how much practice is apprpriate? How much is too much?

[Storm Byte in the desert]

I am so glad that my wife is a bowling enthusiast, as well. Besides the Sunday Mens's league and the Thursday Mixed league, I practice with her most nights or weekend days about 10 games per session. We both keep improving and the 10 game frames help us build endurance for tournament play.

What does everyone else do?

Thnx,
Lfmc

[J Anderson]

I am so glad that my wife is a bowling enthusiast, as well. Besides the Sunday Mens's league and the Thursday Mixed league, I practice with her most nights or weekend days about 10 games per session. We both keep improving and the 10 game frames help us build endurance for tournament play.

What does everyone else do?

Thnx,
Lfmc

I can only speak for myself, but I don't practice enough to break out from my current plateau. This season I'm bowling one sport league (4 games/week) and two regular leagues ( games/week each). I sometimes throw 4 games of practice after coaching youth league Saturday morning. If money and time were unlimited I would shoot for two games of practice for every one game of competition.

I would not recommend 10 games of practice every day of the week. As most of the gym rats here will tell you, you're body needs rest to build itself up. While they may be hitting the gym every day of the week, they're almost never doing the same routine two days in a row.

There are also different schools of thought on how long to practice. Some believe in practicing until they are mentally and physically exhausted. Others say you should stop as soon as you start making mistakes so you don't get into bad habits caused by being mentally or physically tired. I tend to side with the early quitters. There are plenty of other ways to build stamina than throwing game after game.

[YODA]

I dont practice that much, with work and my other new hobby (lifting weights), but I still try to get in there at least another night on top of the two league nights.

[Aslan]

If all I did was bowl…no other job…I'd bowl 20 games of practice per day. A 10-game morning and a 10-game afternoon session.

But…not only is that impracticable…it can really take a toll on the body. I tried that practice schedule the 2 days before sweeps in Laughlin. 10 games in the evening, 10 games the next morning, 10 games that evening…and I have to say I was wishing there was a hot tub/jacuzzi in the hotel.

I generally practice 12 games on Mondays and 3 games on Sundays after morning league play. The 12 games I usually tire mentally and/or physically by the 10th/11th game. I also get a lesson every few weeks and will sometimes practice 1-3 games before the lesson.

For me the ideal # is 10 games per session. I usually lose mental focus after 10-11 games in a row.

[Bradski9]

If bowling weren't so expensive, I would practice a whole lot more, I am going to start working part time at my local alley. 3 free games every time I work!

[bowl1820]

What does everyone else do?

Well here being a league bowler, we have a players pass which gives you unlimited open bowling (for $20 a month). So you can practice till you pass out.

But when I practice it's about 9-12 games. I try to pace it like league, waiting between shots some.

JA's statement that you should stop as soon as you start making mistakes, so you don't get into bad habits caused by being mentally or physically tired. I think is pretty accurate, once practice has become unproductive you should stop.

[foreverincamo]

I practice between 7 to 14 games a week. Just don't make practice all about the score. Take practice times and only practice spares, or practice your timing, or hand position, etc. Spend a game only trying to hit a certain arrow as many times in a game.

[MICHAEL]

In all honesty ICEGOD does not practice at all! I just bowl two league a week, and have been doing some really great scores that I have posted the last few weeks! Even posted pictures of that 741, 695, 646, 280 two weeks ago, almost 3rd 300! They just seem to be coming more and more often now. I don't think practice helps that much if your practicing WRONG! No amount of practice can overcome bad technique, or lack of aptitude!

Practice can be a GOOD thing for sure, but it doesn't always translate into success at all!

What is aptitude,,, The Gift,,, certain inherited physiological and psychological genes!
I firmly believe and have seen it with my own to eyes, people that have bowled for over 20 years, and still relatively young bowing at that
170-180 average, and after talking to some of them they do practice weekly. NOTHING WORONG with that average at all, but most want that 200 plus, due to the fact the Mike White keeps saying how easy it is now, compared to the old days! Makes many feel GUILTY not having a 200 plus average.

