Whether due to being slowed by an injury to my quadriceps the last year or old age onset (am in low to mid 50''''s), I am having trouble keeping my speed up, and accuracy is suffering. I have always been a speed dominent bowler, so much so that I had to work hard to reduce speed over the years to gain control. But this is ridiculous now.

If I try to increase speed, I end up throwing like I used to years ago, just skidding the ball down the lane. If I try to work with the reduced speed, I get frustrated cause the ball breaks too early, and cause that is NOT my game!!!!

Have tried moving to the left and throwing the ball farther out (always been a down and in player), and even lofting the ball farther down the lane, but THAT reduces accuracy too, and I am not a lofting type bowler.

My injury is not 100% healed---might never be---but it really does not hurt or impede me noticeably when delivering the ball. Still...I believe I started doing something differently to compensate for pain or the anticipation of pain, and cannot seem to get back to what I consder my normal delivery.

The lanes HAVE also been drier, but I used to be someone who absolutely loved bowling with less oil versus more. Either they are much drier than they have ever been, or it is not the lanes at all.

And I realize no one will be able to prescribe much over the internet without seeing me bowl, or having seen how I USED to bowl. But hoping to see some suggestions for increasing speed that I might be able to incorporate the next time out. I used to cruise at around 17.1-17.5 mph, and lately it''''s like 14.9 to 15.5. It''''s not the numbers that concern me, it''''s just messing up my entire targeting system.  And some day, I will need to learn how to bowl like an old[er] man, but in the meantime, I want my speed back somehow.

Any suggestions welcome. Increase ball height, etc.  I know some of these. Just not sure which is best, or which would be least disruptive to the rest of my delivery.

Thanks.



Edited on 11/26/2009 11:21 AM

Edited on 11/26/2009 11:22 AM

Unfortunately... I am already standing at the farthest set of dots. At least, that has been my normal starting point.

In fact...lately, I have experimented with doing just the opposite of what you suggested and been starting between the two sets, about a foot CLOSER to the pins. And it has helped to get the ball farther down the lane before it does it's premature break, but even when successful, I feel that is only masking the loss of speed.

If I could stand farther back, I would, but that would require having to step up onto the lane in mid-stride.

:-)

Simple solution to a complex problem, throw it harder. Problem solved. Jk, you just have to find out what works for you keep practicing.

Stroke hit the nail on the head.  Start with the ball higher during your setup before you even take the first step.  Make sure you let your ball swing your arm as opposed to the arm swinging the ball. Another thing to consider is dropping down a pound in weight if times call for it.  Start with the setup first.  This should help a little bit.
--------------------
Steven Vance
Pro Shop Operator
Striking Results Pro Shop
Red Carpet Lanes
Duluth (NE Atlanta), Georgia

If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!

Neptune66,

   I might be going at this the wrong way. Listening to your post I heard the problem is early reaction that you get with slower speed. Perhaps you should polish your equipment or "ball down" go to mid level balls.

   On the other side, I recently changed my grip... instantly i can get the ball off my hand which LOOSENED my armswing and my ball speed went up almost 2mph (and also increased my rev rate). I am 49 and over the past 2 years my speed was slowing down and facing nearly exactly the same issue as you stated. For me, I was averaging 220+ but was spinning the ball off my hand with no real direction. As some advise from someone who has spent 2 years dealing with your situation, GET WEAKER equipment now, it is easier to face weak 10 pins that to be frustrated by early hook EVERY NIGHT. Through the nose, through the nose, through the nose when you think you threw it good. But read on...

   For me, I think when I was younger (presumably stronger and more flexible) I think I was able to throw it harder and pry the ball off my hand better. Now that I am older (and presumably not as strong or flexable) I think I needed a grip change (more reverse in the thumb and away in the fingers). And because the improvement was instanteanous with looser armswing and extention, rev rate increase, improved ball speed and accuracy down lane... I am now believing that our hand changes as we get older and we need more help to get out of the ball. Since this change, I have have averaged over 243 for 45 games which is eactly where I was 5 yeas ago.

   Do not believe things stay the same... bowling changes, our body changes, its simply about managing the energy loss of the bowling ball as it goes down lane. If you get early hook... too much ball... simple.

After re-reading my last post, I realize it sounded more like a rant. Was being bugged by the wife to get off the computer and pay her some attention, and in trying to finish my post, I kind of went down a more whiney tangent.

What I''m looking for is some technique whereby I can add or regain some speed at the start of a match, not several games later.

Holding the ball higher and other suggestions (or reminders) ARE exactly what I was looking for.  In fact, today I went to the lanes, and after a rough start, finally lengthened my backswing just a bit, and that seemed to help a lot with the speed.  Was between 17.1 and 19.5 mph after increasing the backswing.

Only problem is that I didn''t change the backswing until after bowling 6 crummy games with little or no pop on the ball. I want to speed up my initial ball speed in games 1,2, and 3.

Edited on 11/27/2009 0:54 AM