i'm just beginning to use the arrows. i used to, and actually sometimes still do, look down just over the foul line where i would release the ball during the approach up to the release. i'm used to seeing my hand release the ball. this way, i can see the direction of the ball on my release. it has worked for me using a straight ball. it also works on my new ball that hooks but i have a problem adjusting.

if i stand on the first dot, do a straight approach and have the ball roll on the first arrow, my ball consistently ends on the 1-2 pocket when it hooks. i'm right handed. where is the best place to start my approach to have the ball hit the 1-3 pocket?

thanks.

The amount you move depends entirely on lane conditions. Try moving 3 boards left and throwing over the first arrow, if that's not enough move 2 more, etc... If you move 3 and it's now not making it to the pocket (hitting the 3-6) move back a board or two. Just keep your target the same and move a couple boards right or left. Think of the first arrow as your balls fulcrum, you move left, the ball will end up more right at the pins, you move right, the ball will end up move left. Use this same technique for spares too.
Hope that helps!
Jay

thanks snitgts.

i see some stand somewhere in the middle, some somewhere on the right. for the amount of hook my ball generates, should i stay on the right? or it doesn't really matter as long as the ball hits the 1-3 pocket?

A general rule of thumb is a 7-9 board spread between the inside of your left foot (right hander) and your target at the arrows. Be carefull when you say first dot, because some approaches have five dots & some seven; It would be more accurate to state the board number you target with your left foot.

It really doesn't matter where you start as long as the ball makes the 1-3 pocket, but it sounds like you bowl "down and in", so the right side of the lane is where you want to be for that style. Basically you start out by the right side gutter (for righty's) and throw the ball inward towards the area of the 3 or 6 pins (depending on how much hook you have), the amount of hook you ball generates should then bring it into the 1-3 pocket.

Just remember, keep aiming for that first arrow and move left to make the ball hit farther right or move right to get the ball to hit farther left. If you still can't find the pocket, try moving to the left maybe 5-10 boards and aim for the second arrow. Just keep moving around until you find the pocket.

The people starting in different areas of the lane are bowling different styles. People starting all the way to the left are generally crankers, they usually have very high rev rates on their balls and get the most hook. Lane conditions have the most effect on them. People starting in the middle of the lane generally are strokers, they have medium rev rates and a moderate amount of hook on their balls. Lane conditions effect them less then crankers, but more then your group. People starting on the right of the lane throw down and in style, they have the lowest rev rates and the least hook of the three. Lane conditions should have little effect on your ball, but you might still need to move a couple boards left or right due to conditions or as the night goes on and the lanes break down to find the pocket. Their are also bowlers that are "tweeners" that bowl somewhere in-between two of the styles. Personally I have learned how to bowl many styles, down and in, stroker, and tweener. I start as a stroker, but depending on the lanes I might go to down and in or tweener.

Hope that helps!
Jay

thanks big mack and snitgts. sorry i actually meant that my right foot is on the 1st dot, not the left. the 1st dot is aligned with the 1st arrow.

it's already very close to the gutter so i think i need move to the 2nd arrow and probably have my right foot 3 boards left of 2nd dot.

sorry i have not gotten into using board numbers. still not familiar with them. this is all new to me.

if the 1st dot is on board 5, the center of my right foot could be on board 6. so the ball really starts on the 5th board, roll over the 1st arrow, still staying on the 5th board, and still hits the 1-2 pocket when it hooks.

i am thinking of trying to reduce ball spin to reduce the hook, but i think the more the spin, the better the pin reaction would be.

Here's something to consider:

From your ankle on your slide foot to the center of the ball is about 8 boards. So if you want the ball to go down the lane straight, you're going to want to slide 8 boards from your target. If you want the ball to go out a little, you're going to have to slide further to the right.

If you're standing on the first dot and sliding about there, and hitting the first arrow, that means you're pointing the ball at the pocket and you're really not letting the ball hook.

What kind of ball do you have? A good ball drilled properly with an asymetrical core will hook on its own, so you won't have to "spin" it. It will also be a very consistant hook for you. Generally speaking, some hook is good for pin reaction. You want the ball to be rolling with the lane and have that roll drive the ball thru the pins for max carry. It's kind of hard to explain, but I'll try.

Consider that the Earth is your bowling ball. The axis of rotation is the north and south poles. The poles aren't straight up and down though, it's tilted about 15 degrees or so, that's why we have the 4 seasons. This is called axis tilt. When you bowl a hook, you are throwing the ball straight down the lane, but your ball is rotating along an axis that is tilted compared to the direction it's traveling. It will slide thru the oiled part of the lane, but when it hits the back 1/3rd, the lanes become dry and the tilted rotation of the ball pushes it in the direction of the rotation. That's how you get hook! You want the ball to be moving in the exact same direction as the rotation of the ball when it hits the pocket. This will cause the ball to drive thru the pocket and get the maximum carry.

Also if you're throwing a hook ball, you don't want to throw it too hard. Throwing too hard could cause the ball to not be able to grab the lane in time, which will cause the ball to be deflected much more by the pins and you'll leave a lot of 5 pins.

If this confuses you, talk to a bowler at your lanes that has a high average (200). They should be able to explain it to you better in person then I can on this forum.

Hope that helps!
Jay

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Originally posted by a4ace:
if the 1st dot is on board 5, the center of my right foot could be on board 6. so the ball really starts on the 5th board, roll over the 1st arrow, still staying on the 5th board, </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Just to show how this is not possible..

If you slide with the center of your foot on 6, it's at least two boards to the outside of your ankle, and the since the ball rolls on the lane in the middle of the ball, it's another 5 boards to there.

So if you are sliding on 6, the ball is starting out over the gutter and you're lofting it out on to the lane and pointing it at the pocket. You're seesntially setting the ball down on the 1st board and directing it in.

You might want to take a better look at where you're sliding and where the ball is being set on the lane.