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6 MA D IS N A V E N "E N E W Y R " 22 N 2 O O . Y . 5 , , mzwsm) E D IT IONIS S "E D IN 1 963
l
A cknowle d m e nt is m e to S or ts Illus trated in g ad p , wh i ch a sh or te r ve r si dn of this b ook ori ginally ap
- e ar e d n a nu mb e r of th e illu stfati ons . p , i cluding
L IB R AR Y OF CONG R E S S CA T A L OG"E CAR D N"M B E R 5842376 P R IN T E D IN T HE "NIT E D S T A T E S OF ANIE R ICA AC"N OW L E D G ME N T
I am gr ate fu l to the Bru nswick Corporation for their cooperation in th e preparation of this book and for supplying inform ation about the history and the equipment of
D ON C AR T E R
Contents
The Story of Bowling
Th e Se cre ts of Bowling
The Grip
The Stance
The Address
The First Step
The Second Step
The Third Step
The Fourth Step Slide and Stop
The Rel e as e
The Follow-Thr ough
S u mmary
The Strike
‘ The Second BaII
Things to Remember
Equ ipment
The Etiqu e tte of Bowling
Tou rnament Victor les and
Won by Don Carter
8 Foreword
A 1957 ar t of o ts In ugust when Jerome Snyder , the editor Sp r
Illu s t a te d a to a an a a D on a and r , sked me illustr te rticle bout C rter
fu a a of o I t u a the nd ment ls b wling , ho ght it would be simple
W a to sa I a f a a a a nm . ssig ent h t is there y , sked mysel , th t the ver ge bowler does not alr eady know"
D on and I at R a R met the oselle bowling l nes in oselle,
a A s I to to ou t th e . New Jersey , work det ils drove New Jersey , a - a a and i a d I rmed with high speed c mer s , sketchbook , writ ng p , fu lly expected to be back at my studio in two or three hou rs with
ll f I orts Illu s t ated h ad a l u a the in orm ation needed . Sp r l otted mefo r pages for th e a rticle and I su spected that I would ha ve to d o con s i d e r able n fi a paddi g to ll this sp ce .
D on W e Carter qui ckly dispelled these nai ve notions . worked continuously for ten hou r s at the R oselle bowling lanes plu s an a i i a u at R a D on t e dd t on l five ho rs the oxy l nes in New York City . pe ate d his delivery several hu ndr ed times while I m ade notes and
9 a a and - di gr ms , drew rough sketches , took countless high speed
a a I h ad n photogr phs to m ke sure a accurate record ofevery phase .
’ wa s a a a There not motion in Don s delivery , from st nce to rele se ,
a a a a u al a . i th t did not h ve definite , c ref lly c cul ted purpose L stening to his explanations was like listeningto a rocket scientist explai ning the workings of a guide d missile .
" a a a a a or ts Illu s Andr L guerre , ssist nt m n ging editor of Sp
’ tr a te d was i a a to , so impressed w th Don s scientific ppro ch bowling
a a a a and th t he g ve me seventeen p ges inste d of four , even then the space was not sufficient . This book is an attempt to do fu ll
’ justice for the first time to Don s revolutionary bowling tech nique . It is the only complete and authoritative exposition th at
h as a a ai a a ar Don m de v l ble p t from personal instruction .
’ Don C ar ter s delivery departs in so many ways from accepted methods that many expe rts first dismissed it as a whimsical e c
a a . centricity , f iling completely to comprehend its scientific b sis
all a a h ad a ai n a Like gre t innov tors , Don to steel himself g st e rly
d and ri icule prove his principles by perform ance . His record
1950 h as speaks for itself. Since he won every important bowling
a a a title , including the first world invit tion m tch ch mpionship , held in Chicago in 1957 .
’ a al a a To tr dition ists , Don s delivery seems str nge , but in f ct it
a a the a is simply stre mlined version of cl ssic bowling style . Much
a as a ofthe violent ction in bowling methods developed in p t dec des ,
h as h as a a a u and Don discovered , tendency to incre se f tig e lessen
fi . a a a a ef ciency The ccur te , highly polished l nes of tod y do not
a a and s ff a require f stb lls stronghooks . Don hu les c sually toward the
. a a a and ff a and foul line He pl ces the b ll e sily e ortlessly on the l ne ,
o a ar . a it r lls with moder te speed tow d the pins Then , mir culously , all the pins fal l over"
i as and I can a This book w ll tell you , best Don , ex ctly how to do it and why it happens .
