| It is important to remember that strikes may | | | | All they are making of the game of bowling is |
| be exciting, might give you good points as | | | | a "strike or no-count" proposition. Such |
| well but it is only part of the bowling game. | | | | bowlers seldom succeed in becoming good at |
| And you need to look for the bigger and | | | | the game. Now, let's take up the matter of |
| better bowling. And in this game speed is | | | | how to make strikes. First, because of the |
| also not the only thing to score points, even | | | | pattern in which the ten pins are arranged, |
| though they may give you sometime. | | | | all of them can be toppled more often by |
| | | | directing the ball into the 1-3 pocket (the |
| Everybody likes to make strikes. I'm no | | | | space between the 1-pin and the 3-pin) than |
| exception. Even after many years spent in | | | | into any other place. One might score strikes |
| wheeling that ball down the lanes, I still | | | | in almost any other fashion, too, but the 1-3 |
| get a real thrill out of seeing a perfect | | | | pocket furnishes by far the greatest chance |
| strike sweep the pins clean. Strikes serve a | | | | for success. The ball, on such a hit, |
| dual purpose. First, they bring a bonus | | | | -strikes the 1-pin, then the 3-pin, next the |
| because they count ten points each, plus all | | | | 5-pin, and finally the 9-pin, the other pins |
| you can score on your two succeeding throws. | | | | being accounted for by the action of these |
| Then, too, they automatically remove any | | | | pins. |
| chance you might have had of either missing a | | | | |
| spare or getting a split, or railroad. | | | | Having determined that the ideal spot at |
| Novices, as well as a good many veteran | | | | which your ball should contact the pins is |
| bowlers, are tremendously impressed by | | | | the 1\3 pocket, let us take up one at a time |
| strikes, so much so that they neglect the | | | | the type of ball to be delivered. There are |
| rest of their game in a dogged effort to | | | | four main divisions the straight ball, hook, |
| chalk up that magic "x" in the corner of the | | | | curve and backup. |
| frame set aside for "Marks." Unfortunately, | | | | |
| they concentrate so much on this phase of the | | | | THE STRAIGHT BALL |
| game that their improvement is slowed down, | | | | |
| for anyone who develops an accurate spare | | | | Unless you throw a natural hook from the |
| delivery automatically improves in the strike | | | | first time you pick up a bowling ball, I |
| department. | | | | suggest the use of a straight ball until |
| | | | control has been mastered. All too many |
| It's a good deal like a rookie pitcher in the | | | | beginners see the experts using an effective |
| big leagues. When he first hits the majors, | | | | hook and try to copy it without first laying |
| he thinks the idea is to impress everyone by | | | | a solid ground- work of footwork and timing. |
| striking out every batter. He looks good, | | | | The straight ball is delivered with no turn |
| too, for a short time. Then the wily veterans | | | | of the wrist or fingers, the ball being |
| begin to wait him out and to plaster his fast | | | | released with the thumb on top and the |
| ball to distant places. A few such hammerings | | | | fingers underneath. As a general rule, it is |
| and he begins to perceive that strike-outs | | | | the easiest to throw, but the straight ball |
| are only a means to an end the real idea is | | | | is not a great "strike-getter" like the hook |
| to keep the batters from hitting the ball | | | | and the curve, because it does not produce a |
| cleanly. | | | | real "mixing" action on the pins, and it is |
| | | | easily deflected. |
| When he smartens up a little, he starts | | | | |
| "mixing up" his deliveries, tossing a curve, | | | | When you begin with the straight ball, |
| slow ball, a drop, or other deliveries which | | | | however, you have a more natural delivery and |
| he may have evolved, and he saves his "fast | | | | consequently make fewer mistakes. The bowling |
| one" for a real pinch. Then he is on his way | | | | beginner who immediately starts out throwing |
| to being a winning pitcher. This is also true | | | | a hook must watch not only his stance, |
| of the bowling beginner. When he learns that | | | | footwork and timing, but in addition must |
| strikes are only part of the game and not the | | | | co-ordinate perfectly his release of the ball |
| entire game, he is on his way to bigger and | | | | in order to make certain that all other |
| better bowling. Many beginners think that | | | | departments of his game are working |
| blinding speed is the way to score strikes. | | | | correctly. Otherwise he may be at a loss to |
| So they get on the approach, back up as far | | | | discover just where he is making his |
| as they can, rush madly to the foul line and | | | | mistakes. |
| let fly with all their strength. Occasionally | | | | |
| they do score a strike the law of averages | | | | As a beginner you can try to throw a straight |
| takes care of that. But more often they clip | | | | ball. It is the easiest to throw, but the |
| off three or four pins and miss the headpin | | | | straight ball is not a great "strike-getter" |
| completely. Their spare shots are almost | | | | like the hook and the curve. After this |
| automatic misses and they are genuinely | | | | straight ball you have a more natural |
| surprised when they hit the remaining pins. | | | | delivery and consequently make fewer |
| | | | mistakes. |