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#64620 - 08/22/08 04:28 AM Newbie intro, and some clips for critique
ToryJ Offline
Bumper Bowler

Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 4
A/S/L: M
Hello there,
I'm a pretty recent bowler. Although I am 35 years old, I only learned the game and how to bowl about eleven months ago.

I've been randomly having videos made of me bowling for the previous 11 months. I have gotten better, and scores gone up. But I'm still horribly inconsistent. I'll have a nice 189 game, then I'll fight and scratch to get 150. I'm not consistant at all. I hope these videos give evidence of my poor fundamentals.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

First three are from 8 months ago, when i had first started.







The next few are from four days ago.















I have my opinons of what i'm doing wrong. But any help at this point, would be like a godsend.

Tory

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#64695 - 08/23/08 02:55 AM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: ToryJ]
TheDemolitionMan Offline
Hall of Famer Hopeful

Registered: 05/05/08
Posts: 851
A/S/L: 20/Male/California, US
First welcome to the site.

Second I'm glad that you got rid of the lofting that you were doing.

The first thing that I noticed was that your balance was of off and it looks to be a result of your timing being slightly off but more than likely it's caused by not using your balance arm and trail leg as much as you should be.

Something that you might want to try is to keep your balance arm under the ball and supporting the weight of the ball until the very instant your downswing starts. As it is now you push the ball out and the muscles in your left arm take control of the swing. Something that you don't want (tendonitis is painful). A free swing with little to no muscle involvment is the best way to go.

It looks like you might have an issue with grabbing the ball as well. Relaxing your hand would also be benefical to your game. Also checking your finger pitches and span to see if they are correct might be a good idea.

Right now your swing looks very fluid and smooth, but like I mentioned above it could use a little work. The big thing that I think you should work on right now is your balance, and go from there. And maybe work on your release a little as well.

Lastly, take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I myself have a little over a year of avid bowling under my belt so chances are I might be a little off on my observations, and might or might not be corrected.

As far as consistantcy goes. Three things to work on. First, spare shooting is a must. I believe, if you get a double and pick up all of your spares you can pull out a 220 game (assuming I did my math right). Second, lane reading. Instead of just throwing the ball and starring at it blankly, note were it lands, the line it travels, where it breaks and how it hits the pocket. Lane reading takes some time to get down but is one of the most valuable tools a bowler can have. Third, solid timing and footwork. Good timing and balance will allow you to perform your approach without a hitch. And assuming you read the lanes right and perform your approach without making a mistake, you either have a strike or an easy makeable spare.

Anyways, hope this helps.


Edited by TheDemolitionMan (08/23/08 02:57 AM)
_________________________
I may be a noob, but I don't play like one.

Fall Averages
Romancing the Stone avg.: 171

Mixed Classics avg.: 179

High game: 279
High series:655

Arsenal
16 lb. Roto-Grip Cell
16 lb. Hammer Black Widow
15 lb. Columbia Scout Reactive Gold&Blue

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#64812 - 08/24/08 11:46 PM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: TheDemolitionMan]
ToryJ Offline
Bumper Bowler

Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 4
A/S/L: M
Originally Posted By: TheDemolitionMan
First welcome to the site.

Second I'm glad that you got rid of the lofting that you were doing.

The first thing that I noticed was that your balance was of off and it looks to be a result of your timing being slightly off but more than likely it's caused by not using your balance arm and trail leg as much as you should be.

Something that you might want to try is to keep your balance arm under the ball and supporting the weight of the ball until the very instant your downswing starts. As it is now you push the ball out and the muscles in your left arm take control of the swing. Something that you don't want (tendonitis is painful). A free swing with little to no muscle involvment is the best way to go.

It looks like you might have an issue with grabbing the ball as well. Relaxing your hand would also be benefical to your game. Also checking your finger pitches and span to see if they are correct might be a good idea.

Right now your swing looks very fluid and smooth, but like I mentioned above it could use a little work. The big thing that I think you should work on right now is your balance, and go from there. And maybe work on your release a little as well.

Lastly, take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I myself have a little over a year of avid bowling under my belt so chances are I might be a little off on my observations, and might or might not be corrected.

As far as consistantcy goes. Three things to work on. First, spare shooting is a must. I believe, if you get a double and pick up all of your spares you can pull out a 220 game (assuming I did my math right). Second, lane reading. Instead of just throwing the ball and starring at it blankly, note were it lands, the line it travels, where it breaks and how it hits the pocket. Lane reading takes some time to get down but is one of the most valuable tools a bowler can have. Third, solid timing and footwork. Good timing and balance will allow you to perform your approach without a hitch. And assuming you read the lanes right and perform your approach without making a mistake, you either have a strike or an easy makeable spare.

Anyways, hope this helps.


Thank you! Thanks for the welcome, and the advice. Yes, I did already think that late timing was part of my problem. I will work on finding a solution for that straight away. Thank you again for taking a look.

