Strange but true...
Question
Hi there...
My name is Frenchy Letourneau and I am the publisher of the TenPin Alley bowling newspaper in Las Vegas Nevada since 1996.
In the late 1990's, I formed a High Roller league at the Showboat.
Jack Cook could not give us the High Roller shot in the house that hosts the tournament, so we asked for and got a total dungeon to similate High Roller of the early years. The match play singles league featured low scoring matches that tested only your ability to win on tough conditions. During that time, I met Bill Hall who introduced me to the Asian spinner technique he learned during his coaching years in Taiwan, Taipei and Malaysia. I was so fascinated that I driled a 10 lb. ball and spun my way to the top 5 of the 35-man league - winning matches spinning and making spares while hook bowlers struggled trying to find the pocket. My highest average was 188 - on the PBA gold pins. One year I would have won the league had my roll-off opponent not converted the 8-10 in the final frame.
So, now to my question... Bill Hall gave me a lot of technical and physical attributes to the spinner technique, but I never got a drilling layout from him. I know that the ball is fitted conventional, and that the fingers are drilled "away" ... but how the Asian experts are able to hook the ball left to right is a characteristic of pin and block position of an 11.5 lb. ball.
Bill Chrisman gave me a Storm ball he sells to Asian markets for spinners, but I can't seem to find anyone who knows the proper layout that the Asian experts use.
I have never had so much fun bowling league as I have when I used my less-than-effective spinner. I watch the experts on Youtube and they have the ball drilled to fade left to right. I want to start using it again, but would really like to have the proper layout that the Asians use. Do you have access to this information, or know someone who does?
Yes, I am a little wierd, but humor me... I want to have fun bowling again, and I can't keep up with the kids on arcade conditions, so I'll just spin and have fun.
Thanks in advance
Answer
I have seen this technique work really well on the toughest conditions. Rich Renollet, WSU coach while I was at Wichita State University, learned this release. I watched him strike or 9 for an hour.
The key it to not have the ball want to change direction or really want to go into a roll. If using a light ball that still has core strength, the pin should be in the weakest position. This would place the pin on the PAP. This worked great back then and I doubt if it has changed.
I will check with my friends/experts to see if they have different ideas. I am currently on the road to Reno, so it might not be until next week before I can get a response.
Chip
Span, Pitch, and Ball Layout
Factors in quick response at breakpoint