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Here you'll see a slow-motion video clip of Taiwanese bowler Tseng Su-Fen in the 1998 AMF World Cup (Kobe, Japan). Generally the helicopter style ball will go more "through" the pins, but this video vividly illustrates how this shot uses both deflection and the mix from the spin to create an effective shot.
This video clip will take a few minutes to load: when it does you'll see a ball spinning down the side of the pins to create a strike. For another example see a "real-time" video of a helicopter strike, watch a spinner-style release or compare this with a hook-ball strike. There are links to other video clips at the bottom of ths page.
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| View videos of the Spares left when the ball doesn't strike, various Releases, the Approach or click on these pictures to see other Ball Motion videos. |      |
If you need help seeing the video or want more information see my Tips page.
There has been a steady increase in interest of the Helicopter/Spinner style of bowling. Although spinners existed in the USA at the start of the 20th century, it was bowlers in Asian countries who took it to new levels as a way to combat difficult lane conditions. Bowlers from Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) have become particularly skilled in this style and, since 1982, regularly make the top four in the AMF World Cup. In 1991 at the FIQ World Championships in Singapore the mens team from Taiwan won more Gold medals (3) than any other country. In 1995, at the National Bowling Stadium, Yang Cheng-Ming took on the best bowlers in the world to win Gold for Taiwan in the FIQ World Championships.
Helicopter/spinner style bowlers have developed a release which spins the ball on nearly vertical axis. This has two results, firstly friction is reduced so the bowlers can play both oily and dry lanes and, secondly, the spinning ball creates great mix so the bowler gets less splits and carries a higher percentage of strikes than a simple straight ball could. The spinner bowler is actually playing to use the deflection off the head pin, run the ball down the side of the deck so that the spin mixes up the pins to carry the strike.
Watch a video of Su-Fen and read more
Compare this shot with a real-time helicopter style strike, a close-up slow-motion spinner release or a ten-pin, four-pin leave or a clear-wolf strike.
