tip from other bowlers?

[coreyds012778]

I only been bowling in leagues since june, only been bowling more then with house gear since jan. so I am very open for tips. today I was practicing and a guy I bowled summer leagues with, he was giving me on aiming my shots, told me I was aiming with the wrong foot. about two frames later he realized I was using a 4 step approach. he uses a 5 step approach.

1: I have read that you aim with (4-step approach) your slide foot. have I read wrong?


he also had me move from board 23 to board 30. it was very uncomfortable with the move.( I like playing from boards 15 to 25) I normally either run down the outside and hook into the pock or add 2 or 3 mph and down and in to balls at an angle. I felt like my score was really bad. 87. I normally keep my score close to or over 100. high practice score of 214 and a high league score of 196. but on the other hand I always have 1 bad game in 3.

2: Should I take his advise and start working on a 20+ board hook, or keep with what I have been doing and keep running the ball down the outside or down and in.

all these advise was given to me from games 14 and 15 and was very tired. and made me thinking too much and may have thrown me off.
he is not a coach, he learned to bowl the same way I did. I am pretty good at learning new things. really made me feel like I was not getting better and my confidence and pride is kind shot after trying it his way.

[austin]

I am a big believer in "if its not broken don't fix it". If you were comfortable the way you were bowling there is not normally a need to completely change what you do. I prefer to just get more consistent and accurate with how you bowl. Everyone bowls different and there is no steadfast right or wrong way to do it. I would just concentrate more on hitting the same spot consistently. More hook does not necessarily mean better scores either.

[austin]

Oh and you should be aiming at the arrows not with your feet.

[Amyers]

Your slide foot should be pointed at your target. as far as the lines you play what is comfortable and what it working is the best. if your ball starts to hook too much you should move left with your feet and your target if the ball looks like it is burning up (starts to hook then stops) you need to move left. other than that at this point in your game play where your comfortable.

[RobLV1]

Your key words here are "he is not a coach." If your car is broken do you start asking everyone whose cars work how to fix it? Of course not. You go to a mechanic whose job it is to fix cars. As you are just starting out, it is the perfect time for you to learn the fundamentals of bowling before you develop bad habits that will be very hard to correct later. Rather than bowling 15 or 20 games at a time, save your money and find a qualified coach to get you started out on the right foot (pun intended).

[coreyds012778]

The 15 games are not the norm anymore, Normally it is like 3 or 4 with my wife and dad. One tip I really took was balance. I know that is one thing that had been a problem for me

[RobLV1]

Again, the "tip" you took was balance because it has been a problem for you. Balance is not something you deal with by itself. It is connected to several other things including footwork and timing. A coach can look at the root causes of problems that bowlers have. Well meaning tips are nothing more than band-aides that keep you from addressing the real problem. What is you aversion to finding a qualified coach?

[Aslan]

2: Should I take his advise and start working on a 20+ board hook, or keep with what I have been doing and keep running the ball down the outside or down and in.

And he serves Rob up a softball....

Yeah man, at this early of a stage in your bowling career, you need to start with a lesson from an actual bronze or preferably silver level coach. 30 minutes to an hour will do wonders. Then, practice...practice...practice. Get the basics down...footwork, timing, etc... Never too early to start working on spare shooting. Then, get lesson #2. Rinse, repeat.

[coreyds012778]

Yeah man, at this early of a stage in your bowling career, you need to start with a lesson from an actual bronze or preferably silver level coach. 30 minutes to an hour will do wonders. Then, practice...practice...practice. Get the basics down...footwork, timing, etc... Never too early to start working on spare shooting. Then, get lesson #2. Rinse, repeat.
thinking of taking some lessons after the first of the year. busy time of the year as well where I work. been working on spare shooting. straight rolling with a reactive ball and hooking. I loft way too much when I throw straight.

[coreyds012778]

Again, the "tip" you took was balance because it has been a problem for you. Balance is not something you deal with by itself. It is connected to several other things including footwork and timing. A coach can look at the root causes of problems that bowlers have. Well meaning tips are nothing more than band-aides that keep you from addressing the real problem. What is you aversion to finding a qualified coach?

that was the first time in the last month I was able to practice on my own. there is one 15mins away. most the time when I am off from work I have things to do around the house or I am off taking care of honey do list. or the days i am off does not work well for when I can come see him. he also is my driller and runs an center himself. the only one I know of and trust locally.

already address in these thread that me seeing a coach after the first of the year.

