8
- JULY 2014
Helen Duval’s Bowling Tips
Idle Bowling Thoughts
By Chuck Pezzano
I’m still busy perusing the special 100
th
anniversary issue of Bowlers’ Journal
International, a task which seems endless because it can only be taken in small
doses, particularly when a list of specific tourney champions are highlighted.
Times and people and industries change in a century, and a look at all the
BJI covers over that period make it evident. The magazine is generally recog-
nized as the oldest continuing sports publication in the country, founded in Chi-
cago in 1913 by Dave Luby, who was followed by his son, Mort Luby, Sr., and
grandson, Mort Luby, Jr.
Maybe the issue tried to cover too much. There were triple crowns and
quadruple and quintuple wins during the era. There were many name changes
to tournaments, after sponsors or groups or individuals.
One of the most famous name in bowling centers was the LLO-DA MAR
Bowling in Santa Monica, CA. The name is derived from legendary movie co-
median Harold Lloyd, Ned Day, and Hank Marino, long-time bowling headliners
and Hall of Famers.
The magazine, behind the quarterbacking of editor Bob Johnson, magazine
president Keith Hamilton, and large staff of employees and free-lancers, a long
time of research and more research, brought out hundreds of movie and TV
scenes featuring bowling, plus songs, match play, unusual locations, and even
the best jumpers in the sport.
The top-rated jumpers, after a good shot, were Mike Aulby, Mexico’s Benny
Corana, Marshall Holman, Carmen Salvino, and Harry Smith.
Bowlers’ Journal first launched Men’s All-American teams in 1937 and fol-
lowed up with women’s selections in 1972.
Walter Ray Williams, Jr. has the most top selection with 17; followed by Earl
Anthony, Chris Barnes, and Pete Weber with 12, and Norm Duke at 11. Follow-
ing the top five are Don Carter, Dick Weber, Parker Bohn, Marshall Holman,
and Joe Norris, all with eight or more.
Wendy MacPherson is the female All-Time All American at this point with 12
citations, trailed by Leanne (Barrette) Hulsenburg with 11, Carolyn Dorin Ballard
at 10, followed by Liz Johnson, Betty Morris, Lorrie (Koch) Nichols, Lisa
(Rathgeber) Wagner, all at 9; and Donna Adamek, Pat Costello, and Tish John-
son with 8 times at top.
Over the decades, there have been polls to choose the best of all time, and
Carter and Anthony have been chosen but, more recently, the nod has been
between Williams, Jr. and Pete Weber. Dick Weber always finishes strong due
to his early career heroics in all phases of the sport.
You would probably need another volume for TV performances, other stats,
and 300 games, but it should be noted that the special publication is exactly
300 pages.
As for color and showmanship, one man has always received top honors as
a bowler and personality – Andy Varipapa, though two-handed bowlers now
draw much attention.
Backswing
Have you any idea where your ball is in the backswing? Do you know in what posi-
tion your shoulders and hips are in relation to your target?
Let's say you are in your stance position and go through the approach and delivery.
You miss your target (the pins) either to the extreme left or right. Then you blame the
lane conditions or the desk man or anyone you can think of. You lose your balance at
the foul line, so you say the approaches are sticky. Your left hip (if you are right-
handed) begins to get a kink in it.
All this can happen because of your backswing. When you swing the ball behind
you, problems arise. That old saying applies here—out of sight, out of mind!
Think about your arm swing. Pretend you have eyes in the back of your head and
don't think about anything else in your approach for a few deliveries. Try very hard to
keep your shoulders square to the target all through the swing. You can do this by
locking your shoulder in the backswing. Don't allow the arm pit to open up. In other
words, if you keep your arm close to your side during the swing, it will help you stay
square during the approach and it will also keep the ball from swinging higher than
your shoulder.
Yes, there are some people who do swing the ball higher than their shoulder in the
back swing. If you notice, they are also pivoting their hips and shoulders. They might
also be having timing trouble. Unless you have excellent timing with a high back
swing, I would not consider the height an asset. A high back swing does put more
power on the ball, but it could cause you to dump the ball at the foul line.
Here's one way to overcome a high backswing, if you need to correct it. Stand
where you can swing the ball safely (don't let go, of course). While in one spot, push
the ball out...down...back...forward and up to your face and stop it with your non-
bowling hand. This way you won't have to think about your steps, spot or approach,
just your arm swing. Concentrate on where your arm is and what it is doing. Stand in
front of a mirror as you practice this so you can get the picture in your mind.
Why am I asking you to check all this? If your body has swung around, you are ac-
tually lifting the ball into the height of the backswing. If you lift or pull the ball up, then
the ball will be forced throughout the delivery and probably be dumped at the foul line.
Your hips and shoulders both swing together, so it's rather impossible to just pivot
the shoulder. Turning and lifting simultaneously can create havoc if you don't under-
stand how, and I would suggest you don't allow your thumb to get into a bad position
in the swing.
I wish I could give you all personal attention at a clinic so all these tips could be
given to you at one time and I could help correct your individual troubles.
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