How to Adjust & Ball Speed ?

Question
I have just started back after 25 years away from bowling. I am 71 yr old left hand bowler and  I am in my second season back.  I was 190 average bowler when I stopped bowling. I was a certified junior coach back before I stopped bowling.  My scores are getting better all the time.  I tried a Robby wrist support but could not get use to it.  

The lanes are wood. The oil pattern is 45 units from 10 to 10 for about 38 ft, then dries to about 25 units to the 5 board then drops to about 12 units. Last week I shot my second 600 series since starting back.  The ball was a Freeze with the pin above the fingers and 1/2 oz side weight that was refinished to high polish with 9 games since the refinish.  At the pin deck my speed was about 14.5mph that day.  I am trying to get it up to 15.5.  I started off last year at 12.5mph. The better bowler are throwing 17 to 19 mph with one exception the high average bowler (220) generally is 15.5mph and his finger lift is at about 135 degree.  I started off with wrist straight with ball weight center on my hand, which gave me a release at about 45 degree finger release.  I aimed at the 13 board at the arrows out to the 9 board at 25 ft.  This gives me a wide margin of error and hitting the pocket. As the lanes changed I was not able to adjust the line.  I moved in 2 boards with feet and one at the arrows.  This would hold the pocket but not carry.  I then went back to original line and dropped the wrist where the thum was in line with the wrist and rolled the ball to put pressure on the index finger (rolling the ball high on my hand).  This basically gave me release at about 10 degree and more forward roll (both release had good finger lift with good extension on the follow thru) and I got the carry back. Is this a good way to adjust to lane conditions or was I just lucky.

One of my team mates (200 average)is left handed and bowls the 8 or 9 board out to the 5 board,  I have tried that line but it breaks down fairly quickly with both of us throwing that line.   I have to set my wrist to the position with the thumb straight to the wrist and lift straight up or it hooks to much.  So as you gather I am always adjust my wrist position as to what I see the ball doing.  

I wonder what would be the best way to adjust on this type of lane conditions and how import is the ball speed.


Answer
Art,
Ball speed is the best asset to have in your game these days. Trying to generate ball speed is a complicated process, because the best speed works ideally with a free armswing and brisk footwork. Many bowlers generate plenty of speed (with a muscled swing), but because they don't have much time at the point of delivery, because of the speed, they don't have time to turn the ball much (resulting in little axis rotation, or way too much axis tilt)?

Adjusting your wrist position to allow a straighter trajectory (more forward roll), will help tame the lane when it breaks down but the overall hook is reduced, so if you miss out too much your sunk.

Stepping inside a couple boards sounds like the amount of oil is considerably heavier (but 45 units isn't tons) and your very shiny Freeze is too smooth, and skids to long. If moving in is an option, hold the ball lower (should slow you up a little) and back up on the approach (giving the ball more time to hook enough). I'd suggest moving in with your normal speed and possibly a minor surface adjustment should help.

Your layout might favor a straighter line more outside, but excessive imbalances encourage a ball to skid just a little further down the lane. So layout and imbalances could be working against you. Knowing where the pin is but not knowing your Positive Axis Point (PAP) doesn't tell me much about the relationship between axis and top of the core (the pin).

Adjust in the direction that allows your skill set to be more effective (if you can throw harder but can't hit your target, the inconsistency will kill you). If moving onto more oil (which sounds like a better option with your speed) is not too daunting, a surface adjustment could be just the thing.

Thanks for the question. Let me know how things work out.