QuestionQUESTION: I have two questions:
The first question I have relates to ball weight and carry. I am struggling with carry for the past couple years. I am 5ft and about 105lbs I currently am throwing 15lbs and Iam averaging 215. Would dropping to 14lbs help me carry better?
Second question is, what can I do to improve my delayed push away? Any practice suggestions or exercises to do at home?
ANSWER: Colleen,
Before I'd recommend anything, why do you believe at 215 you're not carrying? What do you leave? How do you play? What kind of equipment do you roll?
The core dynamics in some 14lb balls are as good or better than 15's. If increased ball speed and the potential to turn and lift the ball more would help, the drop could help (many other factors enter into this question). I'd need more info about your goals, experience, skills, current strategies, etc. before I'd suggest the change.
Many smaller stature players don't generate as much speed as they could, and I feel speed is a key to success in the modern game (on easy house conditions at least).
Don't delay your pushaway too much. If you can create a hinge motion to get the ball into your swing a little sooner, your footwork can get out ahead of the ball and result in faster ball speed and improved power. This strategy must connect to a change in timing and you must be athletic enough to either absorb the additional momentum in your slide or with your body. Doing weight work with your bowling balls (or free weights) can help with endurance and some improvement in strength (muscle doesn't help if you sacrifice fluidity).
Thanks for the questions. Good luck and good bowling.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: My current go to balls are the pearl one and the sauce. I leave a ton of 10 pins and have trouble carrying light 7pins and swishing 7pins. I guess I'm looking for better pin action. I went to a tournament the other weekend and left 22 ten pins in 9 games, so I truly believe with better pin action I'd be scoring higher. When I try to hit higher in the pock I often leave splits not breaking them up. My speed is usually around 14.2-14.5 and I have a low track. As far as pushaway I'm looking for exercises to improve my push away. At times I take the ball for a walk, which is bad for my game.
Answer
Hinged Swing
Collen,
First, congratulations on your successes so far. You are playing at a high level.
It sounds like two things could help with your game, one - the hinged swing could help your ball speed and two - your low track could be improved allowing you to line the core up in a stronger position at the pins.
A weak low track works better on the Typical House Shot (THS) as they skid more quickly down the lane and provide some angle on the back end of the lane. Depending on your ball layouts, the track may cause the ball to enter the pocket at too sever an angle leaving the corner pins you mentioned (I'm guesstimating here).
You should want to be fluid and flexible not strong, so any exercise regimen should involve less weight and more reps. Any pushing and posting in your first ball movement, loses a lot of energy. You want to swing the ball down (see graphic) and retain that energy for ball speed and a stronger rotation at the release.
Good luck and good bowling.