— AN T HON Y R A V IE L ‘L I
10
’ B o n i s one f h B e for e wli g o t e olde s t of m an s pastim e s . th e n of h s or e m e n r o r e to o daw i t y , cav p bably t i d b wl o e r r o s of o n r n v w p i te d ocks with r ou nde d s to e s . Th e Story of Bowling
a al a a a a The rolling of b l tow rd st nding object , with the vowed
’ a as intention of bowling it over , is one of the oldest of m n s p
a a a times . Before the d wn ofhistory , c ve men prob bly set up rows of pointed stones and tried to bowl them over with rounded rocks . There is a gruesome legend that ancient s avage tribes bowled at
a upright thigh bones with the skulls ofv nquished enemies , using i and . the eye sockets for thumb finger grips Sir Fl nders Petrie , the
a ri a a i a a gre t B tish rch eolog st , found the implements for g me very
’ similar to modern tenpins in an Egyptian child s gr ave which he dated 5200 B . C . The E nglish ga me of bowling on the green originated in
h as a a the thirteenth century , but it more in common with the It li n
a b occi e a . ar a ar e g me of th n with modern bowling True , l ge b lls
“ " l a a a a a a rol ed down l nes of gr ss tow rd the j ck ( peg, cone , or sm ller
a as a as b ll), but the purpose is to bowl close to the j ck possible
a rather th an to knock it over . This form of bowling bec me enor
13 m o u s ly popular in E ngland during th e fou rteenth century""ing
a was af ai a ar h ad Edw rd III so r d it might suppl nt chery , which
an a a t a a con import t milit ry v lue , h t he forb de the sport , but it tinu ed to flou rish on a kind of bootleg bas is as a popu lar form of
a a a gambling. Public l ws g inst it continu ed long after the bow and .
a h ad a rrow been m de obsolete by the invention of gu npowder . Today bowling on the green is the nati onal warm -weather sport of
’ Scotland and continues to be one ofEnglan d s most wi dely played
ou tdoor games .
or h ad a o Modern bowling, tenpins , its origin four centuries g
a in G ermany and Holland . M rtin Lu ther was so fond of the game
a ai u a a a for and th t, it is s d , he b ilt priv te bowling lley himself his
a w family . The g me as then played (and sti ll is today in G ermany)
a ar a a a i . with nine pins , inste d often , r nged in di mondform t on This
“ " game of "ege lspi e l (bowlers today ar e sti ll called keglers )was brought to the "nited States by the early Du tch settlers of New
A a n w o of . was a on msterd m , the city New York It pl yed the
and 1840 m a a ar a was green , until the ost popul r g ming e just north of the B attery where a small park still bears the name of Bowli ng
G reen . Remember th e sto ry ofRip Van Winkle"T h e superstitiou s
D u a u was tch settlers , when they he rd summer th nder , thought it the sound of ninepins being played i n the Catski lls by the ghosts H of enry Hu dson and his crew. In the early part of the nineteenth century the game was s u rrounded by so much gambling and racketeering that laws
a ai a and as a g nst it were p ssed in New York , Connecticut , M s h B t c u s e tts . u citizens soon evaded these laws by adding one more
and a for m ati on fr om a i a a a pin ch nging the , d mond to the f mili r
ri a f u a . o as t ngle sed tod y By the middle the century , b ement rooms
“ " for playing the new game of tenpins could be found in almost
every block along Broadway from Fu lton to Fou rteenth Street .
an as was Johnny Clevel d , better known Tenpin Johnny, the most famous of the early Broadway cham pions .
14 T h e E nglis h gam e of bowling on th e gr e e n o r igi nate d n E r III was so fr i n th e th ir te e nth ce ntu r y . "i g dwa d a aid
h s r . it m igh t s u pplant ar ch e r y th at h e for bade t e po t
In those days bowling establishments were called bowling " l a t s a lon al . a c s oons The word s oon , orrup ion ofthe French word , was a all a — - a al a pplied to sorts of pl ces ice cre m s oons , sh ving
al a a al — a ai r s oons , billi rd s loons , whisky s oons to suggest refined
of a and a . a ar f shion gr ndeur Tow rd the end of the century , l ger bowling rooms would be found at various Palaces of Fun and
a a a h all and Amusement , longside the sk ting rink , d nce , penny arcade . There was a distressing lack of uniformity in bowling rules
and 1875 . a al and equipment until All sizes of l nes , b ls , pins were
15 and a m an wh o ar a a at one a in use , le ned to bowl good g me s loon might be a poor player if he went across the street to another . It was in 1875 that the first attempt was made to set u p standards . Twenty-seven delegates from nine bowlingclubs of M anhattan and
G an a Ha an e Brooklyn met in erm i ll , in the Bowery , to org iz the
- shor t lived N ational Bowling Association . This group decided that sixty feet would be the official distance from the center ofthe head
’ a i a a ai a a pin to the bowler s foul line , d st nce th t rem ns st nd rd
h ad a a a . ft tod y It previously v ried from fi y to hundred feet , de
a al pending on the length of the room . The Associ tion so set
a a di -d a ar e st nd rd mensions for the pins , but present y pins slightly smaller than those in use then .
