We have all met a condition in league or tournament play that requires a lot of effort to get your ball down the lane. We will offer you a few options to try and overcome this condition. You could try moving further left in an attempt to find more oil thereby giving you more skid.

One of the problems with moving left is that the further left you move the smaller and smaller the pocket gets. This is normally why when you have to play an extreme inside angle you will leave more corner pins and have very little room for error. The good thing is that you do not always have to move so far left in your attempt to find more conditioner. You can also create more skid by breaking your wrist, looking further down the lane, or by changing ball surfaces. Breaking your wrist takes a lot of practice and could lead to inconsistent shot making if you are not well practiced. By looking down the lanes we mean that if you normally look at the dots, which are approximately 7 ft out on the lane, try moving your target to the arrows, which are approximately 15 ft out on the lane, or even further down the lane to your break point. This technique will create more skid through the front part of the lane saving more energy for the back end. Looking further down the lanes works well for many bowlers but some bowlers are very uncomfortable when it comes to changing where they look. The last option is to simply change balls. This way you don’t have to change where you look or move too far inside thus keeping your best angle to the pocket.
Remember if you see your ball rolling out you need to make a change. You need to create more length or skid. Keep in mind – no skid no hook. A bowling ball only has so much energy to expend before it reaches the pins, if the ball rolls too earlier it may roll out thereby not allowing the ball to hook in the back end.

By trying these techniques you should store more of that energy and use it where it counts, at the pins.

 

Posted by Dustin on 7 January 2012 at 12:05 pm under Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Equipment Help, Improve Your Game, Intermediate.
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Many people will talk about the Christmas tree pattern, but what is the oil pattern and how should you attack the Christmas tree oil pattern? The nickname of the oil pattern comes from the resemblance of the shape of a Christmas tree when looking at a top view of the lane. This pattern has become more popular since it is easy to repeat from one day to the next with new lane machines.

The Christmas tree pattern is accomplished by applying oil to a desired distance on the first five boards of the lane. Then the amount of oil and the distance is increased about every five boards moving into the center of the lane. Therefore, the focus of the heaviest oil is between the 15 and 25 boards in the center, where oil is applied at the longest distance point down the lane.

The Christmas tree pattern is vastly different from the normal house shot that most bowlers find in league play. The amount of oil and the distance applied is what gives the Christmas tree pattern its character.

So, how does the Christmas tree play compared to a blend or a heavy oil pattern? A “blocked” lane condition (where the lanes are oiled from the 10 board on the right to the 10 board on the left, with the outside boards being generally bone-dry) results in a “hold area” giving bowlers a larger margin of error to hit the pocket. By hold area, we mean that large sections of the lane are dry enough that the ball will make contact with the bare lane and then hook rather than hang out flat or slide into the gutter.

A Christmas tree will not play that same way because of the additional units of oil every five boards. You must change your point of attack to the pocket. You also must make adjustments as the lane changes and take into account the point where the ball begins to turn towards the pocket (breakpoint) in relation to the target at the arrows.

If you try to play the Christmas tree pattern the same as you would normally play a standard house shot proves to be destructive to not only your score, but also your confidence. Instead of playing up the oil line or allowing the ball to follow a ridge of oil to the pocket, you must determine your own breakpoint on the lane based on how you throw a certain ball then consider the options to reach that breakpoint.

When the lane begins to break down, your adjustments should be more angular than parallel. When bowling on the Christmas tree pattern, there is no oil line down the lane to hold the ball to the pocket. Playing direct, as if there is a prominent oil line, generally will not achieve the desired effect unless you are extremely accurate.

On the normal house shot for right-handers would move their feet and target left to stay with the oil line as the condition breaks down. However, when you are bowling on a Christmas tree pattern it is more important to move your breakpoint out because there is not a significant oil line to hold the ball to the pocket. To avoid early hook, right-handers must project the ball further to the right and the opposite is true for left-handed bowlers. Making parallel moves by moving your approach stance and target the same number of boards will generally continue to result in the ball hooking past the pocket. This is because there is not an oil line to hold the ball to the pocket.

A better adjustment is to make angular moves, meaning your feet more boards than you move your target. Here is an example of an effective adjustment, moving your feet three boards on the lane and only one board at the target, or move five boards with your feet and two boards at the target and so on. Therefore, resulting in the desired breakpoint, rather than counting on an oil line that does not exist.

