From: aki <aki@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
Subject: Re: Help with dipping shoulder...
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A72D1C34D60A2631@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
X-Xxdate: Mon, 16 Nov 92 14:36:52 GMT
Organization: The World Bank
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d11
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:38:42 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.162954.18410@ccd.harris.com> Tom Cone,
cone@controls.ccd.harris.com writes:
In article <1992Nov13.162954.18410@ccd.harris.com> Tom Cone,
cone@controls.ccd.harris.com writes:
>I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for a left hander who dips his
left
>shoulder. It seems I do well for awhile and then my game goes bad. After 
>a couple of weeks I finally figure out I am dipping my shoulder again.
>Does anyone have a suggestion on what to work on in practice to correct
>this. If I have to think about it on every shot I loose concentration on
>my mark....HELP
>

Tom,

Shoulder dipping is probably one of the of the most common problems
bowlers experience.  Strangely enough, I seem to see more lefties
who have severe problems with "dipping" than righties...  I've coached
several left handed bowlers and most (if not all) of them had a severe
shoulder dipping problem!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.  Usually
shoulder dipping is caused by one of the following reasons:

1.  Bending knees too much.
2.  Bending forward during release.
3.  Too heavy of a ball.
4.  Mark is too far out near channel.


1.  If you bend you knees too much, obviously your body (hence your
shoulders/ball) will be closer to the floor.  This really isn't "dipping"
your shoulder but is sometimes conceived as such.  Too much bending
of the legs is usually caused by too slow of an approach and too much
concentration on the mark.  Recommendation: Hold ball closer toward
chest prior to initial step, ball will produce a  higher arc on approach
and increasing ball speed.

2.  Bending forward is also fairly common.  This is usually caused by
someone who is trying to "lay" the ball down on their mark instead
of tossing the ball out to the mark.  Recommendation:  straighten
back, release ball later, thus tossing ball forward.

3.  An excessively heavy ball can cause severe dipping.  Obviously
the solution is to get a lighter ball.

4.  If you are shooting an inside-out shot (standing toward the center
of the land and shooting for a mark toward the gutter), it is not
uncommon to lower the ball arm while tossing the ball out to the
mark.  This is probably a subconscious effort to prevent the ball
from rolling into the gutter.  Recommendation:  move where you're
standing more outside the lane to straighten up the shot, thus raising
the shoulder and preventing the "dip".

Obviously there are other reasons you may be dipping your shoulder and
none of the recommendations mentioned are the only ways to correct
the problem.  Not being able to see _why_ you are specifically dipping
your shoulder, all I can suggest is the more common reasons people
dip their shoulders and some of the recommendations how to correct
it.

Good luck and let us know how you do!


-Aki
The Worldbank Wash. D.C.
E-mail: aki@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org
(202)458-1112
DoD 0628
PBA 2294
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