We are going to start with spinning the ball, getting that curve you will see great bowlers like me use to move the ball from the outside of the lanes into the 'pocket'. Things you should know first, just some basics....
You need your own ball! No more house ball for you if you want to try and get good at bowling like I am. You will also need your own shoes. This is also very important. I've already talked about this in another thread, but feel free to ask me more about it.
Ok, you guys want to spin that ball into the pocket... right? Well, one problem is you using a 'house ball'. A normal ball you pick up at the lanes is much harder to do this with. You need a 'finger tip' ball. This is a ball where your middle and ring finger are only ONE KNUCKLE DEEP! A normal house ball will have you bury your fingers 2 knuckles deep, and wont give you the hand span you need to get a ball to spin sideways.
It can be done, but is not as easy as if you have your own ball. If you get your own ball I guarantee your bowling score will go up 20 pins if not more. Here is how you get your bowling ball to spin.
Imagine the ball on your hand in slow motion with your normal throw. To get a side spin, you need to pretend you are 'shaking hands' with someone. Your hand starts under the ball, and as you swing it forward... imagine it turning sideways so you can 'shake hands'. Remember, the ball is still on your hand. Imagine the weight of the ball as it comes past your leg, your hand sideways like your going to shake hands.... The ball will have no choice but to spin to one side.
Don't force it, no need to pull on the ball like you are starting a lawn mower... just let the weight of the ball on your fingers and hand sideways make the ball spin. That is how you get the 'revs' you need to make the ball curve.
Once you get that motion down, you will notice the ball moves into the center of the lanes from the outside. If you are doing it right, and throwing the ball at your old target... you should probably end up in the gutter! You will next need to adjust where to aim so the ball drives into the first two pins. That would be the 1 and 3 pin if you are right handed... 1 and 2 pins if you are left handed.
No more hitting the front pin square on, the ball should drive from this 'pocket' through the 5 pin... and with some practice... knock all the pins down!
Remember, you really need a fingertip ball. I had a high score of 176 in high school, and a friend let me try his fingertip ball that just happened to fit me well enough. I shot a 184 my second game after I got the hang of making the ball hook. You also want a good 16 or 15-pound ball, light balls get pushed around by the 3.5 pound pins!
Ok, folks... I hope this message helps improve your bowling experience! Let me know if you need more info, or are confused by anything I already said.
Mr. 700
Mr.700,
Thank you for your brilliant tutorial on creating revolutions on your bowling ball. Will this course cover all aspects such as what type of ball to use on various lanes? Board awareness for spare accuracy? Etc?
I've already picked up my Nitro and Zone bowling balls as pre-requisites for the course.
Sincerely,
Joe 285
Originally posted by Joe FistI already fear I probably started week one with a topic that should have been saved for at least week 4 or 5. I jumped the gun, forgetting the importance of equipment and etiquette.
Mr.700,
Thank you for your brilliant tutorial on creating revolutions on your bowling ball. Will this course cover all aspects such as what type of ball to use on various lanes? Board awareness for spare accuracy? Etc?
I've already picked up my Nitro and Zone bowling balls as pre-requisites for the course.
Sincerely,
Joe 285
I do plan a week study on 'aim' but you are welcome to give us info on a ball... as everyone at RHP will now need to get a ball of their own to fully take advantage of this first week study.
Feel free to enlighten us about what is the best ball for any lane conditions... but we will save 'aiming' for another week after we tackle etiquette.
We might just get the balls and equipment out of the way in this first week study, so if you have any info on shoes and towels as well as bowling balls... feel free to pipe in!
Mr. 700
Originally posted by PhlabibitWhich colour house ball is the best??? Does it matter if I bowl in just my socks??? Should I demand my money back when my ball sneaks between the far pin and the bumper???
We are going to start with spinning the ball, getting that curve you will see great bowlers like me use to move the ball from the outside of the lanes into the 'pocket'. Things you should know first, just some basics....
You need your own ball! No more house ball for you if you want to try and get good at bowling like I am. You will also need your ...[text shortened]... nce! Let me know if you need more info, or are confused by anything I already said.
Mr. 700
Originally posted by dylThese answers might shock you.... Color doesn't matter much, unless the house balls are color by weight. If this is the case, you want to use the color that is either 15 or 16 pounds (about 1 stone?)