a a on 9 1895 In New York City twenty ye rs l ter , September , , the American Bowling Congr ess was organized to enforce cor r e c tive measures against gambling excesses and to refine further the
u and a . o i r les regul tions Henry Timm , Joe Thum , L u s Stein , E
d S am "ar f th . an an a a o e H Feldm , pfwere mong the gre t bowlers time who attended the organizing convention at Beethoven Hall .
i a t a a a k a Tod y the ABC , w h he dqu rters in Milw u ee , is the p rent governing body of the sport in the "nited States and C anada. At the turn of th e century there were approximately fifteen thous and bowlers in the country and some four hundred and fifty
’
a . a u a public est blishments As the n tion s pop l tion grew , interest 192 in the game grew evenfas ter . By 0 there were a million bowlers
" a an a s a a i in the nited St tes , two thous d est bli hments ver g ng three
a a and a a al a or four l nes e ch , bout five hundred nnu tourn ments
an w for men sponsored by the ABC . Today there ar e more th t enty million bowlers and about eleven thousand establishments . When you compare the modern bowling center with a typical
al a andfa m a a t bowling, s oon th t your gr ther y h ve frequented fify
a a o a h ow a ye rs g , you get vivid impression of r pidly interest in
l n r tw h as . a o e o o a the sport grown The s oon , with lleys , would
a a a a a a be in d mp , dimly lit , b dly ventil ted b sement th t reeked of
16 then return the ball on a rickety sloping rail .
’ Now let s take a look inside one ofthe modern bowli ngcenters that have recently been bu ilt in C ali fornia The first impression
a x is one of s u mptuous splendor . You enter throu gh lu urious lobby
a and a ai . a a ar lined with sof s e sy ch rs You w lk cross plush c pets ,
m a listening to soft music from conceal ed loudspeakers . There y be a restaurant and a cocktai l lounge on the premises . Rest rooms ar e lar ge and clean . A nursery for the youngsters is supervised by
- i r - a . a registered nurse If it is mid summer , the center is condi
u al ar e an or ti one d . Inside the h ge bowling h l itself there fifty l es
ar e and more and not a single pin boy . The pins picked up set
- accu rately in place by ingenious a utom atic pin setting m achines .
Your score is flashed on a screen above the lane .
ar e al as a Take a look at the players . There most m ny women
as a as a as a . not men , lmost m ny children dults It is surprising to see a six -year -old boy rolling the balls with his seventy -year -old
a an a al a grandmother . Physic lly h dic pped persons so h ve found
a a u s e a bowling stimul ting sport , including even the blind , who " special range finder devised by the Brunswick -B alke -Collender
’ an a a a a of u Comp y , the n tion s le ding m nuf cturer bowling eq ip ment .
a " a a Tod y in the nited St tes , where bowling is more popul r
a an h as an all- ar - u all th n in y other country , it become ye ro nd ,
was W ar a family game . It during the Second World th t women star ted flocking to the lan es in large nu m b e r s A nnu al tournaments
’ for the ladies ar e now sponsored by the Women s International Bowling Congress (founded in and scores of lady bowlers
’
all a ar e a a a . . a a of ges mongthe n tion s top pl yers Mrs M rion L dewig, an a a -fi u r e d a of G a a ttr ctive , trim g gr ndmother , r nd R pids , Michi
’ an " a a and a g , is the present nited St tes women s ch mpion perh ps the greatest woman bowler of all time .
a of -a a ar e a u Incre sing numbers teen gers lso t king p the sport , and a a b a u m ny high schools h ve their own owling le g es , which
18 At th e tu r n of th e ce ntu r y bowling “ " e s tablis h m e nts we r e calle d s aloons and we r e r e gar de d as dis r e pu table by th e m or e r e s pe ctable pe ople of th at
e r a .
i a compete with lea gu es of other schools . The Amer c n Junior Bowling Congr ess (organi zed in 193 5 )sponsors separate leagu es
and a u a for boys girls , does not permit smoking during le g e pl y , and prohibits competition in establi shments where a b ar is open
al during the ti me of play . Of course m any colleges so stress bowl ing as a sport and in some cas es provide credi t in physical education
for the participan ts . The most spectacular area of gr owth in bowling popularity
since World W ar II h as been in the field of industrial recreation .
