Best tip i got as a two hander (besides this video) was to "take a shorter first step" My first step was always really long and while it helped me move faster, it led to my push/slide to be really short and weak. I'd feel the ball flying off my hand only to see 14-15mph. I started taking a shorter first step and it's given me way more room to slide, as well as helped with my pacing. Because of that I can hit 15.5 - 16mph. Hopefully after this vid, I can get to 16.5+ mph.
I have the exact and I mean EXACT same problem. I have incredibly short legs so if I take big steps I lose a lot of ball speed. Makes sense too, cuz when you do sprints you don't want your steps to be long. You want them to be fast so you can maintain energy. When I throw it with two hands, I need to straight up sprint to the foul line in order to hit the 14.5mph mark. I'm going two handed next year so I'll definitely remember to keep that first step as short as possible. Might go back to four step approach too, since five steps slowed me down as a one handed bowler.
The best tip I've received as a two-hander, and it has really helped with my balance, is to ALWAYS focus that my slide feet arrive first and then release. It may only be a matter of milliseconds, but it truly makes a world of difference. When I consistently have the mindset of prioritizing my footwork over releases, it's incredible how everything falls into place. Delayed Timing it’s the key.
Best tip I got for rev rate was keeping my bowling arms forehand in contact with the ball until release. Not sure why but I always assumed I WAS cupping the ball but couldn’t get revs, that simple cue helped. Love These videos, hope to see lots more tips and how-to’s. Really appreciate them as a new bowler!
Learning to properly apply and time hip-shoulder separation changed everything for me with regard to speed. It's a huge component of velocity in just about all throwing sports and many bowlers use it without even realizing it.
Thanks Packy! I've watched lots of instructional videos. Yours are awesome! You are relaxed and comfortable while sharing your great sense of humor. ~old guy learning two handed
been bowling two handed for 3 years now. Some days are good, some are bad. I kept trying to replicate all the top two handers release and form. My form is similar to Chris Via. One small thing i did to fix my release and approach and help tremendously with consistency was keep my wrist cuff as much as i can. From the back swing all the way to my release. If u keep it cuff, you will get under and behind the ball. U lose some power and speed but with practice, u will pick those back up in no time. give it a shot next time u go practice. Just mainly focus on keeping your wrist cuffed even upon release.
These are such good tips. I find my practice sessions are always bowled on super difficult, super dry (burnt up) conditions (Sunday morning, go figure!) so your tip to try start further back on the approach and walk in faster makes so much sense.
@Packy This is one of the better videos you've produced. Excellent information. My biggest issue is staying consistent with revs/release. I feel like this will help quite a bit.
Best tip I ever got was to keep my butt down when releasing the ball. My PSO said this to me as a passing comment one night at league and it keeps me in balance when throwing shots. 2nd best was from my teammate one night when I was missing a bunch of easy spares. He told me I was short arming my spare shots. since he told me that and I started following through my spare percentage has gone up considerably.
Following through on spare shots is a game changer. I also short-armed my spares (and sometimes still do) but my accuracy is so much better when I follow through.
Best tip I ever got was to not start so far in at the beginning of league/tournament sets. It was uncomfortable at first playing closer to the gutter than I ever have, but once I got comfortable, my average has went up and definitely got higher since then!
Hey can you make a video about how you bowl on house like targeting, foot work, and adjustments when it’s fresh to when it’s dry? And then make a second part on how you bowl on a sport shot and give advice on certain adjustments like hand position targeting and how you mentally ready yourself when bowling on tour ?
Good teaching video. My one handed speed is about 12mph. Anything faster results in a challenging split.(big four or 7&10). I don't curve because my injured spine from an old car accident doesn't produce the needed back swing. Nevertheless, I enjoy easy spares or 8-9 opens. Keep up the good work and enjoy bowling. (I should try candlepin or duck pin. You throw full speed with a small 2 or 3 pound ball and there's no oil ) Thanks.