What is bad technique? Anything that does not get you the HIGH SCORES. If you have a crap delivery, but your average is 230! BE HAPPY!

I am not sure there is any absolute correct way to get you to that 220 level, I have seen in my short time bowling MANY different ways those bowlers deliver the ball, the one thing they have in common is their high averages!

But week after week if your not improving and getting the big numbers, you need to step back and Punt, so to speak!!

Seek help!

If coaching and practice doesn't help......... just remember, ICEGOD SITLL LOVES YOU!!!
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt204/Allycone/greek_gods400.jpg (http://media.photobucket.com/user/Allycone/media/greek_gods400.jpg.html)

[Aslan]

Me or Bowl1820 REALLY need to get posting…this IceGod is even worse than ICEman!!

[MICHAEL]

Me or Bowl1820 REALLY need to get posting…this IceGod is even worse than ICEman!!

Worse??? LOL,,, worse then what?? Who is Iceman??

Every opinion is just that, not a rule of law, or fact! Many different views on just about anything a mere mortal can imagine, working out, health care, food, drink,,, you name it!

I have my opinions, about practice, and it works for me. I am just a simple Bowling God! And on the list of who's who, in the heavens, bowing gods are ranked pretty low, just above Horse Shoe Throwing, and tiddlywinks gods!

I will not ridicule your proven method of bowing high scores, please don't attack ICEGOD! :p

[Amyers]

I really prefer not to practice more than 6 games in a set. After that my knee starts to act up and I'm thinking about my knee and not my shot as much although I do have to say I'm getting better about that I threw 9 games yesterday with no pain.

[Konvict1982]

I currently bowl as a regular in 2 leagues Sunday/Monday. Practice depends on how I perform in league. If I am comfortable with my game and everything feels good I practice on Wednesday and Saturday after youth league. If I am having a tough time in league I will practice Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 3-6 game sets. I always keep Fridays open because I am one of the main subs for Friday nights and now that they are in position rounds I am the only sub with enough games to actually bowl during these next 2 weeks.

Also I am lucky because my local bowling alley gives Registered Youth Volunteers that help on Saturday mornings 21 free games a week same as the youth bowlers. I got registered last month since my son bowls in youth league and now I help out and get free bowling practice also.

[coreyds012778]

I use to practice 20 to 40 games a week, found it hurt me when it came to league play. now only do between 8 to 10 a week. work on timing alot.

[MICHAEL]

3 years ago I use to practice with Jason on Fridays when AMF had FREE bowling form noon to 3pm. It was fun and a blast,,, my average back then was not as high as it is now, I am bowing 200 and above on 2 leagues now with the expectption of the wood lanes, but I hope to get it up to 200 now that I am a god!

My main problems have been NOT KEEPING my elbow next to my body, keeping my eye on THE MARK, and not trying to work the ball up the side, instead of just projecting it down the lane. ( Plain and SIMPLE)

I have been having some GREAT scores since working out,,,, JUST THOSE 3 fundaments!

Went to NKC AMF today league, and threw a, 248 first game cold, then 175, 194 , and final game of 267. 221 average for 4 games. NOTHING to
brag about I was having carry problems on the 10 pin like you have never seen before games 2 and 3!!!! GRRRRR Many many pocket hits,,, friends started actually laughing!
I pulled every ball in my bag out, finally the Hyper-Cell with its HUGE Block gave me a very solid game, with carry 267!

Practice can be a good thing I am sure, but for me, I am bowing better now then in years past where I actually did practice.

Fixing my 3 bad habits mentioned above has help me a BUNCH! I feel like I am moving to a higher level now, time will tell

YOU CAN practice a Bunch, but if you don't correct your errors then really you haven't accomplished much! Many times you don't know your doing something wrong, and had a guy that coach's Pat, give me the advice Free! And ,, by the GODS it has changed my LIFE in regards to bowling!!