19 It is not unusual for a large corporation to sponsor as m any as five hundred bowling teams as part of its recreati on progr am for w employees from the boss down to the office boy . Before the ar these industri al teams were usually all men or all women . In recent
ar a h as ai a a ye s , however , the mixed te m been g ning f vor r pidly as and ak am and more more girls t e up the g e find , to their ever
as a i t l ting delight , th t is one sport in which it is possible for them to give their male office associates a good trouncing. What about the future of the sport"Every year more an d more Americans ar e discovering th at bowling is an ideal combina
al al a a and tion of not too strenuous physic exercise , ment rel x tion , fri endly social contacts . The game also is growing in popularity
a al a a and a a a . other n tions , especi ly in J p n the Sc ndin vi n countries
’ In 1957 at Chicago I h ad the honor of winning th e world s first international bowling tournament . Bowling h as come a long way from its humble beginning as the G erm an game of ninepins . Today bowling is enjoyed by more Americans than take part in any other participant sport with the possible exception of fishing. This enjoyment includes watching
a as as a a bowling tourn ments well pl ying in them , for in the l st few years the television networks have discovered th at a bowling
a can an a a e on . m tch be exciting, dr m tic vent the screen The old a a ur of disrepute is completely gone . Bowling h as become as
a f shionable as tennis was in the twenti es . And I think it is s afe to s a - y that its world wide growth as a family sport is just begi nning.
20 Th e Secrets of Bowling
was 1948 was 20 a r ofe s It in , when I , th t I decided to give up p s i onal baseball ( 1 was pitching for one of the Phila delphia Ath
’ a a nd a a h ad letics f rm clubs ) t ke u p bowlingin e rnest . It long been one a h ad a of of my f vorite sports . I dmired the smooth delivery
a a D a a u a to m ny bowling st rs , Ned y in p rtic l r , but I resolved not
a a a l n n imit te them . Inste d I sked myse f "how ca o e redu ce the " delivery of the b all to its absolu te essentia ls This book is the outcome of ten years of thought and e xpe r i
“ " s a a mentation given to this question . I do not y th t my system is
h a f best for every player . A player who s developed a style o his own would be unwise to make ra dical changes . But I do believe th at champions in al l sports owe their success to h aving stripped
as a am a . their style , I h ve done , to bedrock fund ent ls — The most revolutionary aspect of my sty le and the most — misunderstood is my technique of keeping the right ar m bent throughout the swing. Some people think that a physical defect
21 prevents me from strai ghtening the ar m . To others I give the i m
“ pression of trying to push the ball down the lane . When I first
a a a beg n pr cticing this method , experts r ised their eyebrows in
a . a a a a a stonishment But two ye rs l ter , when I bec me N tion l
“ d u a a a a ak In ivid l M tch ch mpion , they beg n to t e my style more
h ad seriously . One bowling instructor who lau ghed the hardest
“ " at Push -B all C arter in 1952 is today teaching the bent-ar m method . Why do I bend my ar m "Let me answer this with another
an to a a a arm for question . If engineer were design mech nic l
a a a a u a a a a rolling he vy b ll cc r tely tow rd t rget , would he design it with a central hinge"Obviously not . A flexible middlejoint wou ld
and be wholly u ncalled for. By keeping my elbow locked my
a a r u a a shoulder free , I cre te igid pendul m th t swings the b ll in
t a a the simplest possible way . I used o pr ctice it in my cell r by
r was a swinging a heavy clothes iron . Fo months there no notice ble improvement in my game . Then suddenly I got the feel of the new method and it began to pay off h andsome dividends .
a not di flh s e d Another basic secret ofmy style is this . I h ve my efforts by learning different ty pes of delivery for different types
f to of spares . As you will see in the section o this book devoted
al a a on as . the second b l , I use ex ctly the s me delivery every occ ion
a all h as a on As result, my experience been concentr ted the per — fe cti on of one thing a simplified pendulu m delivery of the ball . On the following pages I have broken down the technique of
’ as b e nni n this delivery into ten b ic steps , g g with the method by which I grip the ball .
22 a a a a a To void h ving his fingers sm shed by returning b ll , the player should always take the ball from the rack with his h ands on
as . the sides , shown here
23
a grip b ll properly , first insert the thumb into the thumb
a n t t o . hole as far as it will go . It should fit comfort bly but o o snugly
Let your fingers rest naturally on th e bal l . The span betwee n the thumb hole and the finger holes should be s uch th at the middle joints ofthe second and third fingers extend to the front edge ofthe
finger holes .
26 Now the second and third fingers ar e a pl ced in the holes , but the thumb is not raised . The bal l is gripped firmly between the first and second joints these two fingers .
The secret of my gri p is to curl my little finger
as . wa shown This keeps the finger out of the y ,
where it cannot inadvertently twi st the ball . It also uses the cu rled finger as a cushion to relieve
strain on the other fingers .