What really helped me was just watching someone bowling he opened up his hand in the Swinging position and that changed my whole game now I feel like just having the right ball for the lane conditions and a little adjustment on the transitionI can throw a 50 year old bowling ball I’m kind of a dry condition and that bar will act like a urethane type of bowling ball
Great vid Packy. I've been working on using my legs more. As a 1 handed no thumb bowler I found my wrist and forearm getting tired after 6+ games. But bringing my legs into it has helped take the strain off my wrist and arm. Deffo gunna try a few different hand positions tho. Keep up the great work all of you at house bowling. A special shout out to the Camera person. ❤
Thanks for the tip involving the speed because the speed difference between my first ball shot and my spare shooting are totally different. I spare more than strike but I want my strike shot to be the same speed as my spare shot
A tip my coach gave me was to not worry about what the other guy is doing. I release the ball three boards from the gutter. When he saw me do that he told me it’s good to not think about what other might not do. If it’s working and if you can do it consistently. Do it.
Best bowling tip I ever got was that there are no definites in bowling. It's all situational and experience. Exploring hand positions and checking the track, increasing steps, longer back swing and what it does to your game, etc...all are to create more tools to use. Basically teaching me versatility.
Best tip I can give is record yourself. Especially when your having a bad day. Most likely a small mistake is something your making with your physical game. Bc we don’t practice and drill as much as pros. We’re susceptible to things like not staying down on your shot, having your balance arm move to much or rolling your shoulder forward etc etc. Recording yourself and posting it online or sending it to a coach can really be valuable.
The best tip i can think of is to get comfortable / balanced at your finish position. Foul line drills helped me the most, gradually adding an additional step in the approach (0, 1, 2, 3 then 4 step for me) until youre doing a full approach. Helped my balance all the way through approaching and shot up my consistency
Great tips!! I’ve increased speed by 1.5 mph over the last month with great results and like you said with speeding up my footwork. Now I just need to work on cupping my wrist better.
Thank you for this video! I'll be practicing this for sure! The best tip I have in my short time of bowling more seriously is moving my pinky finger closer to my ring finger to help increase my rev rate. I have dainty wrists, and this has helped me tremendously.
I have struggled for so long with my rev rate and power. Many years ago I bowled 1 handed and would whip the ball about 17-18 mph every shot. I switched to 2 handed about 2 years ago and carried my slower ball speed that i got too when I was 1 hand which is about 14.5-low 15 which I don't care for. I have wanted to increase my rev rate and speed and this has been the best video that I have seen. It gives me the drive to practice as much as I can with the best knowledge I can get
Best tip I ever got was to slow my approach and release down I was leaving alot of splits and it helped me tremendously I've been seriously bowling for about 4 months now started out at a 140 average I'm now up to 170 average always working to improve and trying new and different things
Thank you for these. I will tell ya, my ball speed over the last few months has sky-rocketed....and that means nearly every ball I have has become too weak. I went from about 14.5mph..which is where I drilled at....to just over 17mph. Those same balls just don't seem to hook like they did..even with the revs up. When I slow it down to 15 or so they come alive...but man...that's harder to do now lol. So..... I give my balls away to the kids at my center learning to bowl or wanting to up their game a little from house balls. The #1 thing for that really spiked my speeds was keeping my body in line...keeping the ball and my arm close to my body and part of that center of gravity through the swing. Before, my arm was out and sometimes a chicken wing... With everything in line and balanced like Packy said, your speed goes up and with much less effort to do it. As for cupping the ball....this was probably my MOST SIGNIFICANT change a few months back. It actually helped to keep the ball in line with my approach and it made me more accurate and consistent..as well as adding plenty more revs. I went from averaging in the 171 range to finishing my 35wk sanctioned at 186 and 190....with my last 3 months averaging over 200 each month in both leagues.
I am a one-handed/right-handed bowler who uses a handshake release cause I find that a heck of a lot more comfortable. I can also classify myself as a 100% self-taught bowler. What tips do you have for somebody like me?
Most helpful tip was as soon as you think “I should change balls” or “maybe I should move?” Do It! You’re going to be right way more often than you’re wrong so not immediately changing will cost you pins in the long run.
me and my friend bowled for 3 hours yesterday and noticed the decline in speed. something I started playing with was my push away at the start of the movement and pushing the ball out further and walking onto the ball as it dropped. reducing all muscle effort. it gave me an extra 2 km.
Love your tips packy and thank you for helping me to increase the spee/power bcs ihve lot of trouble to increase my speed . Now I just need to train increase my speed and my balance as well , love from Malaysia 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hi! Young bowler, a tip I found really helpful that has got me to 17.5 MPH consistently is to let the ball roll of the corner of my hand like at the knuckle of your pointer finger, other than that it’s a lot of footwork and timing that are nitty gritty
my tip would be if you get hurt take the time to heal and don't Rush back into bowling even if it drives you crazy .i used my down time to help other bowlers with things i have learned from packy .
