Question Hi, my son is 14 and about a 180 avg. bowler. He has picked up a habit that will not allow him to go much further with success.He started throwing a full roller from a 3/4 roller track,I was wondering if you have any tips for me to get him to throw the ball closer to his ankle and to get more revs. on his equipment.Ive tried to get him to stay under the ball and release sooner instead of a big loft. Let me know, THANKS for your time!
Answer
True Bowler Adjustment
Hi Nathan, Sorry for the delayed reply. I have been under the weather. Taking drugs, sorry...medication!(smile) At 14 he is still growing! Have his span checked. He is probably just trying to get out of the ball. Instead of the thumb above the fingers at release, it perhaps is dumping out of the ball, below. I have a youth program on Saturday mornings and it never fails that I may have to open up a thumb hole a little (with a little beveling) or recommend to a parent that the span be rechecked by the pro shop professionals for a better fit.
There are a number of things that will cause the ball to track between the thumb and fingers. Pin position, a bad swing coupled with a bad release. However, most of all it will be a bad fit that causes a change such as this. In the old days they use to teach the full roller, there is a bowler here is Las Vegas named Levi. He can 3/4 roll, and also full roll on the drier conditions and take your lunch money! Making Adjustments is the name of the game when bowling! My point is: You have to know "how" you are releasing the ball, and "why?"
When a bowler realizes the only way the ball is working is if you do something like "lofting" that is when you are "adapting" to what works. He may be having a problem getting it down lane and hooking like he wants it to. Since it may not "hurt" with this release may be that's why he is doing it. With this bad habit he may have found the a solution,-"loft." (Not necessarily what we want!) We need a release we can consistently read.
Since I am not there to see him in action, I can only give you my experienced opinion. In my newly released book, "True Bowler Adjustments," "ball fit" is my number one priority when beginning training with someone. Ball fit and proper "ball weight" does wonders for a student bowler, a parent, and a coach. Currently you can not see the "look" or ball travel you want your son to have as the ball tries to turn the corner. I realize there is no greater feeling as an observer, when you know your bowler got out of the ball nicely. When I see a great release, I get excited because like you eluded to, we want continued success!
Check the ball fit, see if you need to make changes, i.e. the span adjustment, a little beveling at the thumb joint to get off of the nerve, check the fingers and thumb (they may be too tight) look for blisters or calluses. The pro shop guys are the guru's. If they check things out and recommend certified coaching, go for it! This way, we don't continue to develop bad muscle memory! Going back to bed and watch some videos with my Kleenex box! Let me know what happens.
- Gary
Las Vegas, NV
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (its a great book!)
