I feel like I'm trying too hard, advice?

[Big Nick]

I'm in need of a little advice. I recently made the switch to a fingertip ball, and I've been having some success. However, as I've become more accustomed to the new grip and the weight of the new ball, I'm finding that I'm loosing my consistency. My ball speed is all over the place, as are my revs. One throw will have too much hook, the next shot will be completely flat. I know what I need to do, I'm just not executing properly. What do you guys concentrate on when trying to work through rough spots like this?

[75lockwood]

Not the Scores!


When it comes to inconsistent revs, speed and hook, the things to focus on are your wrist position, start position(rest position of the ball), and consistent follow through. every time you get up to throw, make sure you start the ball from the same height (will help regulate speed), as far as your inconsistent hook and revs, you need to make sure your wrist holds its position throughout the throw, I'm guessing that when your ball goes "completely flat" your wrist is breaking down causing you to loose revs and hook potential. you should always make sure your wrist stays in line with your forearm or bent up (cupped).


Good luck!

[Zothen]

I work on footing(Almost walking),breathing(1 Deep breath in/out),making sure I push the ball out as I take 1st step,nice even arm swing,release.

Good luck & good scoring!

Zothen

[billf]

Take some practice time the next few weeks and get a routine set. Even practice your pre-shot routine. Stance; foot spacing, ball height, elbow tucked, target sighted. Now think about your foot speed, hand and/or wrist position, arm speed. You want everything to become a habit so you don't think about it. All you should be doing during league is having a blast and watching your ball so you can adjust as needed. From the time you step on the approach to when you step off the approach, think about anything BUT bowling.
Also remember, with bowling, the harder you try to do anything, the less of it you will get. You have to let it flow naturally. Hence the emphasis on practice.

[Tampabaybob]

Some of the best advice I was ever given was "When you feel like you're in a slump, GO BAC TO BASICS". Very simple, but sometimes we "over think our shots. As Bill mentioned, all of your thinking as to what you need to do happens in your pre-shot routine. Think of the area in the bowlers circle as an 'on-deck' circle. Once you get up on the approach, that's the time to stop thinking.

You say you've been inconsistent, but let me ask. Are you hitting the target you're aiming for on every shot? If not that's where your focus needs to start. As I've said before on this forum, the three most important things in bowling are accuracy, accuracy, and accuracy. If you throw the ball between your legs, but can hit a gnats butt fifteen feet out on the lane you'll bowl well. All other aspects of the game can be changed/fixed, but you have to focus on your target and 'see' the ball hit your spot. Keep us updated.

Bob

[americantrotter]

I switched from no thumb to thumb-in fingertip at the end of the summer. I was just all over the place. So I switched. What I realize now is that it had more to do with the weather, the alley, and the constantly changing conditions than it did my shot. I got too freaked and adjusted too much and ended up a mess. After visiting several other alleys I've been able to see what my normal house does to my shot.

I'm shooting 10 pins less average wise right now, but I am gaining consistency. But I still feel the urge to panic. Practice helps. But mainly you have to trust yourself and stay calm. I definitely feel your pain. What helps me most is that I made a decision to switch in an effort to get better, unless there is evidence that I can't get better with my new style I am going to stick with it and enjoy the rewards of practice and perseverance.

[MisterSinister]

For me, I always start fixing my issues feet first. I slow my pace, count off the steps in my head, maybe even sing a song to fix my pace. I concentrate on a good solid slide, and make sure I'm sliding to the same spot every time. Most important, relax. Build a solid foundation to throw off of first, then It's easier to find out what's wrong. In my opinion, not enough people know, or learn the importance of having good solid footwork.

[Big Nick]

I practiced again yesterday afternoon, and my bowling was quite a bit better than my previous outings. I think I finally hit upon what was giving me so much grief. It wasn't so much my technique or execution as it was my intent. I was too focused on throwing strikes. Granted, strikes are the ultimate goal, I was too zeroed in on the strike ball and not paying enough attention to the rest of my game. I had to tell myself that instead of working so hard at strikes that I needed to make sure not to leave any open frames. Just changing my focus increased my scores back to my normal 175 to 190 range. Now if I could just find the pocket a few times a game...

[GeoLes]

I work 3 or 4 frames of practice on only the release portion. I isolate by assuming finish position. Push away let it swing through and watch the release as the ball crosses the foul line. (I don't care where the ball goes down lane), but I watch for the break once it passes the oil. there should be a sharp turn. Then i do the same thing pushing off onto a 1-step drill (push-backswing-slide and release). Feel a supported wrist throughout right up to the release. I have discovered that over time, I begin to relax the wrist during the swing back, sometimes turning the wrist down, sometimes turning it inward. (I know I have done this becase the ball strikes myouter leg before release. The wrist must remain back and tight until I release. I can only really see and feel this if I isolate.

[GeoLes]

I practiced again yesterday afternoon, and my bowling was quite a bit better than my previous outings. I think I finally hit upon what was giving me so much grief. It wasn't so much my technique or execution as it was my intent. I was too focused on throwing strikes. Granted, strikes are the ultimate goal, I was too zeroed in on the strike ball and not paying enough attention to the rest of my game. I had to tell myself that instead of working so hard at strikes that I needed to make sure not to leave any open frames. Just changing my focus increased my scores back to my normal 175 to 190 range. Now if I could just find the pocket a few times a game...

Please tell this to my wife. She feel that if she does not get strikes, she has a bad day. I try to tell her a good day is one in which you place the ball where you want it in the manner that you want it. Strikes are a byproduct of that.

[billf]

Strikes are awesome but spares win games and raise averages. Think of this; all spares, 9/ 9/ will get you a 191. So if you're averaging less than that, you're spare game is what is hurting your average. Hell, I'm averaging over that and my inconsistent spare game (lately) is what's killing me. 5 strikes a game without making the spares won't get you squat. Spread those strikes out and make the spares and you're in the 230s.

Nick, I tell myself "quality shot". to me, that's hitting the pocket (or close to it) and not leaving a nasty split. Manageable spares are a big key to higher scores.