The Struggle

[billf]

I've been struggling all year. My timing has been a little later than usual and at times very late. It actually got to the point where I could feel myself pulling the ball down from the top of my backswing. As a consequence to keep from pulling everything I started short arming the ball. I don't work on my own game much but made an exception yesterday after youth bowling was over.
Starting the swing before the second step (5 step approach) felt very strange but still shot 652 in three games before moving on to spares. My thought on spares has been to get my ball speed lower or a lot closer to my first ball speed. I'm getting too old to keep shooting them at 20+mph.

My composite average for this season, counting today, is only 181. The only thing consistent has been my inconsistency. Yesterday I was falling off with the new timing but I also knew it was a result of a mental issue and was popping off long after the ball hit the arrows. Today it felt pretty good and I was able to post all my shots. Today I had three opens, all in the second game. Missed a 7 pin to the left, 10 pin to the right and hooked at the 3-6 missing it inside. The shot at the 7 pin was so bad the ball came out of the gutter to get the pin hence the score correction.
This season's previous high series was 614. So even though this should have and could have easily been a 700 I'm alright with it. Two stone 7s and three stone 9 pins easily could have gone my way too. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not.

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s413/billf99/10042015game%202_zpspjp4ne7b.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/billf99/media/10042015game%202_zpspjp4ne7b.jpg.html)

[J Anderson]

Obviously, one of the problems with being a coach is that we spend more time and energy helping others than we do on maintaining our own skill level. Then there's the additional problem of not being able to observe one's self. Glad you were able to figure things out and work on a solution.

Even though only one of my league averages is lower than last year, I feel like I've been in a slump. My spare shooting has felt/been awful, and my series have cosistently gone from my high game to start to my lowest game at the end. This last week, I feel like I'm coming out of it. Even though my sport league scores were lower than I would have liked, at least the went up each game. Managed to get a couple practice games in before helping with the youth clinic, and then had a series where I wentfrom a low of 167 in the first game to a high of 220 the last. Even followed the same pattern bowling lefty on Thursday ending on a 197.

[RobLV1]

I think that in a lot of cases, ignorance is bliss. The more that I am involved in coaching, and writing instructional articles, the worst I bowl myself. I usually find that when I'm not over-analyzing myself, I'm noticing something in someone else and thinking, "Gee, I could fix him." I almost think that it's a blessing in disguise that my back has gotten so bad, that I'm afraid the end is in sight for my own bowling.

[billf]

It was mentioned how my speed was way down. I got some strange looks when I said that was intentional. I don't want to get the feet moving until I'm confident I will start the swing at the correct time.

Obviously being the end pair they played totally different. Instead of different ball or lines I used different axis rotations and changed balls for both lanes the third game when I went deep.

Rob, sorry to hear your back isn't improving.

[RobLV1]

Thanks, Bill. It was actually kind of a relief to hear the Orthopedic Surgeon say that my back is so screwed up in so many places that surgery really isn't an option. He did say that if I have a really bad flare-up he could try cortizone, and accupuncture does help some. I do find that I now take bowling, and golf for that matter, one day at a time, and just do the best that I can with what I have. It really does suck getting old!

[NewToBowling]

Sorry to hear that Rib. Stay healthy

[NewToBowling]

Rob, not Rib

[RobLV1]

Thanks for the thought.

[jab5325]

I've been struggling all year. My timing has been a little later than usual and at times very late. It actually got to the point where I could feel myself pulling the ball down from the top of my backswing. As a consequence to keep from pulling everything I started short arming the ball. I don't work on my own game much but made an exception yesterday after youth bowling was over.
Starting the swing before the second step (5 step approach) felt very strange but still shot 652 in three games before moving on to spares. My thought on spares has been to get my ball speed lower or a lot closer to my first ball speed. I'm getting too old to keep shooting them at 20+mph.

My composite average for this season, counting today, is only 181. The only thing consistent has been my inconsistency. Yesterday I was falling off with the new timing but I also knew it was a result of a mental issue and was popping off long after the ball hit the arrows. Today it felt pretty good and I was able to post all my shots. Today I had three opens, all in the second game. Missed a 7 pin to the left, 10 pin to the right and hooked at the 3-6 missing it inside. The shot at the 7 pin was so bad the ball came out of the gutter to get the pin hence the score correction.
This season's previous high series was 614. So even though this should have and could have easily been a 700 I'm alright with it. Two stone 7s and three stone 9 pins easily could have gone my way too. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not.

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s413/billf99/10042015game%202_zpspjp4ne7b.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/billf99/media/10042015game%202_zpspjp4ne7b.jpg.html)

Congrats Bill--that's one heck of a first ball average.

Rob, I too hope your back gets better. Hang in there. Acupuncture (and chiropractic care) can be a big help.

