Technique
TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE YOU A BETTER BOWLER
TOUCH FOR
VIDEO
FLEX:Bowlers with flexible thumbs will see the base of their thumb collapse toward the palm when pushed at the socket. Flexible thumbs also give the appearance of double-jointedness. Ross says these bowlers “definitely need more forward pitch.”
“When you … go from 3/8 reverse
to 1/4 forward, that’s a 5/8-of-an-inch change. That’s a lot,” Ross says. “That’s why it seemed crazy at first. But that’s why she drilled some test balls first to see how it felt; she didn’t go the full 1/4 forward right away.” A little background: the term “pitch”
refers to the angle at which a hole is drilled into the bowling ball. As Ross explains, “If it’s to the left of the center [of the bowling ball] it would be left- pitch; if it’s to the right of the center, it would be right-pitch. If it comes above or in front of the center of the ball, that would be forward-pitch. And, if it goes behind it, that would be reverse pitch.” This matter of inches may be the difference between greatness and
mediocrity. Ross attributes an array of problems to incorrect pitches, including squeezing the ball, muscling the ball, inaccuracy, inconsistency at the release, and other problems. To know more about pitches may also be to know why you’re having trouble rectifying any of the aforementioned challenges in your game. “You hear people say, ‘You need to
have a relaxed arm swing.’ But, a lot of times, the ball is not letting you have a relaxed arm swing,” Ross says. That’s because the pitches on your equipment may actually be preventing you from loosening your arm swing. “It’s not a new concept,” Ross explains.
“In the 1990s and 2000s, everyone was trying to use too much reverse to try to
“YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, ‘YOU NEED TO HAVE A RELAXED ARM SWING.’ BUT, A LOT OF TIMES, THE BALL IS NOT LETTING YOU HAVE A RELAXED ARM SWING” — ROD ROSS, Team USA head coach
get out of the ball, but that causes you to squeeze the ball because it wants to come off too soon.” So, how can you tell if it may be time
for you to have your pitches checked or changed? There are some specific indicators to look out for.
“If thumbhole size is so critical that
if you put a piece of tape in it, you feel like you hang up, and then, if you take the piece of tape out, you feel like you’re going to drop it, that definitely is a sign that you want your span or pitch adjusted,” Ross explains. “There are two squeeze zones for
most players that they can feel. One is right when the ball drops into the swing from the push-away, and the other is about halfway down to the top of their backswing. Those are moments when the ball might feel like it’s slipping off your hand. That’s what pitch can adjust. If the ball feels like it’s about to come off halfway through your backswing, you probably want to go 3/16 to 1/4 more forward,” adds Ross.
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