Walter Ray Williams is obviously one of the best bowlers ever and I've heard a lot of people who say his release is one they'd like to copy.

I've always thought he was pretty herky jerky at the line, and when he's bowling really well, he still lifts up at the line, instead of the classic, level shoulders, level head as he releases the ball.

Do you concur?

And if you were just starting out in bowling and could adopt any style you could what type of bowler would you be?

Stroker - AKA Brian Voss, Mike Aulby, etc.
Power Stroker - Parker Bohn, Chris Barnes and so many others
Cranker (power + power) - Robert Smith.

It seems so many of the bowlers you see on television week after week are the power stroker types. Enough control to keep the ball in the pocket and enough power to carry. Strokers like Roger Bowker, Dale Traber seem to break through on certain conditions where everyone else is struggling but don't have a lot of success week to week. Same with crankers like Robert Smith, and even Jason Couch these days.

Although Walter Ray is a fantastic bowler and he has a very effective style, I don't think he has a "classic style". I think that Marshall Holman, Norm Duke, and Brian Voss have more of a classic style. Earl Anthony had pretty much of a classic style as a left-handed bowler. I am sure that there are many others that can be mentioned at all. As for style, doing whatever works is best.