USBC SILVER CERTIFIED COACH
Gold Coach Candidate
Owner/Operator of Bowlerz Score Coaching
Tweener Rev Rate of 420, Speed 19 mph
Key Bowling Staff Member
Key Bowling Coaching Staff
IBPSIA member
Former Staff Bowler at www.BowlerX.com
I agree that having a short memory and not thinking about the bad shots or good shots for too long is a good thing. If you just got a strike and are thinking about how much you want another one, odds are you will do something subconsciously that will be a mistake and you will not get a strike on your next attempt. This brings me to my tip.
Don't over-think or over-analyze what you last frame or the frame before that, or about what you did your last game.
The two best pieces of advice I can add to the thread:
#1: If anything is going wrong, SLOW DOWN. My dad told me this for a decade before I understood that when I think too much, I speed up. Slow down fixes my bowling, my slice on the golf course, and whatever else you feel like using it for. Sounds simple, but trust me, if I had someone that said slow down every 15 minutes to me, I would be a better bowler/golfer.
#2: Watch everyone's shots, not just your own. You are not the only one moving the oil around. Pay attention to where other people are playing, what balls they are using, and what success/lack there of they are having. Your shots are important for your form, release, speed, and ball choice. The lane determines a lot of things too. I can't tell you how many times someone says, I can't believe the lanes changed after just one shot. THEY DIDN'T, 7 other people are bowling on your pair too! Pay attention to everything, and you will be better informed on what adjustments to make.
Daniel Mareina
Storm Staff Member
Bowling Center Manager/Pro Shop Operator/Bowling Coach
I always keep a tin of mints in my bag. Having a mint will keep me from needing a drink of soda for a few frames. I always seem to over-do the rosin bag after my hand gets a little moisture on it from taking a drink. Even when I take drinks with my non-bowling hand, I get nervous about getting moisture on the ball, etc.
Sorry billf didnt mean it like that i really didnt know lol.
no its not i just bowled the thanksgiving classic there one year as a junior bowler. I actually live in the bronx and my home center is White Plains lanes.
Here's a tip I was thinking of today, and I want to hear everyones opinion on this. Bowling is not poker, you make your own luck. If you are leaving the 10 pin, or the 7 constantly, you are more than likley doing something wrong. Can you get bad breaks, sure, but if in 10 frames you leave the 10 pin 4 times, it's not the lanes, it's not bad luck, it's you, or maybe your ball choice. I'll never forget this guy in my league this year, he left 2 splits, and the 10 pin twice, and turned to me in the 10th and said, man this should be a perfect game. Really? Ok, you had some bad leaves, but what about those 2 Brooklyn strikes? I guess the tip should actually be, you need to be able to tell the difference between "bad luck," and your mistakes.
Dan....
Both tips are extremely good tips. If I may add to yours..
1. When you're having problems, big problems scoring, GO BACK TO BASICS. Stop trying to force your shot and go back to your comfort zone and relax. Lose the tension in your body and it will, should, eventually come back to you. We all 'slowly' fall into bad habits without realizing it, and find that we end up beating ourselves. Simplify everything and tell yourself "Just make a good shot".
2. Whenever I have shot a tournament, and there have been hundreds, I've always gone in to the lanes early and walked the lanes, looking at what the other bowlers are shooting for equipment and where they're playing. Look for the guys that are carrying and playing approximately the same area as you do. It'll save you precious time in trying to figure out where you should start.
Bob
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