The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This week's tip is for any bowler who ends up out of balance at the foul line when delivering a bowling ball.
If you find yourself unable to finish your delivery in a strong, balanced position, it may be a result of your follow through. It is very important that when you fellow through on your delivery, you do not reach OUT with your arm, but UP with your follow through.
The reason? If you reach out, the weight of the ball will pull your upper body forward and may cause you to lose your balance.
However, if you reach up, you can stay planted in a strong, solid position to deliver your bowling ball with accuracy and leverage
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Teacher. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is also the Northeast Technical Advisor for the Morich Bowling Ball Company (Morich Enterprises, Inc.).Mike is a member of the Brunswick Pro Shop Staff. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 341-1694 or via e-mail at mikespro@warwick.net

Ed's Oulook

An interesting topic came up in late May of this year when the Professional Bowlers Association announced the PBA Player of the year and Rookie of the year which they noted was voted on by PBA members and the media.
An inquiry by this writer to the PBA as to who that Media included brought a response from Rosie Leutzinger, PBA Manager of Public Relations, "the vote is limited to select members of the media, chosen at the PBA's discretion."
In discussion with other members of the Northeast Bowling Writers Association, it was our conclusion that all members of this association along with bowling writers from any other association should be included in this type of voting and that it was wrong for the PBA to limit this type of voting to "select members" of the media chosen at the PBA's discretion.
What type of democratic process is this when a professional organization like this selects members of the media to vote on the Player of the Year?
Well it appears the PBA got the message and announced recently it has changed the selection process for the Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award, given annually to the top bowler on the Denny's PBA Tour.
In the past, the award has been voted on by PBA membership and members of the national media. The selection process will now take place via a point system, in which bowlers will be awarded points based on their finish in all Denny's PBA Tour events.
Points will be awarded to the top five finishers in each event which features a stepladder final and the top four in single elimination events. An increased number of points will be awarded for finishes in Major events.
"This new formula takes advantage of the drama already associated with the end of the season and should create an exciting climax to the season as we will now have an immediate resolution to the award," PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer said. "With this new system in place, fans can follow the race all season and will know the results at our culminating event " the 65th Dennys U.S. Open."
Bowlers will earn 16 points for winning one of the 17 standard Denny's PBA Tour events and 24 points for winning one of the four Major events, the USBC Masters, H&R Block Tournament of Champions, Denny's World Championship and the season-ending 65th Denny's U.S. Open.
Bowlers finishing second will earn eight points for a standard event and 12 for a Major, third-place finishers will earn four points in a standard event and eight for a Major while fourth-place finishers will earn two points in standard events and four points in a Major.
In events that feature a stepladder final, bowlers finishing fifth will earn one point in standard events and two points in Majors. Bowlers finishing fifth in single elimination events will not earn points.
The current point system used for the PBA World Point Rankings will not change. The PBA World Point Rankings determines which bowlers earn exemptions for the following season, and also determines the Harry Smith Point Leader Award and Japan Cup qualification for the following season.
This column is written by Bowling Highlights Columnist and Consultant to the professional sport of bowling Ed Townsend . Ed is also president of the Northeast Bowling Writers Association. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have leagues scores, standings or tournament information, please call Ed at 845-439-8177 or send an e-mail to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com. Please visit our Web BLOG at http://bght.blogspot.com