Does anyone know how to stop an arm swing from going away from my body? I do it constantly and I always seem to top the ball. I have been doing it for so long I cannot seem to break it. I average 210 in 3 different houses because I can make spares. My problem is that I cannot generate as much power. I cannot stay behind the ball. I feel as if I'm stuck between being a fairly good handicap bowler, and being a weak scratch bowler. No one wants to help me without paying an arm and a leg. I cannot afford that and when I ask for help, no one wants to. Any suggestions help. I have even tried to tie a rope to my arm so I would stay closer but it did not work. I am so frustrated I am thinking about giving this sport up. Thanks for your time and help!!

Wow thanks everyone!! I can use the help. This all started after a shattered my wrist years back. I hate being a second rate bowler. I’ll take all the help I can get .Keep it coming!!

If my armswing is haywire in any direction (pick one - I've done 'em all...) I go back to basics, and concentrate on the pushaway and starting arm position. I make sure that my arm is straight on the SIDE of my body, and that my pushaway is going in the direction of my target. Since I line up parallel to the intended ball path, this direction is "generally" straight.

I tend to bring the ball out on my backswing, and then it's any body's guess where it ends up at the line. It might be a tug, or I might miss right an arrow. But the "back to basics" mantra works for me.

If you still don't have any idea how to straighten your swing and hit your target, I'd strongly recommend the Dick Ritger bowling camp. They'll spend 4 days teaching you how to hit your target (and how to figure out what that target should be!)

Good luck.
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Ability is what you're capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do.
Attitude determines how well you do it.
 - Lou Holtz