It's about friggin time

[RoccoRock]

After a year, hundreds of games, lots of practice, a bunch of experiments, and many disappointing series, I finally broke through last night. I finally bowled a 600 series one handed, using my thumb. I have a bunch of 600's with thumbless, and two handed styles, but until last night I just couldn't put a full series together one handed, thumb in. I wasn't even planning on bowling one handed, but something clicked in my head yesterday afternoon. I remembered some of my practices, what I did wrong, what I did right, and thought I may be able to put it all together. The plan was to bowl 2 practice games, and if it felt good go with it, if not go to two hands in my league warmup. I went 243 189 in practice. As those games went on, I started to struggle. Thanks to my old friend video, I saw the problem and fixed it. My backswing was getting too high. For mr, if my backswing gets above shoulder height, I get sloppy. Fixed it, finished well.

League warmups went well. I almost blew the first game. First frame was an open, on a makeable spare. 10th frame coming off a spare, I guttered. Made the spare, then struck for a 201. Follwed that with a solid 230. Game 3 was all strikes and 9's, but 2 missed 10 pins cost me a bigger score. 223. So I got my 600 finally, and all 3 games over 200. I'm happy, and I hope I can improve on that next week. The best part is my back feels good, unlike when I bowl two handed.

So I have 600's using 3 different styles, how many people can say that? Next up is trying for a 700 using two styles (I have one using thumbless), and a 300 game with two styles (I have one with two hands).

Oh, and I love my Diva, that ball is sick.

[billf]

Congrats!
I'm sure there aren't many people with a 600 series with three different styles of delivery.

[The German Shepherd]

Well done! Looks like you are progressing very well. You're right about the arm-swing. Keep it controlled, consistent and relaxed and you will have a very solid building block for the rest of your game.

Jay

[RoccoRock]

I'm hesitant to say I think I have things figured out, and I'm comfortable with my "new" delivery. I've thought that before, and then proceeded to bowl like crap the next few weeks. I just hope it wasn't just one good night, and it's a building block. It's the same story over and over, the only difference this time is I actually pulled off the 600 I kept missing out on. I hope to get out and practice tomorrow, and see of I can build on a good night.

I went down and watched my buddy bowl a PBA regional event today and saw just how far away from my goals I really am. Some really good bowlers there, including Ryan Schafer, and Patrick Allen. My buddy wanted me to bowl the regionals too. I wouldn't even qualify with my average, and even if I did I would have finished dead last. I also noticed there were no two handed bowlers there at all. Just an observation, it doesn't matter to me one way or the other what everyone else is doing, or thinks of the way I bowl. All I know is my back feels a whole lot better this week after a week of one handed bowling as opposed to last week when I bowled the whole week two handed.

[vdubtx]

I hope to get out and practice tomorrow, and see of I can build on a good night.

Best way to keep bowling the way you did is to practice, practice, practice. Consistency is key. Repeat shots with minor adjustments on the lanes and you will be shooting another 600 in no time.

[RoccoRock]

I've been practicing almost every day for over a year. That's what's so frustrating. I practiced today, no scores just target shooting. I'll practice tomorrow and both practice and league Wednesday. I would love to string 4 or 5 straight 600's the way I did back in February when I was two handing. I think it's very possible.

When I found out that this summer league was just a non sanctioned mixed league, I thought I could use it for one of two things. Either bowl the whole season two handed, and see if I could maintain an average over 200. The other option was bowl one handed, and see if I can progress, and bowl a few 600's finally, and shoot for a 190 average. Looks like I'm headed for option two, and with getting that first 600 out of the way so early, I'm thinking I can shoot for an average over 200 one handed. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself again, but I have a good feeling about my one handed game... ... again.

[aussiedave]

After a year, hundreds of games, lots of practice, a bunch of experiments, and many disappointing series, I finally broke through last night. I finally bowled a 600 series one handed, using my thumb. I have a bunch of 600's with thumbless, and two handed styles, but until last night I just couldn't put a full series together one handed, thumb in. I wasn't even planning on bowling one handed, but something clicked in my head yesterday afternoon. I remembered some of my practices, what I did wrong, what I did right, and thought I may be able to put it all together. The plan was to bowl 2 practice games, and if it felt good go with it, if not go to two hands in my league warmup. I went 243 189 in practice. As those games went on, I started to struggle. Thanks to my old friend video, I saw the problem and fixed it. My backswing was getting too high. For mr, if my backswing gets above shoulder height, I get sloppy. Fixed it, finished well.

