Bo-Fish Bowling News the Positive Source for Bowling Worldwide

Ask Bob by Bob Korth

Article Archive #1

January 23, 2004

Q. I know that you are from the Medford, Oregon area and you just had a PBA tournament stop there. I saw on the PBA web site that you had a Calcutta pro am. Did you bowl in it? And just how approachable are the pro’s?

A. Yes I did bowl in the Calcutta pro am. I can tell you that one of the best things about our sport is how close the average person can get to the best bowlers in our game. In almost all of the other sports you can watch but not talk to, or compete with the stars. In bowling especially in this Calcutta format, which by the way takes about 3 hours. You get to know your pro on a personal level. You also get to meet and bowl with as many as eleven other pros. You will find out by bowling in a pro-am that even the stars are very nice. They are bowlers just like us. They are however the best bowlers in the world. In this format you find out just how good they really are, and that they are just regular people with a different kind of job. We bowled the team with Randy Peterson on it and he was giving his teammates lessons as they bowled. Last year Bob Learn, Jr. had so much fun with his team he gave each of them a new bowling ball. If the PBA comes to your town I highly recommend that you contact the host proprietor and ask them to run a Calcutta pro-am. They can contact the PBA for information on how to run it. It was great fun and the first place team won $5000.00.

Q. I just bought a wristband do I still need to turn the ball or will the wristband take care of things for me?

A. Wristbands keep you from having your wrist break back but they do not bowl for you. If you want to hook the ball you still have to turn the ball to impart spin. Wrist bands help strengthen your release but you still have to do the work.

Q. I know the highest 3 game series is now 900 but what is the highest 4 game series?

A. I know what your thinking shooting 900 is tough but maybe I have a chance to snag that 4 game record. Well good luck I think it might be almost a more remarkable record than 900. Believe it or not on March 7th 1989 in Union NJ. Tom Jordan rolled 1198. Yes that’s right two 299 games and two 300 game in 1 four game set. Think about that one for a second. One shot that doesn’t carry in the wrong frame and you have to go for the second highest 4 game series. Tom was bowling in a doubles match at the time and he and his partner also set the men’s two-player record for 4 games with 2202. His partner Ken Yonker, Jr. had 1004.

Send your Questions to askbob@clearwire.net. Even if they don’t make the paper I answer them all by email.

Q. Is it ok to use alcohol on a bowling ball? In our area some say its ok some say it is not approved. What is your take on the subject?

A. It is ok to use alcohol it is an approved cleaner. There is a list of approved cleaners available from the ABC. You can probably get a list on www.bowling.com this is the ABC website. I don’t like alcohol, as for me it doesn’t seem to work that well. There are cleaners you can buy that are made for the purpose of cleaning bowling balls. My favorite right now is the one made by Ultimate Bowling Products. It comes in gel form and doesn’t run all over and you use just what you need so it goes further. If your pro shop doesn’t carry it they should be able to get it thru their distributor.

Q. I carry a 190 average and lately have been having lots of trouble with my equipment being too aggressive. Then I get into trouble trying to swing the ball too far and getting an under reaction. Do you have any ball suggestions for me that might help this problem?

A. Yes I have a couple of choices for you that should calm down your reaction and give you a solid mid lane read. I have personally tried these two bowling balls and they have both been very good for settling the ball down but still finishing hard thru the pins. I like the Rush by Roto Grip and the Anomaly by Dynothane. They are reactive balls with a 1000 mat finish. The slightly dull finish of the ball helps get them rolling a little earlier for mid lane read. Gets them into more of an arch roll but both still finish like a truck. The Rush seems to hook a little less than the Anomaly so you can gage which might work best for you.

Q. Do you know what the highest five man 3 game series is at this time? I know for years the Budweiser team held it but I figured with the new equipment and more controlled conditioning it is probably not the highest anymore.

