The Washington times., 1915-01-14
BOWLING NOT BAD
FOR HTCHER'SARM
On Other Hand, Says FaIken.
berg, Alley Sport Is Benefit
When Properly Played.
BY "CY" FALKENBERG,
(Former Washington Pitcher. }

Now and then we hear a lot of bosh
about bowling affecting pitchers
arm. Every once In a while a pitch
er who has taken up the game and has
q bad year the following season. in
order to give a good excuse, blames
his poor work on his indulgence in
tenpins: a manager who has had that
excuse offered takes stock in It and ad-
vises his Players to stay away from
the sport because 1t develops abnor-
maly different set of muscles from
those used on The diamond And thus
bowling Is made the poor scapegoat
for a multitude OF sins it rarely COM
mits.
For years l have followed the pin
game. but II has never affected my
arm. Winter before last was my best
year on the alleys: the season on the
diamond succeeding 1t was the best
that l ever enjoyed
In my case, bowling has been a won
derful help instead OF a detriment. J
could cite many instances Of the same
kind. showing conclusively that the
tenpin sport In by no means injurious
to a ball players arm.
The crv is made that bowling de-
>velops different set of muscles from
those used on the diamond. Granted
but does bowling develop them TO that
| extent that the slight evil cannot be
| completely eradicated To prove that
1t can be done. will mention my own
case. for want Of greater familiarity
| with any other example.
! Aiter BOWED all winter l will admit
that my under arm and lower shoulder
muscles are slightly overdevelcped be-
cause OF my work. Therefore, when
hrst begin practicing for the baseball
season ! will not use anything but an
Gradually l notice that my overland
muscles begin to loosen up a bit and
before long / am able to fling an over
hand ball with as much ease as ever
/ before. Simple. isn't it?
10 every rule there are exceptions.
and so alio to this one exception must
be made. There are some pitchers no
| would be better off IL they let bowling
| alone.
As YOU will find pitchers on the mound
who have a graceful and easy denvery
! and others with jerky and awkward
motions. SO also you will find bowlers
| on the drives with easy. natural deliv-
cries and others with-for want of a
] better word-herky.jerky movements.
The roller who uses nothing out his
natural delivery. putting no strain on
his wrist. will find that he can do a
lot Of work without feeling any after
I effects.
! On the other hand, the bowler who goes
| through a bunch OF waste gyratlons
merely tires himself and does not make
his ball more effective. Among this lat
ter class you will tnd some pitchers
and these are the ones VINO had bette,
| stay away from the game. | coulC
| mention soma fingers. since gone to the
| bush, who have attributed their Ill sue
| cess to bowling but on investigation il
will be discovered they were bowler.
| who employed a lot OF speed and un
! necessary exertion.
Instead OF hurting. ! fancy. bowling
| aids a pitcher in man. ways. Take
the good bowler before delivering. Ht
| settles himself carefully. takes gooC
| aim. gauges his distance to a nicaty
| calculates his steps, then. striding forth
! rapidly. let's the ball fly at the psNs
| from a point carefully determined IL
| advance You never see a gooR bowler
| when in a tight place. toss haphazardlS
down the alleys.
This same quality of calculating anc
Judging can be used by a pitcher. |
ne has become a fairly good bowler ht