Well I'm not going to complain about my 170 Avg. any more.

How about 156 Avg tonight. I'm sorry for wasting all the good coaching advice here on this site.

1st game 119 (6 easy misses, 1 split, Lowest game ever)

Single pin count (7 PIN) (10 PIN)
- X 81 54 70 X 72 90 54 54 9/X

Single pin count (5 PIN) (2-10 PINS)
2nd game 163 (2 easy misses) - X 9/ X 6/ 9/ 9/ 8/ 7/ 60 80

Single pin count (8 PIN) (6 PIN) (9 PIN) (8, 10 PIN)
3rd game 163 (2 easy misses) - 9/ 7/ 6/ 9/ X 63 9/ 62 X 9/9

Single pin count (10 6 10 PIN) (7 6 10 PIN)
4th game 180 (2 easy misses) - 8/ X X 9/ 9/ 90 X 44 9/ 9/9

1) Miss inside - across the head pin "Brooklyn"
2) Miss outside - wash out
3) In the “Pocket” - 9 count

That is all I have to say until I post a video of me bowling so you guys/gals can see what the heck I'm doing!

Still having fun, in a morbid kind of way.

~ John

This weeks strike % = 23% 10 of 43

Carry%=38% 10 of 26 assuming not brooklyn hits, subtract brooklyn hits for more accurate carry %

Double % =10% 1 double in 10 attempts

power rating out of 300=68

Spare % = 58%

single pin conversion % = 85% 12 of 14 Much better this week.

Multi pin spare % = 35% 6 of 17 I am not sure how many were splits, but you need to stop giving the pocket away.

It seems you missed the pocket at least 50% of the time so you didn't do too bad all things considering if you missed your spares like you did the first game it would have been worse.

Try to keep the ball in the pocket and make your spares easier instead of trying to shoot 200+ every time.

What line were you playing this week?

Hi CoachJim,

If my responses are slow it’s because I'm in a trial as a juror by day and I have no computer at home to use.

In thinking about my bowling last night, I think maybe I was standing outside too much. I might have had the dry boards on the inside of my line and the oil on the outside. I was standing on board 6, crossing the arrows at board 3-4, trying for forward roll and not to over throw the ball.

I am, also, trying to get my balance leg out from under me. I took a video of me and I wanted to throw-up. Side angle looked good, but from the back I haven't had any leg kick and I waddled to the line with about 4 or 5 inches between my feet.

I will post when I learn how to edit and up-load video.

~ John

I'm not sure how many more weeks you have, but I believe you will have the shark again next week as this was only your second week of it, I just can't remember if it changes every 3 or 4 weeks.

Next week I want you to try playing straight up 12, stand 2 boards to the right of the middle dot with your left foot and aim at 12 and just let the ball go straight up the boards nice and easy this should put the ball in the pocket with just 5 boards of hook, and make the shot more playable, or at least keep the ball in the 1,3.

Best of luck with the trial, I hope it goes smooth.

Shark one more time next week

Here is my 1st video ever:

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7063844tzFXZbNb

~ John

Let me start by saying you need a lot of work, and it will not all come together over night so you are going to have to be patient or find a coach to help you get where you want to be faster.

Your timing is the biggest issue, it is very early, the ball is long gone and your foot is still sliding. You are early through out your approach, so to fix this you will need to delay your push away until just after the second step in your approach. You want your foot to be stopped completely before the ball comes through, doing so will give you much better leverage, and accuracy.

Next, your arm swings away from your body the whole swing, it is like your elbow is allergic to your fabric softener or something, keep you elbow in tight to your body through out the swing.

Next, your trail leg is in the way of your swing, move it out of the way, or you will hit it with the ball. The early timing is probably the culprit, but you need to move your [censored] as Susie Minshew likes to say. If you get into a slide position you will notice a triangle that is made by your sliding leg going in this direction \ and your trail leg going in this direction / the ball goes in the angle and the only way to get it there without hitting your trail leg is to kick it back and to the left as you start your slide.

Your slide needs to be toward your target and not to the left, if you slide with your heel toward your target your hips and shoulders will line up to your target line better and your balance will improve as well.

Last but not least, you turn the ball way too early, and your hand is in a very weak position at the point of release. Try to keep your wrist cupped all the way through to the release point, then extend your fingers through the target to the break point, and don't try to throw the ball so hard. Throwing the ball hard is the number one culprit in a weak release and you throw it hard because in the back of your mind your brain is telling you things like, "if you don't throw it hard, the ball will not hook" and "I have to make it hook", in reality you are holding the ball back from doing anything constructive, and that is all you will ever be able to do until you just let the ball go without forcing it.