[ALazySavage]

I completely agree with what everyone is saying on this board about finding a coach and tips/pointers may leave a lot to be desired so I won't focus on that aspect. Due to the fact that you are a relatively new bowler and are waiting until the new year to get coaching I'm going to give you some advice about "tips" and "pointers" you may receive from other bowlers.

From personal experience there are typically two types of people who give tips during activities like bowling; the knowledgeable person who is going to give you solid advice and the person who wants to show off their bowling “knowledge”. Essentially with those who have proper bowling knowledge to help you out they are either a certified coach (and free coaching doesn’t pay the bills) or a knowledgeable bowler who has spent a fair amount of time doing research and has had some background in coaching. The other group of people who have bowling “knowledge” fall into two categories as well; they either have a narrow view of understanding that applies to themselves or they want to be perceived as someone who knows bowling.

That being said I hope you realize the need to take all advice with a grain of salt. If you receive a tip you have to ask yourself a couple questions. The first question is simply “How would this help me out and does it make sense?” If you are unable to answer the question, ask the person giving you the tip that question and listen to their answer; does their answer make sense? If their answer doesn’t make complete sense to you it isn’t worth your hassle.

[coreyds012778]

I do,

summer league, the team I was put on game me the same advice everytime I got frustrated "slow down" or move one to three boards or both. and an older bowler showed me how to aim at the arrows an not at the pins.

[Amyers]

I get advice sometimes on my lines or targeting from other bowler I especially listen to those who know my game well. Other things involving stance or approach and timing I've learned to wait and talk with a coach

[coreyds012778]

I will give a guy a call tomorrow, see if he is able to give me lesson on monday,

[coreyds012778]

Oh and you should be aiming at the arrows not with your feet.
sorry wrong term

[Blomer]

There's a guy at the center I bowl at and he was having problems. He just lost his game. He was trying to figure it out and he said so many people were giving him advice that it made it worse. One would, say to do this and someone else said the opposite. I get advice here and there and it wouldn't work for me. I gave it a shot, just didn't so it for me. I may seek out advice and I will give it more of a try.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Advice on your physical game can be tricky because unlike a coach that is spending time with you, someone giving a few pointers doesn't really know your game and what works for you. If it is someone on your team or a person that you have bowled with a lot that really watches you closely then maybe. The thing that you can learn most from just tips here and there though is lane play. Watch the better bowlers and if you think they are receptive to questions, ask them about how they approach the game and look at the lane. You may pick up a different thought process on how to play even your regular league shot. Sometimes i think we get to wrapped up in playing bowling style instead of playing the game of bowling.

[coreyds012778]

just got home from league, real good night. with MY STYLE. tonight an 170 avg 511 series,

talked to the coach today, told me to call me back on monday to see what he can do.

[Amyers]

just got home from league, real good night. with MY STYLE. tonight an 170 avg 511 series,

talked to the coach today, told me to call me back on monday to see what he can do.

Congrats Corey there are nights I'm thankful for anything over 500

[coreyds012778]

that was my first scratch 500. came close in practice 499.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Congratulations Corey! Always nice to hear someone reaching a milestone.

[coreyds012778]

thanks, it was a moral boost to me for the way I bowl. I am going to try to get to the center tomorrow and video my release. had another old gentlemen that I bowled summer league with that told me then I need to "the ball on the wood", told me that again tonight. after watching a few slow mo release vids on youtube. I want to see what i am doing.

[coreyds012778]

There's a guy at the center I bowl at and he was having problems. He just lost his game. He was trying to figure it out and he said so many people were giving him advice that it made it worse. One would, say to do this and someone else said the opposite. I get advice here and there and it wouldn't work for me. I gave it a shot, just didn't so it for me. I may seek out advice and I will give it more of a try.

I know I guy too that lost his game. sadly it was one of the people that I teamed with during the summer. he watched me for over a month, thought he did not like me. but it was to watch me. one of the guys that gave me useful advise and tips.

[ralphs007]

There's an old golf quote that goes like this. "Amateurs teach other's to play like Amateur's". I've been playing golf for over 40 years and it seams like everybody thinks they can teach the game. I'd find a good coach and stick to what they tell you. If anyone tries to give you advice just say thanks but I already have coach.

[coreyds012778]

I was going to see one monday, but got hit by the honey do list. after I come back from vacation I try to get with him. leave sunday