Why do lessons go so damn well...then it doesn't translate into success!!?

[Aslan]

:mad: :confused:

I've been taking lessons every few weeks or so now since sometime in November or October 2014. And the frustrating part is that I seem to do wwll...VERY well...when throwing the ball in the lesson. I then take that SAME advice...apply it to practice and league night...and I usually don't get the same result.

So what 'could' be the issues?

1) Well, the easiest answer is the most obvious difference...different centers. It "may" just be that the lanes where I get the lesson...are simply easier or more adaptable to my game. I hate using centers and lane conditions as an excuse...because I think that excuse gets over-used these days...but it IS a consistent variable.

2) ????

Just to illustrate the problem...at least the last couple lessons...I was stringing strikes together like mad. And I wasn't TRYING to score per se...I was just working on whatever we were working on. Yesterday, I actually had to stop and comment, "Honestly, I REALLY have been struggling lately! I know it doesn't LOOK that way...but I HAVE!"

I mean, and here's where the house difference may have some merit, I was missing my mark on some shots during the lesson...by as much as 4-6 boards right...and it would strike. If I miss by more than 1 board on league night...I'll be lucky to hit the pocket.

BUT...it's also the "fixes". Last night we worked on primarily THREE things.
1) My pushaway and first step need to me in unison and smooth (not robotic).
2) My approach needs to be smooth...not disconjointed. I was developing the bad habit of taking a step...then kinda pausing...then taking a few more steps...and it was messing with my timing.
3) I MUST get lower. <----THAT is not easy because I'm 6' tall and have very long legs...and weigh over 200lbs. BUT...when I get low...GOOD things happen. I hit my mark better....the ball comes off my hand better....I get better axis tilt/rotation...etc... If I DON'T get low...or if I try to stay too upright...then I start lofting it...I start grabbing it at the bottom...timing issues, etc...

I'm HOPING...that once I get some of these issues fixed...it WILL translate to league play (where it counts). BUT...if it doesn't...I'm tempted to pay the coach (if they would even do it) to come out during league night to my home center...and just watch what I'm doing. I want an 'expert' (not a self proclaimed one...my center has many of those) to watch how much I'm struggling on my lanes versus the lanes where I get my lessons.

And the RISK is...IF IT IS THE CENTER...then I have a dilemma. My stubbornness will want me to stay at the center and defeat it. But if the center is creating a shot...that is essentially playing like a PBA Scorpion with oil carrydown smeared up the right side to about 50ft...and the center refuses to clean/apply fresh oil before league play (even for their flagship league of 172 bowlers)...then maybe I have to go to a different center. And that creates another problem...which one? In order of preference:

- AMF Carter is the only other convenient center to get to in traffic...but that center is a horrible example of Bowlmor/AMF. And one reason I left this center after one short 10-week league...was lane conditions were horrible. Flooded during league play (3rd heaviest volume I've played in southern california) and then as dry as plywood during open bowling/practice.

- LaHabra300 is an option because it's close to where I work and on the way home...but I wouldn't be able to bowl there on the weekends or anything...too far to drive. But it's a very well run private center and has $1 games on Thursday which is convenient for practicing.

- AMF Friendly Hills is close to my work...but another horrid example AMF/Bowlmor and that place will likely close soon. And even though it's closer to my work than La Habra...the new and improved AMF hours mean this place is closed until 4PM nearly every weekday...so lunchtime practice is out.

- Linbrook Bowl; they are open 24 hours which is kinda cool in terms of practice time...but it's a bit harder to get to in rush hour.

- And Tustin Lanes (where I have my lessons) would be awesome because I bowl well there...but it's hit or miss during rush hour. I could get there in 20 minutes from my apartment...or it could take almost 2 hours. It's all freeway...harder to get to using surface streets than the other choices.

- Chapparell 300 and Brunswick Classic Lanes are both closer to me...but impossible to get to in rush hour. Both MWhite and I didn't like the idea of an 8AM sunday sport shot league....but honestly, any later than 10AM on any day...even the weekend...and I can't get there in under 45 minutes.

People that don't live in Southern California would marvel at how many bowling centers actually exist in a small radius...especially those from more rural areas where you got 1-2 choices within an hour's drive. The DOWNside to Southern CA is you could be 8 miles away and if traffic is backed up...that 8 miles could take 45 minutes.