We keep mentioning breakpoints, but where should the breakpoint be? This will depend on the distance of the oil pattern. When a lane is oiled 40 feet, there is only 20 feet of back end available for hook. The breakpoint will be closer to the pocket than if the lanes are oiled to 35 feet. The more back end available to allow the ball to hook, the further right the ball has to be projected before it hooks to the pocket. Different bowlers will attack the breakpoint differently since there is no defined oil line to play. Strategy will differ based on ball speed, release, and choice of equipment. You will get a feel of how the lane is dressed and on what equipment to choose during practice before scoring begins.

Although, in general, bowlers who throw harder with fewer revolutions may play more, direct to the breakpoint than a player who throws a slower ball with more revolutions. A bowler using a ball with a dull finish can play where there is more oil on the lane and project to the breakpoint while a ball with a polished/shiny finish will allow the bowler to approach the breakpoint at a more direct angle of attack.

Even with these adjustments, there still is only a small margin for error since there is not an oil line to hold the ball to the pocket. Due to this fact, this explains why there is more than one way to play the Christmas tree pattern and why strategy is important. Just lining up by noticing where others throw at the arrows is not enough to determine your breakpoint. There can also be times when you can find more than one way to hit the pocket, however one may carry better than the other.

You must be able to recognize the Christmas tree pattern and the distance the oil is applied, being accurate, being consistent, and making timely angular adjustments are the keys to mastering the pattern. Also, remembering that making adjustments that you might make on the standard house shot will not always give you successful results.

On average, the normal league bowler will not encounter this condition often, but when you do encounter this type of pattern, you will recognize it and make the correct adjustments to your game.

 

Posted by Dustin on 7 January 2012 at 8:57 am under Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Everyone, Improve Your Game.
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Every Night You Experience Changing Lane Conditions, Here Is How To Adjust.

Bronze Tip We all know as the game progresses the lane conditions do not stay consistent and scores suffer. Adjusting to the continuously changing lane conditions is simpler than most bowlers believe. It is just a matter of comprehending simple angles and visualizing how the will roll to the pocket.

When you begin to notice your ball not hooking, move your body further to the right in your approach, lefty’s move left, and adjust the angle of your body so your right shoulder is closed or aimed more toward the headpin. Most often, a move to the right and a closed shoulder position results in a straighter ball path on oily lanes.

in the case your ball is beginning to hook more than desired, move a little left and adjust the angle of your body so your right shoulder is open or aimed more toward the 10-pin. Doing this will produce a larger arc to the pocket.

When changing your position on the approach, remember to picture the shape of your ball’s reworked arc to the pocket. Altering your mental picture of how the ball should roll is just as essential as is the actual change in your body’s positioning.

Silver Tip Adjusting a bit to the right or the left is a simple adjustment to adapting to your changing lane conditions. However this is not always the correct reaction.

When you become more experienced with the understanding of lane adjustments the distance from the back to the front of the lane becomes a significant factor to think about when adjusting to the changing conditions.

In your efforts to make your ball hook into the pocket at the precise moment there are three main adjustments when handling distance adjustments.

The make up of your coverstock to your ball is one of the main things when considering on how to react. The rule of thumb for bowling balls is to use dull, sanded, or rough textured ball for oily lane conditions and when combating dry lanes utilize a polished ball. This is why so many now carry more than one ball so they can adjust to the changing lane conditions. You have to use the right tool for the job, in this case the ball.

If changing your ball does not produce the reaction you are looking for then begin to adjust your ball speed and or loft. When on heavy oil slow your speed and lay down your ball about six inches past the foul line. Doing this will allow the ball to be in contact with the lane for a longer period of time and then allow for the ball to have more reaction. If you are bowling on medium oiled lanes try rolling the ball at a normal speed while lofting the ball about 24″ on to the lane. On dry lane conditions increase your ball speed and loft the ball about 32″ past the foul line. This will cause your ball to be in contact with the lane for a reduced amount of time and results in less reaction from your bowling ball.