Which colour house ball is the best??? Does it matter if I bowl in just my socks??? Should I demand my money back when my ball sneaks between the far pin and the bumper???
The fact of the mater is you should have your own ball by now, and if you don't you're going to need to get off RHP and start doing some shopping for your new ball.
Bowling in just your socks is probably better than if you were to rent shoes. Just like the bowling ball, you will need to get your own shoes if you have any chance of becoming 'almost as good' at bowling as I am.
If you stick with this advice, and follow the lessons, you will never need to ask for your money back, or use the bumpers. You will be throwing strikes and spares like mad.
Mr. 700
Originally posted by eagles54The advice is simple... use your left hand. This study will work for either hand.
What advice do you have concerning the curve specifically for lefthanders?
Thanks in advance.
If you use a house ball, the best advice is get your own, as houseballs are usually set up for right handed people.
Mr. 700
Originally posted by PhlabibitActually I think you did start on the right track with administering the proper throw. After all, I think everything starts from there and the best ball in the world or desired lane conditions won't mean much if the person cannot throw the bowl properly, right?
I already fear I probably started week one with a topic that should have been saved for at least week 4 or 5. I jumped the gun, forgetting the importance of equipment and etiquette.
I do plan a week study on 'aim' but you are welcom ...[text shortened]... ls as well as bowling balls... feel free to pipe in!
Mr. 700
If I may add something to your initial course that I discovered when teaching a friend of mine to throw a curve. This is one of those things that I assumed is just practical knowledge and I didn't go over with him. Everything on how to throw the curve you covered in your initial curse is spot on but what I didn't mention to my friend is to make sure the ball comes off your middle finger & ring finger last and not off your thumb.
Have you ever seen people just goofing around and they just put their middle & ring finger into the holes of a ball (not their thumb) & they kind of "cup" the ball and throw it down the lane? To start, this is completely the wrong way to bowl but there is an idea to be studied here. If thrown this way, the person usually does not even keep the ball on the lane but (if they happen to), the ball will hook (spin) dramatically.
The point is Mr.700 is basically demonstrating have the same kind of ball reaction (well maybe not as severe of a hook but similiar) but he points out the correct form. The point I am trying to make about your thumb is that, if you follow what he says your thumb will naturally come out first and come off your fingers last which is what you want. Do not try to hold on necessarily to the last second with your thumb as this may lead to still throwing the ball straight.
Joe 285,
Teacher's aide to Mr.700
P.S. - All of this needs to be accomplished using your own fingertip custom bowling ball. No house balls 😉
Originally posted by Joe FistYes, this is an important part of the throw. Just like when you go to shake someone’s hand, your thumb has to open to receive the other person’s hand… you can’t shake a hand if your thumb is closed. You will not generate any spin if the weight is not firm on the fingertips! The thumb is said to come out right as your hand passes your leg, and the lift of your fingers is what generates the rev.
Actually I think you did start on the right track with administering the proper throw. After all, I think everything starts from there and the best ball in the world or desired lane conditions won't mean much if the person cannot throw the bowl properly, right?
If I may add something to your initial course that I discovered when teaching a friend of mi ...[text shortened]... f this needs to be accomplished using your own fingertip custom bowling ball. No house balls 😉
On another ‘bowling note’ I found my new ball I purchased at the end of last year is a Purple Zone, 16 lbs. I thought it was a Rhino!
Here are the balls I have… and I might switch at any time depending how I feel the ball is acting on the lanes.
16 lb. Purple Zone
16 lb. Green Rhino (semi retired by Purple Zone)
15.5 lb. Red Marble Astro (Wet Wet Lanes, more hook)
Mr. 700
Originally posted by PhlabibitI have some older balls myself (I know there's a sexual pun coming sometime from that).
Yes, this is an important part of the throw. Just like when you go to shake someone’s hand, your thumb has to open to receive the other person’s hand… you can’t shake a hand if your thumb is closed. You will not generate any spin if the weight is not firm on the fingertips! The thumb is said to come out right as your hand passes your leg, and the lift ...[text shortened]... semi retired by Purple Zone)
15.5 lb. Red Marble Astro (Wet Wet Lanes, more hook)
Mr. 700
Edge
Grey Ghost (with 5 fingerholes)
Another nitro
Pinkdot "Spirit" (hardball)
I need to get a plastic ball and I was thinking of getting one with a superman on it. I haven't found one anywhere on the net but I will keep searching.