League warmups went well. I almost blew the first game. First frame was an open, on a makeable spare. 10th frame coming off a spare, I guttered. Made the spare, then struck for a 201. Follwed that with a solid 230. Game 3 was all strikes and 9's, but 2 missed 10 pins cost me a bigger score. 223. So I got my 600 finally, and all 3 games over 200. I'm happy, and I hope I can improve on that next week. The best part is my back feels good, unlike when I bowl two handed.

So I have 600's using 3 different styles, how many people can say that? Next up is trying for a 700 using two styles (I have one using thumbless), and a 300 game with two styles (I have one with two hands).

Oh, and I love my Diva, that ball is sick.

That is an interesting stat. I reckon I could bowl decent two handed, but thumbless would be difficult for me I think.
I also had a breakthrough last week - 172 - 277 - 246 = 695. First time over 248 in league and demolished my previous league high of 643. My epiphany was to just let the ball swing through nice and easy instead of trying to put revs on it.
Oh, and had 607 the week before with the same method so it wasn't a fluke.
ad.

[billf]

I've been practicing almost every day for over a year. That's what's so frustrating. I practiced today, no scores just target shooting. I'll practice tomorrow and both practice and league Wednesday. I would love to string 4 or 5 straight 600's the way I did back in February when I was two handing. I think it's very possible.

When I found out that this summer league was just a non sanctioned mixed league, I thought I could use it for one of two things. Either bowl the whole season two handed, and see if I could maintain an average over 200. The other option was bowl one handed, and see if I can progress, and bowl a few 600's finally, and shoot for a 190 average. Looks like I'm headed for option two, and with getting that first 600 out of the way so early, I'm thinking I can shoot for an average over 200 one handed. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself again, but I have a good feeling about my one handed game... ... again.

It's been over 5 hours. Still trying one-hand or back to two-hand again? Just kidding.
You've put in the time so hopefully you never go below 600 again.

[RoccoRock]

It's been over 5 hours. Still trying one-hand or back to two-hand again? Just kidding.
You've put in the time so hopefully you never go below 600 again.

Well I have been doing some thinking about two handing... ...just kidding. This is what usually happens. I make plans, then they get ruined when I actually hit the lanes and realize I suck. Last week was the first time in a while I got through an entire night of one handing without shaking my head and thinking what the hell am I doing. I took a while, but I've worked out a lot of the major kinks. I'm not trying to take parts of other peoples game and adopt them to mine. I'm using the techniques I am best at. Keeping my balance arm out, instead of in front of me had helped a lot. It keeps my shoulder from turning too much, and keeps the ball in line with my head. I also went to a push away instead of a hinge, I like the push away better. I fixed my timing on my 5 step approach. I also figured out I have short steps, so I am starting closer to the foul line. I stopped playing with the Sarge Easter grip, and lowered my backswing. The only issue that bothers me a little is I come off the side of the ball. I have a near 90 degree axis. I stay behind the ball until I get it to the bottom of the swing, then I turn my wrist and come up the side. The good thing is I look at Pete Weber's hand on release, and it looks the same as mine. The bad thing is I don't have near Mr. Weber's talent. The other good news is my friend/coach does pretty much the same thing. In fact, without trying, my delivery is close to a mirror image to his delivery, he's a lefty, I'm a righty. I'm waiting until he has some free time to really work with me. He gives me a tip here or there on Facebook, but we haven't had time to get together. He was bowling 3 leagues, and practicing for the regionals. I think his help can really push me over the top, especially with making spares.

[billf]

Good to see you're figuring out what works for you. It is a process and you may even try some of the things that didn't work now, later, and find they work then. The best part of that, you already have experience with them.
As much as I prefer the hinge over pushaway for many reasons, there are bowlers that I have switched from hinge to push away. There isn't anything in this sport that works for 100% of bowlers 100% of the time. Just remember, as good as Weber and WRWJr are, they lose way more games than they win. It's the nature of the sport. So don't let a few bad games or days or even weeks deter you.