It is quite often that you hear bowlers complain about their ball not hooking enough or it is hooking too much. Actually, what is happening is that the ball is hooking too early or to late and making adjustments with the type of coverstock, speed and loft will allow you to control the distance to your correct breaking point getting you back in the pocket. This will bring your game to the next level and increase your scores.

Gold Tip At this point you should be well versed with right and left adjustments on the approach along with how to adjust coverstock, speed and loft variables to conquer changing lane conditions.

The last aspect of adjustments experienced by great bowlers concern themselves with is equipment knowledge and how to go about having a complete bowling arsenal. What is underneath the surface of your ball is just as vital as whether the surface is dull or polished. The inside composition of bowling balls is the difference between good bowling balls and great bowling balls.

The weight block in your ball makes a vast difference. The rule of thumb for weight blocks is a center heavy weight block helps the ball hook earlier while a cover heavy (surface heavy) weight block helps the ball get further down the lane before it begins to hook.

Adding the bowling ball’s rolling dynamic to its cover ( polished means more skid, sanded means earlier roll); you have another variable that enters the equation.

Your responsibility is to fit all the pieces together. The best way to account for all circumstances and know what you need to do in certain situations is to practice and apply all of the above and you will see results and have a greater understanding of the game of bowling. Once you master the basic adjustments of angle, coverstock, weight blocks/cores, loft and speed enter those brackets and/or the high game pot to take home some extra cash.

 

Posted by Dustin on 7 January 2012 at 4:12 am under Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Everyone, Improve Your Game.
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By Dick Evans

All across the country, bowling fans are crying about the way bowling is treated by daily newspapers.

Sadly, it’s true…

Most newspapers ignore bowling today. Thirty and even 20 years ago it wasn’t that way. There were an arsenal of outstanding sports writers across the country who loved bowling and spent their lives trying to report the sport to the American public.

Unfortunately, time caught up with most of these dedicated sports writers. Many have retired and a few have died and with their departure came the decline of bowling’s popularity.

Even worse, there are few new YOUNG writers out there who appear to love the sport of bowling and are willing to go the proverbial extra mile to fight for space in the sports sections. Oh, they will cover a PBA or PWBA tournament when it comes to town, but you seldom find a major daily newspaper today with a designated bowling writer who commands a lot of space year around.

I know I am prejudiced, but I think the bowling industry has never thanked these veteran writers enough for their tireless efforts. And make no mistakes, getting space for bowling was no easy matter. You had to fight with your editors and you had to spend a lot of your own time and money covering tournaments and getting interviews.

Two of the greatest writers in my opinion were Jim Fitzgerald of the Chicago Tribune and Seymour Shub of the Chicago Sun-Times. Almost until the time they died, they fought for every inch of space in their two major newspapers and they got plenty.

J. T. Phillips of the Tennessean also comes to mind. This Pulitzer prize winner loved bowling and did it proud with his pen and camera. I’ll never forget how he went to tournaments on his own money and then took pictures for a USA Today. A few weeks later someone from USA Today would call and ask your opinion about some timely subject.

Who can ever forget Don Snyder, a gifted writer who made everyone smile. Everyone was surprised and dismayed when he died recently after a long and prize winning career as bowling writer for the Los Angeles Times.

One of my favorites was the late Tom Williams, who wrote for the Dallas Morning News. This guy knew his way around a sports department, but he also knew a good bowling story and knew how to get it in the paper.

Other top newspaper writers who have passed away after brilliant bowling writing careers include Dave Roberts (Portland, Ore.), Dick Carmody (Long Island), John Martino (Syracuse), LeRoy Chase (Peoria, Ill.), Ed Browalski (Detroit), Bob Zellner (Long Island’), Tom Bolger (Toledo) and Milwaukee’s Billy Sixty and Hank Sayrs.

Other great bowling writers like Bill Hengen (Minneapolis Tribune), Bob Schabert (St. Paul Pioneer Press), Ed Reddy (Syracuse-Post Standard), Doug Bradford (Detroit News), Tom Gaffney (Akron) and Matt Fiorto (Detroit) have either retired completely or have curtailed their bowling coverage.

There are a few old-timers still around trying to get ink for bowling, John Archibald of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, New Jersey’s Chuck Pezzano, Indianapolis’ Dick Denny, San Antonio’s Harry Page and Los Angeles’ Joe Lyou to name a few.