I could have abbreviated the post and left off the blow by blow of the centers...but I know Mudpuppy and DHoff appreciate a lengthy post...and I aim to please!

My child care situation changes in June...and I may move closer to the city (Anaheim/L.A.) to save money on rent and shorten the commute. If/when I do that...especially if it's the apartments I was kinda scoping out...Linbrook will be the clear winner because it'll be right up the street from my apartment...almost (but not quite) walkable distance.

[zdawg]

Another option would be to have somebody capture some video on league night and then show that footage to your coach and see what they have to say. Unfortunately the side view tells a lot and would be virtually impossible to shoot on league night, any chance you could get some side view footage from open bowling?

This would be a relatively inexpensive way of your coach "watching" you on league night, then again if your coach is willing to be there in person for a reasonable price that I suppose would be ideal.

[RobLV1]

"Just to illustrate the problem...at least the last couple lessons...I was stringing strikes together like mad. And I wasn't TRYING to score per se...I was just working on whatever we were working on. Yesterday, I actually had to stop and comment, "Honestly, I REALLY have been struggling lately! I know it doesn't LOOK that way...but I HAVE!"

You answered your own question. As I have indicated so often in the past, you are your own worst enemy. Stop thinking so much and just bowl! God, I wish I could follow my own advice. LOL

[J Anderson]

:mad: :confused:

So what 'could' be the issues?


I mean, and here's where the house difference may have some merit, I was missing my mark on some shots during the lesson...by as much as 4-6 boards right...and it would strike. If I miss by more than 1 board on league night...I'll be lucky to hit the pocket.

To me it looks like you're lined up correctly during your lessons. On league night you're not playing the pattern right if you have to be dead on target on a house shot.

[Amyers]

"Just to illustrate the problem...at least the last couple lessons...I was stringing strikes together like mad. And I wasn't TRYING to score per se...I was just working on whatever we were working on. Yesterday, I actually had to stop and comment, "Honestly, I REALLY have been struggling lately! I know it doesn't LOOK that way...but I HAVE!"

You answered your own question. As I have indicated so often in the past, you are your own worst enemy. Stop thinking so much and just bowl! God, I wish I could follow my own advice. LOL

This is it!!! Bowling is one of the few sports that makes you balance mental and physical. Try to hard or want it too bad you are done before you start. I wish I could take this advice also

[dnhoffman]

I know you might recoil at anything I post, but honestly after reading about 10% of most of your posts (I have a full time job after all, so I can't read your full posts, as each one is approximately 1200 words) I can honestly say you over think the heck out of everything man.

Above 180, bowling is more a mental challenge than a physical one I think. You have to think about everything you want to do when you're sitting down waiting your turn, but once you step up on the lane you need to relax and not think, time to shut up, relax your muscles, and bowl.

[vdubtx]

"Just to illustrate the problem...at least the last couple lessons...I was stringing strikes together like mad. And I wasn't TRYING to score per se...I was just working on whatever we were working on. Yesterday, I actually had to stop and comment, "Honestly, I REALLY have been struggling lately! I know it doesn't LOOK that way...but I HAVE!"

You answered your own question. As I have indicated so often in the past, you are your own worst enemy. Stop thinking so much and just bowl! God, I wish I could follow my own advice. LOL

This, this, a thousand times this. Stop over thinking each and every movement of your game every single time you are up on the approach. Get in your stance, lock on your target, get into your approach and let the ball swing. Thinking about making micro adjustments here and there are affecting the way you bowl and will continue to do so until you free your mind and just get out there and let gravity and the ball do the work.

You have made some really great strides since the first video's I remember seeing of you bowling. No reason that you can't continue to improve, but as Rob pointed out, you are over thinking and forcing things to happen. They just won't when you force them. I know, I have been there. Trying too hard to make the ball hook with more wrist action or whatever in my case, was a detriment to my game. Once I stopped over doing it, and just letting my arm swing free and letting the ball do what it is engineered to do, is when my average started to creep up.

Keep at it Aslan, you will get there.

[Perrin]

I'll re-enforce what the other guys said. "trying to score" is the worst thing you can do when bowling.


It's just like with women :) if you are just trying to score they can sense it and you will get nowhere.