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#64816 - 08/24/08 11:53 PM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: ToryJ]
jsigone Offline
Bracket Donor

Registered: 07/06/08
Posts: 187
A/S/L: 28/m/San Diego, CA
to me, your swing itself is fluid but the rest is of the body doesn't flow yet. Seems your shoulders are stiff.
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#64822 - 08/25/08 02:00 AM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: jsigone]
TheDemolitionMan Offline
Hall of Famer Hopeful

Registered: 05/05/08
Posts: 851
A/S/L: 20/Male/California, US
Four things real quick that might help you out. First, keep your non-swing arm under the ball and supporting its weight as long as possible. Second, relax and try not to be so stiff. ThirdTry moving back on the approach a little. It looks like your steps are all jammed together or try to get your steps to all be the same length. Lastly, try to slide. It looks like in every single video you stop instead of slide. If you start to slide, it will also show you how important your balance arm and trail leg are, as well as make it feel natural and not like you have unused energy at the line.
_________________________
I may be a noob, but I don't play like one.

Fall Averages
Romancing the Stone avg.: 171

Mixed Classics avg.: 179

High game: 279
High series:655

Arsenal
16 lb. Roto-Grip Cell
16 lb. Hammer Black Widow
15 lb. Columbia Scout Reactive Gold&Blue

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#64832 - 08/25/08 07:35 AM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: jsigone]
Lefty Offline
Legend

Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 1796
A/S/L: 36 / M / Rochester, NY
Originally Posted By: jsigone
to me, your swing itself is fluid but the rest is of the body doesn't flow yet. Seems your shoulders are stiff.


The reason it looks that way is because your timing is off. In my opinion the first and only thing you should work on right now is your timing. If you try and work on to many things you're just going to end up confusing yourself.

Where your timing goes wrong is after the first step. After your first step hits the ground, the ball should be descending. You hold it for almost a whole other step. Where this effects you most is when you get to the line. You have to cut off your back swing and force the ball forward. And even with doing this, you're still pretty late with the ball.

Try getting the ball into the swing sooner. Just let it fall on it's own and let your arm swing. You don't have to control your arm swing. Gravity will do a better job than we can.

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#64909 - 08/25/08 11:50 PM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: Lefty]
ToryJ Offline
Bumper Bowler

Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 4
A/S/L: M
Originally Posted By: Lefty
Originally Posted By: jsigone
to me, your swing itself is fluid but the rest is of the body doesn't flow yet. Seems your shoulders are stiff.


The reason it looks that way is because your timing is off. In my opinion the first and only thing you should work on right now is your timing. If you try and work on to many things you're just going to end up confusing yourself.

Where your timing goes wrong is after the first step. After your first step hits the ground, the ball should be descending. You hold it for almost a whole other step. Where this effects you most is when you get to the line. You have to cut off your back swing and force the ball forward. And even with doing this, you're still pretty late with the ball.

Try getting the ball into the swing sooner. Just let it fall on it's own and let your arm swing. You don't have to control your arm swing. Gravity will do a better job than we can.


Thank you! On my push away, I'll try and push the ball out and down, insted of out and up, and hopefully it'll help get my timing closer to where it should be.

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#64951 - 08/26/08 04:56 PM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: TheDemolitionMan]
Richie V. Offline
Bracket Donor

Registered: 02/21/08
Posts: 185
A/S/L: 42/M/Brockton, MA
Originally Posted By: TheDemolitionMan
I believe, if you get a double and pick up all of your spares you can pull out a 220 game (assuming I did my math right).


A clean game w/ a double will generally get you in the 200s, and any open frame will generally require an additional double (a turkey may be counted as 2 doubles) to make up for the open frame, though I've had games w/ an open frame and two doubles that failed to break the 200 mark.


Edited by Richie V. (08/26/08 05:02 PM)
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Game: 268
Series: 694

Current (Brunswick Mixed League)
Average (36 games): 180
High Game: 235
High Series: 593

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#64957 - 08/26/08 07:50 PM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: Richie V.]
Brandon510 Offline
Legend

Registered: 08/05/06
Posts: 1744
A/S/L: 28/Male/California
Originally Posted By: Richie V.
Originally Posted By: TheDemolitionMan
I believe, if you get a double and pick up all of your spares you can pull out a 220 game (assuming I did my math right).


A clean game w/ a double will generally get you in the 200s, and any open frame will generally require an additional double (a turkey may be counted as 2 doubles) to make up for the open frame, though I've had games w/ an open frame and two doubles that failed to break the 200 mark.


Richie is correct. A game with all spares and 2 strikes will get you in the 200's. For 220 your probablly need 4 or 5 bagger in there with the rest being spares or double and turkey in a game with no opens.
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#65004 - 08/27/08 01:09 PM Re: Newbie intro, and some clips for critique [Re: ToryJ]
CoachJim Offline
USBC Silver Coach

Registered: 09/19/06
Posts: 2085
A/S/L: Reston, Virginia USA
The thing I would have you work on if I was coaching you would be your push away and how you swing the ball.

What you are doing is pushing the ball up and out in front of you and then catching the ball instead of letting it just fall into the swing and letting the weight of the ball swing your arm.

Many times catching the ball like you do is caused because the ball is somewhat slipping off your hand, causing you to grab it so the ball will not fall off your hand, then pull it back roboticly back then speed through the release. Try not squeezing the ball and see if it falls off your hand, if it does, go back to the Pro Shop and have them adjust your grip and show you how to put tape in the ball to snug the thumb up enough so that it doesn't fall off your hand.

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