The thing that most people do not realize is that most of the writers were first and foremost great newspaper men. Most of the time they covered bowling on their own time while spending their working hours on their assigned beats — everything from boxing to religion to TV to high school sports to golf to tennis to horse racing.

Over the past 43 years of covering bowling for The Miami Herald, I have seen proprietors get rich, pro bowlers get rich, bowling magazine publishers get rich and manufacturers get rich off the bowling game. But I have yet to see a bowling writer get rich writing about the sport. Matter of fact bowling writers are lucky to even get a few thank you notes for the way they cover the sport and the ink they gave individuals.

In my opinion, it was a labor of love for these newspaper writers. Of course, there was a day when the publishers of a few bowling publications could make a good buck, but those days seemed to have diminished along with the sport’s great popularity. Perhaps John Jowdy, who made a world name for himself as a bowling coach, best exemplifies how bowling writers feel about the sport. Jowdy, who commands a good paycheck when giving lessons at clinics, is a gifted writer who pens an instruction story for every Bowling-Digest issue. He gets paid for that story. But John also writes for bowling publications every month and he does it for free.

Greater love has no man than he works for free.

 

Posted by Dustin on 7 January 2012 at 12:57 am under Around The Bowling Industry, General.
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Keep good sportsmanship and consideration of other people in mind and you should have all of the bases covered. Here are a few tips that should help.

When Open Bowling:

  • Always wear bowling shoes.
  • Try and stay behind the foul line.
  • Wait for bowlers on the lanes to your right or left.
  • Do not stray from your lane after delivering the ball.
  • Keep food and drinks in designated areas.
  • Try and keep your fun and games to within your own group.

When League Bowling:

  • Show up in time for practice
  • Be prepared to take your regular turn on the lanes.
  • Try not to take too much time on the approaches before delivery.
  • We all get emotional just try and not let them interfere with others while they are bowling.
  • Keep one ball per person on the rack.
  • Don’t try and take two lane courtesy on either side when everyone else is taking one. It throws off the rhythm of the league.

    • Bowlingball.com always welcomes suggestions. If you think of anything that should be added just drop us an email at support@bowlingball.com.

     

    Posted by Dustin on 6 January 2012 at 8:52 pm under Beginner, Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Rules Of The Game.
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    By Brian Pursel

    For maximum effect of balance holes, a depth of 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches deep is recommended. This depth ensures that the %%%balance hole%%% will remove core mass, effecting its overall shape and flare potential greatest. Larger holes, drilled shallower, will remove the less dense coverstock and/or outer core material. This will result in a less dramatic difference in ball reaction. If you are trying to slightly tweak your reaction, I’d suggest using a shallow hole. You can always drill deeper for a greater reaction change. Obviously, the larger the bit you can use and the deeper you can go (and still remain within the ABC limits of side weight), the greater the difference of the ball’s reaction you can expect. Being able to use a larger, deeper hole requires that you have the CG in a position to create excess positive weight. I would recommend placing the CG in a position anywhere up to 2 ounces of positive weight before drilling a balance hole. Slower ball speeds will be best served with smaller balance holes, hence smaller CG shifts. Faster ball speeds will find greater satisfaction with larger, deeper holes created by larger CG shifts.

    The position of the CG dictates the possibilities of a balance hole’s size and depth. The relation of the CG to the pin is a useful tool to manipulate this. Placing the pin in a 1:30 direction to the CG (10:30 for lefthanders) will keep the CG closer to the center of span. This will allow only a smaller hole. This is best for slower ball speeds, lighter oil conditions, and less axis rotation (more end-over-end roll). Placing the pin at 12:00 will position the CG further away from the center of span, allowing a larger volume balance hole to be used. This is better for the mediums (of oil, speed, and axis rotation). Placing the pin in a 10:30 direction from the CG (1:30 for lefthanders) will place it furthest from the center of span, giving us the opportunity to use the largest volume hole. This is best for heavier oil, faster ball speeds, and larger amounts of axis rotation (side roll) and axis tilt (spin).

