Bowling Form and Progress

[AKbash]

SO... I was playing with the iMovie App on my iPhone 5 last night and while playing around, I figured I'd make a video about my progress from when I first started bowling and now...

My form has changed a lot from when I started and I am a bit better since then...but I do want to get better. I've gotten some advice from you guys before and I am trying to implement it into my game slowly.. I know things take time so I can't expect it change overnight :p

And so I practice...and practice...and practice... Ever since week 2, I've been practicing 4-5 times a week... (I love it...what can I say.. lol :p)

According to others... my approach is still not smooth but I will start working on that.
I will also work on...
-knee bend
-balance leg down
-slide (I plant...)
-back swing

Anyways, here's the video:

http://youtu.be/b80P6iYkCeU

If you guys see anymore I should work on..please tell me and I will do my best to practice it.

Thanks guys!

[Zothen]

Push the ball straight out on first step(4 step approach)and bring your arm back more by eliminating the bend in your elbow. Extend your arm on release as it looks like your short arming the ball. I would recommend pick up a book called The Game Changer by Mark Baker as well as taking some lessons. Everything else you stated above is what to practice on.

Zothen

[AKbash]

Thanks! I tried doing all that last night and well...didn't do too good. it's one of those bittersweet kind of things tho...my approach and release felt very smooth... but it just wasnt consistent...but when i do hit my mark, it was always a strike... i think i just need to practice it more

[75lockwood]

Great job, you seem to be getting better every week! (other than the 2 hand week) lol

Like Zothen said, get rid of the elbow bend, other than that and what you already stated you are looking good.


Question: why do you start so far left?

Also, if you want more learning material, check out the FAQ, there are a lot of great links (i learned a lot lol)

http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/11293-FAQ-and-Useful-Information-Answers-to-most-common-questions!

[Zothen]

It will take time to get used to! I had to slow my footwork a bit to get armswing insync. If you can post another video of you bowling from behind and the side to give a better view of your new bowling style it would help to see what may be off.

Zothen

[Tampabaybob]

Great improvement over what I would consider a short period of time. My only comment from looking at your video would be to watch the position of your slide foot. By that I mean yo want your toe always pointing to your target. If your slide foot is pointing too far to the left (as it was in a few shots) it will make you open your shoulders too much and that will make you pull the ball across the front of your body. Otherwise you're doing a good job of self coaching.

Bob

[noeymc]

very nice improvements

[AKbash]

[QUOTE=75lockwood;66780]

Question: why do you start so far left?


I usually stand on the center dot or the one to left of that... if I am standing on the center I usually aim for the 5th board (assuming I got the terms correct lol!) and if I am standing the left dot from the center I aim for the 10th board... I dont know why...it just seems I hit the pocket more that way?

Cause when I stand to the right side of the lanes...it'll hook too much most of the times...and if stand on the far left, it'll hit the pocket but it usually seems to hit light by then...

[AKbash]

Hey guys! So... I went to practice yesterday after 3 days of having bad games...

pretty much what happened was that I practiced on Monday thru Wednesday having a hard time even reaching 140... I don't know why but something just felt off on my timing... I believe it was my release as I could not keep it consistent? Not sure but it just didn't have the same feel... So here comes thursday and I went to practice with my dad... he said if that is what is happenning maybe I should try his spare wrist support... At first I said "no" because I want to be able to cock and cup my wrist? But in the end I tried it and... BAM. 180 first game... it also felt A LOT smoother off my hand. And actually felt like there is more speed and revs coming off the ball.

here's a video... right before my phone ran out of memory. LOL. OH and by the way...I guttered that spare hahaha!

http://youtu.be/NPaxVB2yMB0
Anyways... I ended up getting a score of 217 next. (Previous high score is 222)...and I just went crazy! laughing so much and just got excited seeing as how a day before I couldn't even reach 140... lol. Then I bowled a 170 after that and then got my highest score ever... a 272... O.o

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/Oliver_Salem/8F816E11-9D08-4326-BA5F-5AE45A540E9A-13567-000011F165C225DD.jpg

There were lots of things I learned that day...but one that stuck on my mind the most is that, when you're on a roll like that with 9 strikes in a row... DO NOT RUSH the next one.... take a breather and let your dad take his frame first... lol

[AZBowla]

Wow, nice score!!!

Don't forget to post this in the post your scores subforum for an extra chance to win a ball. :)

[Tampabaybob]

FANTASTIC !! Great job. Now the tough part.....remembering what you were doing that day, and replicating it. Do't expect that kind of score every game, but you at least proved that you are CAPABLE of bowling that well. Keep up the good work.

