Simple keys for proper execution: all successful bowlers have a set of keys to turn to when it comes to get their games back on track - The coach's corner - Cover Story

Keys can be described in various manners, but primarily they are instruments for fastening or opening a lock. Keys are also portrayed as a means of solving problems. The majority of successful athletes rely on specific keys for jumpstarting and maintaining success in their chosen field.

Coaches in every sport develop certain keys as exercises for proper execution. In baseball, batting and pitching coaches offer keys to those mired in slumps. Football, basketball, and all other sports participants utilize keys to retain muscle memory. Tiger Woods is regarded as the greatest golfer in the world. When Tiger occasionally falters in various phases of his game, he can be found on the practice range practicing keys that will restore his magical touch.

Bowlers are no different. Players like Mike Aulby, Parker Bohn III, Chris Barnes, Jason Couch, Norm Duke, and many other PBA stars all resort to certain keys that enable them to execute shot after shot. Those keys can relate to the pushaway, the first step, the total approach, the release point, the hand position, the slide, or any other element in their games.

For example, Aulby occasionally seeks my advice when he feels his game is less than satisfactory. I focus on two flaws that periodically creep into his game. Aulby, who utilizes a classic four-step approach, has a tendency to tilt early in his pushaway. Consequently, we concentrate on keeping his shoulders back on his first two steps. Aulby's game also suffers when he fails to apply a deeper knee bend on his third step. These are two important keys that enable Aulby to revive his "A" game.

Dave Husted is a 14-time PBA champion and is the only PBA player to have won the U.S. Open three times. (Don Carter and Dick Weber won the All-Star Tournament four times each before it became the U.S. Open.) Husted's quiet demeanor and businesslike approach to the game make him easily overlooked by bowling writers and the general public. Nevertheless, among his peers, Husted is regarded as one of the greatest players of the modern age. Husted, a Columbia Bowling Ball staff member for 20 years, is also one of my favorite students and, like Aulby, is plagued by a minor flaw that enters his classic style. Husted's only drawback is his occasional failure to release the ball into the lane quicker, a flaw that places his release slightly beyond the strongest leverage point. We continually practice a method for developing a quicker thumb release in order to drive the ball into the lane sooner.

By virtue of his slow approach, Tim Criss has been nicknamed "The Turtle." Several years ago at the PBA National Tournament in Toledo, Criss, who was in a slight slump, sought my advice. After working with him for a few minutes, I noticed Criss' release point was beyond the strongest leverage area, a flaw that weakened the ball and caused it to "roll out."

My suggestion to anyone else would have been to apply faster feet. However, Criss has carved a successful career with an unusually slow foot pattern. Speeding up his approach may have destroyed his rhythm and been counterproductive. In order to readjust his early swing and still maintain the normal cadence in his approach, I advised him to begin his pushaway step slightly before the pushaway. In this manner, his slide step would precede the swing, thus enabling him to wait for the ball and release it at its strongest leverage point. Incidentally, Criss won that PBA National.

Early swings have become the bane of many PBA players. This is a common flaw and is difficult to detect by the bowler himself. The swing, release, and timing usually feel natural and comfortable. The only indication of improper execution can be evidenced by ineffectual ball reaction, principally weak 10-pins and early hooks, two of the most frustrating results of early swings. Unfortunately, this imperfection can creep into any player's game.

I have detected and corrected this flaw in a number of PBA stars, including Pete Weber. Weber possesses one of the greatest releases in the history of the game, but at times he commits one of two errors in his pushaway. First, he shortens the length of his swing by pushing the ball down instead of arcing the ball placement. Second, Weber tends to tilt too early, which usually creates a faster forward swing. Both flaws increase the possibility of releasing the ball beyond the strongest leverage area.

In early 2001, Chris Barnes, one of the brightest stars on the PBA tour, experienced a slight deterioration in his game. At the PBA National Tournament in Toledo, he requested my advice regarding his minor slump. Having watched him earlier, I already knew his problem, but I never offer unsolicited advice (except to a few players who have asked me to do so). At his request, I recommended a slight arc in his pushaway in order to lengthen and delay his swing, thus placing his release point in a more advantageous position. Fortunately, the advice worked.

