this in practice and not during league BOWLING 101 • HARLIN MATKINS play. Since the winter leagues are now over, why not visit the bowling center and go back to your bowling basics for a re- fresher course and fault-finding study? As recommended in earlier “Bowl- Focus on only one problem at a time ing 101” articles: To begin your fault- finding, you may want to set aside tem- “I’m overloaded, folks. Please, only one This bowler’s plight is understandable. porarily your latest innovations in style more bowling change or comment at a When I started bowling in the 1970s, I or techniques and recommended chang- time.” was told we had 20 million bowlers and es and return to the more honored and I recently visited one of my old bowl- 40 million instructors. Bowlers take established bowling basics to discover ing leagues, and a longtime member pride in what they have been doing suc- the root causes of your present bowling suddenly unloaded on me: “Everyone in cessfully and want to encourage and help problems, which are often in the basics this league and on my team is telling me their fellow bowlers with their knowl- of your game. how to bowl. Today, Fred told me to put edge and what works for them. Unfortu- Remember: To master bowling, you my thumb at 12 o’clock and my fingers at nately, what’s good for the goose is not must be relaxed, loose, and comfortable, three. Later, Mary said to place my fin- necessarily good for the gander and vice or your bowling will never be consistent. gers at six and my thumb at 12. Then the versa. If your bowling is not consistent, it is not repeatable, and you will not advance and Remember: To master bowling, you must bowl well. be relaxed, loose, and comfortable, or your     bowling will never be consistent. If your Consistency is especially helpful as bowling is not consistent, it is not repeatable, you develop your strike line or in read- and you will not advance and bowl well. ing lane conditions as you advance to higher levels. Measure this along with other changes. best bowler on the team suggested that Before attempting any unusual change Good news: Having a consistent de- I move to the outside, roll the ball end- suggested by a non-certified coach or in- livery will help you find and hold your over-end, and aim at the pocket. Then structor or by a bowler not familiar with strike line and help you in reading lane a well-meaning observer congratulated your game, I suggest you go to a lane and conditions over any chosen part of the me on my form and delivery and told work on your bowling basics and those lane. If your ball delivery and techniques me to get a new ball. I am so confused I particular areas of concern and then try are consistent: don’t know what to do.” only one suggested change at a time. Do  You will see or get more hook on a drier lane than on a normal lane.  You will see or have less hook on an oilier condition.  You will have a medium hook on a me- dium lane condition (that is, if you have a  Check Your Knowledge consistent hook ball and delivery). 1. What is the popular term for the 1-2-4-10 pin combination? This information will help you ad- 2. He recently was elected NCAUSBCA president for the 2008-2009 season. just your position on the lane for more 3. This company publicly displayed the first automatic pinsetter in 1946. strikes. 4. Which area center hosts the Silver Hill Strikers youth league? 5. Which individual is not an NCAUSBCA youth director—James Stewart, Rick     Ketchie, or Carl Kilby? Important: As stressed in other “Bowl- 6. He is the PBA Player of the Year for the 2007-2008 season. ing 101” articles and revisited in the fol- 7. Who is the president of the United States Bowling Congress? lowing paragraphs below, a dependable 8. What is the maximum weight for a USBC-certified bowling ball? and properly drilled bowling ball is es- 9. In May 2008, this NCAUSBCA Hall of Famer was posthumously inducted sential for strikes and spare-making, into the USBC Hall of Fame. which is your fastest way to average 10. What was the date on the cover of the first issue of BOWL Magazine? 175 and above. Both strikes and spares require a comfortable ball of the right

9, Martha Burton; 10, January 1967. January 10, Burton; Martha 9, weight for you, drilled and custom-fitted pounds; 16 8, Bojé; Jeff 7, Barnes; Chris 6, Stewart; James 5, Heights; Marlow AMF 4,

ANSWERS: 1, Washout; 2, Kirk Williams; 3, American Machines & Foundry (AMF); Foundry & Machines American 3, Williams; Kirk 2, Washout; 1, ANSWERS: to your hand for your desired release and the working action of the ball.

12 BOWL Magazine • Summer 2008 www.ncausbca.org See your local pro shop for an evalua- A perfect follow-through indicates timing, concentration, and consistency, tion of your ball and grips. This is espe- good body balance throughout the shot. as well as for technique. cially true if there are calluses or sensi- It is an effective indicator of total balance When making changes, be sure your tive areas on the fingers or hand. With- maintained throughout the delivery. The physical techniques are without muscle out a properly fitted and comfortable follow-through is a continuation of the strain and that you are in a balanced body ball, it is difficult to maintain a natural pendulum swing at the end of your slide position throughout the approach and at release with consistent ball action. and ball release. the completion of the follow-through. If With a proper ball fitted to your hand, Upon completion of the delivery, your there is muscle strain or imbalances in an effective hook ball is simple to master arm will finish straight ahead in-line your form or delivery, you are not bowl- and roll consistently. Using a clock face with the target. The bowling hand will ing correctly. At whatever bowling level for reference, place the bowling fingers in continue directly up and over your bowl- you attain, what you want is a perfect- the ball between 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock ing shoulder, with the elbow bent and ed bowling delivery that is consistent, with the ball positioned straight ahead. the arm extended upward close to your balanced, and the same without undo The thumb is placed at 11 o’clock. face or ear. stress. At release, the thumb relaxes along- And please: When practicing, do not side the slide ankle and the fingers exit     bowl for score! a split-second later. The fingers must Practice. Having located and correct- Harlin Matkins is a retired Naval architect, remain in a fixed and firm position ed faults found in your game and tech- a certified instructor and graduate of Dick at the 4 and 5 o’clock location (right- niques, you must practice your modified Ritger’s Bowling Academy for Instructors, and handed bowler) and at 7 and 8 o’clock or acquired techniques or changes in a certified youth and bowling development (left-hander) for the correct finger posi- your bowling game or form. Practice for instructor for Bowl America. tion at release and prevent the ball from overturning. The fingers will rotate par- allel through the ball and not around the ball and maintain a desired straighter armswing line. After the pushaway and downswing STEINSIEK and during the forward swing, gravity will pull the ball from the thumb after a split-second as the ball rests on the fingers at release. Do not squeeze the ball with the thumb or fingers. Keep the fingers slightly bent without squeez- ing. The track will naturally rotate from 5 o’clock to 11 o’clock for an effective hook and correct ball action.     Next, work on a fundamentally sound pendulum swing. A free and loose natu- ral pendulum swing is the key to bowler longevity and effective bowling. Let the weight of the ball dictate the speed of the free swing, and the weight of the ball will dictate your bowling tempo. Never match your swing to your feet in the approach steps. A natural pen- dulum swing is controlled by the weight of the ball and constant gravity, without the overuse of muscles. The swing is the same as it goes forward and the same as it goes backward. Being consistent is the basic key for timing, balance, and delivery. A repeat- able pendulum swing provides a consis- tent base for the steps to match-up with the movement of the swing.     Walt Steinsiek’s “Cartoon of the Week” is featured on ncausbca.org. www.ncausbca.org BOWL Magazine • Summer 2008 13