I have just given you a year's worth of homework, so don't try to do it all over night, fix the timing first then post another side view back and we will go from there.

In other words there is hope.

I am anxious to get started but Court is taking up most of my days. I plan on starting the ball into my second step not before (5 step approach).

For whatever it's worth I averaged 230 in my Sunday no-tap this week.

~ John

Take it one step at a time, post another video to check your timing again, good luck with court and bowling.

Last night on “Shark” pattern. – Stood on 18 rolled over 22.
(If ball rolled over 20, would miss head pin)


1st game 220 (1 easy miss)

71 – 1,3,(8)
X – B
X – B
X
X
9/ – (6)
X
X
7/ – (1, 3, 9)
8/8 – (3, 9)6, 10

2nd game 168 (3 easy misses)

9/ – (5)
7/ – (3, 6, 10)
9/ – (1)
X
X – B
72 – (1, 3) 6
90 – 10
9/ – (10)
X – B
90 – 4


3rd game 154 (2 easy misses, two splits)

72 – (1, 3) 6
81 – S (6) 7
9/ – (10)
X – B
9/ – (10)
X
72 – (6, 10) 7
90 – 5
8/ – (3, 10)
9/X – (10)


4th game 172 (2 easy misses)

9/ – (10)
X – B
90 – 7
X
6/ – (1, 3, 6 10)
X – B
7/ – (1, 3, 9)
90 – 7
X – B
X9/ – (6)


Only three games of practice with the new timing correction. Felt good but not natural yet. I will try to post a video soon to see progress on my timing.

Thanks for everything,

~ John

Corection: change board 22 to board 12 & 20 to 10

X % = 39%
X % - Brooklyn hits = 20%

XX % = 50%

pocket % = 46% 20 of 43

Carry % = 45% 9 of 20

/ % = 60% 15 of 25

9/ % = 71% 10 of 14

multi pin spare % = 54% 6 of 11

It looks like your spare shooting is getting better and this is the first week we have been able to keep Track of pocket % try to improve on that next week. Post the video of your timing when you are ready, good luck.

John, you are a right hander, right? From the pins that you were leaving most of the time, you were coming in too far left, often times left of the headpin. I see lots of 3 pins, lots of 1-3 combos, lots of 6 pins.

On these shots, did you hit your mark? Did you try to make any moves when you missed? Did you stay in the same spot all night? You say that hitting 10 meant you missed the headpin - would that make you miss to the left or to the right?

Hi cgeorg,

When I miss left its usually because I hit the ball right before I release it. I am working on delaying my timing. That night in league I was throwing much slower and under control. I am posting a video from pratice this morning showing my timing to see if it has gotten eny better. I only have about 10 games with cupped wrist & better timming.

http://sclipo.com/video/john-s-bowling-05-01-08


~ John

I was looking at my latest practice video in slow motion. I was wondering if my 4th (power) step should point right at a 45deg. angle like it does or not? It looks kind of strange.

When I get a chance today I am going to post a video of my bowling partner that I took at the same time. His name is Mike. He bowled a 300 game (15 strikes in a row) and always bowls awesome. He only bowls 4 games with me on Thursday mornings & 3 league games per week.

If you look at the video you take 5 steps, the ball is already on it's way down in the second step, on the third step the swing is at the apex of the back swing, and on the 4th step the ball has started down and you are still sliding when the ball has gone off your hand. You need to delay your push away until after the second step, the third step the ball should be straight down at your side on the 4th step the ball should be at the top of the back swing at the slide your foot should be at a complete stop before the ball comes through.

Your release is still very weak, almost a full roller type release. Your wrist is bent back and at 3:00 still.

Read this: http://www.bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinskiapr08.pdf

and This: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/btm03_files/btm3.htm

and this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/btm04_files/btm4.htm

and this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/btm05_files/btm5.htm

and this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip20.htm

and this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip35.htm

and this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip36.htm

and this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip37.htm

and last but not least this: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip38.htm

There are a couple things that stood out to me. One is a slightly inconsistent pushaway. On a lot of shots, your timing is really good. The ball is falling into the swing when your right foot hits for the 1st step of a 4 step delivery. But in some shots, like the first from the side and the first from behind, you wait longer. The first shot in the video is the biggest example I saw - you push away a full step later on that one. When you are in your stance, the ball should be in your left hand. On that first step with your right foot, you want to have the weight of the ball transferred over to the right hand, and the ball should already be on its way down.

