How do you warm up?

[collinwho]

I've gotten a few practice games in over the last week and one thing I've noticed is that it is taking me almost an entire game to warm up. For example, last night I went 126-197-230. I just seems like it takes about 8 or 9 frames to really loosen up and get my arm swing and legs loose and comfortable. When league starts I will get some warm up time, but we only get 8 minutes and with 10 bowler that doesn't amount to a whole lot of shots. I need to figure out some sort of stretching or warm up routine I can do before I start throwing the ball down the lane. Does anyone have anything that works really well?

[JasonNJ]

I just do some stretching but I know Norm Duke will run in place and do jumping jacks.

[LowDown]

If it's a serious league i'll find an unused lane and go through my approach without a ball. I am basically just building the confidence in my slide so that i'm not afraid of sticking, then maybe some quick squats to get the legs pumped. I'm not a big fan of stretching, I prefer to just get my body moving and blood/heart-rate up a little.

If it's a casual league i usually start with a couple of cold Bud Lights (gotta watch my figure) which seems to build my confidence as well.

[1VegasBowler]

I stretch and rotate my arm about 5 min before our 10 min of practice.

During the first few throws, I'm more interested in loosening my arm. After that I work on where my target(s) will be.

[panbanger]

I stretch and rotate my arm about 5 min before our 10 min of practice.

During the first few throws, I'm more interested in loosening my arm. After that I work on where my target(s) will be.

Same. During my first few shots of practice one of my teammates will sometimes tell me I need to move to the left or whatever, I say look dude I'm just loosening up and trying not to fall down lol

[2handedsniper]

I use Eileen's bowling buddy

[collinwho]

I use Eileen's bowling buddy

I've been thinking about getting the swing trainer for a long time. I'm just hesitant to spend $70+ for it. That's halfway to a new ball.

[JasonNJ]

I've been thinking about getting the swing trainer for a long time. I'm just hesitant to spend $70+ for it. That's halfway to a new ball.

I would think you could use one of those bowling see saw things and simulate the trainer. Maybe put like an 8 lb ball in one.

[collinwho]

I would think you could use one of those bowling see saw things and simulate the trainer. Maybe put like an 8 lb ball in one.

I was worried that a 15lb ball might eventually pull the seams apart on mine. Didn't even think about just grabbing a light house ball off the rack and using that. That sounds like an excellent plan.

[foreverincamo]

I get there early, like 45 minutes early. I pick out what rocks I want to start with (I bring 6 ) and put my shoes on. I'll do several no-ball approaches then I stretch everything I can. Arms, legs, back.....without doing this I wake up on Friday for work and feel like I was in a car accident.

[fokai73]

I bowl second shift and the hard part about bowling so late after diner, kids homework, and putting my 3 year old girl to bed is keeping my energy up. If I'm so tired from a long day, I get on the treadmill IF I HAVE TIME before I leave the house.

I normally get to the alley early and/or the league before us are still bowling, so I make use of the time and I head back to the locker room area and do jumping jacks and stretches. Then during warm ups, I "dump" the ball on the lane using a semi one step drill. Two reasons: 1. I want to feel my swing, release, and post. 2. I roll it slow and watch were my ball transitions - where the pattern ends. I do this about 3 to 5 times on each lane. Then once I feel loose enough, I shoot for corner pins with my regular approach until it's time to bowl.

[billf]

All the latest research on health and exercise science says to use dynamic stretches before (jumping jacks) to get the heart rate up and static stretches after. I call BS. I do static before and after as well as swing the ball without release and some movement depending on where I'm bowling. My home center has no room. There is no locker room and the restrooms are only big enough to be used for their intended purpose. When the lanes come on for practice I start slow and work up to rolling it as hard as I can. I don't care about lines, transition, etc. at this point. I just want my muscles loose and pumped with blood.

******I have the majority of the Eillen's bowling buddy products. They are high quality and work extremely well. Could they be made for less? Yes just as any product we purchase can but as usual probably not worth the time and effort.

[fokai73]

******I have the majority of the Eillen's bowling buddy products. They are high quality and work extremely well. Could they be made for less? Yes just as any product we purchase can but as usual probably not worth the time and effort.

Those products are good and highly recommend them, but I wouldn't spend that much on them. Maybe some, but not all. I've made my own rev trainer for less than $10 vs $95 plus shipping?!. I have 5 and 8 lbs. sandbags one that is square and a long one like a pin. And a soft ball. They work like EB products.

[billf]

Those products are good and highly recommend them, but I wouldn't spend that much on them. Maybe some, but not all. I've made my own rev trainer for less than $10 vs $95 plus shipping?!. I have 5 and 8 lbs. sandbags one that is square and a long one like a pin. And a soft ball. They work like EB products.

I already had the feel ball and axis trainer when they came out with the rev trainer. Hell a yo-yo works great to teach the modern release and is real cheap. But given I had the other two which I've used with great success with clients, I passed on the rev trainer even if it is a good tax deduction lol

[ep1977]

I bowl second shift and the hard part about bowling so late after diner, kids homework, and putting my 3 year old girl to bed is keeping my energy up. If I'm so tired from a long day, I get on the treadmill IF I HAVE TIME before I leave the house.

I normally get to the alley early and/or the league before us are still bowling, so I make use of the time and I head back to the locker room area and do jumping jacks and stretches. Then during warm ups, I "dump" the ball on the lane using a semi one step drill. Two reasons: 1. I want to feel my swing, release, and post. 2. I roll it slow and watch were my ball transitions - where the pattern ends. I do this about 3 to 5 times on each lane. Then once I feel loose enough, I shoot for corner pins with my regular approach until it's time to bowl.

Sounds like you have a ton of practice time before your league. Around here we get 10 minutes and with 4 man teams you don't get many practice shots.

[fokai73]

Sounds like you have a ton of practice time before your league. Around here we get 10 minutes and with 4 man teams you don't get many practice shots.

I bowl 3 man teams and yes we get a good amount of time to warm up. In fact, some nights the guys be calling the front desk to get started. We get done in less than two hours.. well, depending who we are bowling with. Some guys insist for two lane courtesy even though it's not part of the rules. We just give it to them.

[okfoz]

Before claiming that the Eileen's bowling buddy is expensive, try buying the silicone they use for many of their materials. I use it for different things in my job and it is quite expensive. It is a silicone that will not stick to other surfaces when molded, it only sticks to other silicone. I would have just made my own, but it was almost as expensive as just buying one made...

As for the warmups, I start by stretching my legs, hands, arms, back, toe touches, then my first few balls I take a no step or a one step approach to get my swing/timing for a ball or two, then I start my full approach.. I look funny looking like a 7 year old beginner swinging the ball for practice, but it works.

John