Bob

[billf]

Here is where I will confuse some, tick off some and generally make people say, "what?": the release itself is a natural act. Most, if not all, release issues are a by-product of what's done before the release, usually footwork that results in wrong timing. Footwork STARTS in the stance and ENDS in the finish position. Being as that is the longest part of rolling a ball it stands to reason that it can cause so many issues.
The point is, next time your release seems 'off', analyze the rest of your delivery.

[AKbash]

FANTASTIC !! Great job. Now the tough part.....remembering what you were doing that day, and replicating it. Do't expect that kind of score every game, but you at least proved that you are CAPABLE of bowling that well. Keep up the good work.

Bob

Thanks! you are right about that being the tough part. Ever since that day I haven't been able to replicate it at all. Or even come close to it. I went to Our league the next day and scored a 97... Now it's probably lane conditions as we play on fresh lanes but my legs were SUPER shaky that day... Still can't get over those nerves I guess. And Im assuming as a result of that poor performance, I started over thinking and over analyzing it?
On that same day I got that 272, it felt very natural... like the ball was just rolling off my hand gently... and now with nerves and a couple gutter balls during practice throws, I started getting pressured.
And now when I went to practice today, pressure or no pressure I couldn't replicate it at ALL. Heck, I was having a hard time going over 140 today. lol. I'm not expecting to score that 200+ all the time just yet...but atleast now I know I am capable of it atleast..


Here is where I will confuse some, tick off some and generally make people say, "what?": the release itself is a natural act. Most, if not all, release issues are a by-product of what's done before the release, usually footwork that results in wrong timing. Footwork STARTS in the stance and ENDS in the finish position. Being as that is the longest part of rolling a ball it stands to reason that it can cause so many issues.
The point is, next time your release seems 'off', analyze the rest of your delivery.

bill you've been in the game for a long time so I will believe you. I am only a baby when it comes to this game so I will believe what you say. If it's foot work then it probably is.. seeing as how my legs were shaky during league and had a hard time pretty much proves that. Also about the release being natural...like I said up top, when I bowled that Thursday, my release just felt very very good. The way the ball was coming off my hand, it felt like I had no effort on it at all... Felt way better than that video that you watched when you said "it looked like I was forcing the revs" LOL :p

Anyways, I decided that I should get a coach.. I got really hooked into it and really want to learn the game. Enough that I go bowling 5-6 days a week! Might as well get a coach and learn the proper way before I start making any bad habits that I probably already have..

[AKbash]

I have a video from league day that I just watched right now and I have a few questions...

http://youtu.be/z1nWskfla2o

My arm seems to go behind my back instead of having a "straight" swing plane... on the approach it feels straight but after this video i know that it's not. Any reasons that you guys see why it is doing that? I do not think that I am muscling my ball...but if that's what it looks like, then next time I go, I'll try to relax my whole arm more... Also, any advice as to how I can get the right swing plane? Thanks guys

[AKbash]

As for my arms flailing around like that on my way back to the ball return, I was trying to relax my arm as on league days... I feel tense. LOL.

[AKbash]

Here's another video at a practice and me missing my spare cause I missed my mark lol...

haha!
http://youtu.be/r64JjUiMzWo

[noeymc]

i am not sure but your approach doesn't look natural its like you are making your self go slow and you are controlling your arm instead of gravity try standing next to a wall and just work on keeping your arm straight over and over i use to go all over with my arm

[billf]

1. Your still standing straight up in your stance. You're bending your knees and then stiffening back up. Tilt your spine ball side a few degrees. This will help create a good swing slot under your line of sight.
2. Walk at a pace faster than normal but a tad slower than when ticked off. This is usually a good pace for bowlers. Your foot speed and arm swing are super slow. I thought at first I had accidentally paused the video it was that slow.
3. Get your swing started earlier. Whether using a push away or the hinge, when your right foot hits the floor your ball arm should be extended.
4. When going into your slide keep your weight on the ball of your foot only transferring to the heel when braking. This should help with the continued balance issues at the line with the foot turning after release.
5. Get that balance foot on the floor!

[AKbash]

Thanks guys... Sorry about that balance leg...it just goes up naturally... from my wrong form I guess.
Thanks for all the advices! I'll take a video next time I bowl and practice the advices you all have given me. I may not be able to get all of them...but I will probably end up doing some of them right atleast...(or I hope..lol)

[scottymoney]

Try this AK, go over to the videos section and check out Shift Bowling technique. Right now you look like a robot and your approach is very slow and not fluid.

Shift bowl which I just started using and has made me a lot more accurate gets you low in your stance to begin with and has helped me stay down as well as making my movement less robotic.

This technique has also made my balance better by staying low I am less top heavy and I just feel more balanced. Plus staying low will help you keep your balance leg from coming up like that.