    The vertical position of the balance hole also determines the rate in which the ball loses axis rotation (side roll). As the ball travels down the lane, friction causes it to lose side rotation (skid) until it rolls end-over-end. This loss of axis rotation creates hook. Once the ball has entered into a complete end-over-end roll, it will cease hooking. We have a drilling pattern that we named “rev-leverage”. This drilling pattern utilizes a balance hole 6 inches from the center of span in the thumb/positive quadrant. This is the area of the ball located in a 4:30 direction (southeast) from the center of the span (lefthanders would be in a 7:30 direction, or southwest). Placing a balance hole here allows the balance hole to join forces with the thumbhole to create a huge flat spot on the core. This flat spot maximizes flare potential (it is located roughly 6-7 inches from the pin) and also creates a strong mass bias. This mass bias causes the ball to lose energy at a faster rate, creating a quicker transition from side roll to end-over-end roll. Heavier oil patterns, faster ball speeds, and higher amounts of axis rotation and tilt need a ball reaction that loses side rotation faster. Conversely, lighter oil patterns and slower ball speeds will find that this position of the balance hole will cause the ball to lose energy prematurely, causing the ball to “hook out” before it hits the pins. This hook-out results in maximum deflection and insufficient hitting power.

    Balance holes can be your friend if used correctly, your worst nightmare if used incorrectly. Every bowler’s style and lane condition combination must be evaluated before deciding to use a balance hole. Please consult your local IBPSIA or Striking Effects Pro Shop for expert advice.

     

    Posted by Dustin on 6 January 2012 at 4:48 pm under Advanced, Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Equipment Help, Intermediate.
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    Let’s skip the A’s and the B’s and skip straight to the 3 C’s of bowling. What are the 3 C’s of bowling? Well, here they are:

    • Concentration
    • Consistency
    • Confidence

    Regardless of the sport you are playing these 3 C’s are crucial and bowling is no exception. We will discuss the 3 C’s in order of importance. When you gain Concentration it will lead to Consistency, which in turn brings Confidence, in the end all three will achieve improved performance.

    In order to bowl, and bowl well, you must be able to perform the physical task, but you also must have the correct frame of mind. We know we all can pick up the ball and get it down the lane, so let’s focus on concentration. Concentration is not only important when you are not executing but also when you are executing. Because once you lose your concentration during execution, you will begin making silly errors. Things that will easily distract you are problems at home, school, work, your opponents, and discomfort. You may not think about it to often, but your clothing is important to how you bowl as well. Wear something that you feel good in and make sure your clothes are not too tight or even to baggy. Your bowling shoes can also contribute to your comfort level as well. If your shoes are too tight, too big, or falling apart it is time to give them up and invest in some new shoes.

    Now that we have all that behind us, let us focus on what you should be doing when you are on the approach. Position yourself in your starting position and do not forget to focus in on your target. Most importantly do not rush yourself! If you are not ready, you are not ready. What works extremely well before beginning your approach, and when you are focusing in on your target, is to take a deep breath. Why are so many great bowlers doing this? It’s obvious, IT WORKS. It clears your mind of everything that is going on in your life and all your previous frames bowled. This is best because your mind is refreshed. Now it is time to begin your approach. Visualize yourself making that smooth approach, release, follow through, and the ball going down the lane and crashing into the pocket. Repeat this every time you are up on approach and it will lead to a routine leading into the next C-Consistency. Remember concentration is the most important aspect of the 3 C’s and if you falter on this one the others will begin to collapse along with your score.

    Consistency is the name of the game in bowling. Being able to do the same approach and same delivery, every time, brings you closer to becoming a better bowler. Your approach is important, remember we mentioned before if you are not ready then you are not ready. Maintain a moderate, consistent speed every time you are in your approach. Often when your approach is rushed this leads to a dropped shoulder sending the ball wide. Consistency is, for the majority, the most difficult aspect in bowling. When you deliver your ball it is instinctive to bend over when you are setting down a 14-16 pound object, however it is crucial to keep your back straight for a consistent delivery. Another main contributor in inconsistent deliveries is bending of the elbow. A slight bend for lift is acceptable as long as your elbow is pointing down your lane. Always hold your pose until your ball crosses over your mark and watch your ball finish. This accomplishes two things. First, it will ensure you are not rushing out of your approach. Second, watching your ball finish can help you determine if you need to make adjustments. Quite often, you will see people throw a poor shot and turn away in disgust. They are missing how to learn from their mistakes. By watching their ball finish, they will see what happens and can learn how to correct the mistake.