A. You are correct as of now their score does not even make the list. The highest men’s 3 game series is now held by the Print Mark Industries team of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Rolled Feb 10th 2001. I would say these guys were a little warm that night as they shot 3905 that is an individual average of over 260 per game per man. Just so you won’t feel left out ladies the highest 5 women series is 3600 shot by the All Star Grille of Livonia, Mich. On March 12th 2000. Since were on this subject The highest 5 man team game is 1413 rolled by O.T. Hills, of St. Charles, Mo. On Feb. 15th 2001. The women’s high team game is 1328 shot by the Contour Power Grips team of West Bloomfield Mich. March 14th 1998.

Thanks for reading and keep the questions coming to askbob@clearwire.net

Q. When the ball enters the pocket should the ball be hooking or rolling. I have been leaving a lot of weird spares lately and was just wondering?

A. Ideally when the ball enters the pocket it would have just quit hooking and is beginning its roll. This is not an easy thing to control with certainty. If you can get close to this you should have better carry.

Q. Most of the bowling centers have bars and I have heard that the professional bowlers drink during competition. Can you tell me if this is true?

A. I can tell you with certainty that this is not true. Professional bowlers have only one way to make money and that is through performance. Drinking during competition would definitely harm their performance and it is also against PBA rules to drink alcohol during competition.

Q. I got new bowling shoes for Christmas and they are very stiff I feel as though I am walking to the foul line with boards on my feet. This is very uncomfortable do you have any tricks for breaking them in?

A. Yes get a pair of shoe covers for walking around on the concourse area. Put those on and wear them around your house for a week or two. This will break them in and when they are feeling more comfortable try them in a practice game. I have done this many times and it is a proven method.

Q. I have just started bowling a few weeks ago and have developed a pain in the knuckle of my middle finger. I love the game but this keeps it from being fun. Would it help me to get my own ball?

A. Getting your own ball should solve the problem. House balls are drilled to be generic a sort of one size fits all. Since none of us are built the same house balls are meant to be for the person who just goes bowling a few times a year. If you are enjoying the game and want to get better go to the pro shop at the lanes and have them custom fit you for a ball. You don’t have to start with the most expensive ball ask the drilling professional and he will find you a good beginning ball. You can expect to pay between $90.00 and $150.00 and drilling is usually included. Your custom fitted ball should not hurt you if it does take it back till the problem is solved. A proper fitted ball should not cause pain. If you don’t have them get a pair of shoes while you are there having your own shoes is just as important as a ball and you don’t have to rent them each time. Bowling shoes pay for themselves quickly.

To have your questions answered write Bob at askbob@clearwire.net

Editorial comment: I just returned from the Senior High Roller in Las Vegas and I learned some disturbing information there that I want to point out. When the tournament finished I made the effort to thank the sponsors that were at the tournament personally. I then found out that I was the only one according to them that expressed a thank you to them. Without sponsors prize funds would be drastically reduced. So next time you have the chance remember to thank your sponsor and buy their product. When you buy from a sponsor let them know you appreciate their support and tell them where you heard of them. Bowling will be able to get more and better sponsors in the future. Now I want to take this time to thank the High Roller sponsors, Innovative Bowling Products, they sell spinners, rejuvenators, resurfacing equipment and much more. Roto Grip they sell bowling balls, shirts, bowling bags and other related bowling products. Check out their new ball called the Rush you can take it from me it is a very nice ball. I used it at the tournament and liked it a lot. Vice Grips makers of finger grips, thumb slugs and tapes and other products related to the finger holes and hand protection. Also Storm bowling products, Enterprise Car Rentals, Impact Marketing and Design and The host lanes and hotel Sams Town Hotel and Casino. Thanks to all of you for sponsoring the High Roller and I will buy your products. Do your part and buy from these good people and also from the people who sponsor your local leagues and teams. It will help us all. Bob Korth

Q. What is your opinion on removing the oil from the new bowling balls. Does it work or is it just a scam to get more money at the pro shop?

A. There have been some recent studies done on the question and the results were that removing the oil from the ball does work very well. The studies were done using the CATS process that tracks the ball movement on the lane. The balls were tested after as much as 100 games were bowled with the ball and there was a definite decrease in the performance of the ball. Then rechecked after extracting the oil with a rejuvenator and the ball returned to the original reaction it had out of the box. This really does work and you can save your favorite ball. The best part is it’s not as expensive as a new ball.

