Power stroking is a specific subset of tweening in that it combines elements of cranking and stroking in a certain way.

The stroke element comes from the smooth, consistent delivery and impeccable timing. The power element comes from a high backswing and/or open shoulders that create ball speed and revolutions.

While power stroking has come to be a bowling style in itself, it's also another way of saying "cranker with a smooth delivery" or "stroker with a lot of power."

Benefits and Pitfalls

Power strokers have the much-desired combination of great timing and impressive power. When a bowler can combine a smooth release with a high revolution rate or ball speed, the pins don't stand much of a chance. With that, however, comes the difficulty of repeating shots. With so much going into a power stroker's delivery, consistency is occasionally hard to find.

How to Identify a Stroker

• High revolutions
• High ball speed
• Aggressive hook

Characteristics of Strokers

• High backswing
• Open shoulders during delivery
• Smooth, seemingly effortless delivery