The house where I bowl in my league is a very nice, well maintained house. I chose to join a league there because they had a league that fit my needs and schedule, and was such a nice place. As I'm sure many houses do, they offer a discount to league members for practice games, which is great.

The thing is, this house is about a 20-30 minute drive from where I live. While that's not too far, I don't always feel like traveling that far to practice. There is another house that is much closer that I'd like to practice at once in a while. The thing is, this house is not at all the same. The main reason I'm apprehensive is that house closest to me has a much easier shot than where my league is. I'm worried that practicing there won't do me any good, because it's so much easier to do well on.

What do you think, is it ok to practice occasionally at the house with the easy shot, or should I stick to the house where my league is??

There is difference between going out and practicing vs going out and seeing how many strikes you can throw and what you can score. If you are truly interested in practicing, you can practice just as well on an easy shot as a hard shot. When you are practicing, you should be concentrating on how things feel and work toward making sure it feels the same every time. If there is something particular you are working on, then concentrate on that. Doesn't matter if you throw strikes or not, as long as you are honest with yourself on how you feel about the shots.

Another thing you can do is practice different angles, start at the first arrow, throw several shots, then move to the second arrow, third arrow, etc... Again if you don't throw strikes, then its great because you get to automatically work on your spare game.

Also take a game and see how many times you can take out only the corner pins.

One of the things to consider is that variance in practice conditions will help your game. You should alternate your practice between the centers. Get used to bowling on different conditions. And, as bryhardt writes, don't be concerned with score. Striking in practice is not the same as making a ten pin in the final frame of a tight game. A good practice regimen is to pick off just the 10 pin, then the 7. Then try to hit the 2 pin, then the 3, then the 4, then the 6, all dead on... if you hit the neighbor pin first it doesn't count. In 3 frames you should have a very good idea of the lane condition. Try playing the first arrow until you strike, then move to the 2nd arrow, then the third and then the fourth. Work on things that trouble you. For instance, if you have trouble playing the twig then practice this for a game. There might well be a time when you'll have to p;lay this line in a match. Trouble with playing 4th and 5th arrow? Then practice until you feel that you can hit these targets if you must. Practice should be a time to work on timing, release, consistency. Score is irrelevant in practice and a 900 in practice is worthless compared to a 190 that wins the game for your team in a tough match.
Okotte

I agree with both Okorimbo and Bryhardt. the one thing I would add is find one thing to focus on each session and keep that session to 50 minute to an hour. If you are having a problem like falling of your shot. Focus on that. Consistent ball placement ie pushaway will lead to a consistent free or loose arm swing. When combined with good timing excellent Execution will result. Just like Okorimbo stated timing and release an consistency. The consistency begins right at the start when you move forward. Actually it begins when you get up to bowl and your pre-shot routine, but that is a different topic altogether. Bowling is about finding what works and repeating it over and over again.


The one thing I have focused on this year is getting my arm swing down. I practice at home with my ball in hand 5 minutes a day, just placing it out and letting gravity do its job. I try to focus on placing the ball out to the same location each time. This one little aspect has reaped huge rewards for me. You know your game and what your weaknesses are. Find one and focus on it until it is second nature. All problems occur on the approach. Once you have let go of the ball you have no more control.

We had a guy in our house who spent a month at the lanes during one summer just doing the last two steps. Step slide release never worried about the outcome or score, just step slide release. It panned out for him he went from 210 to 225, even cashed in a couple regionals. He has since been transferred by his job. He was having problems generating the power and accuracy he need to compete at the next level. Never spent more than 50 minutes a day. Told me that was as long as the mind can focus without drfting. Once you lose focus its time to quit. That might be 10 minutes that might be an hour.

Good Luck and Great Bowling,
Ron

Working on your game can be done on any lane condition. Working on playing on tougher lane conditions can be done on easy lanes by not playing the condition properly or using a plastic ball or a ball that is way too aggressive for the condition, or playing an unplayable part of the lane like straight up the middle if it is flooded.

One thing to be said positively about practicing on easy lane conditions is you don't want your knees knocking every time you get on 4 or 5 in a row. I went through that when I switched back from sport bowling all summer to winter leagues, I got 5 in a row and started thinking 300 instead of just make a good shot and keep the string going, so I choked a bunch of times until I got used to stringing strikes again.

the more you can bowl at different houses, the better you will become. You'll be able to read lanes better and have a plan of attack for lane types and oils.

Spend the time to go through all your balls on a practice day and learn how each ball reacts on the same lane surface. You'll have to play different lines to the pocket most likely unless all of your balls are near the same.

Definately take jsigone's advice. It's good advice. Also the simple and easy thing to do if you want to bowl at the well maintained house is go out throw a few practice games close to when leagues start and see if you can find someone to sub for.

Another good practice method is to find a highly impractical line on the easy shot (a line that normally won't strike) and try a few games from that line. Use a ball that you wouldn't practically use for that line. Force yourself to make the adjustments needed to throw strikes from that unusual line. For example, use a weaker ball and move deeper in, or use a stronger ball and play further outside.

Another benefit of practicing is to see how all of your equipment compares. Throw all of your balls from the same line and assess what they're doing differently. Then find some other line and do the same thing.

Of course, it never hurts to practice spares