Here’s one way to cut down on your hook.

I was recently watching the PBA Tour, and it was noted that Chris Warren was using a conventional grip. Can you give me some insight as to why a bowler would use such a grip?
— Bart Hirshfield, Reno, Nev.
While I can’t speak for Chris, I would guess that reducing the amount of hook was the reason for this change in grip. There have been some great bowlers in the past, most notably Glenn Allison and Wayne Zahn, who have used a conventional grip for some or all of their careers. I would not be surprised if other bowlers took a shot at the conventional grip to see if it improves their accuracy with today’s big-hooking balls.

ARE YOU HIP WITH A LOOP SWING?

I have always been taught that you must develop a straight armswing to be effective in bowling. However, I’ve noticed that some bowlers have loops in their swing and are still very effective. Do you still endorse a straight armswing on today’s bowling conditions?
— Dan Barton, Orlando, Fla.
I have always been a proponent of a straight armswing, butt here are some body types that will not accommodate such a swing. Those whose hips are wider than their shoulders simply cannot have a straight armswing because their hips get in the way. So, they must develop some kind of loop to allow their swing to pass the hips on both the backswing and downswing. The advantage of this looped swing is that it is a bit easier to play a “swing shot.” The down side is that it’s almost impossible to play a direct line to the pocket. A straight armswing gives a bowler more options as to how to play the lane.

SCORING IS IN THE GUTTER

As someone who has been around the sport, I am sure that you are aware that scoring is out of hand. That being said, what is the one change that you would implement to lower the scoring?
— Garret Douglas, Des Moines, Iowa
Many people have suggested eliminating some of the bowling balls or changing the lane surface — neither of which would seem likely. And based on information I received from former PBA laneman Sam Baca, neither would be necessary, either. If more realistic scoring were the goal, I would increase the depth of the flat gutters in the pindeck area of the lanes. This simple and relatively inexpensive change would probably reduce overall scoring by as much as 15 pins per game. A deeper flat gutter would increase the number of corner pins that would be left on hits that are not quite solid in the pocket, and require bowlers to be a bit more accurate with their shots. All of the other changes suggested put an unfair burden on the bowling ball manufacturers and other bowling companies. This type of change could be implemented over a two-year period, giving the proprietors ample time to comply.

GOOD BOWLING, STEP BY STEP

I have a three-step approach and find it very comfortable. Many of my fellow bowlers say that it is impossible to be a good bowler with a three-step approach. Has there ever been a champion bowler who has used three steps?
— Kenny Garrison, Richmond, Va.
Probably the most famous bowler to use three steps was PBA Hall of Famer Mike Durbin, who employed three, four and five steps at different times during his career. The reason for the use of three steps was because Mike was a student of famed bowling instructor Bill Taylor, who believed that the number of steps a bowler should use was based on the length of the bowler’s arm. A bowler with a short arm had a smaller arc in his backswing and downswing, so the ball traveled a shorter distance — meaning that the bowler needed only three steps to complete the approach and stay in time. Another famous bowler to use three steps was ABC Masters champion Lee Jouglard. Today, however, ball speed can be a very important part of a bowler’s success, and it’s difficult to get sufficient acceleration when taking only three steps. So, to answer your question directly, yes, one can be a good bowler with a three-step approach. But one can be a better bowler by taking four or five.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

It seems that pro bowlers are bigger today than in the past. Can you add your insight about today’s bowlers?
— Nancy Thompson, Erie, Pa.
Without a doubt, today’s bowlers, overall, are much bigger and stronger. This is due in part to better nutrition and training. Also, as I mentioned in my response to the previous question, it requires a great deal of speed to control today’s high-friction bowling balls. In the past, many bowlers tried to keep their speed slow so as to get some friction and hooking action on the ball. Today, the exact opposite is true as bowlers must throw the ball hard to control the amount of hook.

Need help with your game? PBA Hall of Famer Mike McGrath
is here to help. Send questions to McGrath in care of Bowlers
Journal International, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1506,
Chicago, IL 60603. You may contact McGrath via e-mail at
MikeMPBA13@aol.com.