Q. My name is Thommen. I am from India and a regular bowler. I would like you to give me some advice.

I am a left-handed bowler. My ball turns 5 to 7 boards. And my wrist breaks while I bowl. I use brunswik demolision and ebonite savage pearl( both 12 pound). I have very good strike rate( an average of 5 stikes in a game). But I am very bad at spares. I do not follow any techiques in taking my spares. But will draw a curved line from the pin to the the arrow I throw and stand accordingly. Becuase of this I miss the spares most of the time. Kindly advice me on my spare taking

A. I am showing you this question just the way it was asked of me to point out that we in America are not the only bowlers in the world. I thought it was very interesting to see what bowlers from other parts of the world are using for equipment and what kinds of problems they are having with the game. Looks like wherever you bowl we are all the same. Here is my answer: because there is usually more oil in the center of the lane when you are going for spares the ball going across the lane will hook less. So your idea of going for spares is right but the ball won't hook like the first ball and causes you to miss. The best idea is to try and go as straight as possible to the spares. Hook is not needed for spares. Buy a spare ball this is a ball made of polyester. They have almost no traction on the lane and will go much straighter. Any polyester ball will work. Then you just draw a straight line back thru the arrow or board and throw it straight at the spare. PS I really do know how to spell and I did not use my spell checker on this one. That is how I received this question. BO

Q. I have been bowling for 3 years now. I just got my first fingertip ball this season and I am getting some seriously sore fingers. The pain feels like it is going up the back of the fingers into the forearm. What can I do to fix this?

A. There are a few things that could be causing this kind of pain. First I would take the ball back where you had it drilled and have them check the span. If the span is too long this can cause pain. Also have them check both the finger pitch and thumb pitch either one of these could be the problem. Too much forward pitch on the fingers can pull on tendons. Too much reverse in the thumb can cause you to squeeze to hold the ball this can also strain tendons in the hand and arm. You didn’t mention if you were using finger grips if so they can also cause pain in some people. They are very soft and the fingers stay in the ball longer the resulting pull on the tendons can hurt. Especially if you aren’t used to them.

Q. I have bowled for a few years now and I don’t slide when I bowl. Would learning to slide help me to improve my game?

A. Over the years I have know a few good bowler who just plant the foot at the foul

And throw. It can be done it is harder on the body more stress on the knee. It is harder to keep a muscle free arm swing. I think timing is a bit more critical with no slide. If you can learn to slide at least a little I think it would be better. If you can’t get the slide down don’t worry you will just have to work harder to perfect the game you have.

Q. What are the pros and cons of going down in ball weight? I now use a 16# ball but I am getting older and the thought of a lighter ball is intriguing. I just don’t want to lose carry.

A. Smaller framed people, getting older just wanting more control are good reasons for going down in weight. I can talk from experience here I have gone down from 16 to 15 and am now in the process of dropping to 14. So far I have not seen much if any difference in the power of the hit at the pins. I have noticed that my control is better and I can bowl longer if needed without tiring. Dropping to 15 will not hurt your scores at all. I guarantee it. My opinion on 14 is still out but so far I don’t see any real problem. In talking to Pam Buckner of Ebonite she mentioned to me that the dynamics of the 14 pond ball are better that either a 15 or 16. I have also talked with Ron Degroat Las Vegas coach. he has tested ball reaction on the CATS system and he told me he is a believer in 14-pound bowling balls and won’t use anything else. He said to see is to believe. And Ron has seen and experienced the results. As for cons I don’t know of any except some bowlers just won’t trust that dropping down from the old standard of 16 pounds will work. Believe and it will work.

Thanks for reading! You can Ask Bob at askbob@clearwire.net

Q. The lanes I bowl at seem to be oiled heavier than in previous years. I sanded my ball to get it to hook and it is hooking less than ever. What can I do?

