Rick and I have been posting coaching suggestions and reminders lately. With the season rapidly approaching, we are (I am speaking for Rick too ) going to try to get a few more very good suggestions out.

In this thread I want to touch on the "flat spot". NO...this is not the flat spot created when Scoot plugs a bowling ball. I am talking about the flat spot in your foward swing just before the release.

For those of you unsure what the "flat spot" is.....this is the point when the ball has reached the bottom of the swing and is essentially moving straight ahead in the release. During this point your thumb should be exiting the ball. This is very important because we are in an age of bowling balls when "hitting up" on the ball is a no no. With your thumb out of the ball at the proper time hitting up is almost impossible because as you extend your arm foward the fingers are creating the "hook, or motion, or revs".

Too accomplish an ideal flat spot it is important to have NO GRIP PRESSURE(or as little as possible). When you begin your pushaway and have extended your arm forward this is where you want gravity to take over, at no point do you want to have your elbow bent throughout your armswing. Disengaging muscles in your forearm/wrist/hand and shoulder will help in the free armswing. As you begin your forwards armswing this is where you really want to focus on your flatspot. You want your thumb exiting the ball when it is just behind your ankle. This is the area that starts the flat spot FOR MOST BOWLERS. Once your thumb has started exiting the ball you want to keep your swing long and towards the lane.
At this point this is where alot of bowlers tend to keep the ball on their thumb longer to hit up on the ball. As I mentioned earlier, the bowling balls today are so strong that there is no need to hit up on the ball....doing so often results in weak hits and solid taps.

Video may be the best way to view how your flat spot currently is.

If you can work on your flat spot the benefits will be extraordinary. When performed properly it aids in a well balanced  finishing position and a good leverage point of the release.

The season is almost here.....Legion Members are you ready?

-Carl


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Carl Hurd
C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
www.trackbowling.com


Tag Team Member #1
(tag team partners w/ Rick)


Edited on 8/20/2006 9:42 AM

Edited on 8/20/2006 10:15 AM

DJ/Buck/MC/Too,

Thanks for the feedback....glad this info is helpful to you guys.  Pls feel free (anyone) who is having difficulty or wanting to understand more about the game, just post it.  We (Carl and I, I speak for him as well!) are trying help explain things as much as possible.  We will also be addressing certain topics in our video newsletter with SteveAustin (Mike) as soon as we can get that going, thanks again.
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff  
Vise Inserts Staff
www.Trackbowling.com

See profile for Track Ball videos

*El Presidente of the Track Legion



Edited on 8/23/2006 10:52 AM