[Aslan]

That WOULD also explain why last Tuesday in league play I struck 6 straight times in practice and then bowled a 456 series.

I mean, on the last 4 of those strikes...I wasn't even trying to strike...I was aiming right of my line trying to burn in some miss room.

I talked about all this with Rob in the past...work in progress. And I talked about it at my lesson Wednesday; the mental side of it. And they are both in agreement that I need to not think so much. And I HAVE improved. Early on I was thinking of 4-8 things simultaneously while taking 4 steps on the approach. There were a couple times I was thinking SO much I almost forgot to let go of the ball...which is embarassing.

But...NOW...thats down to about 3 things.

- I HAVE TO think about my pushaway. While I used to not really think of it much at ALL...I've recently realized that if my pushaway is off...my first step is off...and umltimately my timing gets messed up. So I MUST think about that. Position my hand to the side, weight of the ball in my left hand, push OUT, right hand goes under the ball, but keep the left hand ON the ball until it's extended.

- The NEW thing I'm working on is I have to tell myself to let the approach be less choppy and more fluid. This is also something Rob and I worked on a little bit. Rob used to say that I need to think about the approach/process more like a "dance"...it should be more graceful. If I don't THINK about that...I have the bad tendency to stutter step during the approach = horrible timing problems.

- The other NEW thing (not really new...just something I haven't focused on as much because I was focusing on other things) is getting LOW. If I don't think about it...I have the tendency to just walk up and toss the ball like I'm playing horseshoes. High loft, the ball lands 10-15ft out...I'm straight up and down...and it leads to problems with the ball in terms of finding the pocket. Either I don't get any significant RPMs on the ball...and miss right leaving a 1-2-8...or the ball hooks too early due to excessive axis rotation (and not enough axis tilt) and I go through the head.

So those are my "3 things". After each lesson...I have to promise the coach that I "won't add to the list". I have that tendency...either as a result of practice...or a result of things I am reading online...or whatever.

My last "things" were the push-away and then Form, Focus, and Follow-through. Those were easier to think about because they all started with an "F". The problem seems to be that while all those things are important...my footwork was causing my timing to be off and as many have agreed on here in multiple threads...and my coach agrees...if you're timing is off...you're screwed. It's almost impossible to make a good shot with bad timing.

Before that...etc...etc...etc...

I DO feel like I'm getting better. I could tell after getting lessons from Rob the 1st time that the things he had me work on were actually fixing alot of inconsistencies and issues and making me better. And thats happening even faster now that I am getting regular instruction [from a different coach...because Rob = 5-hour drive : (]. I just have to learn to be patient. Once a lot of these things "just happen" without me thinking about them...I think my mind will CLEAR...and then, yeah, like everyone is saying...you just go up and make the shot. But...until those things "just happen on their own"...I'm gonna have to think about them...or they won't happen. And yes, mental side = important. I need to be more relaxed. I need to fight the urge to make constant micro-adjustments. And I need to be patient. Every series isn't going to be 500+...not yet. I can't roll a 212 and then a 157 and then completely fall apart. I can't miss a single 2-pin and then go on to miss 3 more single-pins because my confidence is shot.

[dnhoffman]

It's all about the mental game for you.

You don't even really have to be that good to consistently bowl above 180 or even 200, you just need to learn to repeat a shot. And you'll never do that if you're introducing different mental variables every time you go onto the approach.

[RobLV1]

"I mean, on the last 4 of those strikes...I wasn't even trying to strike...I was aiming right of my line trying to burn in some miss room."

Unless you are playing inside of the third arrow, why would you possibly try to "burn in a shot" on a house pattern? By definition, the THS has a shot already burned in for you.

[Aslan]

Unless you are playing inside of the third arrow, why would you possibly try to "burn in a shot" on a house pattern? By definition, the THS has a shot already burned in for you.

As this guy I know, Rob, once said; not all house (THS) shots are the same.

If I have a ball/release where I tend to struggle to make it back to the pocket if I miss by 2 boards right…DESPITE the magical dry area that apparently a THS is SUPPOSED to have…according to some things I read at one point online…if you have your line figured out…and you have the right ball/surface….AND you have some time to spare…you throw a reactive resin ball just right of your line to soak in the line…and it SUPPOSEDLY gives you a little more miss room to the right.