[RobLV1]

Congrats Bill--that's one heck of a first ball average.

Rob, I too hope your back gets better. Hang in there. Acupuncture (and chiropractic care) can be a big help.

Thank you. My Chinese Doctor and my Chiropractor are at the top of the list of favorites in my cell phone. LOL

[billf]

Timing is everything (pun intended) Only 607 tonight. First ball average of 9.21, 18 strikes and 11 spares. Still 3 opens. Never had more than 3 strikes in a row yet only 1 less total than yesterday, 3 added spare and still 3 opens.
I start third shift tomorrow night so it will be interesting to see how I feel not having to work a full shift before bowling.

[foreverincamo]

Timing is everything. At practice last night I was struggling on getting consistent shots. My coach told me to stop rushing the push-away and yanking the backswing back. Just slow it down and let it flow naturally. Increase the speed gradually on the downswing and hit it when you need to, and I snapped off 9 straight strikes before fluffing one to the right.
My timing has been so much better in my league. The first three weeks I averaged 188. The second three weeks it's been 225.

[Aslan]

Agreed.

It's been so tough trying to perfect so many elements of my game...yet for two years it seems like nothing works because the timing is off. I've been ALL OVER the approach...slow feet, fast feet, smaller steps, different push-aways, etc, etc, etc.... Each time..."we gotta fix the timing".

I took a lesson with Mark Baker last month and the first video he shot of me, he kinda chuckled and when I asked why, he said, "well, it figures the first video I shoot of you and your swing and everything are almost perfect." I watched the video and the only difference between me and "ideal" was the ball was just a tad late during my slide. That entire lesson, I was pounding the pocket and it seemed like I could do no wrong. Then, my first step would get long...and I'd hit light.

Work with Rob....first step is too big. Work with my regular coach...gotta fix that first step, it's way too long. Work with Mark Baker...everything looks great...but the first step. You'd think timing would be an easy fix after two years...but nope. You'd think you could just take a shorter step without thinking about it...nope. Because when I take that step...it FEELS short...I'm intentionally making it a tiny step...but on video...it's easily 2x too long.

26 months of bowling...and I'm still trying to fix the first step of the approach. At this rate...maybe in two more years...I can start looking at that second step. :o

[Ishkabibble]

Aslan, Have you considered trying a 5 step delivery? Just an idea.

[Aslan]

Aslan, Have you considered trying a 5 step delivery? Just an idea.

Tried a 5-step when I was trying the Slowinski DYDS approach. Went away from it because my speed is probably a bit TOO high right now...and adding a step is just gonna end up giving me more speed. Obviously you can add a step and not speed...but then you start adding delays in the approach and the timing still suffers.

Right now I have a major problem that most people would think is a "nice problem to have" which is my speed. I have it listed as 16mph based on the monitors. But that's usually measured at the pins. The actual speed at release is probably closer to 18-19mph. Much of that speed is generated with my legs. The reason it's a "nice problem to have" is that many very skilled bowlers struggle as they get older because they lose speed and can't get it back. I've seen far, far, far more bowlers complaining that they can't keep their balls from hooking too much because they have 9-11mph ball speeds. So at my speed, if I can develop the hand to get it back to the pocket...and suddenly I'm almost at the same speed as the PBA tour.

I asked Parker Bohn III what he felt the biggest difference was between the competition on the Tour and the competition he was facing in the PBA50 and to my surprise he didn't even hesitate to answer, "Speed. Definitely speed." Guys like Parker and PDW...they still have those long, fast approaches...using the entire approach...and generating a great deal of speed. Most of the PBA50 is noticeably slower.

I've tried monkeying with the speed to slow things down a little...but eventually I lose focus and the speed starts creeping back up.

[JasonNJ]

Work with Rob....first step is too big. Work with my regular coach...gotta fix that first step, it's way too long. Work with Mark Baker...everything looks great...but the first step. You'd think timing would be an easy fix after two years...but nope. You'd think you could just take a shorter step without thinking about it...nope. Because when I take that step...it FEELS short...I'm intentionally making it a tiny step...but on video...it's easily 2x too long.

26 months of bowling...and I'm still trying to fix the first step of the approach. At this rate...maybe in two more years...I can start looking at that second step. :o

I think that may be your problem, you're thinking about it too much. Have you ever considered putting a piece of tape down for your first step? Figure out what the ideal first step is, put a piece of tape where that step should be then all you need to do to practice it is step on the tape. It may feel weird at first but you practice it enough times it'll start becoming more natural.

[NewToBowling]

I just noticed last night in my daughters room we have a mirror setup low at her level. I was walking by and noticed the angle was perfect to watch me practice my footwork :)

I did a few practice approaches just checking to see how I drifted. It helped a lot to see in real time without having to look directly down at my feet.