Clinic THE PRO APPROACH .... Pete Weber THROUGHOUT MY BOWLING CAREER — as a pro bowler, a pro shop operator and a bowling center proprietor — the Weber name has been an inspiration to me. While bowling on Tour, I had the privilege of bowling at Dick Weber Lanes, sitting in on PBA Executive Board meet- ings with Dick, and competing with Dick and his sons Rich, John and Pete. Rich and John, Pete’s and now has eight major older brothers, bowled on Tour championships to his credit, before Pete. John and Dick fi n- compared to Roth’s one. ished fourth in the PBA Dou- Although Pete modeled bles Tournament in San Jose his game after Roth’s, there in 1974, when Pete was 12. were big differences in their The PBA Tour fi rst visited styles. In their primes, both Dick Weber Lanes in 1975, had the high backswing and and that’s when the barely big ball. But Pete opens his teenaged Pete saw the great shoulders, while Roth never Mark Roth up close for the opened his. Both have a very fi rst time. From that point strong forward tilt of their on, Pete tried to model his spines, about 40 degrees. delivery after that of Roth, who But Pete walks with his legs is considered the father of the fairly straight, while Roth modern power game. Young used a lot of knee bend. Pete saw this as the best way Roth had to apply a lot of to play the game or, at least, physical force to his shot to the way he wanted to play it make it work, because his — a very astute observation at shoulders never opened; he such a young age, considering used his legs much more. the other examples of great- Pete’s approach, on the other ness he grew up around (and hand, always has looked ef- who excelled by rolling the fortless with his long, smooth ball comparatively straight). swing and great extension. It had to be a special day for Mark had a turn-and-lift Pete when he won his 34th type of release, and lofted PBA title, putting him in a the ball way out on the lane. tie on the PBA’s all-time titles Pete also is a turn-and-lift list with Roth. But when it bowler — but his turn comes comes to bowling’s “majors,” from shoulder rotation, and Pete long ago eclipsed Roth, his lift through extension. BY BILL SPIGNER 64 Bowlers Journal International | May 2008 www.bowlersjournal.com 061-066_Clinic.indd 64 4/22/08 1:12:30 PM Pete is a pure stroker with a powerful ball. He refers to himself as a “tweener” because he strokes through the ball very smoothly, yet can get maximum hook when needed. In Pete’s early years on Tour, he had a release that was different than any I’ve ever seen: He was able to get 90-degree axis rotation and tilt the axis. At the bottom of (LEFT) While he shares the high backswing of his childhood hero, Mark Roth, Weber opens his shoulders his swing, his hand was during his approach, which Roth never did. (RIGHT) At the release point and into the follow-through, totally on the side of Weber’s hand opens up, as if he were about to shake someone’s hand. the ball, with the thumb still in. As his thumb came out, his fi ngers did wood houses were starting to Through the years, Pete Pete is one of the all-time not rotate farther around the replace their lanes with syn- has developed a great, yet great bowlers, and shows ball; instead, they continued thetics. On synthetics, the new simple, way to play the game. no signs of slowing down. “through” the ball. The tips resin balls would skid more in His pre-shot routine is to He is hands-down the most of his fi ngers pointed down oil and grab more when they gather his thoughts before exciting player to watch the lane in the direction he hit the dry area. The combi- stepping onto the approach, when he’s in the hunt for a wanted to roll the ball. So, nation of the smooth syn- get set in his stance, and then championship. He shows his hand would end up open, thetic lanes and the balls that go. He says the less time he genuine emotion that fi ts him, as if he were reaching out to reacted more would render spends on the approach, the whereas many players try to shake someone’s hand. He still the advantages of Weber’s 90- better — much like Roth. “act” and ultimately don’t uses that technique today. degree axis rotation obsolete. Pete has an interesting way perform in a way that’s natural If we mere mortals were to As a result, Pete started of targeting. At the beginning for them. Pete says the best have our bowling hand in the having a very diffi cult time of his approach, he spots advice his Dad ever gave him same position as Pete’s at the controlling his break point. about 50 feet down the lane. was, “Just be yourself,” and bottom of the swing, we would This led to him having a As his approach continues, he has done exactly that. lift up on the ball and not get bad patch for four out of six he gradually brings his eyes Bottom line: I think Pete the needed extension and tilt. years as the ’90s drew to a back near the foul line. Weber would have won many But because of Pete’s hard-to- close. This followed 13 years Pete made a great com- more titles if he were big- duplicate extension, the ball of Pete pretty much hav- ment at the taping of the ger and stronger. Or, to put retains incredible energy and ing his way with the Tour. Chicago Sun-Times’ “Beat it another way, Walter Ray has a controllable break point. After working on staying the Champs” show, which might have been chasing him. Pete was one of the fi rst behind the ball more and was aired on Christmas day Not that Pete is players who could hook the decreasing his axis rota- in Chicago. Carmen Salvino done winning... ball a lot and still excel on tion, Pete has remerged as a was the color commentator for the toughest of conditions. threat on Tour. He saw the the show and complimented — Bill Spigner is a three-time Pete’s game worked great problem, and worked his Pete on a great career. Pete’s PBA champion, eight-time for a long time with the 90 way through it — he looked response: “I’m still trying to PBA Regional degrees of axis rotation. It for solutions, not excuses. get better. I’m working on my champion, Gold worked through the soft plastic Pete says he is pretty much straight game because I’ve level coach, former era, the soft rubber ball era self-taught. Dad would give been having a problem beating head teaching and the start of the urethane him advice only when he Walter Ray (Williams Jr., the pro for Profes- era. Then came resin urethane asked for it. His brother Rich all-time Tour titles leader).” sional Bowling balls and exotic cores. At the is the one he turns to now. He Well, Pete has found ways Camps, long-time pro shop same time, most new bowl- also has sought help from Hall to survive for 27 years on the operator and coach of the ing centers were putting in of Fame coach John Jowdy and Tour, and I’m guessing he will Vernon Hills (Ill.) High synthetic lanes, and the old Storm ball rep Chris Schlemer. master the straight game. School boys’ bowling team. www.bowlersjournal.com May 2008 | Bowlers Journal International 65 061-066_Clinic.indd 65 4/22/08 4:52:23 PM.