How do you Practice?

[vdubtx]

5) PBA Level elite....so upper echelan that their game is so solid...there are very few physical things to consider...the score is irrelevant...and they've had the same stats for the last 8 years.

6) See #5, but this guy is also so wealthy, he/she can also hire others to film him/her while bowling, analyze said data with a team of experts, put it into a useful presentation...and add that to #5.

You don't have to pay for someone to analyze your videos, or even film you for that matter. Set your phone up on a table or get one of those Gorilla tri-pods, they work great. Can take your own videos behind, to the side or even in front if your center allows that.

There are plenty of coaches that will analyze and respond to you regarding what they see is an issue and suggest some fixes for it. Bowlingchat.net is great about this. They have a sub section with certified coaches that are more than willing to help you out.

[RobLV1]

Aslan: Okay, you want to keep data then keep it, BUT, forget about how many six pins you cover, or how many ten pins you miss, and keep track of some more important things:

What percentage of your shots are you able to post?
How often do you actually remember to watch your ball as it exits the pin deck?
How often do you remember to check the rack before you bowl?
When you are using the wrong ball on the wrong line, how many shots that are physically successful, regardless of the results at the pins?
When you change balls, how often can you strike on the very first attempt?

These are important stats for practice. Anything else is a waste of time.

[bowl1820]

The first part of this video discusses practice.

[djp1080]

When I go out for some practice, I'll expect to bowl three or four games. I look at the score, but don't pay much attention to it. I concentrate on keeping my backswing down and hand behind the ball as they go hand in hand for me. I'll test the lanes to see if they're pretty fresh or not by rolling the ball in various areas. Then I'll work on spare shots usually starting with the 10-pin and the 7-pin and work inward from there. When I get half way through game 2 or into game 3, I'll roll a few shots aiming at the pocket once I'm warmed up. I'll go back to shooting spares again while continuing to pay attention to my backswing and hand. I do work with a coach from time to time. If he points out something specific to work on, I'll do just that. Sometimes I'll just do quite a few one step or foul line drills before getting into shooting spares and such. I probably should do more of those than anything... Also, I never reset the pins when I don't get a strike...

[billf]

Rob,
Working at the center I have access others may not.
1. pinsetters are usually on but scoring is never turned on. This is a staple of any of my coaching sessions as well. The look new clients give me when I tell them to bowl with no pins is priceless.
2. I always practice with a plan. Without purpose it's just going through the motions
3. footwork, timing, balance and hitting a target at the arrows doesn't require oil. Neither does working on different hand positions. Back to the first sentence: I can oil when I want but I try not to abuse that privilege. We have Sport Shot Friday where we put out a sport shot on half the lanes for ALL bowlers to practice on. This to me, is the time to see how the things we've been working on play out with oil.
4. When pins are up I try to purposely leave certain spares. Leaving a flat 10 intentionally is a great tool to show us why we may leave so many during competition. Same with a 7 pin. Now try leaving a 5-7 or 6-7-10 intentionally. Not as easy as it sounds
5. Also use targeting tools (pcv pipe like in the USBC videos) at the arrows and range finders.
Common drills
Foul line
1 step
release drill
catch and release

[RobLV1]

Rob,
Working at the center I have access others may not.
1. pinsetters are usually on but scoring is never turned on. This is a staple of any of my coaching sessions as well. The look new clients give me when I tell them to bowl with no pins is priceless.
2. I always practice with a plan. Without purpose it's just going through the motions
3. footwork, timing, balance and hitting a target at the arrows doesn't require oil. Neither does working on different hand positions. Back to the first sentence: I can oil when I want but I try not to abuse that privilege. We have Sport Shot Friday where we put out a sport shot on half the lanes for ALL bowlers to practice on. This to me, is the time to see how the things we've been working on play out with oil.
4. When pins are up I try to purposely leave certain spares. Leaving a flat 10 intentionally is a great tool to show us why we may leave so many during competition. Same with a 7 pin. Now try leaving a 5-7 or 6-7-10 intentionally. Not as easy as it sounds
5. Also use targeting tools (pcv pipe like in the USBC videos) at the arrows and range finders.
Common drills
Foul line
1 step
release drill
catch and release

Your post emphasizes what I believe to be true: bowling centers are not willing to set lanes up for practice. Get the score out of there, and bowlers are more likely to actually practice without the score showing.