During the 1985 PBA National in Toledo, Marshall Holman was mired in a rare slump. This tournament, a PBA major-rated event, drew approximately 360 entries and consisted of three eight-game qualifying rounds. The field was then cut to the top third for an additional eight games, then pared down to the top 24 finalists. Following the second round Holman, who was more than 250 pins under, approached me and asked if I thought I could solve a problem. It was the first time in his career that he sought advice from anyone.

Holman has a unique game, far removed from textbook form. He has a small, low pushaway, taken from a low crouched position. He takes a stance with his heels hanging off the edge of the approach, pulls the ball into a short backswing, and races to the line with five rapid steps. His sliding step begins four full feet from the foul line, yet he releases the ball while still in his slide with his wrist cocked, fully under the ball. At the release point his wrist collapses, and with lightning speed, he flicks the ball into the lane and unleashes one of the most potent strike balls in the game.

We drove to a nearby bowling center and worked for approximately two hours. I detected two flaws in his game. The first involved his hand position. Holman, whose forte was his ability to remain under the ball in his magnificent release, was turning his hand too early prior to the release. Instead of the fingers remaining under the ball, he was releasing with the fingers on the side of the ball. This not only resulted in placing his elbow away from his body, but it also reduced the power of the shot and weakened the strike percentage. As a matter of fact, the ball was rolling out when it impacted the pins.

Instructors and coaches have various remedies for solving this dilemma. For example, Jim Stefanich, one of the great players of the 1970s, placed a towel between his armpit and his rib cage in order to keep the elbow into the body. Others are taught to keep their forearm parallel to the ceiling in line with their target.

However, being a strong advocate of a free armswing, I make every attempt to present keys to correct flaws with minimal muscle involvement, particularly when it comes to those muscles in the forearm. My philosophy in a free armswing is contingent on placing all the weight of the ball at the bottom of the swing; that is, the hand, which is the pendulum. In order to eliminate muscled forearm intervention, the hand must absorb the entire centrifugal force. Thus was born what I have termed the "ring finger lead": During the free fall of the forward swing, the ring finger leads the downswing. This accomplishes two objectives for proper bowling execution: It maintains the hand under the ball, and it keeps the elbow close to the body.

After an hour of diligent practice, Holman's classic release was restored. This was the key to Holman's first flaw. The second defect in his execution was his slide step. Holman, in his attempt to create area with his previously flawed release, was sliding away from his power step, further weakening his shot.

Some instructors, as well as bowling manuals, recommend walking a straight line in the approach. Unfortunately, this is wrong. The cardinal rule for leverage and balance is sliding under the shot; in other words, sliding in line with the previous step (the power step). The power step is the fourth step in a five-step approach or the third step in a four-step approach. Any slide that is away from the previous step shifts the weight of the body and ball to one side and renders an imbalance. It also places the release outside the desired leverage area. The key to a power shot and proper balance is to slide in line with the previous step.

A quality follow-through is one of the most important elements of proper execution. Modern bowling balls have built-in power. During the era of robber and polyester balls, aggressive follow-throughs may have been an asset. However, today's urethane bowling balls--reinforced with various materials designed for greater traction, enhanced with sophisticated cores, and constructed with pin placements that practically self-propel--do not require excessive force.

As a matter of fact, one of the most detrimental flaws among modern players is an overaggressive follow-through. It is far more advantageous to simply "go through the ball" than it is to do what many manuals and instructors once considered essential: "Lift, mm, and reach for the ceiling" or "follow-through with your hand behind your ear." With all due respect to those who advocate this philosophy, this is not, nor has it ever been, quality execution.

I'd like to borrow a quote from Tom Kouros, one of the most astute students of the game. While bowling alongside one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game (Junie McMahon), Kouros received this sage advice: "The pins are down there--reach for the pins. Reach for the ceiling when they put the pins on the ceiling." Folks, these words of wisdom were issued in the early 1950s by McMahon, considered by many outstanding stars and observers of the game as the greatest bowler ever. Unfortunately, McMahon passed away at an early age. Nevertheless, he left an indelible mark, winning the 1950 and 1952 All-Star Championships.