Now, most modern bowlers don't bother with that because usually their problem is their ball starts hooking too much after 4-5 frames or so of other bowlers playing on their line. As a much straighter bowler…I'm not AS worried that my ball is going to start hooking "too much"…I'm MORE concerned that the ball will miss 2.5 boards right and miss the headpin.

That being said, it's more of a "theory" really because:
1) I rarely, in a 5-man team league, have the time to figure out my line and ball in 15mins of practice…much less throw shots to burn in a line.
2) Even when I've done it…there didn't appear to be a noticeable difference. That might be because my release is too inconsistent to take advantage of it.

[dnhoffman]

So basically, you're hopeless when it comes to keeping things simple. Got it.

[RobLV1]

Right, not all house shots are the same, BUT they do have one thing in common: there is more oil in the middle than there is on the outside. The oil line is usually at ten, but not always. Once you find the oil line, you have heavy oil to the left of you, and dry to the right of you. IF you try to burn in some miss area, what you are doing is to take the part of the lane that has around three to five units of oil, and dry it out until you have zero to three units of oil. Three to five units give you miss room right, while zero to three units of oil give you bowling ball death that results in flat ten pins. If you don't have miss room right on a typical house shot, the solution is not to try to burn in a shot, the solution is to work on your release so that you can take advantage of the built in miss room to the right.

[Amyers]

Right, not all house shots are the same, BUT they do have one thing in common: there is more oil in the middle than there is on the outside. The oil line is usually at ten, but not always. Once you find the oil line, you have heavy oil to the left of you, and dry to the right of you. IF you try to burn in some miss area, what you are doing is to take the part of the lane that has around three to five units of oil, and dry it out until you have zero to three units of oil. Three to five units give you miss room right, while zero to three units of oil give you bowling ball death that results in flat ten pins. If you don't have miss room right on a typical house shot, the solution is not to try to burn in a shot, the solution is to work on your release so that you can take advantage of the built in miss room to the right.

In other words there is no point in drying out what's dry already

[RobLV1]

In other words there is no point in drying out what's dry already

Exactly!

[Aslan]

In other words there is no point in drying out what's dry already


Exactly!

No, not so much.

I'm telling you…there's no miss room anywhere on my THS. I just practiced all the **** I leanred Wednesday…only difference was I was in my home center. And wow…my ole friends the 1-2 and 1-2-8 and 1-2-10…they all were BACK baby!!

I don't have "Miss Room". I USED TO…on wood lanes. That was fun. Throw the ball at an area…ya miss a couple boards…still hit the pocket. Heck, you could miss 5-7 boards right and still hit the pocket. It was good times.

Now I got a board if I'm lucky. So this magical dry area that supposedly exists on a house shot…I'm not seeing it. And neither is anyone else. The pro shop guy caught me on my way out and asked me if I was getting any reaction because everyone was sayin they weren't getting any reaction…and HE with his super duper rev rate…also was getting virtually no movement when he bowled on the lanes last week. I'm telling ya…it's like bowling on the PBA Shark except one of Iceman's wood lane guys came out with a mop and threw down a little oil around the breakpoint area. Thats how it plays. And thats how it's played ever since they stopped cleaning/re-oiling the lanes twice a day.

So no…Rob didn't say there was already dry area out there…his advice was to work on a release that would allow me to hook a bowling ball in moderate to heavy oil volumes. That would be something. I like that idea. Except….every attempt I've made at it where my thumb had a part to play has failed:

1) High loft/high axis rotation/very little axis tilt: Thats bad. Ball hooks, but too early and loses energy.
2) Stay behind the ball! That also tends to fail because when I stay "behind the ball" the ball has a tendency to go end over end… = 0 hook. At which point, the experts will say, "Well, not THAT behind the ball".
3) Suitcase release….45 degree release…90 degree starting position…even added an adjustable wrist brace. ALL failed. The wrist brace added revs…for certain. But, so did bowling thumbless with a 9lb ball. The downside of both was the loss of accuracy and consistency.

So, we'll see. Obviously not in a good mood after that **** poor practice.

