Early roll

Question
I am 81 yrs old..40 yrs PBA member)1960-2000) Not interested in bowling competivly75 but would like to continue to enjoy game.Bad arthritis shoulder(short backswing).Cannot rotate ball with any speed.Ball goes into early roll immediately and cannot get it through heads..I average 11mph unless I stay inside 3rd arrow in the oil..My question (13lb) ball.. How can I get extra skid through the heads.Iv'e tried many different balls,,They all hook early.I am fromthe ole' school.lift and turn..Would a lot of finger pitch and shorter span help me create some skid....Thanks Roy

Answer
Hello Roy, that is really awesome to be so dedicated to the PBA organization. Keeping yourself in the game is especially great for bowling. I wish we could sit for a chat! What I would like to suggest to you is to look at what you have in your arsenal now. Based on your speed, lane condition, and present release, your bowling ball may be shooting you in the foot.
    Personally, I suffer from arthritis. I started out throwing 16 pounds on wood lanes, spinning the ball to clear the front end and catching the mid lane roll nicely. Because of increased pain over 19 years I have dropped to 14lbs to 13lbs myself at times. Over the years I had to keep pace with the game.
    Teaching a bowler to forward roll the ball helps a lot. It allows a bowler to increase the length on the ball. Often because of the way it rolls, a bowler can find the ball they really needed to have in my hands.
    Another factor that influences how far the ball travels, or when it begins to roll is the inner core. Most high rev bowlers and spinners often stay away from bowling balls that have very heavy cores. If you have a bowling ball like this often it will "roll" too soon. Most will fine an mid level to entry level ball that does not have a heavy core that will want to turn before it gets half way down the lane.
    Lastly, the outside cover of the ball will affect your ball. As you may know, if you never do ball maintenance on your bowling ball it will often have a surface cover between 600 and 800 grit which is pretty rough. When your speed is slow, hand action is slower, and the lane condition is drier than you need it to be, the cover of your ball becomes very important. You may find that it's not feasible to use even a reactive ball because the cover is too rough.   
    If you first try bringing the surface of your ball up to shiny, or 4000 grit see if that helps your ball travel further. Often a little ball maintenance can make a world of different.
    Youth bowlers are the cutting edge in bowling. They are learning more and more to work the surface cover of their bowling balls to match up to the lane conditions. Most are capable of doing this by hand if needed. That is a big part of today's game for sure. They do this by using the right support abrasion pads.
    In summary Roy, three things influence your ball travel that you have control over. One, how you release the ball. If spinning is not working then forward rolling the ball may allow you to get more length on the shot. Two, the core influences the ball to roll early. If you have a heavier core, the ball will have a tendency to want to move, hook, or roll sooner on the lane. Especially if your speed is a bit slower on the approach. Try getting a entry level ball or a symmetrical lighter core weight ball. This ball that doesn't have such a big engine inside may help the ball get further down the lane before turning. Three, ball surface is primary when it comes to ball travel Roy. When you have a ball that is slick like glass, it is hard to get the ball to hook usually, depending on the lane conditions. Taking your ball up to 4000 grit and seeing if you get more length out of it can be your "first option" since the cover is the biggest factor when it comes to being able to get the ball down the lane.
   Roy, I have no doubt you can put this together, but like any good recipe, the ingredients have to be sampled one by one. First change the cover to make it slicker. Then see if you can change your release just a little to reduce the spin and get more forward roll on the ball. Lastly, if you have too, purchase a bowling ball with a lot less core influence, or an entry level ball that feels good to you. Never discount the prospect of using your plastic or spareball nowadays either! I hope to hear from you again! It's awesome knowing you have such dedication to the game. I hope I can carry the torch half as much as you have. God Bless you!

-Gary
Las Vegas,NV
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's a great book!)