ASK BOB #13

By Bob Korth



Q. With the New Year upon us do you have any bowling New 
Years resolutions?

A. My New Years resolution for my game will be to get some 
video lessons, to practice more and especially to concentrate harder when 
shooting at spares. These resolutions are good for all of my readers out 
there. None of us take enough lessons; bowlers for some unknown reason 
bowlers seem to think they don't need lessons. Worse yet the better a bowler 
becomes the less lessons they take. We should know by now that this game is 
not that easy and none of us is perfect. Next with the advent of easier lane 
conditions bowlers are practicing less. If we aren't scoring we just buy a 
new ball. We might not need a new ball we might just need to learn to repeat 
shots. Practice makes perfect. One of my most asked questions is how can I 
improve my average? Well the lessons and practice is a good start but the 
quickest way to a higher average is to work harder on your spare making. 
Making just one more spare a game works out to a ten-pin jump in average. 
Try these resolutions this year and your average has to improve.

Q. I have been struggling with my accuracy lately, one of 
my teammates said I am chicken winging the ball. I have heard this term 
before but I have no idea what it means. Can you give me an explanation and 
a cure?

A. Chicken winging means your elbow is flying out on your 
downswing. It is caused by turning the ball to early in the down swing. 
This can be a timing thing or a matter of trying too hard to increase turn 
on the ball. Chicken winging causes under/over problems and accuracy 
suffers. When you are topping the ball and you throw it out it doesn't hook 
because you have no leverage. Then you try to adjust by moving out and you 
roll over the ball, it hooks immediately and goes high. Sometimes by 
accident you release the ball in just the right spot and it looks good. You 
think I've got it, and it starts all over again. It feels like bad timing or 
that your not lined up in the right place. You might think that you're using 
the wrong ball. The fix is to stay behind the ball longer. There are several 
ways to accomplish this. Leading or thinking aim with the ring finger on the 
down swing is the best way.

Q. I am particularly interested in your article concerning what you 
did about your sore wrist. I used to slow hook and crank the ball by 
cocking my wrist upward and inward and one night about 3 years ago I got a 
sharp pain on the inside of my wrist that has never really gone away. 
Obviously, I did some permanent damage in there and I, too, have tried raps 
and different types of wrist supports and the only one that seems to help a 
little is the "straight" good old fashioned Robby. However, I still ice it 
every night after bowling and there is still some pain. I also used to have 
a lot of reverse pitch in the thumbhole and a stretched span, but I have now 
shortened the span and changed the pitch to 0-0 and I have really relaxed my 
hand, but the pain never really goes away. Is this the same area of the 
wrist where you had pain? I am thinking about drilling a hole for my pinky 
to see if that helps.

A. Yes, that is exactly the same place my wrist was and is 
sore. It probably won't ever clear up completely. You can get it to calm 
down though. The Robby's is a good idea and the other thing I did is to 
drill the pinky hole. It helped the most. Even then I still get flair ups 
once and awhile. I do the same thing as you Ice till it gets better then 
heat. Once I get the inflammation down it stays good for quite a long time. 
Also going down in ball weight helps. I went down to 15 from 16. Before I 
put the pinky finger in I could barely bowl 3 games. Now I can bowl all I 
want but the soreness is still there. It is much more tolerable now than it 
was seven years ago. Recommendation try the pinky finger you will love the 
feel and control you gain.

To ask a question write to sosbob@charter.net or send it to this 
publication.