27
TH E STANCE
a a a a a It is during the st nce , or st rting position , th t the pl yer t kes
“ m a a a a a ai m . a The t rget y be on the pins , bo rd longwhich he pl ns
a a a a a a a to roll the b ll , m rker on the l ne , or combin tion ofv rious check points . The spot method is preferred by most experts . I fix my attention on the second spot from the right on the row of
- a . m arkers (usually arrow shaped)nearest the pins . This is my t rget I stand a foot or two behind the row of dots th at ar e twelve feet
a a at in back of the foul line . The b ll will le ve the foul line the
a a as second spot from the right , which is on the s me bo rd my
and target . If it crosses the target it will hook to the left strike the
- pins in the 1 3 pocket where it is most likely to scatter all ofthem .
a an ar e i i f a a Tod y most l es un formly polished , but my firstb llbre ks
and a a a too much hits the he d pin flush , I will h ve to move my st nce slightly to the left and shoot for the s ame target .
29 a a st nce is upright but rel xed , with the ball held slightly above my waist . My left foot is ah ead of the other and point ing directly forward .
30 a a My shoulders ar e par allel with the foul line . Note th t my left h nd
l a a al . a al supports the b l This t kes str in from the right h nd , which does nothing more than grip the ball comfortably .
3 1
am th e a In the illustration on the left I in st nce position , my
h ow weight on the ri ght foot . The next two pictures show I lift
a a a a . the b all above eye level . Note th t my lefth nd still c rries the b ll
When the b all reaches its m aximum height I shift it to the right .
34 If I di d not do this now I would be forced
and during the downswing so lose control , or I would have to contort my body to get out of the
’ al w b l s ay . As the bal l is lowered I lean forward slightly , rolling my weight to the left foot .
35
TH E FIRST STE P
In approaching the line most experts take either four or five
- a a a a . steps . Three steppers ar e r rely seen tod y in profession l pl y
— a I use the four step delivery . The steps must be in perfectly
ai . at art as a str ght line It is the st ofthe first , my right foot re ches i a an a a a . a s a out , th t I simult eously push the b ll w y This ction
m i a and a s ooth , coord n ted move extremely import nt to the rhythm of the entire delivery .
37 THE P "S HAWAY
38 “ As I start to move right is bent at an gles pus hing the b all forward along the im aginary pla ne th at intersects the targe t .
39 E N D OF THE FIRST STEP
40
TH E S ECON D STEP
Smooth coordination of footwork is essential to
- h a a e i n . t e m thod ofbowl g In my style second step , which ctu lly is
r a sh u flli n- a a n s a mo e g movement th n step , bri g the b ll to the lowest
- n of ar c . ai ar m i r n i poi t its Most bowlers str ghten the d ri g th s step , b u t I find it be st to kee p it bent as shown on the next two pages .
43 START OF THE SECOND STEP
44 At the start of the second step I release the ball with my left h and
ar m a just as it starts on its b ackswing . By keeping my bent I m in tain better control over the swing.
45 CONTIN"ATION OF THE SECOND STEP through the step left h as moved to the position
- m nd ar e a n a . ar a show bove My right wrist kept firm , forming kind
- of ri ght angle d pendu lum th at swings free at the shoulder .
47 END OF THE SECOND STEP
48
TH IRD STEP START OF THE THIRD STEP
52 "ntil this moment I h ave been leaning forward only sli ghtly . Now
I start to bend my body and at the s ame time accelerate my speed .
- My eyes ar e still glued to the ar row shaped target . At no time during the delivery do I look at the pins .
53 END OF THE THIRD STEP
n u The third step ends with the right foot forwar d and the ball at the
a ar m t . top ofits backswi ng. Note th t my right is s ill bent My wrist
a ai -ar m al h as not turned . Even with str ght swing the b l should
t a . a never go higher h n your shoulder On the other h nd , too short
a swing will not generate enough speed on the b all .
5 5
FO"RTH STEP The fourth step begins (A) with the weight on the right foot . The leftfoot and m “ right ar now move ahead together . The
a ai left foot , inste d of being r sed , is kept on the floor and slid forward (B)on its
a a a a le ther sole , long the s me bo rd on which it rested in the stance . As the
a a right foot pushes the body he d , the weight gradually shifts to the left foot
. on d (C) From here , the right leg is use
ai m nly for bal an ce .
5 9
SLIDE AN D STOP
The final stop usually considered either as the end of the
“ " “ slide (fourth step)or the beginningofthe release . It is pictured
as a a a a ai a here sep r te step so th t cert n vit l points , often over
ca a cle ar . looked , n be m de
61 SL IDE AND S T OP
The slide is m ade with the weight resti ng on the b a ll of the left
a at a foot . I crouch lower th n most bowlers this point bec use my right ar m is still bent and it i s necessar y to lower the b all to the
l a a of a . a l ne As the b l re ches my left foot , I h ve come to the end my
ai t slide . My left foot rem ns on the spot on which it stops un il the
and ar m b all is well down the lane . Note how my right leg left ar e extended leftwar d to mai ntai n bal ance .