    Once you have the first two C’s mastered, the third C will come naturally, Confidence. You will gain confidence through your concentration and consistency. Making excellent shots from your concentration and consistency will build your confidence. However, there will be times when you throw a poor shot. Do not be frustrated, it happens to everyone. Be confident and finish the frame, maintain your momentum, and block that shot out of your memory. When you are up on the approach next time, do not forget to take a deep breath clearing your thoughts. Be confident on your next shot.

    Focus on keying on the 3 C’s of bowling Concentration, Consistency, and Confidence and you will be well on your way to becoming a better bowler. The key is good concentration will lead to consistency leading to confidence, which allows for improved performance.

     

    Posted by Dustin on 6 January 2012 at 12:45 pm under Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Everyone, Improve Your Game.
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    DonCarter Bowling Loses A Legend Don Carter Passes Away

    MIAMI, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2012) – Bowling’s original superstar, Professional Bowlers Association and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Don Carter, died at his home in Miami Thursday night. Carter, who had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia complicated by emphysema, was 85.

    Carter rocketed to fame during bowling’s so-called golden era of team bowling in the 1950s, but at that same time he was a dominant figure in the emerging world of sports television. He is widely remembered as a member of fabled Budweisers of St. Louis, but most of the world got to know him through his appearances on television shows like Jackpot Bowling, Make That Spare, Championship Bowling and numerous others. He also traveled the world making appearances for Brunswick and Budweiser.

    In great part due to his high standing among his fellow competitors, Carter became a leading force in the formation of the PBA in 1958. After appearing on an Akron, Ohio, radio program hosted by attorney Eddie Elias where he talked about the importance of building a professional bowling tour similar to what golf had created, Carter and his fellow Budweisers’ teammates (Dick Weber, Ray Bluth, Tom Hennessey and Pat Patterson) convinced a group of other players to pledge $50 each to back Elias’ plan and get the PBA off the ground.

    The PBA was launched in 1959 with three tournaments, but only three years later it had a schedule of 32 events and Carter was one of its stars, eventually winning seven PBA titles including five major championships.

    Carter won two of the seven PBA Tour events conducted in 1960 including the PBA National Championship. His other major wins were four BPAA All-Star titles (the forerunner of the PBA U.S. Open) and the 1961 American Bowling Congress Masters. He also won a record five World Invitational titles – a grueling 100-game marathon – and he won four ABC Tournament titles.

    The St. Louis native first experienced the sport at age 13.

    “We were very poor but my mother managed to give me one game of bowling for my 13th birthday,” Carter said in an article written by the late Hall of Fame bowling writer and long-time friend Dick Evans. “That was the biggest birthday present of my life. I enjoyed that one game so much that when one of my teachers started a bowling club after school, I signed up. Then I started setting pins so I could bowl and practice for free.”

    It was at that early age that he also developed his unique, unorthodox bowling style, using a bent elbow and a deep knee bend to almost push the ball down the lane. Carter later said his technique evolved because he started bowling with balls that had very large finger holes, and that’s the only way he could hold onto the ball.

    Carter also was a good athlete in other sports, including baseball. After serving a tour of duty in the United States Navy during World War II in the South Pacific, Carter signed a minor league baseball contract with the Philadelphia Athletics organization as pitcher-infielder. But after a year he returned to St. Louis and took a job at Golden Eagle Lanes where he began taking up the sport seriously.

    His bowling career gained momentum in 1951 when he was invited to bowl on the Pfeifer Beer team in Detroit. Then his long-time St. Louis bowling friends, including Bluth, Hennessey and Whitey Harris, convinced Anheuser-Busch to sponsor their team. With the brewery’s financial backing secured, the group lured Carter back to town and their Budweiser team became arguably the most famous bowling team in history. A great deal of the team’s fame came after it recorded a 3,858 five-player team series in 1958, a record that stood until 1994.

    At the height of his fame, Carter was as recognizable among American sports heroes as Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas and Arnold Palmer. And he accomplished something none of those sports legends had ever done when he became the first athlete in American sports history to sign a $1 million sports marketing endorsement contract with bowling ball manufacturer Ebonite in 1964.