Most of the top contemporary PBA players exercise an extended follow-through. Playem like Aulby, Bryan Goebel, Barnes, Criss, Husted, Duke, David Ozio, Robert Smith, Rick Steelsmith, Brian Voss, and Ricky Ward execute a fluid stroke in an outward trajectory with minimal elbow bend. Jason Couch has succeeded in this like manner with one exception: Although he has been extremely successful, his vigorous follow-through has been an Achilles heel and has cost him additional rifles. Pete Weber's follow-through is deceptive. Although it results in a skyward motion, his elbow never bends, epitomizing "getting through the ball."

Some may question Walter Ray Williams Jr.'s thunderous follow-through, one that heads straight up to the ceiling. However, Williams doesn't execute this type of follow-through for power, but rather for speed. Williams is the greatest exponent of end-over-end shot. This type of roll requires speed for effective results. Slow speed on an end-over-end shot will result in roll-out and will weaken the hitting power. Nevertheless, like Pete Weber, Williams' arm never recoils or bends.

Prior to 1996, Criss utilized a "behind the ear" follow-through and, at best, was a journeyman bowler. I had, on numerous occasions, advised him to discard this type of follow-through and execute with greater extension. In 1997, Criss followed my advice and the results were astounding. He won three titles and banked $105,975 for the year. In 1998 he earned more than $133,000, then captured the prestigious PBA National Championship at Toledo in 1999.

Several years ago, I was asked to help coach the San Diego State bowling team. Robert Smith, a member of the squad, was a strapping youngster, enamored of a wide-sweeping hook. His follow-through was extremely aggressive, principally on the upswing, and he had little regard for direction. I worked with him and convinced him to extend outward with no forced bent elbow. Smith, who arguably throws the most devastating strike ball on tour, heeded my advice and has since become one of the brightest PBA stars.

Lest I describe this follow-through as the ultimate and only manner of execution, I would be remiss in overlooking players who have successfully utilized different follow-throughs, namely, Bohn, Steve Jaros, Ryan Shafer, and Bob Learn Jr. None of these PBA players subscribes to the long extended follow-through. Bohn, the most successful of this group, is truly an exceptional case. According to the ABC CATS machine (a device that records precision, speed, etc.), Bohn is regarded as the most accurate player in the PBA, ranking ahead of Williams and Duke.

In view of the fact that Williams and Duke rely primarily on straighter shots, Bohn's accuracy is even more impressive. Although I do not favor Bohn's follow-through, his overall execution is second to none. He has a great pushaway, impeccable cadence in his approach, immaculate balance, and a superb release. So how can anyone question Bohn's success? The classy southpaw has more than 25 titles and still is in the prime of his career. Nonetheless, he would have added a few more if he employed an outward extended release toward the pins rather than behind his ear.

Shafer has really come into his own over the past few years. Yet his longevity and tremendous release would seem to have warranted more titles. He would be more effective with greater extension in his follow-through, with more of an outward trajectory. Learn has but four titles during his 20-year career. The husky Erie, Pa., native is a pure muscle player. His game is unorthodox: He has a hard and aggressive follow-through, with no visible balance. Yet he has recorded more than 55 perfect games.

Jaros defies bowling logic. He takes long steps that are devoid of rhythm, then he follows through behind his ear. In 16 years as a pro, Jaros has but three titles. Despite his slow, methodical approach, Jaros manages a great release point and has a very effective strike percentage. If Jaros executed a follow-through with extension toward the pins, he would be more successful.

So, what is the key to greater extension toward the pins? It may be the simplest key of all: Follow through with your fingers only to the break point. This doesn't imply that you stop your follow-through. It is simply an exercise that prevents rearing up, pulling the ball, or driving the ball past the break point. In short, it will create a smoother flow of the arm and assure greater accuracy.

The key to success? Utilize keys for opening doors to greater bowling opportunities.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group