I would have to say that coaching can be the missing element in your game if ,, IF you just can't seem to get out of a Bowling Rut!!!


I have been bowling better this year then any of my 4 years of bowing so far! Hope to see all my leagues, including the wood over 200 this year for the first time.

[Aslan]

YOU CAN practice a Bunch, but if you don't correct your errors then really you haven't accomplished much! Many times you don't know your doing something wrong, and had a guy that coach's Pat, give me the advice Free! And ,, by the GODS it has changed my LIFE in regards to bowling!!

I would have to say that coaching can be the missing element in your game if ,, IF you just can't seem to get out of a Bowling Rut!!!



You can ignore the first 1000 words...ABOVE is what matters.

I don't do drills or focus JUST on spare shots...but I DO make changes, some uncomfortable, to my game to try and get to that next level. I DO get coaching and input and study stuff online and read articles. Not to confuse myself...and I have to filter out a LOT. But simple repetitive practice is only going to help you in the beginning...getting a spare system down...maybe rolling the ball and releasing consistently. Once you kinda got the basics down...you need someone to take an honest, 3rd party look at what you're doing and the things you need to fix. And the higher the level of coach or pro that can do that...the better.

I'm not saying you shouldn't ask a pal or even one of these fine online gentlemen...or even internet Gods per se...but a silver or gold level coach...a PBA pro...or a actual bowling instructor...is almost always going to trump a bronze level coach. And a bronze level coach is going to almost always trump "Billy Bob" on lane 32 or the Pro Shop guy or your friend that once threw a 194 game.

You gotta step outside that comfort zone from time to time though if ya want to really advance. It's why when you look at averages in your local USBC Yearbook...you see the same bowlers with virtually identical averages every single season. I just looked at a list of potential competitors I might have to face in a tournament in January or February. Out of 21 bowlers, only 2 (me and one other guy) actually had a significant increase in average over last year. And only 1 had a significant decrease. That means 18 of 21 are just treading water.

[ralphs007]

If bowling weren't so expensive, I would practice a whole lot more, I am going to start working part time at my local alley. 3 free games every time I work!

I hear you about being expensive. luckily, I have a bowling center that offers $.50 games starting at 10 am. , Monday through Friday. If you bowl ten games with a friend (must spend at least $10.00) , they give you a coupon for 1/2 off. That comes out to $.25 a game! I feel like I'm living back in the 1950's when I bowl here.
My other bowling center charges 3.50 a game. They have weekend specials where you can rent a lane for, 2 1/2 hours for $33.00. I use a ten off coupon so paying $23.00 for 2 1/2 isn't too bad.
I also play over 100 rounds of Golf a year, now that can cost some serious change !

[RobLV1]

Practice as much as you can without getting over-tired. Try to pick one thing to work on when you practice, and vary it from time to time. Despite the fact that most people tell you not to worry about score when you practice, SOMETIMES, you should. When you are practicing with someone else, agree to compete occasionally. Practicing dealing with the pressure of having to double in the tenth to win the game IS valid practice, just not all the time.

[Aslan]

During a lesson I don't keep score. Too much instruction going on…no time for all that.

But when I practice I almost always keep score. Since I use an app to track many aspects of my game…entering the data into the device actually provides me some useable feedback. I don't necessarily 'care' how well I score or don't score…but it's the data behind the score that interests me.

[RobLV1]

But when I practice I almost always keep score. Since I use an app to track many aspects of my game…entering the data into the device actually provides me some useable feedback. I don't necessarily 'care' how well I score or don't score…but it's the data behind the score that interests me.

That's fine, as long as you are not working on making a large change to any physical aspect of your game. There are times when your coach first makes a change in your physical game that you will find your score taking a small step back before taking a giant step forward. During those times, keeping score and keeping stats can cause enough stress to hamper the important progress.