    Carter received virtually every honor available within the sport. He was voted Bowler of the Year six times (1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1962). He served as the PBA’s first president. He was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame in 1970, alongside his close friend and teammate Dick Weber, and he was a charter member of the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975, also joined by Weber, Bluth, Carmen Salvino, Harry Smith and Billy Welu.

    Carter was selected as the Greatest Bowler of All-time in a 1970 Bowling Magazine poll, ranked second in Bowling Magazine’s “20 Greatest Bowlers of the 20th Century” poll in 2000, and he was voted the 11th greatest PBA player of all-time as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2009.

    Because of deteriorating knee injuries, Carter retired from PBA competition in 1972 and settled in Miami, Fla., with wife and fellow hall of fame bowler Paula Sperber where he owned a chain of bowling centers bearing his name.

    Because he hated to fly, and didn’t like public speaking, Carter rarely ventured far from home in retirement, although he did regain widespread public exposure in the 1980s when he appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials featuring retired sports stars.

    “I really don’t think anybody under the age of 65 remembers me,” Carter said about his Miller Lite appearances. “I’m really big with senior citizens. I’m famous because I’m the only guy to have two wives (Paula and first wife Laverne) in the (Women’s International Bowling Congress) Hall of Fame.”

    Details regarding memorial services for Carter are pending.

    “It is impossible to put into words what Don Carter meant to the PBA and sport of bowling,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “There is no way to fill the void left by his passing. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Paula and his family. He was a pioneer, a champion and will never be forgotten.”

    “It’s a sad day,” said long-time teammate Ray Bluth. “You’re never really prepared, and when you think of how many guys we had on our team over the years, I’m the only original and Bill (Lillard), who joined later, are the only ones left.

    “Don was the greatest bowler of his era,” Bluth continued. “There was no one like him. Don was the star of the (Budweisers). He was our leadoff man. He wasn’t too gung-ho about that role, but he kept getting strikes and so did the rest of us, so he stayed there. It was just a great experience bowling with Don.”

    “He’ll be missed. He was a great guy; he was hard to get to know, but once you did, he was your friend forever,” Lillard said. “They always ask who was the best bowler ever. There wasn’t much difference between some of the top guys, but Don beat me relentlessly, so in my eyes, he was the greatest ever.”

    “Don was one of the greatest bowlers who ever lived, but he had some other things that made him great,” Salvino said. “He was a great athlete. He won two 100-game tournaments in one year and I don’t know how many other bowlers could take that kind of punishment. And he had the ability to focus better than anyone I’ve ever seen.

    “On the lanes, he was in his own world, but off the lanes, he was a true gentleman,” Salvino added. “I had a lot of respect for him, as a bowler and as a man.”

    All of us at bowlingball.com send our condolences and deepest sympathies to the Carter family. Don’s impact on bowling cannot be overstated and will never be forgotten.

     

    Posted by Dustin on 6 January 2012 at 12:05 pm under Around The Bowling Industry, Bowlers Journal International, PBA.
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    If you are just getting started in the game or beginning to take the game seriously, using bowling terms will help you gain insight into the technical aspects of bowling. Kindly refer to the “bowling terms” feature here at bowlingball.com for a complete list of terminology relevant to many bowling related topics. Using bowling terms may be easily accessed by clicking on the “Bowling Terms” link listed under the “Help” column on our home page and then you may click alphabetically to gain access to literally more than a hundred terms. Direct links will be provided below for immediate access.

    There are many important terms every serious bowler of any skill level can familiarize themselves with relating to the technical aspects of the game. A few terms relating to bowling balls such as “RG”, “Differential of RG”, and “%%%axis of rotation%%%” among other terms will help you gain insight into bowling ball motion.

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    It also helps to learn about common terms relating to the bowling lane such as “break point”, “lane conditions”, and “oil patterns” so you may ultimately gain more of an understanding of playing lanes and making good adjustments during your sessions on the lanes. By far, terms relating to understanding the bowling ball construction, bowling ball motion, coverstocks, and bowling lanes are the most frequently accessed by bowlers.