[Hampe]

Aslan, dude.....you are getting WAY too far ahead of yourself. You're worried about stuff that is WAY too advanced for where your game is right now. Manipulating the lane, using abralon pads while on the lanes.....these are pretty much the last things you need to be concerned with as a competitive bowler. What you're doing is akin to a golfer (I've only ever played on playstation....so I don't know if this is a terribly accurate analogy) trying to put spin on the ball to make up for not being able to hit the ball far enough. You need to worry about the fundamentals before you start worrying about things like burning a line or trying to influence someone else's line (like you pointed out yourself.....you're probably too inaccurate to make much of a difference anyway).

As for playing on poorly maintained lanes.....welcome to my hell. There's nothing you can do about poorly maintained lanes, dirty backends, etc. You just have to go with it, keep your head in the game, and keep looking for a line that gets you to the pocket. If you have to resort to playing straight to the pocket then so be it. If the lanes are poorly maintained, there is pretty much nothing you can do that will give you more miss room.


2) Stay behind the ball! That also tends to fail because when I stay "behind the ball" the ball has a tendency to go end over end… = 0 hook. At which point, the experts will say, "Well, not THAT behind the ball".I'd like to know which "expert" told you that.....

You can not have your hand "too much" behind the ball. There is no such thing. If you really are behind the ball, and you are just rolling it end over end, then it's your finger positioning that's causing that. If that is the case then your FINGERS are probably too much behind the ball. To generate the right amount of axis rotation you need to have your hand behind the ball, and your fingers inside (and underneath).

[RobLV1]

Aslan: Here's a suggestion for you. Instead of thinking about keeping your hand behind the ball, think about keeping your arm behind the ball. Stand facing a target, with your right arm down with your palm facing the target. Put your left hand on the inside of your right elbow, and turn your right hand until your thumb is pointing upward, without turning your elbow. That's how you "stay behind the ball" and still are able to hook it. Try different hand positions at the start of your set up to see if you can find one that will get you to be able to end up in that thumb up position without coming over the top of the ball (elbow also goes left).

[manke]

If you bowl at the same house you should know were to stand and throw your ball. Unless they change the pattern, the warm up should just be to get loose and dialed in.

[RobLV1]

If you bowl at the same house you should know were to stand and throw your ball. Unless they change the pattern, the warm up should just be to get loose and dialed in.

So true, unless... someone did routine maintenance on the oil machine, or didn't do routine maintenance on the oil machine, or there is a crown or a dip or some other topographic element that affects one of the lanes, or you are bowling an end pair that is very uneven, or the weather has changed to necessitate playing a different type of shot, or someone practiced on your pair before your league (this happens more than we would like to believe), or you notice that someone else is playing just to the left of you so that you will have no where to move, or... I guess not so true after all.

[fortheloveofbowling]

So true, unless... someone did routine maintenance on the oil machine, or didn't do routine maintenance on the oil machine, or there is a crown or a dip or some other topographic element that affects one of the lanes, or you are bowling an end pair that is very uneven, or the weather has changed to necessitate playing a different type of shot, or someone practiced on your pair before your league (this happens more than we would like to believe), or you notice that someone else is playing just to the left of you so that you will have no where to move, or... I guess not so true after all.

So what your telling me is i can't always stand on the big dot and aim toward the 2nd arrow???:)

[RobLV1]

So what your telling me is i can't always stand on the big dot and aim toward the 2nd arrow???:)

Ding, Ding, Ding... Give that man the prize! LOL

[rv driver]

For me, bowling is all about hitting the groove. If I can do that -- that is, just throw and not think -- I usually bowl pretty damn well. It's when I overthink or begin to try to "make" the ball do something that I run into trouble. For me, it's mostly a mental game.

[Aslan]

If you bowl at the same house you should know were to stand and throw your ball. Unless they change the pattern, the warm up should just be to get loose and dialed in.

True….IF they oil the lanes before the league plays on them (which they don't).

So…one night you come in and maybe three bowlers had rolled on those lanes all day….or you got a pair where 2 hours earlier "Little Jimmy" had his 8th birthday party there. Ya never know.

@others….Yeah…the release just isn't there yet. I'm not finding the spot between an end over end roller and coming over the top. And it's frustrating…because the wrist brace seemed to help put my hand in a better position…but then in BOTH of my last lessons…taking the wrist brace off and just making some minor changes…I was doing as well as I ever have. I agree with my coach…I don't want to become dependent on the wrist brace…where it becomes a crutch. I want to fix my release…so I can spend my time trying to get it consistent…rather than wasting 3 years with a 160s average because I can't seem to figure out the #1 contributer to bowlig success…the release.

