Bowling Fitness Advice

[joe p]

Hi all, I'm a new bowler and need some advice on stretching I'm a 52 yr old guy that was looking at bowling as a good form of exercise .I have a sit on my butt all day long type of job.After bowling three games on Saturday both my left hamstring and calf muscles were sore as heck, I believe my terrible form has a lot to do with this but are there some sort of exercises that are popular among bowlers ? or do I need to just work through this.My plan is to bowl Tues,Thurs, and Saturdays or is that too much to start with. I'm really enjoying the bowling and would hate to have sit out because of some under used muscles. Thanks for reading,Joe

[Mike White]

Hi all, I'm a new bowler and need some advice on stretching I'm a 52 yr old guy that was looking at bowling as a good form of exercise .I have a sit on my butt all day long type of job.After bowling three games on Saturday both my left hamstring and calf muscles were sore as heck, I believe my terrible form has a lot to do with this but are there some sort of exercises that are popular among bowlers ? or do I need to just work through this.My plan is to bowl Tues,Thurs, and Saturdays or is that too much to start with. I'm really enjoying the bowling and would hate to have sit out because of some under used muscles. Thanks for reading,Joe

I suggest the general get in shape exercises at your local gym.

You may want to put a little more emphasis on leg strength since that is the source of power and stability in bowling.

[MICHAEL]

Iceman is selling GIFT certificates, to help with those that are not GIFTED, and don't want to work out!! Its a money back guaranty!!

If after 20 years you do not bowl a 300 game, full refund!!! YES FULL AMOUNT!!! Order NOW and get 2 gift certificates, for the price of Two!!!

[bubba809]

Iceman is selling GIFT certificates, to help with those that are not GIFTED, and don't want to work out!! Its a money back guaranty!!

If after 20 years you do not bowl a 300 game, full refund!!! YES FULL AMOUNT!!! Order NOW and get 2 gift certificates, for the price of Two!!!



What if you're not alive in 20 years? How will I get my refund?

[got_a_300]

What if you're not alive in 20 years? How will I get my refund?

Iceman is going to be around for ever so you'd be able
to get your refund in 20 years or even in 100 years from
now. LOL!!!!

[Blacksox1]

Hi all, I'm a new bowler and need some advice on stretching I'm a 52 yr old guy that was looking at bowling as a good form of exercise .I have a sit on my butt all day long type of job.After bowling three games on Saturday both my left hamstring and calf muscles were sore as heck, I believe my terrible form has a lot to do with this but are there some sort of exercises that are popular among bowlers ? or do I need to just work through this.My plan is to bowl Tues,Thurs, and Saturdays or is that too much to start with. I'm really enjoying the bowling and would hate to have sit out because of some under used muscles. Thanks for reading,Joe

My age is close to your age Joe. I am younger :cool:. Anyway, I go to the gym 5-6 times a week, for 1 hour each time. My workout is 45-50 minutes on the bike, 10 minutes of the treadmill and 5 minutes on a weight machine. This helps a lot with my body and my scores.

[MICHAEL]

My age is close to your age Joe. I am younger :cool:. Anyway, I go to the gym 5-6 times a week, for 1 hour each time. My workout is 45-50 minutes on the bike, 10 minutes of the treadmill and 5 minutes on a weight machine. This helps a lot with my body and my scores.

Working out at a gym, is HUGE!! I go 3 to four times a week, my workout takes 2 hours,,, with a 30 minute cardio! I can't put into words how IMPORTANT, conditioning is to Iceman and his bowling scores at 66!! Keep at working out!http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg546/imagine686868/DSC00415394x464_zps1b428b01.jpg (http://s1243.photobucket.com/user/imagine686868/media/DSC00415394x464_zps1b428b01.jpg.html)

I took this picture in July this year, without conditioning, I would NOT HAVE ROLLED those 2 300 a while back!! If you feel GOOD,,, you will bowl GOOD!!!
Focus, strength, and balance KEY!!

