coaching tips discussion
We all love to see that big hook. When that ball goes down the lane and just makes a left (or right) turn. It feels good to be able to do that, if you can. Or you just love to watch it. But is it really the best ball reaction? An all too common … Continue reading When to use which ball???
Well, yes and no… Before this sounds like I am waffling, let me explain. There are many types of house shots out there, but they usually have some predominant characteristics to help the average bowler score better. First of those characteristics is a crowned oil pattern, meaning higher volume of oil towards the center of … Continue reading What’s up with THS? Is it too easy?
We are not machines! If we were, I think we actually wouldn’t score as well :). If you watched the matchup of Chris Barnes vs EARL (Enhanced Automated Robotic Launcher), you will know that Chris destroyed the machine. Part of that actually comes from the exact repeatability of EARL hindering it’s scoring. With it’s accuracy, … Continue reading Do you have trouble hitting your target consistently?
You hear a lot about a ball’s flare potential. This ball has a max flare of 3 inches, this one has a max flare of 6+. What does it mean??? Flare: To expand or open outward in shape. First, let’s define ball flare itself. When a ball flares, that means that as it rolls, it … Continue reading What is Ball Flare?
Most people nowadays like to see BIG hook, but is it ideal to have the ball hooking so much? What is the affect of high entry angles? I won’t go into the virtues of “straighter is greater” in this article but wanted to specifically touch on entry angle. There has been a theoretical assumption out … Continue reading Want better scores on THS, check your entry angle…
Looking at the 2008 USBC Ball Motion Study, we can conclude that the cover accounts for ~70% of the reaction whereas the core accounts for ~25%. If you study the graphs in the study carefully, I interpret that when the surface finish is at 2000 grit or above, the Ra, or microscopic height of the … Continue reading Core Characteristics and Ball Strength
Do you understand your equipment? There’s so much discussion about high performance, medium performance, and entry level equipment. Does that mean that entry level is “low performance”? Short answer is an emphatic NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! Let’s delve into what all of this means. Almost all manufacturers classify their equipment into approximately 3 categories of which … Continue reading “Strong” vs “Weak” equipment…Bowling Balls are like Tires!
Well…DO IT!!! The fall season is right around the corner. Time to get the rust off! If you go practice, that first shot is going to feel really awkward! It’s time to get your body back into the swing of things. So instead of going into a detailed topic right away, I’ll start with one … Continue reading Post Your Shots!
As I struggle bowling once a week in a PBAx league, I realized a few things. Firstly, I’m not a pro! 🙂 Secondly, it’s quite difficult to be consistent and successful bowling only once a week. Thirdly, if you will bowl only once a week, a PBAx league may be a bigger bite than you … Continue reading Don’t Underestimate the Flat Spot!
Here’s an advanced follow-on from the earlier article, Are You Making Hand Adjustments the degree of loading or unloading of the wrist. This goes back to most of us really knowing how to release the ball one way. The frustration really settles in when even your equipment meant for dry lane conditions acts like it’s … Continue reading Loaded vs Unloaded Wrist
OK, so most of us have heard of a 4, 5, or 6 step deliveries. There are other less conventional # of steps, but for this article, I wanted to focus on the basics to help people who are trying to understand the concept. I will say that this is not something you want to … Continue reading How Many Steps is Your Delivery?
In today’s day and age, bowling equipment is generating lots of entry angle. Strikes look a little different than they used to. In the days of rubber and plastic, bowlers still tried to get into the pocket from right to left for a righty, but with little entry angle created by a straight ball, balls … Continue reading Is a Strike a Strike?
Firstly, what is your target? Let’s assume you use the Arrows as your target. I guess you’re all set right? Wrong! You need a targeting system. Assuming you throw a hook, you need 2 points on the lane to advance your skill level. What are these 2 points and why do you need them? Well, … Continue reading What is your targeting system?
I know that most par bowlers understand the difference. However, I thought it would be worth taking the time to explain it to the beginners and anybody who is interested in becoming a par bowler. I find myself explaining this to non-bowling athletes all the time. They seem to think it’s throwing a round ball … Continue reading House Shot vs PBA or Sport Shot
How do Solid Reactives, Pearlized reactives, Urethane ball motions compare to each other? Remember the Hockey Stick shape, well, the Reactive balls tend to resemble that more while Urethane exemplifies the Banana shape. This is all about what we call “Skid, Hook, and Roll”, the phases a bowling ball goes through as it goes down … Continue reading Coverstock – Part 5
Let’s dive deeper still… This time, we will primarily talk about Reactive resin and Urethane and generalities in ball reaction. Remember when we talked about the USBC Ball Motion Study and that Surface Roughness is the most influencing factor on ball motion? Well, here we go… The different coverstock finishes available with reactive resin include … Continue reading Coverstock – Part 4
We covered some of the basic aspects of the coverstock and ball motion in Part 1 and Part 2. Let’s talk about Hook Shape based on the coverstock technology! I like to refer to these in simple terms: Straight, Banana, and Hockey Stick Straight Well, this is pretty Straight forward! 🙂 OK, that was bad, … Continue reading Coverstock – Part 3
OK, so we started out with the basics in Part 1 of the Coverstock story. Now let’s get into it a little more. Coverstock Technologies Recap We briefly explained from least hook to most: plastic, urethane, and reactive resin. That’s the simplest way to explain these coverstocks in relative terms. However, a person with in-depth … Continue reading Coverstock – Part 2
Do you understand what is the coverstock, what types there are, how they can be adjusted, and what reaction those adjustments create? Let’s start with the basics. I know many experienced bowlers know this part, but for those starting out and looking for some information, this should help you get the basics down. It is … Continue reading Coverstock – Part 1
I see this topic discussed frequently by the local bowlers and on bowling forums all the time. Lots of people think they have the answer, yet many of the answers are quite different. My Arsenal Right now, I keep a strong solid reactive, a medium solid reactive, a medium pearl reactive, and a urethane ball. … Continue reading What does your THS arsenal look like?