I don't know. One minute things are clicking and I'm signing up for tournaments and playing in sport shot leagues…then the train derails and I'm wondering how much $$$ I could get if I sold all the bowling stuff and went back to playing hockey. Then, as the end is near…I go out and do something minimally okay…and suddenly I'm BACK!! I don't know. I might really try that "not trying" advice in the tourament Saturday. It can't hurt at this point.

[Amyers]

Good luck with your tournament and that crap hits us all especially when your making changes to your game

[Aslan]

Yesterday's lesson didn't go so well. I kinda feared it wouldn't because I just bowled my career best series the night before and was prone for a big letdown.

I guess my issues with why the lesson didn't go very well was:
1) With the wrist brace off, the release isn't always worse....it's just inconsistent. So I'm gonna have to keep that on until we can tackle the release issue...which we never got to because...
2) I had to again fix "timing". This whole dang year seems to be constantly trying to fix timing problems. Late, early, late, early...over and over again.
3) None of my coaches like my arsenal. And I don't blame them...it's not ideal. I pieced it together over a long time and didn't really know much about balls when I did. But...c'mon....YES...obviously technology is a changing...gotta stop resisting it....but if you're a 200+ average bowler...shouldn't you be at least a 180 average bowler with a urethane ball? I guess I just fear that when I finally change arsenals the coach isn't going to like that one either and try to push me into some $800 investment in this big, fancy, cutting edge bowling arsenal...which is SURE to be obsolete in 3-9 months.

To the last point....what would WRW shoot on a THS with a urethane ball? What could Rhino Page shoot with a Brunswick Strike King? I mean, pick your favorite pro...give them a new ball from 5 years ago...and you're telling me they'd be bowling in the 150s on a THS??? Of course not! I believe one of the fundamental annoyances with modern bowling is we're putting a LOT of technology into the hands of bowlers that for the most part can't get much out of it. I bowl with a 70+ year old on Wednesdays...nice guy...but he has like 16 bowling balls in his car on league night. He brings in about 8. NONE of them are lower end, mid-range, low hook balls. All are top of the line, big hook, performance/masters level lines: Guru, Hyper Cells, Masterminds, HX05, Deadly Aim, Jackal, etc... He has a bout a < 9mph ball speed and misses left about 1/3 of the time. He, despite carrying more balls than anyone else in the league, has relatively few "ball down" options...and he refuses to change his target. So how is the new technology "helping" him?

Mudpuppy cliff noting all that rambling...the best bowlers learn to bowl well, then use advanced equipment to optimize their game and take it to the next level. I am not a "best bowler". I am at BEST average. I need to bring my skill level UP....to the point that I can just use a house ball and score a 500 series. THEN...sign me up for the "ball of the month club" and WATCH OUT WORLD. But until then...giving me Radical Guru is like giving someone a .38 special to kill flies. It might work...but probably not a ton better than just using a fly swatter.

I think I gotta finally give in and set my mind free. I fear it may destroy a lot of the fundamentals I've been trying to work on...but whats the use of strong fundamentals if your own mind is blocking your ability to effectively execute those fundamentals? It's a conundrum. Where is Iceman and his sermons on "The Gift" when you really need him??

[Hampe]

but if you're a 200+ average bowler...shouldn't you be at least a 180 average bowler with a urethane ball? Yes....and if you're a 180 avg bowler, guess what your new average will be with a urethane ball.


I guess I just fear that when I finally change arsenals the coach isn't going to like that one either and try to push me into some $800 investment in this big, fancy, cutting edge bowling arsenal...which is SURE to be obsolete in 3-9 months.Don't you have like 15 undrilled balls sitting in your closet? Why don't you make a list and show your coach, I'm sure he could help you put together a decent 4-5 ball arsenal using the equipment you already have.


To the last point....what would WRW shoot on a THS with a urethane ball? What could Rhino Page shoot with a Brunswick Strike King? I mean, pick your favorite pro...give them a new ball from 5 years ago...and you're telling me they'd be bowling in the 150s on a THS??? Of course not! Who exactly are you arguing with with this ridiculous straw man? Of course the pros could shoot 220+ with a 10 year old ball.....**** they could wrap a ball in a towel and throw it down the lane and average 220 on THS. They're pro's.