A. Since the advent of reactive urethane balls everything we thought we knew about ball reaction has changed. In the urethane and plastic days sanding the ball was what you did for slick lanes but no more. Now you have to polish the ball. Here is the explanation. The reactive covers of today’s bowling balls create a lot of friction. This combined with the type of weight blocks in the new balls cause them to lose hook if they start the hooking process to early. Bowling balls today do only two things they slide and they hook. If they slide through the heads of the lane they will hook on the backend. If they hook early they will lose energy and quit on the backend. So a sanded ball will try hard to hook on slick lanes in the front portion of the lane all the while losing energy. Then when you need it to hook it can’t so it appears as though you are on 60 feet of oil. Polishing the ball will help it to retain energy and so at the backend of the lane it will hook. The ball will appear to be hooking more. One way to get the ball to give you a good read of the lanes is to have your pro shop sand the ball with 800 sandpaper or scotch brite pad then polish the ball to a high gloss. This will give you front-end slide and the backend reaction that you want but the sanding gives the ball teeth for a slightly earlier roll in the midlane.

Q. I can’t seem to stop over turning the ball this is causing a weak release and some major inaccuracy. What can I do to stop over turning?

A. This is a big problem for lots of bowlers and there is a simple way to help the problem. When you take your stance on the approach look at your mark and then feel your ring finger pointing at it. Watch your mark through your approach and continue feeling the ring finger. Then at release aim at your mark with your ring finger this will help to keep you behind the ball longer. You have to keep working on this as it takes time to gain new muscle memory. If you quit thinking about it you will revert to the old habits. This method also has the added benefit of improving your concentration and accuracy.

Q. I am a 190 average bowler. During practice and league I have a decent release. The problem occurs in tournaments and clutch situations. When the adrenalin starts pumping it seems as if I'm shoving my thumb into the ball and squeezing tight. What can I do to stop this?

A. When things get tight. Our reaction is to tense up and try to make the ball do what we want. Rather than let the ball do it. Next time try this go thru the regular pre shot routine get set and just before you start your approach squeeze the ball hard. Then relax your hand and take off. This gets the squeezing done then and you won't do it later. Believe it or not though it sounds simple this works. It keeps you from grabbing the ball at release.

To have your questions answered write askbob@clearwire.net

Q. When I go to a different center I have problems adjusting to the lane conditions. Even after trying all the moves I know you should make. What can I do to make faster adjustments?

A. Watch the better bowlers in that center or the better bowlers in your area. You can also watch someone who is scoring well. You don’t have to have the same hook or roll on the ball. Just watch the general area they are playing and the break point of the ball. This will get you in the area of the lanes you need to be. You can then adjust your game to this area.

Q. Hi, Bob I average 191 and have been in the high 180,s to low 190’s for 4 years now and just can’t seem to make that leap to 200. Do you have any advice?

A. Yes, I believe your problem if you think about it with honesty is probably spare shooting. The leap from 190 to 200 is just 1 spare per game. Getting more accuracy on your spares will also make you more accurate on the first ball. If it is concentration when shooting spares then working harder on that mental portion of the game will also improve your first ball accuracy. When you go to practice try shooting your spares first. Shoot the 10 pin for a game and then the 7 pin for a game. You can throw your second shot at the pocket. This method will make your practice dollar go twice as far and your average go up. You could also invest in a book called How to Average 200 written by Jerome Lee. Jerome is the leading money winner in Senior High Roller tournament history. Jerome is the best lane player I have ever known and his book might put you over the top. You can order his book by e-mailing me at askbob@clearwire.net I will give him your contact information.

Q. A few years ago I read one of your articles on a thumb insert that replaces tape. Could you give me that information again? I am interested in getting some.

A. You are referring to the Magic Carpet. It is not available in pro shops but I can get it for you. Magic Carpet is a piece of carpet tape that is installed in the thumbhole in place of tape. It gives a tight fit without the suction created by regular tape. The space around the fibers acts like a vent hole and the thumb exits clean every time. The tape takes the place of about 3 pieces of white tape. It almost completely eliminates the need for regular tape because less friction keeps the thumb from changing size. I have been using it for 5 years now and my control and scores have gone up markedly. I have won a Senior High Roller and have had several 800’s and 300’s including back-to-back 300’s since switching to the Magic Carpets. The price is $10.00 for 5 and $15.00 for 10. If you try them and like them you can get 100 for $100.00 I pay the freight. For the 5 or 10 amount. Send a self stamped self addressed envelope to Bob Korth 750 Hemlock Ave. Central Point, Or. 97502 Send a question with your order and I will send you the answer with the Carpets. I will also include an instruction sheet on how to install the Magic Carpet. It works like MAGIC.