62
RELEASE
66 My left foot h as stopped about four inches behind the foul li ne
r but my hand h as car ried the b all well over the line . When I e " lease the ball my thumb comes ou t first"then I give a slight lift
a a al to the ball with my fingers . This utom tic ly turns the wri st
“ " slightly and gives the ball a moderate hook . "p until this moment my wrist h as been firm (a loose wrist means a wobblyball
a a al as during the swing), but now I llow it to turn n tur ly I lift the
al . a ff a as b l It is not conscious e ort to sn p or twist the wrist , such
a a so m ny bowlers m ke to produce a stronger hook . A violent hook is not necessary for high scoring.
4 IN CHES
FO"L "N E
67 “ Th is shows in more detail how my h and li fts the ball to give it a
- moderate counter clockwise spin . The lift autom atically turns the wrist about an inch as shown sm al l pictures A and B .
68 THE LIFT
69
TH E FOLLOW - T H RO"G H
l a i a For good bow ing form , delivery is not complete w thout full , graceful follow-through th at leaves the player perfectly bal anced as he watches the progress of his ball toward the pins . Some bowlers follow through by flingi ng the ar m out to the right"others
a - a carry it to the left shoulder . I prefer follow through th t is straight ahead along the perpendicular plane that leads to the target .
71 My follow- through allows the ar m to continue strai ght forward in
a a a the n tural ar c ofits swing. It is import nt to w tch the course of the ball down the lane in order to learn as much as possible for future guidance .
72
Summa ry
Although fo r explanatory purposes I have divided the delivery
u a al a a one co into ten f nd ment steps , ctu lly it is continuous ,
- a ordinated motion from stance to follow through . Reg rdless of
a r his style , every topnotch kegler repe ts his delive y in precisely
wa a the s ame m anner every time . Only in this y can he m intai n consistently accurate res u lts .
a a or - ar I begin by st nding foot two behind the twelve foot m k ,
a my shoulders parallel with the fou l line . My body is rel xed and
- a al ai . free of all tenseness . My left h nd holds the b l w st high The little finger is curled to cushion the ball and prevent it from inter
’ fe r i ng with the ball s release .
a a a a I r ise the b ll bove my eyes , then shift it to the right so th t my pendulum ar m can swing freely on a vertical plane that cu ts
a . a a a the t rget My t rget is the second rrow from the right , bout sixteen feet down the lane from the foul line . From start to finish my eyes never leave this target . If you look back over the pictures of the four steps you will see that my feet do not leave th e floor until the ball is released .
a al My head is slowly lowered as I move forwar d . If I took ctu
' steps m y head would bob up and down and this would greatly
a di sru pt the smooth ar c of th e swing. T o elimin te this bobbing I
f al as if a an d shu fle toward the foul line . It is most the b ll I were
a - a b llroom d ncing together .
74 ah a ar m and As I move e d , mybent right , with its locked elbow
at . a wrist , swivels freely the shoulder It forms perfect pendulum that carries the ball through the smallest possible ar c that will
’ still permit the ball s releas e on the lane with sufficient force to knock down the pins . A controlledball moving at a moderate speed
a an a al m a at is prefer ble to exceedingly f st b l which y , times , slice its way through the pack and keep the pins from mixing .
“ " My explosion point occurs at the end of a long slide when
a if a the ball h as pas sed my left foot . At this inst nt I l t the b ll slightly with my fingers to gi ve it a moderate hook to the left as
ar m it is set on the lane ahead of th e foul line . My right follows throu gh by continuing str ai ght ahead along its former ar c . In this
ai r and ai low crouch , with my right leg in the to the left , I rem n poised as I watch the ball approach th e pins .
bu t s wrn rn no as i The firm freely g g pendulum , with w te mot on
at . t the elbow, is the key concept of this technique Any mo ion of the body that interferes with this natural swing wi ll lower
a a the accuracy of the delivery . Once you h ve m stered the pendu
a t lum swing, the more you pr c ice it the more control you will achieve . I
Il II iI n uumum IIII mmuum qlumum I
Here is shown exactly how my right ar m forms a rigi d pendulum
wa that swivels freely at the shoulder . In this y it becomes the closest possible human version of the type of robot bowler that an engineer would design if b e eliminated all unnecess ar y ele ments from his artificial ar m .
