Q: I am a stroker and would like to know how I can get more revs on the ball. Also, can I use the same ball after making this change?
— Rocco Mayo, Farmingdale, NJ
A: A good way to get more revs is to cup your wrist in a similar fashion to PBA champion Del Ballard Jr. Also keep your back straight during the release and bend with your knee, rather than bending forward at the waist. As for using or not using the same ball, I suggest using a ball that has a lot of skid in the front portion of the lane and a strong backend hooking action. By increasing your revs, this type of ball will give you a “long and strong” ball motion on the lanes.

Q: I have a problem with hopping during my release. Just as I have released the ball, I hop to the right. How can I eliminate this?
— Nick Hirshfield, Grants Pass, OR
A: The usual cause of hopping is that your slide foot is not fi lling the middle of your body during the release and you are consequently off-balance. Concentrate on making your slide foot slide directly in front of the body during the release and you should improve your balance and eliminate the hopping. But before you get too down on yourself, remember that one of the greatest bowlers of all time, Harry “Tiger” Smith, used to hop when he released his ball.

Q: How do different finger pitches affect the release of a bowling ball?
— Vicki Milani, North Babylon, NY
A: Forward pitch (pitching the finger toward the center of the grip) will increase the amount of time that your fingers stay in the ball during the release and should increase lift on the ball. Pitching the fingers to the left side will force you to rotate your hand more during the release. Pitching the fingers to the right side will allow you to release the ball sooner, with less rotation. Reverse pitch, meanwhile, will give you a bit less lift on the ball.

Q: My thumb grabs whenever I release a bowling ball. What is the cause of this grabbing and what are some of the cures?
— Bobby Fontaine, Myrtle Beach, FL
A: There are a number of possible explanations. The first is too much reverse pitch in the thumbhole. A second possible problem is too large of a thumbhole. A third potential problem is not having any palm pitch. Consult an experienced pro shop operator and experiment with less reverse pitch, a smaller thumbhole and/or a little more palm pitch.

Q: I have been watching a number of old PBA shows on YouTube and the biggest thing that I noted was the different manners in which the color commentators talked about the players. As a Tour veteran, could you comment about the different styles of Billy Welu, Nelson Burton Jr. and Randy Pedersen?
— Fred Vance, North Olmstead, OH
A: All three of the announcers you mentioned also were great bowlers, and the way they bowled affects how they look at the game. Nelson Burton Jr., for example, was noted for his extensive practice routine and his emphasis on accuracy. It’s no surprise, then, that his announcing seems to be coming from a person with great knowledge of the different competitors’ games and their backgrounds. This is because Bo would prepare and study a lot of information prior to the show. Billy Welu was a bowler who emphasized balance and power in his own game, and one often heard him explain the importance of balance and proper body position. As for Pedersen, Randy comes from the era of strong bowling balls and great pin action. Resultantly, you can hear the excitement in his voice when a competitor rolls a ball that throws the pins all across the pin-deck.

Need help with your game?
Write to Mike McGrath at
Bowlers Journal International,
122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite
1506, Chicago, IL 60603, or
mikempba13@aol.com.