what is power and where does it come from?

It seems so many coaches have different philosophies or teachings on power.

Power is the name of the game today. Today's  "power" actually comes from a much different source than "power" came from in the old days---the days of the traditional stroker.  In the old days, power (revs) came from maintaining a firm wrist up and through the release. In addition, this was coupled with the bowler maintaining a more erect vertical and lateral spine angle throughout the approach and release. In those days, power indeed, came from leverage----leverage created by the firm wrist and minimal spine angles--- which used the major muscles of the back.

Power today comes from an entirely different source. It results in
the wrist collapsing at the point of release. It's similar to how the wrist uncoils when flipping a frisbee. The power actually comes from a lack of body and hand leverage, especially at release. It actually requires the bowler's torso and hand to be in a weaker (not stronger) position---just the opposite from the "old days".

This is sometimes difficult to see at first glance but it is true. In order for the bowler's hand to completely collapse at release, it requires the bowler to deploy increasing amounts of spine tilt (especially side -lateral tilt). This places more of the weight of the ball directly onto the hand, since the spine and the muscles surrounding the spine
are no longer in a "strong" position to create the "leverage" to support the hand. This
lack of "leverage" becomes greatest where the ball is heaviest--at the bottom of the swing. This naturally causes the wrist to "collapse" at release, which creates the power and revolutions that you see in the contemporary game. It is often thought that today's power comes from (muscular) strength. It's the exact opposite that is the source of this power----it's due to a lack of leverage.  Leverage was needed to create power and revs in the old days. Not so today.

 

Darn, all this time I just thought you bought it in a box.  If all this is true, then a person with these skills should just use a "house ball" and save all his money for cold ones celebrating his many victories.

Darn, all this time I just thought you bought it in a box.  If all this is true, then a person with these skills should just use a "house ball" and save all his money for cold ones celebrating his many victories.

The right ball is an important factor, but if you can't hit the same spot twice it won't matter what you're using.

As I have aged (and had a shoulder reconstruction)  I've noticed that I need to focus on repeating shots and reading ball reaction better.  The days of "grip it and rip it" are long gone for me.  I NEED my legs to do the work...

That's correct, Avabob.  A plastic 3-piece ball has the same amount of "hook" in it as do the top-of-the-shelf balls of today. It might take 200 feet of length for the plastic ball
to cover the same amount of boards as the best balls of today, regardless of surface or core design but they both possess the same amount of "hook" if they are of the same weight and density. 

Power is still a factor no matter how much of a finesse game you have.  It is about being efficient in utilizing the power.  There is way more friction available than is necessary for maximum carry in the modern game.  One of the reasons I don't get as excited and upset about the two handed trend is because it is really not necessary to create the amount of revs those guys do.  Unless they are very accurate ( some are ) a lower rev player can compete with them if they are more accurate in controlling breakpoint.

Having said the above here is where power is an issue.  Because of the friction in todays game the power players blow up the oil pattern and make it necessary to have more ball speed to over power the blown up conditions.  One poster cites the success of women players who utilize oil and are accurate.  As a 68 year old senior, my game is a lot closer to those women than to Sean Rash or Belmonte.  What that means is the women and I can stay with the power guys for a few games, but when they inevitably blow up the pattern we are toast without speed and rev rate to get left.

Lower the friction ( either ball surfaces or make oils that hold up much better ) and you put more emphasis on finesse, and less on rev rate and ball speed.

Just goes to show you cant generalize too much.  I wish I could buy some of your ball speed from you.  I suspect what you point out may be an example of seniors having to choose between strong side roll and generating ball speed.  Fortunately for me my rev rate and ball speed are reasonably well matched.  My arm swing which is probably the best part of my game limits being able to generate the kind of speed and revs the young guys can.  It makes me a niche player, but at least it is a bigger niche thanks to my accuracy and the choices I have with modern balls. 

Can't let loose of all the comments about"power" in bowling.   Most were that it takes "revs", "speed", "axis rotationl", "tilt".  All inferring a masculine type of power.

Now, I've had the pleasure, and good luck to have bowled around some of the top women bowlers.  95% of them don't do all these power things, but they can strike all day.   One thing in common they all have is the ability to use the oil, not the dry, to position their ball.  Secondly, they position their ball to have the best chance of a strike(angle).  Third, they control their breakpoint to be as close to the pocket as they can.  Last but not least most of them have revs that match up to their speed. I would bet most of them are covering around 21" of floor for each rev. when their ball hits the pins.   Combine that with the close in breakpoint they all have and you have "power.

So, power can be other things besides high revs, high speed, lots of axis rotation.  It is also putting all the mechanics together in the proper way.

Bullred,

If power is all about the ball and mechanics, then why don't ALL the top women who have much more mechanically sound form and repetition then do men, beat the men on the PBA tour?

Answer, they don't have the same "power", period.

What about the two handers? They have little consistency and or repeat-ability. They generate a wide pocket because of the revolutions and power. Their mechanics are NOT good, but yet they strike "all day".