[noeymc]

when you practice focus on one thing for 10 balls dont worry about score and just keep working on the things u want to work on and such i think people pay to much detail to scores when practicing

[Tampabaybob]

I have a video from league day that I just watched right now and I have a few questions...

http://youtu.be/z1nWskfla2o

My arm seems to go behind my back instead of having a "straight" swing plane... on the approach it feels straight but after this video i know that it's not. Any reasons that you guys see why it is doing that? I do not think that I am muscling my ball...but if that's what it looks like, then next time I go, I'll try to relax my whole arm more... Also, any advice as to how I can get the right swing plane? Thanks guys

Your back swing is within an acceptable range. take a close look at the video and look at two things.....your slide foot is pointing too far left and that makes you pull the ball in front of your body and your balance leg (right leg) is still in the air and your toe should be on the floor.

Try getting those squared away and that will help somewhat. Also, when you shot the 272, it was in practice and you were probably very relaxed. This is the mind set you want to bring into league competition. Relax by taking a deep breath before you get up on the approach. Hold the breath for a couple of seconds then release it. It'll help you relax.

Bob

[Tampabaybob]

It won't let me edit my post. Your left foot is pointing too far RIGHT (not left). Try to get it as straight as possible.

Bob

[AKbash]

I am going to the lanes today and made a note of things to practice... going to focus mostly on the right leg being down, and the slide leg pointing at my target... I'll try to see if I can record a video. Thanks guys :)

[AKbash]

So I bowled yesterday and worked on a few things.. that is getting more spine tilt, putting my balance leg on the ground and getting my arm swinging straight instead of wrapping behind my back mostly...

still got to work on a few things like having my slide foot to point at the 3 pin and my slide...other than that it felt great! I had a coach (who's also the driller I go to) who was helping a high school team come over to me to teach me a few drills as well...such as the foul line drill and lane adjustment info.

My scores weren't that great (108 - while doing drills, 143, 127, 160) but I went there to practice so I didn't really care much about them. It's been a while since I left the alley satisfied :)

I'll post a video in a while!

[AKbash]

/here's the video:

still have to work on that slide leg! also my first step looks a little weird...hmmm what do you guys think?

http://youtu.be/tYKBu7p578o

[J Anderson]

/here's the video:

still have to work on that slide leg! also my first step looks a little weird...hmmm what do you guys think?

http://youtu.be/tYKBu7p578o

Looks like you hesitate a split second when your right foot hits the floor. I've seen at least one fairly good bowler who comes to a complete stop between the first and second step. Yours doesn't look too bad at all.

[AKbash]

I have a new video from Friday after league. I noticed that when I try keep my shoulders straight at the foul line (twisting sense not the drop your shoulder sense), I seem to be more consistent with my target....is this the right way to do it? Also... I am really trying to lower that balance leg...but it just keeps going up...lol...

Anyways, here's a video from the side that you guys can maybe pick apart :)

http://youtu.be/jjAAq51utI0

[vise17]

Ok here's my $.02 worth. On your approach, it needs to be smooth. 1, 2, 3, 4. Sometimes in your approach I see 1,2.....3,4 or 1....2, 3,4. I had to count outloud when I worked on that. I have not watched the 270 game, but in previous video I see that alot of your 1st shots are to the right of the 1-3. May need to move right a little to get the ball to square up to the pocket better. Yes, make sure your left toes are pointing in the general direction of your mark on the lanes. On your balance at the line, try the 1-step drill. Walk up to the line and stand like you would at the dots; feet together or however you stand before you start yor approach. Start your normal swing and only step with the slide foot. Don't worry about where your ball hits, or pin count. As stated in a previous comment, bowl one or two complete games doing the drills. Not just a few frames. Last thing, as you start your ball swing, push the out. Do not drop the ball to your side. I developed the "drop the ball" syndrome and it was detrimental to my game. Started muscling it terrible. When you push the ball out toward the target, it opens up your swing or allows it to be more free. Good luck.

[Tampabaybob]

I have a new video from Friday after league. I noticed that when I try keep my shoulders straight at the foul line (twisting sense not the drop your shoulder sense), I seem to be more consistent with my target....is this the right way to do it? Also... I am really trying to lower that balance leg...but it just keeps going up...lol...

Anyways, here's a video from the side that you guys can maybe pick apart :)

http://youtu.be/jjAAq51utI0

First of all, let me say that you've come a long way and the improvement is impressive. Most of your approach looks pretty good but I did see one small point that you may want to work on. And that's your position at the line "as you're releasing the ball. What I saw on your video is your knee stopping any forward movement. Here's a great video to watch, but pay very close attention to the section on "KNEE CONTINUATION". It's something most people do not do, that can help you. Check it out.

Bob


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N5nnDbV0znE