Hitting My Mark

[mhrinko]

Lately I have been trouble staying on my mark. I have no problem finding it, but after the first couple of grams, I just can't stay there. Any suggestions on how you stay focused ob your mark?

[TheSheibs]

Once I get set at my starting position, I look at my mark, not the pins, until I have released the ball and I keep looking at it until the ball goes past my mark. This helps me stay focused on it and only it. If I miss it, I miss it by a board or two. The lanes I bowl on usually allow for an error of up to three boards with still hitting the pocket. The lanes are ery forgiving too which helps.

[GeorgiaStroker]

I'm just getting back into bowling after a long layoff and I find myself missing my mark in the later games just due to a lack of stamina and focus. It's improving with every session but I guess it'll take a little time before I can bowl those marathon sessions I used to in my 20's

[Hampe]

Lately I have been trouble staying on my mark. I have no problem finding it, but after the first couple of grams, I just can't stay there. Any suggestions on how you stay focused ob your mark?Lol....lay off the nose candy, bro :p

[billf]

Try this article. There may be something here to help
http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinski_btm_june_2007_36-41_3point_targeting.pdf

[The German Shepherd]

Outstanding article...I knew I had been doing some things similar to to what this says, but Slowinski does a great job explaining.

Jay


Try this article. There may be something here to help
http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinski_btm_june_2007_36-41_3point_targeting.pdf

[TheSheibs]

Seems that process would only work if you know the oil pattern. If you don't know the oil pattern then you have to make a guess as to where the oil pattern ends to use this process. Plus you could fall under the spell of over thinking.

[billf]

Most THS are 38-44 feet. 3 rolls and you will know where it ends or you could just ask who ever oiled it. It's not that much thought; look down lane for a later break, short for an earlier break.

[ursus]

I find when I start to miss my mark, I am trying to rush things. I slow down my approach some and start hitting my mark more consistently

[mhrinko]

Thanks for all the input!!!

[billf]

Seems that process would only work if you know the oil pattern. If you don't know the oil pattern then you have to make a guess as to where the oil pattern ends to use this process. Plus you could fall under the spell of over thinking.
The point of the article is that conventional teaching is looking at a mark near the arrows. This is an area uncomfortable for a lot of bowlers and it's now accepted to change wear we target. It then teaches how to take the mark at the arrows and triangulate where to put the new, more comfortable to look at, mark.

[blong4133]

Once I get set at my starting position, I look at my mark, not the pins, until I have released the ball and I keep looking at it until the ball goes past my mark. This helps me stay focused on it and only it. If I miss it, I miss it by a board or two. The lanes I bowl on usually allow for an error of up to three boards with still hitting the pocket. The lanes are ery forgiving too which helps.

This.

Watch the ball roll over your mark. Don't look at the pins until your ball passes your mark. Also, your plant foot should be pointing at your mark after your release, and your elbow, shoulders, and hips should all be pointing toward your mark. If you're having trouble keeping on target, try slowing up your approach. Take a few breaths, focus on what you're doing, then roll the ball. Also, get into a rhythm or pattern on your approach. do the same thing every time. Don't pick up the ball one time, and put your fingers in and then get to your starting point, then the next time, get to your starting point and put your fingers in. Being consistent with hitting your mark is mostly mental, and by establishing a pattern every time you go up to bowl, this helps you in that respect.

Watch the guys on tour. Every time they get up there it's the same thing. They have a pattern, and if you look at their eyes, they are all looking down during their approach. They're not looking at the pins. Their eyes stay on their mark until the ball rolls over it.

Watching the Ball roll over your mark, and making sure your balance at the line (with your shoulders/elbow/hips/plant foot all pointing at your mark) will all help you be more consistent. Like I said, watch your speed because I have a tendency to speed up my approach every once in a while and that when I start missing my mark. Keep your approach slow and that will help as well.

[billf]

^^^^spot on and very well stated. A lot of bowlers were taught to stay square to the foul line and not the their target. I've noticed this is a problem with bowlers I work with especially once they have to move. I even wipe my ball after every throw even when the lanes are dry just to keep the same rhythm.

[J Anderson]

^^^^spot on and very well stated. A lot of bowlers were taught to stay square to the foul line and not the their target. I've noticed this is a problem with bowlers I work with especially once they have to move. I even wipe my ball after every throw even when the lanes are dry just to keep the same rhythm.

I got in the habit of wiping before every shot to keep my shirts from getting permanently stained. Who knew it was good for the ball too?;)

[billf]

Today I worked on speed control. I was also having trouble hitting my mark. I tried the targeting system mentioned. No oil pattern length known or anything like that. Actually the lanes were bone dry. I just moved my eyes from the arrows to the 45' mark (approximately) and started hitting my mark. My issue today wasn't really hitting the arrow I was aiming at but rather the ball going into the hook phase too early with bone dry lanes. This allowed me to watch my speed and it's affects with less hand in the ball versus a lot of hand in the ball.
How dry is dry? Tweener style hooking urethane from the 40 board kind of dry; hooking plastic from the 35th board kind of dry. It was so dry it made the Sahara look like an oasis. But this system worked to help me get the ball to where it needed to be.