Send your Questions to askbob@clearwire.net Thanks for reading.

Q. How many 900 series have been sanctioned? Secondly are back to back 300’s still considered rare?

A. According to the ABC as of this time there have been 5 sanctioned 900 series. As too your question of are back to backs rare. They were once considered very rare but now there are several rolled every year. Being here in Oregon my bowling world is fairly small so I know of 3 back to back 300’s in the Southern Oregon in the past 4 years. Randy Cochran had one 3 seasons ago I was bowling with him in a 5-man team league that night. Randy is an accomplished left hander who bowls very well all the time in our area. He made a run at 900 that night having 30 in a row before a stubborn 7 pin stopped the string. Last season also in a 5 man team league I had back to backs after a 207 first game. This season already Chris Matregean had back to backs after a 223 in a 4 man mixed league. This was his first 800 what a way to get it. Now please give me some help to find out how common back to backs have become if you know anyone who have had back to backs or if you have please send me an e-mail. After I get some I will list them in a later article. Send to askbob@clearwire.net. Thanks!

Q. I keep pulling the ball most of the time. My friends tell me my arm swing is away from my body. Can you give me advice as to how to stop this kind of arm swing?

A. I can make an educated guess; you are probably swinging the ball around your hips. Larger people sometimes have this problem when they hold the ball centered in front of them at the push away then the ball has to go out to clear the hips. Sometimes it goes out and around and wraps behind the back. This causes the ball to go right one time and left the next. It gives the feeling of an over/under reaction. The swing that stays out away from the body always results in a pull. So try this move the ball over to the side on the push away. Try to get it past the line of your hip to start with. You can then swing the ball straight back. This should cure your pulling problem.

Q. I have been trying to throw the ball harder but all I do is pull the ball all the time. What am I doing wrong?

A. Just trying to throw the ball harder without doing some key things to alter your approach usually won’t work. Gaining more ball speed is not just a simple matter of increasing arm speed. Just increasing arm speed or using strength causes muscling. That causes you to be inaccurate. This most of time makes you pull the ball. Increasing speed takes a little know how and practice. The easiest way to increase ball speed is to move your approach back 6 to 10 inches and push the ball out a little further or start it higher. This increases the length of your arm swing and the moves through the swing at a faster pace ball speed goes up. It takes some practice as this changes your timing. To slow the ball speed down make the opposite move. Move up on the approach shorten the first step slightly and make sure not to foul. This will slow down the arm swing and the ball goes down the lane slower. This also takes practice. Professional bowlers or very good amateurs can do this with relative ease. For everyone else this takes practice, time and concentration. Speed changes can be a valuable tool for all bowlers if you can learn to do it without helping the ball. When all else fails trying to get an entry angle to carry. A speed change might be the miracle you were looking for.

Send your questions to askbob@clearwire.net

Q. I bowl in tournaments where brackets are offered. I personally don’t like them but I feel as though I should enter them because the money for running them goes into the prize fund. Do you think that’s a good reason and how do you feel about brackets in general?

A. Bowling in brackets is a matter of choice. I know bowlers who swear they make big money in brackets all the time. Personally I tend to think over time you probably don’t do much better than break even. Just because the extra money goes into your prize fund that does not make you obligated to bowl in the brackets. If you like the extra competition and you don’t mind the luck of the draw aspect of brackets then do it. If bowling in the brackets bothers you or keeps you from concentrating on the task at hand, namely making the finals in your tournament then leave them alone. No one can fault you for doing what you have to do mentally to bowl your best. I don’t mind bracket play, I play them in league and sometimes in tournaments. If I feel like it is going to bother my game at any time I stay out of them.