[vdubtx]

When I practice, scores do not matter. I go to practice to work on my approach, work on my balance at the line, targeting, spare pick ups, and ball reaction. Doing that, I use one ball per game and go through my bag for the balls I have brought for that session. I typically bring 6 total, 5 reactive and 1 spare ball. I usually get 6 games and sometimes if I want to work extra on 10 pins or other leaves, I will do 8. I typically go 3 Sundays a month depending what is on the honey do list.

[explorer05]

Personally practice should be determined by you. When start getting tired I would stop. You don't want to over do it to the point that you start getting fast and you start getting bad habits. The only thing I practice is my release and timing. I will find a line and work on just those with all the I use so that I am always confident in my equipment. Plus I get to know that ball and what it will and will not do especially if you get new equipment.

[augoat]

I'm a fairly beginning bowler, but like anything else in life practice quantity is outweighed by practice quality. This is good advice I learned from a guitar teacher while starting out. Be sure to identify something to work on and stick to it. Be sure this si something that needs work, too. If you are already good at something, it's fine to keep that tuned up, but focus on the parts of your game that aren't good or that you don't like practicing. For guitar, don't spend all of your practice time working on things you already are good at doing. Warm up and close with something that you can do well, but dive into the weaknesses. You can't fix everything at once, and people are inclined to drift towards what they are already good at. People like seeing immediate results. Another good example is golf. You see or know someone that can probably blast dozens and dozens of great long balls with their driver, but can't putt or chip or they have another big hole in their game. You see this guy at the range and he spends an hour with his driver and long clubs and 15 minutes on his short game. It's non-sensical. He's probably as good as he is going to get at hitting long balls, but he toils away to get only slightly better there while overlooking a huge hole or holes in his game. He never really reaches full potential. Anyway, just my $0.02 on practice time.

tl;dr
Use your time wisely. Focuse on one or two things in a session and work/focus on those. As for actual time per session, if you are to the point where you lose focus or physically start breaking down, it's time to pack it up. Bad practice leads to bad performance.

[rv driver]

You can ignore the first 1000 words...ABOVE is what matters.

I don't do drills or focus JUST on spare shots...but I DO make changes, some uncomfortable, to my game to try and get to that next level. I DO get coaching and input and study stuff online and read articles. Not to confuse myself...and I have to filter out a LOT. But simple repetitive practice is only going to help you in the beginning...getting a spare system down...maybe rolling the ball and releasing consistently. Once you kinda got the basics down...you need someone to take an honest, 3rd party look at what you're doing and the things you need to fix. And the higher the level of coach or pro that can do that...the better.

I'm not saying you shouldn't ask a pal or even one of these fine online gentlemen...or even internet Gods per se...but a silver or gold level coach...a PBA pro...or a actual bowling instructor...is almost always going to trump a bronze level coach. And a bronze level coach is going to almost always trump "Billy Bob" on lane 32 or the Pro Shop guy or your friend that once threw a 194 game.

You gotta step outside that comfort zone from time to time though if ya want to really advance. It's why when you look at averages in your local USBC Yearbook...you see the same bowlers with virtually identical averages every single season. I just looked at a list of potential competitors I might have to face in a tournament in January or February. Out of 21 bowlers, only 2 (me and one other guy) actually had a significant increase in average over last year. And only 1 had a significant decrease. That means 18 of 21 are just treading water.
A music teacher of mine once said, "Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Don't practice your mistakes -- you'll only learn your mistakes."

[Blomer]

I bowl,in two leagues, Monday's and Wednesday's. I usually try to get in one other day to practice, typically 5 games. Sometimes when I. Stressed with work or just bored I'll put in another day.

[Amyers]

I bowl two leagues Friday and Sunday. I almost always practice on Wednesday and sometimes on Saturday or Sunday before leagues. I would say on average I bowl 10-15 games a week.

[epiepenburg]

I bowl two leagues, my Wednesday league is every week, my Friday league is every other week. I honestly wish I was in one more league. I might practice one time a week other than league. If I do it's usually just 3 or 4 games. The problem with my house is practice is always going to be on burned up lanes. So to go practice, it's really just working on timing and spare shooting.