LIFESTYLE AND BOWLING TECHNIQUES TO MAKE YOU A BETTER BOWLER /// JUNE 2012 Technique


UP AND AWAY


By Bryan O’Keefe W Jason Belmonte 9 USBOWLER JUNE 2012


hen conditions start to change, bowlers constantly look for ways to change the ball’s reaction without having to move laterally, whether it’s getting the ball farther down the lane or starting the skid phase later.


The most common variables in the bowler’s toolbox are ball speed, rev rate, axis rotation and axis tilt. The forgotten variable is loft. Loft is another great way to change not only the shape of the hook but also when the ball hooks on the lane.


At the pro level, it’s not uncommon to see players loft the ball three or four feet before it hits the lane. You see it a lot with the high-rev bowlers when they really have to get inside. But we’re not talking about Mike Fagan lofting to the arrows, or Osku


Palermaa lofting the ball over a bar stool. We’re talking about small loft dis-


tances: adding six inches or a foot to your shot can have a huge impact on ball motion. Loft is simply a way of shortening


the lane. Bowlers look to shorten the lane when the lane starts to hook a little earlier, or the front part of the lane starts to break down and get dry. Lofting allows the ball to save energy before it grabs the lane and starts to hook toward the pocket.


Loft is often overlooked as a valuable tool for your game.


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