76
TARG ETS
RELEASE
THIRD STEP
SECON D STEP
FIRST STEP
R 12 FOOT. MAR"E S 12 FOOT l IN E STRI"E
All experts agree th at best hit the pins for a strike is between the 1 and 3 pins (or the 1 and 2 pins i f the player is left
a a a h anded). To do this I release the ball on the floor bo rd th t le ds
- di rectly to th e second arrow shaped m arker from the right . The spin on my b al l is such that as it nears the pins it will hook slightly
- to the left to enter the 1 3 pocket .
a i o e more or less th n mine , the best pos tion for y u will have to b
“ determined by experiment . The only gene ral rule th at applies to all cases is this "you must move your stance to the right when th e
ar e an and l ar e pins on the left ofthe l e , move eft when the pins on the right . My first b all is thrown with my shoulders par allel to th e fou l line at all times . When I throw the second ball I like to imagine
“ a a a or as n l ne th t is twisted slightly to the right left , show on the
wa an e following pages . In this y I c continue to ke p my shoulders
' a al fou l i ma i na r lane and e xe cu te m p r lel to the line ofthe g y , thus y delivery exactly as with the first ball . Though I never look at the pins during the delivery of the
or al of o a at first second b l , for my second , I must c urse first gl nce the pins to determine their form ation and where my im aginar y
ane . a al S a a al to l will be Then I t ke my usu t nce , shoulders p r lel
a a h the im gin ry foul line , w ile I fix my eyes on wherever my new tar get h appens to be . The pages to follow will m ake this te chnique clear with illustrations ofthe common types ofspares and how I set my stance and target for them .
82 l o-RIN 6-PIN 3 9 -P IN S M IN 7 -PIN 1-2-8 SPA RE
S PAR ES B Y MOVING T O RIGHT o n SPARES M ADE B Y M OVING TO E "TRE ME RIGHT OF CENTER
SPA RE
2-7-8 SPARE
85 5 -7 SPLIT
3 -5 -6-9 SPA RE
M D B Y Mo v r SPARE S A E _ _ T O LE F T OF C E NTE R
86 SPARES MADE B Y MOVING TO E"TREME LEFT OF CENTER
3 -6 -10 SPA RE
3 -9-10 SPA RE
87“ Thin gs to Remember
C "R L E D L IT T L E F IN G ER The G rip
The Add ress PARALLE LINEL
The Pu s h away
I l I R IG HT A N G L E T O FO"L L IN E
W E IG HT F OR W A R D
88
Equ ipment
In selecting a ball you should pick one th at fits comfortably in your hand for the ty pe of grip you use . I have explained earlier how to test for the right size offinger spacing ifyou adopt my grip on the
- a an three finge r ball . Most top bowlers find th t they c get a more
of a as secure grip on this type b ll , but there is no re on why you
’ shou ldn t use the two-finge r bal l if you really find it easier to han dle and ar e notjust trying to prove how . strong you ar e .
l - Topnotch m ale bowlers al use a sixteen pound bal l . Most
n— professional women keglers use a fifte e pounder . The average
a as as u wom n or child , however , well men Of slight b ild , will do
a al of i at as a . Af better with b l l ghter weight, le t while le rning ter
ou ar e of al a u m a y sure the type ofb l th t s its you best, you y wish
all a to buy one ofyour own . Althou gh bowling est blishments pro
a and d i fli cu lt a vide b lls shoes , it is to perfect uniform delivery unless y ou u s e the s ame ball at all times . Owning your own bal l is the only way to insure this .
90 ’ Footwork is sure to s u ffer if the player s shoes do not fit him l comfortably . For this reason I urge al players to own their own
bowling shoes . They can now be Obtained in a pleas ing variety
a a a of styli sh models and colors . Most m nuf cturers put small leather tip on the toe of the rubber -soled right shoe to m ake
as at f a the sole l t longer the spot o gre test wear . I always h ave a shoem aker replace this ti p with m atching rubber so that I am sure the shoe will keep a firm gri p on the lane . For right-han ded bowlers the left shoe h as a leather sole for
a . gliding, the right shoe rubber sole for gripping This is reversed
- ofcourse for Ieft han ders .
EATHER LSOLE
91 The pla yer wh o owns his own bowling b all will need a b a g to
a a and a a carry it in . H ndsome b gs in m any different styles m teri ls
n f a ar e on the market . They zip open ea sily a d most o them h ve
- a plenty of spare room for bowling shoes and socks . well m de b a a a a a . g, like the b ll it c rries , should l st lifetime
A lso I feel it is very importa nt to own your bowling
. a Of a lf glove M ny the profession ls , including myse , feel the bowl ing glove keeps th e ball firm in you r hand throu ghou t the swing
u f m a a on u a witho t squeezing"there ore, it eli in tes str in yo r h nd and ar m and helps prevent over-turning Ofthe ball which is a com
fau of a mon lt m ny bowlers .
92 Th e Etiqu ette of Bowling
Stay back of the foul line at all times .
Your temper and your language should be as controlled as your delivery .
t f Respect the priori y O the bowler on the adjoining lane . Ifhe is addressing the pins do not step in front Of him to pick your ball Off the rack .
Stay wi thin the boundaries of your own alley at all times “ " especially when you ar e applying body english .
" m if Try not to slow up the game . You ay get cold there is too long a wai t between fram es .
Resist the temptation of kidding your opponent when he is
m a a a addressing the pins . You y w nt the s me courtesy when it is your turn to concentrate on m aki ng that tough spare .