[billf]

John, I have shirts that are just for bowling now due to the years before I learned about a pre-shot routine and the oil staining.

[Tampabaybob]

Here's something many bowlers don't think about. When you start the nite you are probably at your sharpest but give this a try right from the beginning. Once you get set and know where your target is, from that point in time until AFTER you release the ball.......
DO NOT BLINK YOUR EYES !! A sudden blink will make you lose sight of your target in a micro second. Try it and let us know if it helps. If you watch any of the PBA tour stops on TV you'll notice the camera on top of the ball return. Wait for a head shot of the bowler and watch his eyes... no blinking.

Bob

[billf]

Bob, I just looked at some video of me bowling well and not so good. There are other factors naturally, but I don't blink when bowling well. I blink once during the approach when bowling bad. I never even knew I didn't blink, never even thought about it.

[Tampabaybob]

Glad you have videos to be able to see that. Most bowlers don't have themselves on video and never realize that split second of a blink can alter so much in their approach. Glad to have been able to make you aware of it.

Also I believe I read on one of the blogs that you just became certified. Congratulations on that. I wish more people would get certified. I coach with about 8 others and I believe only 3 are certified. It bothers me because there is much information available to them that they could impart to the kids. By the way if you see one (some) of your kids missing their spot a lot try the "non-blinking " on them.

Bob

[JaMau24]

Why do I have trouble shooting spares with a straight ball? I understand that you would have to maybe see me shoot a spare with a straight ball to help dissect the problem, but without doing so, what could be the problem? I guess the question should be -- Why do I miss my mark so badly? Any tips on what I can do? I should add that I can pick up spares pretty damn well using my normal release (meaning curve it into the pins), but I'm starting to bowl on PBA and sport patterns now and it's extremely important to me and my game that I learn how to shoot a straight ball at spares... When I throw a straight ball at a spare, and when I make my mark somewhere close (like the arrows), I often times miss badly, but when I aim at the pin itself, I'm a lot more accurate but still not accurate enough. That being said, I'd prefer to hit a closer target, but have trouble doing so.

I'm trying hard to dissect the problem because I really don't believe the problem is inexperience of shooting a straight ball at spares (I'm sure it's part of the problem, and I'm going to continue practicing). I think there is something else to it that I'm doing wrong. I try to focus on moving my arm straight back then straight back forward, and follow through towards the mark and still have issues. Also, I don't think the spare ball I'm using is 100% drilled to my span. Could that be a BIG problem? Could that explain why I'm having trouble? Because the palm of my hand is arced off the ball, not flat on the ball.

[MICHAEL]

I find when I start to miss my mark, I am trying to rush things. I slow down my approach some and start hitting my mark more consistently

I agree 100 percent!! I do self talk, just before I start my approach,,, and my biggest problem is rushing things! Focus, good push away with the ball, nice fluid straight arc with ball swing back, focus, on arrow, and follow through! ( also watch my speed with fresh oil)!

[Tampabaybob]

JaMau..... Lets start at the beginning. When I'm coaching someone I teach that the 3 most important things in bowling is: 1. Accuracy, 2. Accuracy, & 3 Accuracy. Regardless of your style as long as you're lined up good, and hit your target, you should hit the pocket or have a good shot at the spare. With that said, first and foremost you "must " watch the ball roll over your arrow (or spot). Normally, if you find yourself missing your spares to the left (i.e.; pulling the ball), then you're lifting your eyes up prior to releasing the ball. Why does this happen? Because your release hand will always follow your eyes and in most shots your target is to the right of the object pin you're shooting. So the first step is to be sure of your accuracy. You should be able to tell someone standing behind you "exactly" which board your ball rolled over at the arrows. Basically you want to try to hit a gnats *** on an elephant. The next thing you want to see if you're doing, is pointing the ball at the pins rather than at the target on the lane. TRUST YOUR BALL. Just get the ball to the target on the lane. If you HIT THE TARGET, and miss your spare, then move your feet left or right to compensate. If you are confident in shooting most spares throwing a hook, then I would say throw the hook at most spares EXCEPT on the right hand side. There, use your spare ball. 3-6-10, 6-10, or 10 pin. I know that the "accepted method by the pros is to throw straight at 'all' spares, but not everyone shoots 60 - 100 games a week in practice or tournaments. Do what makes you most comfortable and confident. You do not have to throw a straight ball at all spares (especially the 2-8 and 3-9, always throw a hook at those two, it will increase your percentage) If you keep track of you spare shooting percentage, keep a record and each time you practice try to exceed your last outings percentage. If you're bowling in a league this summer, when you go to shoot a spare give yourself an additional second or two to be absolutely sure of your target alignment. If you have an app on an I-Pad thats great, If not most bowling centers can print your games after practice and you can go over the games after to analyze them.
Try a few of these things and let me know if it helps. There might be a couple of other things you could try as well. Also look at the thread above that I wrote about not blinking and try that also. That's a biggie. Good Luck & let me know.

