Technique
BOWLING TECHNIQUES TO MAKE YOU A BETTER BOWLER
to throw the ball harder, and that ex- tra speed coupled with the advanced driving capabilities of today’s balls more than outweighs the benefits of throwing a heavier ball at a slower speed.
RULE OF THUMBS Heavy Advice
Often times, bowlers who are using balls that are too light are bowlers who started by using house balls. Someone who finds that a 14-pound house ball provides a comfortable weight will subsequently buy a 14-pound ball. Remember, house balls are drilled for the masses. Find- ing a house ball that properly fits is almost impossible. Generally speaking, if a 14-pound house ball feels comfortable, a 15-pound or even 16-pound ball drilled properly to fit your hand will give you the same feel. A properly measured and drilled ball requires less grip pressure and upper body strength to hold onto.
Recently there has been some movement with elite bowlers mov- ing back to 16-pound balls. There are several reasons this could be happening. For some bowlers a heavier ball will actually smooth out their swing. The added weight helps them keep the swing flatter on the downswing and at the re- lease point. Some bowlers who go down in weight discover their swing gets a little steeper, or perhaps af- fects their timing. Going back to a heavier ball will slow things down. Additionally, bowlers will go down in weight as a way of protecting hand or wrist problems. Today, how- ever, pro shops know so much more about properly fitting the ball to your hand that nagging wrist and hand in- juries are fewer and farther between. What does all this mean for you? Generally speaking, these are simply factors to consider when go- ing up or down in ball weight. Every bowler is different, but weight deter- mination is based mostly on strength and pain.
Of course, there are several ways to determine whether you should consider a change. Clearly, whatev-
12 USBOWLER DECEMBER 2011
er weight you are currently using is what you’re most comfortable with and accustomed to. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is the ideal weight for you.
A coach or teammate watching you throw should easily be able to determine if the bowler is dictating where the ball is going, or if the ball is dictating where the bowler is go- ing. If the bowler is dictating where the ball is going, the ball may be too light.
Conversely, if the ball is too
heavy, it will dictate where the bowl- er’s body is going. If you’re not really strong enough to maintain a smooth, even swing you will tend to push the ball away. Your posture will also be out of whack, and your body will look like it is chasing the ball.
Ideally, you want to have a good mix between the ball swinging you and you swinging the ball. You don’t want the ball taking your body into a different direction, but you don’t want to be manhandling the ball either. Either extreme will make it more difficult to hit your tar- get with any consistency. The ball should swing naturally.
— Bryan O’Keefe is Team USA Assistant Coach and Facility Manager at the International Training and Research Center.
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