[Shaneshu87]

to be honest, some of the best and easiest things you could do is walk up and down every flight of stairs you find. before bowling i to simple hamstrings stretches on the seats, i just place my heal on the seat, straighten my leg and touch my toes, you don't want to do this with a "cold" leg so try to do something to warm up you leg. also for your calf do a few calf raises, this are simple keep your feet straight and parallel and just stand up on your tippy toes for about 5 seconds then back down and repeat about 10 times. i'm not your age, i'm far below it, however i am and always have been a larger individual, so i know the struggle with knee pain. i ended up having to take 2 years off bowling just to lose some weight because my knee could not stand it any longer, in that 2 years i dropped 116 pounds and gained another almost 30 in muscle mass doing crossfit, still trecking, and still moving forward.

[hoku41205]

Have you ever heard of bowlfit? A girl I went to college with started the company, and it's actually pretty on point. When you bowl you use something like 147 muscles in your entire body. From switching bowling hands this season I can feel the difference in muscles; which are strong and which are weak. I really recommend looking into bowlfit. If that's not your cup of tea, then do a total body strength training program. Don't just focus on one part of the body. And Stretch before you bowl...every time you bowl. I take about 10ish minutes to stretch my arms, shoulders, legs, hands (yes I said hand), and back out. Trust me, the difference after bowling and the next day is huge. If you want some specific stretches i'll be happy to tell you what I do.

[Mudpuppy]

I'm back to the gym and feel great. My key is NEVER the same workout on any given day even week to week. I use total muscle confusion. Focused effort on a set of muscles each day - i.e. Monday = legs and cardio, Tuesday = chest and arms, Wednesday = shoulders and back, Thursday = plyo and yoga. And there are millions and millions of different combos you can do - regular set, low weight high rep short rest set, max weight as many reps as you can long rest set, mid range weight super set - i.e. bicep curls + hammer curls no rest, then short rest and do it again. always 3 sets. The key I have found is balance - do NOT focus on just biceps or cardio or chest or whatever. BUILD every single muscle from wrists to calfs. I see so many muscleheads that just focus on arms and chest but are so off balance. I admit my legs are far stronger than my arms but that's just how I'm built. I want to build long lean strong muscle. Quick AND strong. That's my goal always. And with a little ju jitsu knowledge there isn't a soul on the planet that could bring you down. Use their size and being off balance against them. A strong core is a must - it's the key to everything. Crunches, abs, pull ups, sit ups etc. Should be in rotation every week.

That's my $0.02.

[Storm Byte in the desert]

Some of my friends laugh that bowling is good exercise. These people have never seen me practice!!! I work up a total drench sweat and am feeling it afterwards.

Practicing by yourself or with a bowling buddy is much better exercise than playing in a league. Leagues serve their useful purposes - social, excitement, document your progress, etc. But you spend too much time sitting don waiting for the other bowlers to do their turn.

I'm 55, started from zero fitness and bowl more than you're suggesting. My best advice is to take some lessons or solicit tips from experienced bowlers. So many injuries and persistent bowling pains are caused by poor form.

Will you be starting with a straight ball or finger-tip? Have you ever bowled before? Are you planning league and tournament play?

Hope this helps,
Ltmc

[rv driver]

Some of my friends laugh that bowling is good exercise. These people have never seen me practice!!! I work up a total drench sweat and am feeling it afterwards.

Practicing by yourself or with a bowling buddy is much better exercise than playing in a league. Leagues serve their useful purposes - social, excitement, document your progress, etc. But you spend too much time sitting don waiting for the other bowlers to do their turn.

I'm 55, started from zero fitness and bowl more than you're suggesting. My best advice is to take some lessons or solicit tips from experienced bowlers. So many injuries and persistent bowling pains are caused by poor form.

Will you be starting with a straight ball or finger-tip? Have you ever bowled before? Are you planning league and tournament play?

Hope this helps,
Ltmc
I'm 54 and started back bowling this year. I'm horribly out of shape. the first time I was back on the lanes, Oh. My. God! I haven't been that sore since I was doing Taekwondo three times a week in my early 40s. The arm and leg weakness was really noticeable.

[mike_thomas93]

Maybe this is what I need to take a break from bowling for. Getting in better shape. like a few months, i guess