Hey there! Great video! I've been thinking about going 2 handed to alleviate stress on my wrist. Can't bowl comfortably 1 handed even after surgery. I'm 60 but not ready to give up the game! Would you think 2 handed would be less stressful on it? Just asking for a gut feel or opinion. Thanks!
Here is one thing I am complicating. instead of moving left if you ball goes too far left or right if you ball don't go far enough left or adjust loft as a right handier. I think adjust more or less forward roll. stay in the same spot & adjust more or less forward roll over side roll. have the same revs & speed just more forward roll vs side-wards roll. angle is EVERYTHING! a ball even a 6lb ball slow 7MPH will strike but how often? a mostly forward rolled ball is like a steam roller. Darren Tang does it good when he decides to throw it straight into the pins. I seen him get over 230 that way. I'm not sure what my high games were in the summer because I bowl in NO-TAP9, NO-TAP8 & NO-TAP7. I know I got four 900 series in a row or 12 Three hundereds in a row well almost I screwed my last ball up in the 10th frame of my 12th 300 in a row under NO-TAP7 where you can leave up to 3 pins for s strike! I do this to practice MORE ON MY STRIKE BALL then the pick up ball NOT the high scores. it does show mu endurance though!
The best tip I got was in juniors by one of the adult scratch bowlers and that was using a two target system, looking at my mark in the heads and picking another down lane, usually the arrows and when I need to loft the heads my second target was a bit passed the arrows. This was in the short oil era and worked well in the the new “ 3 unit system of bowling “ that came out in the early 90’s by ABC.
My high game I bowled in summer 2006 it was my/our 18th game I was bowling a 75 year old at the time we bowled 30 games each every Sunday only during Free bowling in the summer. it was a 299 I couldn't take the pressure of that prefect game. I was using the rainbow ball 12lbs. the lanes changed to the way I was throwing the ball & it never happened like that again!
I just started trying to learn to bowl two-handed. The best tip I received (earlier today) was that I was releasing the ball too early (at the lowest point of the swing), that I should release it just after, as my hand starts going up through the back of the ball. The difference in speed and revs was immediately apparent.
one of the things to help with that is maintaining your wrist to be cuffed throughout your entire swing and release (when u release, it will uncuff naturally)
I was always told to hold the ball higher on your approach which would force you to speed up your arm swing. Will try this technique. I wish my house would display the speed on the screen to help
One of then first 2 handers I saw was bowling a tournament in my house on wood lanes and the conditions broke down so what he did was like Packy said was too go faster to the line so he could get more speed then he shot 300, this probably back in the early 2000's
Not sure if it increases power, but it really helped me to round out my push-away, and not have so much of an out-and-then-down motion, and more of a rounded, less hurky jerky motion. Hat tip to Brad and Kyle for that one!
Yeah. My RPMs went up by nearly 100 when I held the ball lower and had a rounded pushaway. I have that B&K video to thank for that as well. Can't wait to see how I can apply that same thing when I go 2-handed next year.
i would love for you to do a series on how to play different oil patterns. like pro level oil patterns. i think it would be an interesting watch of what goes through a pros mind on the cheetah or scorpion
One thing that I learned on my own is if I want to increase my rev rate a little bit, is just before I start moving, I will take my ball and turn it right to left and it changes the angle and position of my fingers. If I want to decrease it and have fingers come out flatter, I'll move left to right. I'll move left to right if I'm playing up the edge or if there is carry down.
Am I understanding correctly, you don't get the rotation from flipping you wrist from palm up to palm left, you get it from uncapping (dropping) your hand down?
