I get the same pain in my hip when I practice. I figured out that if I slow down and sit after each frame, the pain doesn't come and this helps me focus more during practice. I like to have a plan for what I am practicing before I even get to the lanes. Practice should be very focused and intense. I usually don't like practicing for much more then an hour because I find after this I loose focus and just end up throwing balls with no intent. But if it's all u can bowl, maybe divide up your time into 2 main goal and practice each separately. maybe the first hour focus on shooting at corner pin spares, take a break, then the second hour focusing on your strike release, or a different release then you normally use. This may help you keep focus and benefit from practice.

The Hip pain is what I have been fighting for 2 years. It started when I was getting deeper in the slide, when one night, I felt a sharp pain. It happened again the next week. Then, the Wed night before XMas, I went down on the slide, and couldn't get up. Cortisone shots and crutches for 6 weeks.

I learned to bowl with a stiffer leg, but that really didn't help.

Return visits were for cortisone only, and didn't fix the problem. Then went to a Chiropractor for 3 months. Got some relief, but it came back. Went to a Orthopedic for X-rays and MRI, 2 weeks ago. Result is spinal stenosis at L1, which is a compression of the spine, pinching the nerves. And, where do these nerves end? Right at the hip.

I was scheduled for arthroscopic surgery last week to remove bone spurs, and Physical Therapy. Happened to schedule the therapist first, and she strongly advised against the surgery. So, now I don't know what to do.

Acupuncture or holistic therapy may be next. All I know I can't walk from the front to the rear of a grocery store without having to stop and rest. I can walk 15 feet on the approach with a minor bend, but I just want it fixed. It's been 2 years.

2 years of not pushing a lawn mower or vacuum cleaner. Boy, do I miss that.

there are nearly always ways to not have the auto scorer on for pracitice. If you pre pay, then when the machine shuts off, you are done. But there's no excuse for not turning the score off, IMO.

Also make sure you have a basic knowledge of how to execute shots from a coach if possible. You really don't want to "practice" bad habits over and over again. This will engrain them in your muscle memory and make it even more difficult to correct.

How many games I practice on any given day depends on where I am at with my bowling conditioning. When I haven't bowled in a while, 3-4 games. During the season when I am bowling 3 games a week, I will bowl 5-6 games. When I was in college and bowling 5 leagues, tourneys every weekend, 3 game team practice twice a week, I would bowl 10-12 games easy during my own practice time. It all depends on where you are physically. Right now, I haven't picked up a ball other than moving them to my basement in over a month. When the season gets closer, I will go a few times for 3 game sets. More than that, and it wouldn't do me any good.

I practice varying amounts each time I go out. I practice until I notice my concentration starts to drift, or until I feel happy with what I was able to accomplish, whichever comes first. Have a bad day at work, maybe one game is my threshold before I am more concerned with lifes complications, some times it might be as many as ten. Just remember practice is to learn, so as long as you are learning its still valuable no matter how many games you have thrown. Always practice with a purpose, once the purpose has been met its time to end the session for that day.

Oh, I'm totally with you, Erin...100%. However, I'd like to introduce you to US Bowl aka US Hole in Alexandria, VA. If there's a ranking of worst houses in America, I'm sure it'd easily make top ten.

I only go there cuz it's convenient, always has lanes open and on good days, oil. Guy running it has been inexplicably kind to me as of late so I'm hesitant to rock the boat. When he's not working, I'll try slipping a $20 and ask politely with head bowed for no scorer.

However, with his machine setup, I bet it just doesn't even work. Long story with them, but others here in NoVA can back me up.

i usually do 3-4 games

It really depends on how much your body can take. I'll practice about 10 games two nights a week which is good for me.

If I have time I'll bowl 10 games. When I'm on my lunch break, I can get in six.

I have to take exception with people saying "stop practicing when you're tired." You might be in a tournament or something when you start to get tired, so you should practice for this eventuality. It's a good challenge to try and make good shots when your body starts to rebel, as long as you don't injure yourself. If you can bowl 6, 8 or 10 games and you're still throwing good shots at the end, then I'd say that's a good practice and that your body is where it needs to be.