ASK BOB #15

ASK BOB 2/13/05
BY BOB KORTH



Q. I am having the best season of my bowling career but I know it could 
be better. I have never left so many corner pins. Do you have any ideas as 
to why I am leaving so many 10 pins? I have never had this problem before.



A. I get this question often there are several reasons why it seems 
that more corner pins are left. I know when you say corner pin you mainly 
mean the 10 pin. One reason is carry down. You probably have noticed that 
during practice and part of the first game the carry is pretty good. Then 
all of a sudden the 10 pin starts popping up. This is can be caused by the 
oil moving down toward the pins and causing a later breakpoint. You also 
will notice an increased amount of 10's left when the lanes break down and 
you have to move your line in this causes a later break point also and ball 
comes in behind the pocket slightly. There is another reason for what seems 
to be more 10 pins than we remember in the past. You answered that question 
yourself. I am having the best season I have ever had. Lane conditions at 
many centers have been getting easier and easier. It has gotten to the point 
where scratch bowlers are hitting the pocket almost every time. Because of 
this and the above factors more 10 pins are being left than ever before the 
reason, we are hitting the pocket more than ever before. The percentage is 
probably about the same as it ever was but now we notice it more. I can 
offer you these tips for getting the ten pin out. You can slow down the ball 
speed slightly but be sure and take a little hand out of the shot. This will 
allow the ball to roll up higher in the pocket. Another move (my favorite) 
move your feet 1 board to the right and hit the same spot stay firm with 
your release, this also will allow the ball to finish higher in the pocket. 
Both of these methods will result in better carry. Congratulations on your 
good bowling this season and I hope these tips will make it even better.

Q. I bowl with a reactive ball and use a semi-fingertip grip. I went to 
my local pro shop to get a new ball and wanted to get it drilled 
conventional because for me it is more comfortable. The ball driller said 
that you couldn't drill a reactive ball conventional because it I wouldn't 
be able to get it to spin. Is that true?



A. Any ball can be drilled conventional what the ball is made of has no 
bearing on how the ball can be drilled. What your pro shop operator was 
trying to explain was that drilling the ball with a conventional grip will 
cut down on the amount of side turn you can put on the ball. This will cut 
down on the amount of hook and the carry of the ball. If you want to have it 
drilled conventional just tell him to do what you ask, he is working for 
you. Before you have this done let me try to change your mind. The 
semi-fingertip grip is the most uncomfortable of the 3 common grips bowlers 
use. Instead of the conventional grip you might try a relaxed fingertip 
grip. When properly fit to your hand this grip is the most comfortable grip 
and the easiest to hold on to. It also allows for the most leverage. I 
believe you will love it and your scores will improve.

Q. I used to get a copy of bowling statistics and oddities at the ABC 
national tournament. I haven't seen it for a while and they don't sell it at 
the tournament anymore. Do you know where I might find an updated copy of 
this very interesting book?



A. Yes, the ABC used to sell this book every year and they updated it 
about every 5 years or so. The book has just about every record for almost 
anything you can think of having to do with bowling, good or bad. Last year 
the ABC now the USBC has put the book online it is free to everyone with 
access to a computer. You can see it on screen or you can put it on the 
print out version and make a hard copy. This way it will be easier for them 
to update it each year and you can get it anytime. Just go to www.bowl.com 
and click on records and stats from the menu on the left of the screen. Here 
is an example of what you can find there, this is from an update I got last 
week from USBC Extra Frames. Bryan Hunche of Akron, Ohio just set the new 
record for low game with 9 strikes he shot 176. This beat the old record of 
184. They did not say how he got this score on a frame-by-frame print out 
but it will probably be in the book when updated for 2005 next year. Then 
there was this one and am I glad wasn't me Steve Rock of Lake George, New 
York set the new one game below average score. Steve who has a league 
average of 230 had a 68 game whopping 162 pins below his average.

I would like to thank the Greater Seattle Bowling Association for including 
my article in their Newsletter. I learned to bowl there and I am a member of 
their Hall of Fame. It is great to be able to give back to the place and the 
game I love.



Ask me a question write to sosbob@charter.net I answer all questions by 
email.