’ ’ a Don t belittle your opponent s victory . Even the ch mpions ’ don t win them all.
’
a l and a . Don t bl me the equipment for sp its , misses , t ps They an a ar e all part Of the gam e . You c keep them to minimum if you set out to correct the faults that cause them .
93 To u rn ament Victories a nd
Ti tle s Wo n by Don Ca rter
T O "R NAM E N T V I C T O R I E S
T ou r na me nt P la ce
B o O m o u m u s O i o r ad ly pic C l b , h ss u nne s o Midway Cla ic St . Pa l, Mi ta McMillan s s m n Il i no s Cla ic Cha paig , l i ’ S kovi e s ss o I i no s Cla ic Chicag , ll i W s s s e s . ou s ou r aib l Cla ic St L i , Mi i no s s i u e e W s ons n Mari Cla ic M lwa k , i c i la d i u m ss u s I i n s P E s . o o y Cla ic a t St L i , ll i B r o O ne s s e i e nns n ad l y Cla ic Philad lph a, P y lva ia ou s e e n e B u f o N e w o S th id C t r fal , Y rk ’ S kovi e s s s o Ili no Cla ic Chicag , l is
C H A M P I O N S H I P S
P B A National Open Championshi p 1960
- B P AA a ur a 1952 1953 1957 1958 . All St r, fo times ( record ) , , , ’ d a five a 1957 1959 1960 1961 Worl s Invitation l , times ( record) , , , , 1 962. P A 1 B 960 . Eastern Open ( Paramus , New "ersey )
a a a r a adi a a 1959 . Ch mpions Tourn ment, in ugu l ( M son Squ re G rden ) a South ern M tch Game 1957. A 62 B P A a i l a a 19 1963 . N t ona Te m ( with C rter Gloves twice , B P AA ’ w 1 19 9 al 958 5 . Nation Mens Doubles ( ith Tom Hennessey ) , - 3 ABC Classic Team and Tea m All Events ( with Pfeiffer ) 195 .
‘ ABC Classic Team ( with Carter Gloves ) 1962. a t B d 1956 1957 1958 National Team Match G me wi h u weiser ) , , ,
1959 .
M asters Tournament 1961. P E A 1962 Houston Open . P E A a 1 62 Se ttle Open 9 . P B A 1 2 Tucson Open 96 . P B A 2 Rochester Open 196 .
94 H O N O RS A N D AC H I E VE M E N T S
B th e B W AA a 1953 1954 1957 owler of Year ( ), six times ( record ) , , , 1 1962 1958 , 960, .
- a B owle s "ou r na l all- 195 1 All Americ n , r , eleven times ( time record ) , 1 2 9 41957 1958 1959 1960 1961 96 1 63 . 1952, 1953 , 195 , , , , , , ,
- B owli n Ma a z i ne i 1956 195 7 All American, g g , eight t mes ( a record ) , , 1 6 195 1960 196 1 1962 9 3 . 1958 , 9, , , ,
- 1 5 All American ( various teams ) every year since 9 1 ( a record ).
P B A President thr eeyears ( a record ). 2 P B A 1960 196 a . Memberof theYear , ( record ) “ " 2 Hickok B owler of th e Decade Award 196 . Won seven live TV matches ( N ationa l B owling Champions ) in a row 1 5 in 9 6 ( a record ).
First 800 series on TV ( 809 )on National B owling Champions 1956 .
HighestABC league average ( 234) 1959 . 1900 AB C 195 1 First man to roll three consecutive series in Tourney , 2 1 195 , 953 .
’ Record holder for 64-game average in Worlds Invitational ( 220 )
1959 . — Fiveconsecutive 1800 series in AB C Tournament 1950 1954.
’ - A B C a for a Member of Budweiser, four time winner of ward se sons
high team game .
’ Of Zi e r n Of AB C a Member Antiques , winner ward forseasonshigh team
game. Fourthhighest doubles series inhistory ( 1534 ( P at Patterson ) 1955
i a a F rst to Make Th t Sp re on network television . . h " First to MakeT at Spare twicein a row ( a record ).
“ " a th e a B First to cr ck "ckpot on "ackpot owling TV show.
M li tan Y B o . . a a 1961 p ( N ) owling Writers Aw rd , twice ( record ) , iggf
a 1 Elected to Missouri Hall of F me 962.
“ "
a s a i b a at 1 59. N med Out t nding Athlete in St . Lou s y Elks org niz ion 9
N ati ona l B wli n Ill s r t 62 o u t a e d th e a 19 1963 . g Bowler of Ye r , ( a record )
a a a r a a a All - a a Honor ry Ch irm n, Aust ali n N tion l St r Singles Ch mpion 1 ship 963 .
t - r 300 a a Twen y th ee g mes ( thirteen in openpl y ).
95