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Author Topic: A little help if you please  (Read 2103 times)

columbiafan

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A little help if you please
« on: November 28, 2007, 01:05:20 AM »
One of the First times posting:

I am having a problem this year. I have been Tugging my shot more than I ever have. I know it is an every once and a while thing for most bowlers, but for me this year it has been a big problem. I thought at first it might be the equipment but since I have really  never had this problem in the past I don't think that is it.

I have had several friends watch and no one seems to be able to see what I might be doing wrong. If anyone has some suggestions, or tips it would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks.

 

shelley

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2007, 09:14:29 AM »
I have weeks where I do that consistently as well.  If I don't want to fix it, I just move right and play right-to-left.  I figure if I'm going to tug it anyway, I may as well play the line it gives me.

I find that my balance is usually off when I tug it consistently like that.  If I don't get my left foot under me to be well-balanced at the line, I'll tug it every time.  Being more conscious of where my foot is in the slide goes a long way to helping get the ball out to the right instead of tugging it.

My other usual culprit is having a too-tight thumb hole.  I have two balls I need to work on because of that.  It's not so tight that I can't get my thumb in but it sure feels like it's not coming out when I get to the bottom of the swing.

SH

KDawg77

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2007, 09:16:27 AM »
Be sure you're not pulling the ball down when you're bringing you backswing down to the point of release. That's been causing my yanking problem this season.
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Dan Belcher

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2007, 12:20:23 PM »
One of my buddies is in his first year of throwing a fingertip grip, and he has a bad habit of tugging the ball.  One main reason is that he's afraid to swing it because he still doesn't trust the ball to hook back.  But other than that, he has bigtime balance problems at the foulline when he's not rolling it well.  He bends over at the waist too far and doesn't bend his knee enough.  He drops his right shoulder instead of staying more squared up.  He turns his body sideways a little and has to throw across his body.

Another issue might be that you are not getting your armswing in a straight line.  Start with the ball directly under your shoulder -- not in front of your stomach or chest, but rather underneath your shoulder at whatever height is comfortable for you.  Push the ball straight away from that so that you can drop the ball into a pendulum swing that never has to go around your body and can just stay perfectly straight.  See if you are still pulling the ball after doing this.

Joe Jr

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2007, 12:30:24 PM »
Could be a timing issue. Getting the ball into your swing too late will cause you to put it.
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Ragnar

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2007, 12:31:22 PM »
Columbiafan, where do you start with the ball in your set-up?  If it's too far toward the mid-line of your body you have to swing it in an arc to get around yourself.  Consequently your downswing will also arc back toward the midline and you'll tug.  Make sure to start with the ball slightly to the right (if your a righty) of the mid-line.  For me (I'm very large, 300ish) I start with it about half-way outside of my right hip.  You might also try targeting further down lane and "reach" out to the target at release.  There are lots of other possibilities, but I'd try these two things first.  Timing could be an issue, but if no one watching you has suggested it I'd be loathe to go that route.
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NicholasE

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2007, 12:34:06 PM »
What causes it for me is when im trying to come up the side of the ball and trying to really rip up on it and put some revs in it, I kind of push the ball left. I usually don't do that anymore but when I first started throwing a hook that was my common problem but fixed it my focusing harder on my release and not to muscel the ball down the lane.

Monster Pike

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2007, 12:53:44 PM »
The times I usually tug are the times when I make a more drastic move left.  I forget to change my angle of my shoulders with my new target line. If your shoulders are too square to the foul line when you're way left, you'll surely tug at least for me.  Also, one can have a tendancy to drift right when playing way left & overcompensate to get back w/the arm swing to keep the ball out of the right channel if that isn't there familiar line to the pocket.

Between frames, but not on the approach, go over everything you did on that shot you tugged.  Make your adjustments visually, then shut your thinking down before grabbing your ball.  Easier said than done, but that's what practice is for.  Muscle memory.
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Atochabsh

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2007, 01:21:42 PM »
Usually when this happens on a consistent basis as you are describing (not just a once in a while thing) it can be fixed by setting up the ball to be more inline with your shoulder, not in front of your chest.  It only takes a slight adjustment of where you start off holding the ball to make a big difference in the ball path.  

Erin

columbiafan

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2007, 09:58:15 AM »
I truly appreciate all of your input. I bowled last night and tried 2 things:

#1 Was to slow my feet down and see if it was a timing issue and that didn't seem to be the problem! But it did help me to the conclusion......

#2 Started with the ball more to my side "righty" and left more of the weight of the ball on my support hand!  Which helped tremendously....ended shooting 208,238,269=715!!!  1st one of the year, so hopefully many more to follow.

Thanks again for all help, and if I have anymore questions I know now to ask. Good luck, and good bowling!!!

bowlingnut07

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2007, 10:04:15 AM »
one of the big things i can say to fix this is very basic
i just say loosen everything up
just relax more and dont rush. slow down just abit
and i think ull find your armswing will come back
i find i start tugging when i get frustrated or to much in a hurry
hope this helps!
Lord Field Staff

WSUstroker

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2007, 10:08:23 AM »
Columbia fan, you seem to have found a problem spot.  Starting with the ball in front of you can lead to an awkward swing plane instead of having a nice straight armswing.  Keep the ball to the side and keep up with the big scores!
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Monster Pike

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2007, 10:10:10 AM »
Nice set, Columbiafan!!!  Glad you found something that worked.  I've been chicken winging the ball myself lately & figured out what I was doing wrong also.  Somewhat similar to your remedy is how I fixed it.
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columbiafan

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Re: A little help if you please
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2007, 10:38:53 AM »
Thanks,

You know sometimes it can be the little things that cause the biggest problems. And now all to do is practice doing this all the time, and committing it to muscle memory, and keep posting the scores!!!!

Thanks again

Scott