QuestionI 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
True Bowler Adjustment
Hello Colleen, You have and excellent question...or two! Thank you for making me engage my brain this beautiful Sunday morning. First, every coach has their own pet peeve. My peeve happens to be ball weight and lack of knowledge. That is the knowledge of stringing strikes. Honestly, you could kick my butt with a 215 average. However, since you are asking me about ball weight I have to tune into a parallel way of thinking which is... Would one pound really make a difference? My answer is resounding "yes," on the positive side.
However, change in ball weight will only make a difference if you truly understand that you may be able to increase your rev rate on the ball as you deliver the 14lb ball. I like to invoke a modern more common sense approach to bowling in my new book "TRUE BOWLER ADJUSTMENTS."
In my book I site how you can use your body and body parts to adjust on the lanes, how you can get to know the bowling ball, and how you can adjust the bowling ball. I definitely address what dropping in ball weight will do for you. I cover how to read the lanes. And, at the back of the book, finally I reveal what it takes to string strikes!!!
Colleen, with today's equipment dropping in ball weight is a smart thing to do! However, many bowlers will tell you that you will get more deflection to your ball if you drop in ball weight.
Think about it though....Most who encounter deflection are often over throwing the ball, or bringing the ball in way to far from the outside of the head pin. Some are experiencing too much skid on their bowling balls,(not enough surface, or non-existent ball care, which I use to be guilty of also.) Overall, a bowler could be throwing the ball way too fast. If your ball is still skidding and has very little surface contact, it is going to deflect. Lastly, many speed challenged bowler's bowling balls roll out or burns up in the heads an midlane prior to getting into good shape to finish through the pins. Some because they have too much surface or the core dynamics are too strong for a short oiled lane sometimes. Not to mention their bowling ball could just be too darn heavy for them to put an effective amount of revolutions on the ball to carry through the pins at the pin deck. It's as if you are hitting the pins but you are just barely getting the ball into a good position to carry.
A huge part of carrying strike after strike is awareness Colleen. When your ball does not carry as often as you like, you have to seek out what you think is best. You probably suspect that 15 pound is pretty heavy and it is. Just as much as not many people throw 16 pounds anymore.
If your targeting is suffering because of a heavy ball, drop in weight. If you think you can get more revs on the ball, drop in weight. If you feel you can get back an forth to bowling centers and negotiate escalators, elevators, carpets and etc., good lawdy, please drop in weight! :-) The benefits are enormous. Not just to your game but most likely to your health also. I advocate bowling for "a lifetime," not just for a few years and quit. If you really want to learn to get more carry, often I simply tell people to buy my book, ... or seek out a certified USBC coach "who knows" how to string strikes by reading the ball with their eyes and you will be well on your way to improved scores and better carry!
In summary: Colleen it's seriously okay to drop in ball weight with today's equipment. What you have to guard against is not furthering your knowledge of the game. Many bowlers are once again beginning to invest their money in a coaching verses going out and buying that $200.00 ball.
No longer can bowlers just come out and expect the lanes to be in their favor or the ball to really work their magic by themselves! You have to learn about using your body, adjusting the ball, get to know the lanes and especially for you as an advanced bowler, you have to learn to use your eyes. Using your eyes will allow you to quickly change hand position, change balls or move to a different part of the lane so you can "truly match up!"
In closing, if you are comfortable with 15lbs and there is no pain or fatigue then finding a certified coach who can work with you on your carry is the best solution. If you are experiencing either of those, then dropping in ball weight is priority. Give it a try, you will always still have your 15lbs bowling balls to go back to should you feel you are losing a step in your game.
Personally, I suffer from arthritis as my mother did. Over 19 years, I use to throw 16,15,14, and now 13lbs. My series last Monday was 741, with a high game of 276!
And I still hurt, but not as much. :-)
Just a little motivation for you to get that coaching, ...or buy my book, ...or lower your ball weight!
As far as your delayed push away, matching your back swing with your third to the last step promotes great timing. Basically move the ball with your first step of a four step approach.
Then only delay the movement of the ball in a five step approach for the first two step and move the ball down and back with the third step. :-) It should feel sooo much better at the release!
-Gary
Las Vegas, NV
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's a great book!)
