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Author Topic: Lost ball speed  (Read 4762 times)

Pinbuster

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Lost ball speed
« on: September 20, 2021, 11:22:10 AM »
Without going into a long winded story my ball speed has declined over the last decade to the point I'm not longer very effective even on house conditions.

Over the summer I had both knees replaced hoping that I would increase my step size and speed. Thus far that has not improved but I'm early in the recovery process. Due to other injuries to my shoulder my backswing is limited.

I'm currently using a RotoGrip Uproar, a Hustle Ink, and a pitch black for strike balls. Measured on a Quibica system I'm around 12.5 at the pins so probably 14.5 to 15 off my hand now.

My rev rate is high enough I don't match up and get overreaction.

If I concentrate on getting close to the foul line with my feet I will get there but of course I have no idea where I'm throwing the ball. If I concentrate on accuracy my steps get slower and shorter.

I'm sure some long practice sessions might solve some of that but I don't know if I have that in me.

 

itsallaboutme

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2021, 03:06:41 PM »
The easier adjustment that no one is willing to accept is to lower your rev rate and work on hand position to have less side rotation to eliminate a lot of the overreaction.  You can do that.  You may never get the ball speed back. 

johns811

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2021, 02:33:33 AM »
I throw the same speed, I try not to grab the ball at bottom to not get over reaction. I tried low end reactive balls but they often hooked sharp and difficult to control. Polished solid reactive medium symmetric balls seem to work well. Shot 300 with a Radical Squatch last year.

scotts33

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2021, 07:48:55 AM »
I can sympathize Pinbuster.  I have lost balls speed over the years down to 14's a number of years ago.  I still have a long arm swing so can use my lower body to generate some ball speed but being a finesse bowler (skid, hook, roll over being a thrower) and bowling on house patterns like Easy St. 38' - 39', 18 ml 12:1 wet/dry it has become harder to score because you and I are not fluffers. 

itsallaboutme has a point about changing release to cut down axis rotation. 

I wish you the best PB!
Scott

TWOHAND834

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2021, 10:42:18 AM »
Without going into a long winded story my ball speed has declined over the last decade to the point I'm not longer very effective even on house conditions.

Over the summer I had both knees replaced hoping that I would increase my step size and speed. Thus far that has not improved but I'm early in the recovery process. Due to other injuries to my shoulder my backswing is limited.

I'm currently using a RotoGrip Uproar, a Hustle Ink, and a pitch black for strike balls. Measured on a Quibica system I'm around 12.5 at the pins so probably 14.5 to 15 off my hand now.

My rev rate is high enough I don't match up and get overreaction.

If I concentrate on getting close to the foul line with my feet I will get there but of course I have no idea where I'm throwing the ball. If I concentrate on accuracy my steps get slower and shorter.

I'm sure some long practice sessions might solve some of that but I don't know if I have that in me.

Sorry to hear about the troubles.  Unfortunately age starts catching up to us.  You may be the perfect candidate for the Radical The Spy.  Secondly...what layouts are in your current balls?  I ask because you could probably take a low end reactive like a Twist, put the pin 5.75 - 6 inches from your axis, and hit the cover with a 4000 pad just to take the angularity out of the backend.  Dont give up hope just yet.  Keep up with the practicing and make some adjustments with your equipment.  Hope things turn around for you soon.
Steven Vance
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Pinbuster

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2021, 06:43:32 PM »
Thanks for the replies.

itsallaboutme - I have played around a little with trying to reduce revs but haven't found anything consistent. Practicing the last few years hasn't been much in my vocabulary.

johns811 - I used to like pearls but have had better success with polished solids in recent years. Seems to reduce the over/under some. The ball I loved 25 years ago was the original Red Pulse. But they got impossible to find and after refinishing the ball about 10 times I had to give it up.

Scotts33 - I went to 15lb about a decade ago, I can't seem to make a try a 14's but I probably should. How does Wisconsin look this year?

twohanded834 - I have always drilled more for control than aggressive reaction. My stuff is pretty much all pin about 1 o'clock and 4 to 5 inches from the axis. I've tended to polish stuff. I bought a venom shock for nationals that still has a box finish that I might try and use.

I'm only 3 months removed from the last surgery and getting stronger so there might still be hope with the approach. The other night I tried to just bump up the backswing 6 inches or so instead of trying to really go up and that seemed to get me a another mph without losing control.


scotts33

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2021, 03:35:30 PM »
Quote
Scotts33 - I went to 15lb about a decade ago, I can't seem to make a try a 14's but I probably should. How does Wisconsin look this year?

All good here!  Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits this week.  I just ordered a Radical Spy for my situation here PB.  Proprietors around here won't blend any house lane condition.  I figure what the hell give a poly asymm. a shot and tired of beating my head against the wall. 

Scott

DrBob806

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2021, 09:02:57 AM »
Quote
Scotts33 - I went to 15lb about a decade ago, I can't seem to make a try a 14's but I probably should. How does Wisconsin look this year?

All good here!  Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits this week.  I just ordered a Radical Spy for my situation here PB.  Proprietors around here won't blend any house lane condition.  I figure what the hell give a poly asymm. a shot and tired of beating my head against the wall. 


I went to the PGA at Whistling Straits in 2015, what a beautiful place. Go USA.

I've got ball speed woes as well. I've been doing the 1 step drill just to try and better my release. Ball position isn't helping increase any speed...I believe we need to concentrate on using thed legs & get lower at the line, feed the ball downlane better. I hope that helps, it's helping me a tad.

Jesse James

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2021, 03:17:40 PM »
Just had my 68th birthday. My ball speed has been considerably lower since coming back from pandemic isolation.

I am perennially in the 13's. So I've been doing a pre-swing, SWING routine while on the approach with a defined push away from my body, which has upped my speed to 14.5 mph. Try it, it may work for you as well.
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avabob

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2021, 05:59:22 PM »
Must be the week for us old low speed stokers.  Good push away and balance in approach helps me the most

scotts33

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2021, 07:07:27 PM »
I can say for me and I think PinBuster is the same both rev dominant tweeners not strokers which makes the match up on low volume house shots even worse with slower speed. 
Scott

avabob

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2021, 10:42:02 PM »
I was actually at the low end of being a tweener so I feel the pain.  Probably a 14 lb ball will be the answer

billdozer

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2021, 08:54:29 PM »
I'm a historical 14.5-15.5 tops mph on the screens.

Play more direct and hold the ball like 6inches higher to start the pendulum swing with a Lil more built in speed, make sure your footwork compensates... Play as far right as possible and your ball speed should definitely be a Lil higher crossing less boards.. I feel like I sound crazy 😂
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bowling4burgers

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Re: Lost ball speed
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2021, 06:50:58 AM »
Slow roller mob  ;D
The downlane speed varies for me -- if I catch the oil it's a. probably not a good shot but b. will read 14. Catch the dry and it's 12.1 12.3 for good typical shots.

Specto has me at 15 to 15.5 off my hand. If I go much faster I'll lose revs, rotation control, directional control. I can go much slower more easily but it has to be Badger to be useful.
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