By far the worst tip I've ever received was keeping my hand under the ball, because nobody ever showed me what that meant, and because of that I'd end up throwing 600 rpm with zero accuracy, once I saw a demonstration everything clicked, it's about trading revs for control, maybe I'm throwing 500 rpm now, but I'm hitting my mark 75% more often than I used to There's also the tip I learned from watching PBA Finals, which is to keep your arm bent, thats where the speed comes from, people always told me "yoyo motion" "like you're reaching out to shake my hand" none of that made sense to me until I saw it for myself, then I tried it out in practice and I went from 11mph to 13.5mph immediately, which increased my strike percentage greatly and resulted in my high game going from a 151 to a 195 in about two weeks These are by far the two greatest tips in bowling, but they need to be demonstrated against what an amateur is doing, else they get confused and simply won't understand what you're saying
Thanks for this, I did a few frames worth of the drill in my practice this week and instantly felt my release get better. If you see this there are two other topics I think would be great to cover. One, I seem to generate a lot more forward spin rather than side spin, and I'm wondering what I can do to fix that or how to adjust to shape my spin axis differently. Two, how do you know when your fit is wrong? Mine has always felt off but I'm not sure if that's just how it's supposed to feel
I was one of the first in 95 I found moving my feet at start little half step to start approach early gave me more forward momentum which increased my speed and accuracy and let me stay straight and outside longer 😊
Best tip I can relate back which I found out for my own game is if there's unpredictability in the front half of the lane I use alot of knee bend and a touch more speed and that helps me get the ball down and out of the unpredictability part, proof was my last league game 1 was 140 game 2 was 207 (Lofting isn't something I can do with consistency yet)
Exactly what I wanted to practice after this past weekend disappointment in tournament in St. Louis. At bowler chesterfield. Going use your tips and those others guys tips(Brad n Kyle).
Another thing I will say about the speed, I used to throw around 18-18.5. I had neck surgery back in August and my body won't go much more over 17.5 now. I don't ever try to go above that. I had to adjust to the lower ball speed by learning how to slow my feet down yet maintain my high rev rate. My perfect speed now is 17.0-17.2. I guess getting older sucks.
Best tip I ever received is to pay attention to the ball motion and don’t fight it! You know your fundamentals are sound when your not straining or fighting during the throw and the ball is hitting your line constantly.
Packy as a 2 hander has an advantage with having long arms, he has a longer swing than other 2 handers. I was basically a 1 handed 2 hander, I was so under the ball and a short back swing that some thought I didn't use a thumb which I did. This was back in the late 70's.
Do you change the height you are holding the ball in your setup to match the change in foot speed/tempo? I was taught to hold the ball lower in my setup to shorten my swing to match the increase in foot speed as well as to hold the ball higher to lengthen my swing to match my slower tempo. The thinking is that a shortened swing takes less time to complete and a longer swing takes more time.
I went 2 handed a couple months ago. A major problem I have is that my release is incredibly weak. I'm can only throw it at 10-11 mph compared to 15-16 when I bowl one handed. After looking at how I'm holding my ball, I am not cupping the ball and holding it straight. I'm going to practice a bit with cupping and seeing how things go.
even though I'm a one hander, the tip belmo gave you in that interview (the tip about the armswing he was holding over you for years) actually helped my accuracy and ball roll immensely. It was key for getting past the plateau i was experiencing in practice.
Any tips to increase ball speed (even a little) when you can't really use your legs much? Due to back and knee injuries, I had to move 2/3 of the way up on the approach and use short steps (staying centered to avoid pain). The result is my ball speed dropped from just over 18 mph to below 13, but I still have 400+ revs on the ball. The only solution I have currently found was throwing plastic balls with weight blocks. My current arsenal is a KR Strikeforce Clear Rose, a Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot, 2 Radical Spys, a T-Zone, and a Pyramid Urethane Pathogen Plague X (for heavy oil conditions)
Funny thing, your drill for tip #1 is actually my normal swing! When I starting learning to hook the ball I found it was easier to do without my thumb and I haven't looked back. I haven't gotten the thumb holes in my plastic balls plugged yet, but I'm not bowling in competition.
My best tip that always helps me in league and tournaments is to simplify my shot. Start right aim right and keep right unless I NEED to move past the center point of the lane. It’ll make your game look effortless and it will feel that way too.
Just tonight by buddy reminded me to stay square, and I am thankful that he saved my game. Was looking at my worst night in 3 months before he noticed.
I have been doing 2 handed style bowling for awhile just need to straight my body thats why I kept on missing my target. There is no consistency on my shot and my current speed of my bowling ball is 9.99 MPH. Lastly, need to bend too
Hey Packy how do I go from 1 hand to 2 Hands? I am older bowler, and i tried throw 2 hands. I been watching the video to throwing 2 hands I have my problems with 2 hands. What advice can you give to me? I am lefty like you.
