball, so do I just lower my expectations when I run into these conditions?

[Club Bowler]

Thanks Chris.  Your suggestion makes sense.  I guess I was moving in the wrong direction.  I have a league match tomorrow night.  I'll give it a try.

[Club Bowler]

I had a league match last night.  I followed Chris's advice, sort of, and moved my target to the third arrow starting from board 20 and tightened up my line.  I had six strikes in a row at one point.  My scores were 136+197+175=508 for my best series since I restarted bowling after nearly a 40 year absence.  I didn't leave a single 5 pin and didn't have a single split.  The only problem was too many missed spares, which is a subject for another thread.  Thanks Chris for your help.