Q. League is starting soon and I have been suffering from a pulled groin muscle. I can bowl but it does hurt some. Have you ever bowled when hurt, and do you think a person should?

A. No I don’t think bowling while hurt is a good idea because you might hurt yourself worse. You can also develop bad habits that can be hard to break later. That being said I have bowled hurt more times than I can count. Before you bowl hurt you have to know a few things about yourself. You want to know if bowling is going to make your injury worse. Ask a doctor if necessary. You have to know if bowling hurt is going to affect your ability to score. You have to know if you will be able to overcome bad habits if you cause them. I have bowled in a tournament with a broken big toe on my push off foot and during the tournament shot a 300 game. I have a high pain tolerance and while bowling I didn’t even feel pain. This turned out to be a bad idea because the bad habits created lasted me for a year or better before I was able to put everything back together. I won a High Roller tournament with strained tendons in my bowling arm. I had to make adjustments to keep from making them worse. This turned out ok because I really did not have to change much to bowl just not hit the ball as hard. This last High Roller tournament my lower back went out because of work and tacky approaches. I saw a chiropractor got it fixed and took it as easy as I could. I was able to continue and bowled decent. This too has not bothered my game because I know I can make adjustments to my game quickly. I have been hurt so often I now have the confidence to change my game when needed. If you have confidence in your ability you too can overcome physical ailments. I still believe for most people it is better to get well first.

Q. I have an inverted track. The ball track looks like a lefthander is rolling the ball. It does not seem like a strong finishing ball. Is this true and how can I stop throwing it?

A. You are right this would be a very weak ball. It is like an exaggerated full roller. You will need to learn to keep your hand behind the ball and turn the ball at the release point right to left. The thumb comes out first and the fingers impart the spin. You will need to have a coach with you to show you the proper method of rolling the ¾ roller. Then watching you to make sure you keep doing it till you are comfortable with it. This will more than likely take some time. So don’t be discouraged it will be worth it in the long run.

Send your questions to askbob@clearwire.net.

Q. Last month you listed bowling web sites that you liked. How about some tournament web sites?

A. Well of course the most used would be the PBA web site the address is www.pbatour.com. You can get all of the news from the PBA and for a price you can sign up to watch your favorite bowler during match play. The women also have the PWBA site with all of the news and tournament results from the PWBA. The ABC nationals are covered at their www.bowl.com site. We have a web site for the group I bowl with called the Southern Oregon All Stars. This covers all of our tournaments during the year and we also have a message board and a classified section for the sale of used equipment. The address is www.soallstars.com. My column is in a site that covers tournaments in the Pennsylvania and New York areas called Scratch Bowling besides tournament results they have an on line Pro Shop, message forum, chat room news, and coaching tips. Scratch Bowling has it all. The address is www.scratchbowling.com The High Roller has a web site that covers all of there tournament results you can even get updates as the tournaments are in progress. This way you can follow your local stars as the try to get the big prize. www.high-roller.com I'm sure there are many other tournament sites out there so e-mail me your address and I will include you in a future article. askbob@clearwire.net

Q. I have been looking for bowling memorabilia. Old wooden pins, wood-bowling balls, old bags and shoes and even books and games. Do you know where I might be able to find some of these items?

A. I am also a collector of these items and I have found some really great stuff on E-BAY you need to be selective and set a price in your own mind before bidding. By doing this you can get some nice items for fairly low prices. I got an old bowling game from the 1920’s for under $20.00. Lost of instruction books from the 40’s thru the 90’s for in the area of $4.00 to $10.00. You will be amazed at how many old and varied collectables are out there.

Q. When should I start to get ready for the up coming season?

A. Now’s the time the season will be starting before you know it. Get down to the pro shop and have your equipment checked. Then star a routine of practice. Start slow if you haven’t bowled since last season ended. Bowl 1 or 2 games the first couple of times out the increase this to 3 or 4 games. Try to go at least a couple of times a week. Don’t forget to do some pre bowling stretching this will help to make sure you don’t strain muscles. This is also a good time to get a lesson or 2. With the lay off some bad habits are forgotten and you can replace them with the proper technique.

Send questions to askbob@clearwire.net

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