Th other thing I notice is your trail foot. It stays behind you, instead of getting out of the way of the ball. This causes you to swing the ball out around it, making you pull every shot. You may be aiming where it ends up, but if you needed to throw the ball straight down the boards, you would not be able to. Work on getting that trail leg to sweep over to the left after you push off.

Cg you are right, I was going by the later shots, but the first two shots were pretty good timing wise, but he quickly reverted back on the third shot. John, you need to focus and concentrate on starting the ball after the second step.

Thanks all. I now have a direction to work on. I am definitely not up against any walls for improvment!

My court duty should be over at the end of next week. I'll start working hard & smart then.

Here is a video of my friend Mike who just bowls good without trying:

http://sclipo.com/video/mike-s-awesome-bowling

Have a great day,

~ John

Hi all,

We the jury are in deliberations now, we should be done at the end of this week.

I have only been able to practice 3 games at lunch time from court. My early timing has gotten better - will take a video when I have time to see if the improvement is worth posting.
I have found that if I keep my back upright (kind of feels like I am sitting in a chair) my release is smother and closer to the deck. Also, if I walk "a rope" instead of left right left right I feed smother.
I have printed Ron C articles and read them while waiting to be called up to court.

Tonight is our PBA experience sweepers and it is being played on "Chameleon". Any suggestions on the line I should play? Last time I was outside the first arrow.

Again all suggestions are welcome & appreciated,

~ John

The chameleon usually plays close to everyone's favorite line regardless of what that is, but it plays very tight and is subject to carry down so be ready to make parallel moves to the inside once this happens. The pattern is 39ft long and the break point is between the 7 and 8 board similar to a tight house pattern, you just don't have the room you have on a house pattern, so keep the ball in the pocket and make your spares easier and try to grind out a double or two along the way.

Well as the Prophet CoachJim's last written words of advice to me for the "Chameleon" were "keep the ball in the pocket"; it only took me three games to find the head pin - let alone the pocket.

I wasn't going to post my results from last night PBA experience sweepers but my forth game was worth honorable mention in my opinion.

All I can say in my defense was that the lanes seem slick as ice and my ball, at the end of the fourth game, was still picking up tons of oil like the beginning of the first game.

I started on 7 rolling over 4, then standing on 11 rolling over 7, then rolling over 10, then something else in-between, and the forth game I was standing on 22 rolling over 11 at the arrows. From now on I starting up the gut and working my way out.

Here are the amazingly shameful scores:

1st game 129 (Left the head pin standing 6 times on first ball)

72 – (1,2),4
61 – 1, 3, 6, (8)
54 – (1, 3, 7, 8), 9
36 – (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), 7, (8)
X - B
9/ – (5)
8/ - (6, 10)
X - B
8/ - (1, 3)
07 – (1, 2, 3), 4, (5, 6), 7, 8, (9, 10)

2nd game 146 (2 easy misses, head pin standing 3 times on first ball, 1 split)

90 – 9
45 – (1, 4, 5, 7), 9, (10)
7/ – (1, 2, 4)
8/ - (4, 7)
8/ – (9, 10)
7/ – (3, 5, 6)
81 – (8), 10 Split
6/ – (1, 2, 4, 7)
X –
90 – 10


3rd game 157 (2 easy misses, head pin standing 3 times on first ball)

X –
9/ – (1)
X – B
71 – 6, (9), 10
72 – (1, 3), 9
63 - ???
X –
7/ – (4, 7, 8)
7/ – (1, 3, 8)
9/7 – (7) – 4, 7, 8


4th game 223 (0 misses)

X – B
8/ – (3, 10)
9/ – (4)
X -
9/ – (10)
X – B
X –
7/ – (1, 3, 6)
X –
XX7 – (???)

How is that for ugly?

~ John

John, this sounds like it played the way the Shark was supposed to play, I don't think they know the patterns they are putting down. The last few weeks it seemed to me that the lanes played closer to the Chameleon pattern than the Shark now it seems to be the opposite. There is no way the Chameleon should skid farther and have more oil than the Shark.

With that being said it looks like you found it in the last game. I will not embarrass you by posting the numbers for this week unless you want me to. Try starting out where you played the fourth game next week and see if that isn't better. Hopefully you will be able to practice a couple times between now and then.

Which is why I think we need to just go by what the lanes are telling us instead of anything else. The only thing you can trust when figuring out a pattern is that spherical object that knocks those sticks over. Every time it goes down the lane, it tells you something about the condition. Listen to it. In most cases, anything anyone else can tell you about the condition will be useless unless they're trying to help you, and they obviously need to be bowling better than you at the time.