    The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) also publishes terminology as well as our lists of bowling terms. Here are links to the USBC Terminology and to our bowlingball.com terms:

    http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/Updated_Terminology.pdf

    http://www.bowlingball.com/BowlVersity/bowling-terms

    Take some time to browse these lists of terms and perhaps keep these links handy for future reference. Knowledge is the key to learning about the sport of bowling. When you visit your local pro shop, it helps to be able to communicate and understand terms such as pin placement, CG, differential ratio, weight imbalance, Abralon pads, and mass bias among other terms relating to bowling balls. Understanding more technical information about bowling balls will aide you in participating in the drilling layout decisions with your pro shop professional as well as help you pinpoint specific bowling ball coverstock surface strategies to match best with the lane conditions you commonly encounter.

    Making sensible lane adjustments when the lane oil encounters carrydown and breakdown will help you improve your ability to hit the pocket at a high percentage and improve your scores. Making good adjustments begins by understanding some of the science involved in playing the oil patterns applied to the lane surface. Knowing what common lane terms refer to is the first step in gaining knowledge about bowling lanes.

    By the way, there are numerous articles and videos addressing bowling balls, terminology, and descriptions of bowling balls all through our site. In fact, you can watch videos of the latest bowling balls in today’s market rolling down our private test facility lanes on given lane conditions with given layout patterns to help visualize the given bowling ball in motion. Don’t forget to reference our Drilling Layouts feature to see what layout options for given bowling balls the manufacturers recommend.

    bowlingball.com has become the No. 1 e-tailer of choice for bowling equipment by the consumer of America. Please be reminded that every item at our site comes with free shipping, free insurance, no hidden handling charges and with prompt delivery. To place your order, simply follow our easy online instructions. Thanks for visiting.

    BV sliver rich Using Bowling Terms

     

    Posted by richard.carrubba on 6 January 2012 at 11:11 am under Beginner, Improve Your Game.
    Comment on this post.

    We have all had it happen. You throw a great looking ball only to leave the 10-pin (7-pin for left-handed bowlers). This is the time to make an adjustment. There are many different techniques you can integrate into your game to change the outcome. Slight changes can have dramatic results and making these slight changes should be done immediately.

    First, you can make a slight movement either forward or backward on the approach. Try not to move more than approximately six inches. This gives a subconscious effect on your approach. When you move backward, you will naturally make slightly larger steps, increasing ball speed. Getting the ball to the pocket more quickly, gives the ball less time to react to the lane resulting in more pin action. This adjustment will put the ball exactly where it needs to be in order to strike.

    On the other hand, you can also move slightly forward. Moving forward will have the opposite effect of moving backwards. When you move forward, you will take smaller steps, producing a slower ball speed that allows the ball to have increased reaction time on the lane. The increased reaction will allow the ball to reach the pocket in a stronger position. The stronger position will allow a better chance in carrying the 10-pin (7-pin for left-handed bowlers).

    If you are uncomfortable with varying your step movement this might be the answer. You can increase or decrease your ball speed by simply holding the ball in your stance a little higher or lower. Holding the ball higher in your stance will generate faster ball speeds, whereas holding the ball lower in your stance will create slower ball speeds. This will have the same effects as mentioned in the paragraph above.

    Try the above suggestions first. However, the following suggestions have also been used in adjusting your shot. You can also change the pressure on your fingers. When you release some of the pressure on your fingers, you will hook the ball slightly less and it will come up lighter in the pocket. When you increase your finger pressure slightly you will create more revolutions on the ball, allowing the ball to come up a bit stronger in the pocket.

    Some bowlers are successful in changing the pressure of just one of their fingers in order to give a desired reaction. To carry the 10-pin you can attempt putting more pressure on your ring finger than your middle finger getting the ball to go longer and then flip slightly more on the backend. To have the opposite effect you can add more pressure to your middle finger than your ring finger and causing the ball to roll earlier, helping the ball roll up higher into the pocket.

    Our best suggestion would be to attempt these methods through practice before the lights are on for a league or tournament. Get out there and practice, and practice hard, because this is how you can become a great bowler.

     

    Posted by Dustin on 6 January 2012 at 8:43 am under Bowling Articles, Bowling Tips, Everyone, Improve Your Game.
    2 Comments.

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