i found this off another forum..quoted from futureprobowler...

Well Im sure most of us have heard of and seen Tommy Jones throw a bowling ball. Can someone please explain to me how the heck he executes that kind of throw. Im a cranker myself and have thrown some pretty impressive looking balls on dry lanes, but ive seen matches where a right to left bowler starts on the 5 board and rolls it into the pocket...then Tommy walks up to the same lane and throws a ball from what seems like the 40 board to the 1 or 2 board at its breaking point. Ive never seen that kind of ball reaction. I mean this guy is seriously nuts. I currently hover around 200 as a bowler, and have been very much into the sport the last 1.5 years. I would love to learn(maybe not as crazy as him) a high backswing and that kind of ball reaction.

Does anyone know how I can possibly find someone who can teach me the fundamentals of having a higher backswing, and the timing necessary to pull of that kind of approach.

I have the necessary skills and fundamentals to do well in bowling, but if I am going to bowl for a long long time (im currently 23) then i would love to start learning how to throw a ball like that. It seems like you have to be incredibly atheltic to throw smoething like that.

I hope someone can help me out and give me some pointers as to how I can slowly learn to throw as beautiful as TJ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
what do you guys think?

It really isnt that difficult once you break it down.  Tommy Jones' game consists of three main components: the release, the projection, and the equipment. Ill help you out here.

The Release:  Tommy Jones utilizes one of the softest hands in all of bowling, by that i mean that at the point of release his hand is actually open ala pete weber. He doesnt try to force the ball to hook off his hand, but by getting out behind the back of the ball, he creates leverage without much effort. It is also important to note that at the point of release, the ball is no more than 1-2 inches from his ankle.  This leads into the next aspect of his game.

The Projection: It used to be taught that getting up on the ball and trying to force it to hook was best, like mark roth used to do, but now with the advancement of the conditions, you want a more level release point.  The pendelum armswing doesnt work anymore on those conditions, so bowlers are using a "planing" or "shoveling" armswing.  By keeping the trajectory of the ball level with the lane for a longer period of time, you dont run the risk of having the ball burn up in the midlane. This creates a much more controllable reaction and also increases the amount of energy the ball had at the end of the pattern, which generates into more overall hook.

The Equipment: I have had the chance to glance over TJ's equipment from a couple tournaments and at first i didnt understand how to lay a ball out to appropriately control the type or reaction. If you look at The One he used from the US Open this year, check out the pin placement, its almost 4 inches above the bridge with the cg about an inch directly to the right of the fingers.  You talk about laying a ball out to hook, TJ knows his stuff. The type of equipment more importantly though suits his game.  You need to take a look at how your game matches up to equipment, do you hit up on the ball at the bottom of the swing?  If so you want to avoid pin up balls because you get over under on the backend.  Just FYI, do with it what you will
--------------------
I Bowl to win...