I bowled quite a bit when I was younger, peaking at 170~ average with topend 243 game at age 13/14. I then quit until I was 19-20 when I played recreationally but because I had lost my former skill and couldn't find it I began bowling thumbless which made my mechanics even worse. Recently I've begun trying to get serious into it, won a Storm Anarchy 1.5-2.5" pin and just purchased a "Pro Release". My old shot didn't have much hook and the ball had the span from when I was 14 and I couldn't get much hand in the ball but I managed a 165 average with it but am hoping to really kick it up the 2nd half of this season and going into next year and could use any advise possible. For some reason I can't seem to get the ball going faster than 11-13mph on nicer looking shots with the Pro-Release when I threw typically 15-17 before and could hit 20 on spare balls. Is this just a matter of getting used to it? Id like to throw from roughly between 2nd and 3rd arrow out to the edge and back but this ball seems to be more inclined to go from 2nd arrow out and back, or if I go from edge-in I can up the speed.

Thanks for any help from those better than me!

Thank you, I'll keep open bowling when I get chances to get more practice in with it and see what I can do. I'm hoping that once I get used to the new ball and Pro Release I'll see upwards movement in my average. I've done about as well as I could with the setup I had before with the span being way off.

I agree with dizzy.

and I will repeat a bit of what was said. the game really has changed. I got into the game right when reactive resin was coming into the scene and I was a little kid. I stopped bowling just when the balls started to get crazy and when I came back after about 5 years of not bowling I couldnt get my ball to hook (oil was much slicker and my weak release didnt help at all). I went out to buy a high performance ball and it hooked even less?? I never experienced a ball so strong that it would just burn up within the first 15-30 feet!

It took me a while but I learned that I needed a ball for each lane condition and needed to make sure that the surface of each ball matched up to the amount of oil there is. This was just the start of how many changes I needed to make which included my release, foot work, timing, hand position, etc.

I would have saved a LOT of money if I would have got a coach and just asked the better bowlers to help me. So I'll give you advice as if you were me. Get a good coach as it will actually save you money AND don't believe everything you read and hear. example: don't grip the ball and the thumbhole should be really tight... maybe for you! I tried that for YEARS cuz thats what I read and I tore up my thumb and it hurt when I bowled... opened up my thumb, got the correct pitch done (had to go left and forward) and made my ball fit looser so I had to grip a bit but nothing crazy and I have never had a pain since and my scores went up. (who knows maybe you will want a tight thumb) the point is EXPERIMENT and take your time. results come slowly so just enjoy the ride. I found it was easier to analyze off the lanes and just have fun while I was bowling.

I hope we help to steer you in the right direction to avoid cost and frustration as many of us made mistakes in the past.

to sum it up, my advice... get a coach, watch what types of balls others are having success with that bowl like you, and the best change I ever made to my game was to keep my hand from rolling to the outside of the ball (my palm faces straight forward or slightly to the right and I turn at my release juuuust a little bit)

goodluck
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Hammer has set the trap Hammerheads.

"Get them kiiids of the STREET!" -)

The biggest increase in average will be spares. Whenever you relax your arm and throw the ball that is what kind of release and revs your working with. You can always do things to increase your revs, many times it has a price. Usually in form and accuracy.

The most important thing to worry about with getting started back in bowling is getting your form, timing, and spare game inline. Once you do that you will have a great foundation for the rest of your game.

Most people want to bypass that for more revs, and more hook.
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Be good, or be good at it.