Bob

[billf]

Jason, the span can play a huge role in accuracy especially when it's different than your primary ball. With the feel being off you could be releasing the ball late without realizing it. As we've all learned from reading the 3 point targeting with quiet eye article, the further down lane you look, the longer the ball will go. Maybe when you're looking at the pins your wrist stays straighter and the release closer to on-time.

[JaMau24]

JaMau..... Lets start at the beginning. When I'm coaching someone I teach that the 3 most important things in bowling is: 1. Accuracy, 2. Accuracy, & 3 Accuracy. Regardless of your style as long as you're lined up good, and hit your target, you should hit the pocket or have a good shot at the spare. With that said, first and foremost you "must " watch the ball roll over your arrow (or spot). Normally, if you find yourself missing your spares to the left (i.e.; pulling the ball), then you're lifting your eyes up prior to releasing the ball. Why does this happen? Because your release hand will always follow your eyes and in most shots your target is to the right of the object pin you're shooting. So the first step is to be sure of your accuracy. You should be able to tell someone standing behind you "exactly" which board your ball rolled over at the arrows. Basically you want to try to hit a gnats *** on an elephant. The next thing you want to see if you're doing, is pointing the ball at the pins rather than at the target on the lane. TRUST YOUR BALL. Just get the ball to the target on the lane. If you HIT THE TARGET, and miss your spare, then move your feet left or right to compensate. If you are confident in shooting most spares throwing a hook, then I would say throw the hook at most spares EXCEPT on the right hand side. There, use your spare ball. 3-6-10, 6-10, or 10 pin. I know that the "accepted method by the pros is to throw straight at 'all' spares, but not everyone shoots 60 - 100 games a week in practice or tournaments. Do what makes you most comfortable and confident.

Good stuff there, Bob. Thanks. I probably will continue throwing a hook at spares during league (on a house shot), but being that I'm joining a sport league and now starting to bowl on PBA/sport patterns, it's important to me and my game I get the spares locked down. We all know how challenging the patterns are, and you're only making them harder by trying to hook the ball into your spares, especially your single pin spares. I'm trying to completely take the lane condition out of the equation when I'm shooting spares on PBA/sport patterns.


You do not have to throw a straight ball at all spares (especially the 2-8 and 3-9, always throw a hook at those two, it will increase your percentage)

Yeah, this I know.


If you keep track of you spare shooting percentage, keep a record and each time you practice try to exceed your last outings percentage. If you're bowling in a league this summer, when you go to shoot a spare give yourself an additional second or two to be absolutely sure of your target alignment. If you have an app on an I-Pad thats great, If not most bowling centers can print your games after practice and you can go over the games after to analyze them.
Try a few of these things and let me know if it helps.

I have an iPhone app I keep track of everything on, so it will all be charted.


There might be a couple of other things you could try as well. Also look at the thread above that I wrote about not blinking and try that also. That's a biggie. Good Luck & let me know.

Bob

Oh yeah, not blinking is a big deal. I've always made it a point not to blink. I know how much it can distract you. Happened to me just the other day in practice, I blinked, and it took away my focus and I missed my mark by 7 boards.

Anyway, thanks for the help, I'll let you know if it gets any better.


Jason, the span can play a huge role in accuracy especially when it's different than your primary ball. With the feel being off you could be releasing the ball late without realizing it. As we've all learned from reading the 3 point targeting with quiet eye article, the further down lane you look, the longer the ball will go. Maybe when you're looking at the pins your wrist stays straighter and the release closer to on-time.

Hmm... good point Bill. Now that you mention it, I'm starting to wonder, like you said, maybe because I'm targeting closer, I'm letting go of it sooner. I'll really focus on trying to target closer, but throw the ball as if I was targeting the pin. Maybe that will give me a complete swing with a nice follow through.

I really need to get that ball span fixed... I don't want to if it's not the problem though. Anyway, thanks for the help.

[Greenday]

Once I get set at my starting position, I look at my mark, not the pins, until I have released the ball and I keep looking at it until the ball goes past my mark. This helps me stay focused on it and only it. If I miss it, I miss it by a board or two. The lanes I bowl on usually allow for an error of up to three boards with still hitting the pocket. The lanes are ery forgiving too which helps.

I tried this out today. After they oiled the lanes, I bowled a 190, a 210, and a 198. My average has been in the low 160s. My spare shots were dead on every single throw. My strike throws were consistently in or very close to the pocket. This worked great!