[J Anderson]

Your post emphasizes what I believe to be true: bowling centers are not willing to set lanes up for practice. Get the score out of there, and bowlers are more likely to actually practice without the score showing.

We run an hour and a half clinic for our youth bowlers almost every Wednesday. Sometimes, i.e. when Chris Forry is coaching or when one of the other coaches happens to remember to do it, we use the "remove bowler" function so no score is displayed and the speed is not displayed. Even when we forget, only one score is shown per lane so any one wanting to know their score has to keep it manually. Some weeks we have a plan for the kids to work at. Other weeks we will ask the kids what they plan to work on.

[J Anderson]

I'm trying to put together some research for an upcoming article on practice. How do you practice? Do you keep score? Do you have a specific goal in mind? Do you just practice strikes and reset the pins when you don't get one? To you ever do any particular drills? Please be honest!

I usually start by playing my own version of Low Ball, try for the ten pin right handed, the 7 pin left handed. Sometimes I will then move on to shooting at key pins. I will go for the 10, the 6, the 3 and so on. I may try to convert the leave, or I might shoot the mirror image pin. I have been known put 4 balls on the return and use them in rotation. I may try finding a line to the pocket through each arrow.
The only drill I do on the lanes is a one step drill.
I never reset the pins in practice.
I tend not to set goals. I don't think in terms of " My goal is to make 95% of my single pin spares." I do plan what to practice. This week I should work on observing the ball all the way through the pins.
The scorer is on when I practice. I claim that I don't pay attention to it. I probably do if someone is practicing with me.

[LOUVIT]

i have issues with practice, since I just come off a long layoff I should be practicing,yet I still shoot for score. i went 2 days ago to work on my 10 pin shot and couldn't do it. Believe me I should have

[billf]

i have issues with practice, since I just come off a long layoff I should be practicing,yet I still shoot for score. i went 2 days ago to work on my 10 pin shot and couldn't do it. Believe me I should have

I have a few issues with this post.
1. length of layoff does not determine if we should practice. Of course it all depends on how much improvement you want to see. Given your age a PBA title probably isn't your goal but with so many PBA50 events in Florida, why not?
2. last practiced two days ago. Goes right back to the same reasoning for question1. FYI there are also drills that can be done away from the lanes as well as items to assist with them. See www.eileensbowlingbuddy.com for some great tools.
3. Couldn't do it. This is the one that set me off and the one I hope Bob gets on you for. You could have done it but you chose not to. You let the sight of seeing a bigger number on the scoreboard lure you away from what you needed and intended to accomplish. There was no physical reason making this happen you consciously chose to abandon your game plan, a plan you knew was right. It's time for you to step up the mental game.

I have a little speech I give all new clients and it's part of the contract we sign. "Can't is a word that will not be tolerated. Part of my job is to evaluate your abilities and determine the best course of action that will induce the fastest improvement. I will never ask you to perform a task that you are not physically capable of." "When I ask a question I want one of two things, your opinion or a fact. I don't want an excuse. I don't know IS an acceptable answer. If excuses become an issue even after several warnings our agreement to work together will be terminated. You will be told when you have reached your final warning so save your excuses for school or work."
Last one here is my favorite. "How we choose to determine what type of bowler you will be style-wise will depend on you and your physical abilities and not whether you were born male or female. Therefore "but I'm a girl" will be deemed a fact that is also an excuse and will not be tolerated. It's my firm belief that the physical traits needed for bowling such as a strong core and strong legs should actually give females an advantage. This hasn't happened and I believe it is due to so many being told they couldn't be power players simply because of anatomy."
I have two athletic girls that just love beating the guys. Heather is 5'2" athletic 125 pounds going into her senior year. She qualified second, finished third at a youth tournament in Kentucky June 26th. This earned her an invitation to another tournament there July 17th. This is an adult tournament, mostly men and invitation only. Top two earn an entry for the PBA Regional. Even if she finishes dead last just to be invited is a huge honor and will definitely help with college scholarships. Right now she is leaning towards Pikeville but still has to visit Weber. She is bowling three sport shot leagues this summer, JTBA, Future Stars and travel league on weekends along with other tournaments that pop up. She also works and we practice four days a week, 90 minute sessions plus she runs 5 miles every morning and hits the gym 3-4 days a week depending on how her body feels. Now this is a level of dedication and passion that not everyone can do. But it is why she will be a pro one day and hopefully an Olympic bowler (if they ever get in).