Getting loose...

[santos314]

My form always seems to be better in my first game. During the first game the ball always feels heavy and I am stiffer so I am moving at a consistent slower tempo. When I get looser, I guess I get faster and sloppy. As the ball gets lighter I guess it gets easier to muscle the ball as well. Anyone else?

[Hawk]

A man's got to know his limitations..

[BobbyGunz89]

My form always seems to be better in my first game. During the first game the ball always feels heavy and I am stiffer so I am moving at a consistent slower tempo. When I get looser, I guess I get faster and sloppy. As the ball gets lighter I guess it gets easier to muscle the ball as well. Anyone else?

I have the same exact problem. My teammates will sometimes tell me to skip practice. But now that i have been bowling in more tournaments lately i've been practicing practicing lol. what i've been trying to do lately is after my 3 game set. A buddy of mine that i've been bowling with for 10+ years will go and throw another set right after to work on endurance, muscle memory, and we will watch each other to relay what he sees or how i felt throwing the ball and try to fine tune our games so we don't get sloppy on the loose end. My game is already starting to improve.

[bowl1820]

When I get looser, I guess I get faster and sloppy.

Faster & Sloppy Those are the problems. Fix: Practice speed control and not being sloppy when you get loose.

[fokai73]

There's a reason why I stretch out at work before heading to my truck and to leagues. Do jumping jacks or jog in place to get the blood flowing for at least a minute or two. Or 50 jumping jacks. Then I stretch out hands, fingers, arms, legs, and hips. 5 minutes of stretching at least.

When the lights come on, I never take a full approach. I always take an easy one step approach and feel my hand come off the ball with an easy relaxed swing. I have to get the feel of my release and the slower ball speed helps with reading the lanes. I do this a couple of times, then take a full approach with my spare ball going for the corners. I go for the pocket once or twice on each lane. If the lanes are playing differently, then my shadow bowling routine changes. But, what doesn't change is the stretching. Oh, and swinging the swing trainer which is 8-10lbs.?

The house shot almost always plays the same, especially with the Flex walkers each bowling centers have where I bowl leagues. Those high tech lane machines are accurate vs. the old wick ones they had.

[santos314]

I am definitely going to add stretching to my pregame. Back,arms,and legs....probably squeeze a tennis ball as well. My grips has gotten weaker with age.

[bowl1820]

I am definitely going to add stretching to my pregame. Back,arms,and legs....probably squeeze a tennis ball as well. My grips has gotten weaker with age.


This should give you some ideas:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg7m5XO1z0U

[bowl1820]

Plus this one

Chris Barnes Warmup | USBC Bowling Academy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4FsMmhDrYo

[santos314]

Plus this one
Chris Barnes Warmup | USBC Bowling Academy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4FsMmhDrYo

Awesome, thanks! I am definitely going to use these. I really l like Chris Barnes, he carries himself very well, true bowling professional.

[santos314]

I also discovered the tennis ball squeeze is great for warming up these aging digits!

[bowl1820]

Awesome, thanks! I am definitely going to use these. I really l like Chris Barnes, he carries himself very well, true bowling professional.

Yes and he appears in many of the USBC Academy videos.

[chip82901]

I coach a youth football team and before I start bowling, I go through the same stretches that I have them do before practice/games. Definitely stretch the legs, hamstrings, groin area, lower back, shoulders, wrist, the works. I'm only 29, but if I don't stretch before I bowl, man am I sore after. Also, try to incorporate some core routine into your daily lifestyle (planks, plank jacks etc), your body will love it after it gets used to it

[fokai73]

I used to have a tennis ball, the rubber sand ball thing you squeeze from Dick's sporting goods, and the grip tension squeeze thingy in my truck. Great way to loosen up your hand joints and muscles.

I also used to have the wrist forearm strengthener in my truck as well. Great tools to work out before league. Don't use it while driving though.

https://www.amazon.com/Sportneer-Strength-Exerciser-Strengthener-Developer/dp/B01N4FYIGN/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1507910751&sr=8-4&keywords=wrist+forearm+strengthener

[bowl1820]

I also discovered the tennis ball squeeze is great for warming up these aging digits!

Yes squeezing a tennis ball does help strengthen your grip.

Quote bowlingball.com:

Developing a stronger grip can be as easy as squeezing a tennis ball or a handball repeatedly every day and multiple times each day. If you begin squeezing one of these type balls about fifty times, three times each day, in a month’s time your grip will strengthen which will help you handle the weight of a bowling ball.

[AWbowler72]

I am usually the opposite The first game historically is always lower because I feel tight rolling the ball early on but as I progress everything just feels smoother and my targeting and overall approach get better and more consistent. Maybe its my age I dunno...

[Eddy]

"My form always seems to be better in my first game. During the first game the ball always feels heavy and I am stiffer so I am moving at a consistent slower tempo. When I get looser, I guess I get faster and sloppy. As the ball gets lighter I guess it gets easier to muscle the ball as well. Anyone else?" santos314

Not me. My first game is always the worst one. When I get looser later on, I'm much more able to adjust to what I need to do. But that's just me.