I believe one of the fundamental annoyances with modern bowling is we're putting a LOT of technology into the hands of bowlers that for the most part can't get much out of it. I bowl with a 70+ year old on Wednesdays...nice guy...but he has like 16 bowling balls in his car on league night. He brings in about 8. NONE of them are lower end, mid-range, low hook balls. All are top of the line, big hook, performance/masters level lines: Guru, Hyper Cells, Masterminds, HX05, Deadly Aim, Jackal, etc... He has a bout a < 9mph ball speed and misses left about 1/3 of the time. He, despite carrying more balls than anyone else in the league, has relatively few "ball down" options...and he refuses to change his target. So how is the new technology "helping" him?I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your coach probably didn't suggest you just go get 6 of the strongest balls on the market as your arsenal. The point of having more than one ball is to have different balls for different situations and patterns. It's true there are a lot of bowlers today that never learn this and just keep buying the "strongest" ball they can find, but I haven't seen anyone here suggesting (and I'm guessing your coach as well) that you should be doing that.

[Aslan]

Don't you have like 15 undrilled balls sitting in your closet? Why don't you make a list and show your coach, I'm sure he could help you put together a decent 4-5 ball arsenal using the equipment you already have.

I don't they'll like that either. A part of me thinks it's a "wanting to sell me new balls" thing. I hope not...because I don't want the lesson to turn into a sales pitch...but I fear that when you have a coach that is a pro with a pro shop selling a line of bowling balls...they are going to always have that urge to try to use the lesson as an avenue to sales. And in my opinion, the coach then loses credibility because you don't really know if they're pushing a ball because it's truly the bes in the market for your game...or if they're pushing a ball that is 'okay' for you; but gives them the best profit/bottom line.

I find the above especially problemetic with pro shops that are heavily into Ebonite brands because Ebonite has a very aggressive sales program where you get volume bonuses for selling their products. You can almost always tell a pro shop that is participating in that program because:
1) Virtually every ball on their wall is Track, Columbia, Ebonite, or Hammer.
2) They have very little positive to say about any brand not listed above even if some of those other brands have really good new releases.
3) Their prices are usually much higher than other pro shops because I think the ball price is more set by Ebonite than locally.

Shops that don't participate in that program...I go in their shops and if I want a Columbia, Ebonite, or Track...I almost have to special order it because they carry the popular Hammer stuff but don't bother with the less popular brands.

[Amyers]

Have to say I would think with all the balls you already have they should be able to put together a decent arsenal without you purchasing anything else. There are a few balls that I think are innovative and different but most of it's just putting a new surface or color scheme from year to year on the same stuff. Does anyone actually believe that there's that much difference between the "rocket" and the "sky rocket" that you couldn't do in 15 minutes on a ball spinner?

I'm not a big fan of the hard sell for whatever line they are pushing either. I deal mostly with smaller proshops here so not as much of an issue (order through distributor) but we have one that thinks if it doesn't say Hammer on the side of it junk.

Will bowling with older equipment make a pro bowl poorly especially on THS? No but I have seen bad equipment choices and not matching up well turn a 220 roller into a 150 roller pretty quick a few times.

[Hammer]

I notice that when we are in the practice segment of league night my swing is more relaxed and I get strikes with ease without trying hard. When this is going on I make a
comment to one of my teammates that I wish I could get strikes this easily during the game when it counts. When it counts I can tell that my swing will change slightly like with more speed. This changes the angle the ball hits the pocket. The job during the game then is to get into the practice swing mode and slow the ball down a little. When I do that I get solid pocket hits for strikes. When I can get it zeroed in all I have to do is get comfortable in my setup and then make my approach and just let the swing do it's
thing. When you try to make it happen it will go wrong and the strikes will avoid you.

I am sure that for a lot of us when we are relaxed with our swing and just let it happen it turns out to be a night where we feel like we have our own personal groove in the alleys we are bowling on and that we can throw a strike with our eyes closed. When I had lessons with a coach he would tell me that I was trying to help the ball to go down
the lane instead of just letting the swing and release happen on it's own after I got setup and made my approach. Don't over think your swing and release.