Thoughts on "My ball won't hook anymore" problems

[GoodGravy]

Great help all around!!!

It seems that in this case, I was releasing my ball just a tad early which cased a very shallow axis tilt...and I was carry a little to much speed to complicate matters more. I slowed down and concentrated on releasing the ball after I 'almost' completed my slide. I was able to move back left (yes, I was compensating by getting into the second arrow 'no man zone')and start throwing back over 15+ board.

Much better!

I may write down some of your ideas and put them in my bag, just in case I run into this again and can't figure it out!

[classygranny]

[QUOTE=GoodGravy;86569]Great help all around!!!

It seems that in this case, I was releasing my ball just a tad early which cased a very shallow axis tilt...and I was carry a little to much speed to complicate matters more. I slowed down and concentrated on releasing the ball after I 'almost' completed my slide. I was able to move back left (yes, I was compensating by getting into the second arrow 'no man zone')and start throwing back over 15+ board.

Much better!

I may write down some of your ideas and put them in my bag, just in case I run into this again and can't figure it out![/QUOTE]

I have what my teammates, hubby, and sister refer to as my "bowling bible". I keep notes from here, from coaching sessions, those "light bulb" moments while I'm bowling, reminders of what I need to work on for the coming up session, etc, etc. Then I review the previous coach session and my goals of what to concentrate on for the upcoming session while i'm waiting for the bowling league to get started. Then if I get into trouble, I have notes in my folder/notebook that I can easily refer to - and yes, they are in alphabetical order for the most part.

I would suggest everyone do this until you are bowling at the level you want to plateau at. I find that just writing the information down (maybe never looking at it again) will often help me to retain and recall the data easier.

Of course, you have to remember to - I can't remember very well, so I rely on any little trick to help me in this way, so you may want to just take this with a grain of salt.

[Judy clemons]

i like this ideal that is what I need a bowling bible I am always jotting notes down but in reality I tended to lose them I
never had them to go back to maybe this will help me keep up with them but how in the world do you manage to put them in alpha order?

[classygranny]

i like this ideal that is what I need a bowling bible I am always jotting notes down but in reality I tended to lose them I
never had them to go back to maybe this will help me keep up with them but how in the world do you manage to put them in alpha order?

Well, sorta in alpha. I'm old school. Notebook with notebook paper. Make my notes - different ideas, coach tips, instructions each on a separate page. Then at the top I put a key word, like STANCE - this would have everything that I have changed and am working on that has to do with my stance. So my "form" issues are pretty easy. Stance, Footwork, Balance, Release. The other stuff, I just try and put a key word that I would tend to look for if things go awry while I'm bowling...leaning, timing, release. These aren't as easy. When I really get in trouble, I just start flipping through pages to see if a light bulb goes on and reading/skimming notes usually makes me get my head back into the game - not necessarily what I am reading.

Before I bowl any session, I try and write down one to three things I want to work on. If during practice I see that I am going to have to concentrate on something different then I modify the list and then try and stick with it so I'm not "overthinking" my bowling. I tend to be very competitive-mostly with myself and I am working on relaxing and taking some of the thinking out of my game. The list and notebook help because I can get it in my head, without putting all my efforts into trying to "remember".

Then one section is where I keep the details of my games. Scores, #of strikes, spares, opens, splits - average for night, average for league, lanes, line I started with and ended with, ball(s) used. I'm actually currently tracking each shot leave, target, and actual board hit. Then when we return to those lanes, I start at the same place and find I spend less time trying to lineup.

[DLP]

Well, sorta in alpha. I'm old school. Notebook with notebook paper. Make my notes - different ideas, coach tips, instructions each on a separate page. Then at the top I put a key word, like STANCE - this would have everything that I have changed and am working on that has to do with my stance. So my "form" issues are pretty easy. Stance, Footwork, Balance, Release. The other stuff, I just try and put a key word that I would tend to look for if things go awry while I'm bowling...leaning, timing, release. These aren't as easy. When I really get in trouble, I just start flipping through pages to see if a light bulb goes on and reading/skimming notes usually makes me get my head back into the game - not necessarily what I am reading.

Before I bowl any session, I try and write down one to three things I want to work on. If during practice I see that I am going to have to concentrate on something different then I modify the list and then try and stick with it so I'm not "overthinking" my bowling. I tend to be very competitive-mostly with myself and I am working on relaxing and taking some of the thinking out of my game. The list and notebook help because I can get it in my head, without putting all my efforts into trying to "remember".

Then one section is where I keep the details of my games. Scores, #of strikes, spares, opens, splits - average for night, average for league, lanes, line I started with and ended with, ball(s) used. I'm actually currently tracking each shot leave, target, and actual board hit. Then when we return to those lanes, I start at the same place and find I spend less time trying to lineup.

Love that idea!!! Think I'm going to start keeping a notebook in my ball bag to start doing the same. Since it's all about consistency and being able to repeat what's been done previously, what better way to keep track of that than writing it all down!

[travkoiboi]

Storm cover stocks are the best but you have to take care of them the most. I've noticed with a couple different balls that after I throw ethyl alcohol wipes is the best to get the oil off. It takes about a minute to rid a ball of fresh oil just after throwing. I have never had to bake a ball because I try to not let oil soak in the stock. It sounds like your ball could use a bake then take care of it post-game.

[edpup316]

Storm cover stocks are the best but you have to take care of them the most.

Oh really? Random, extremely subjective and unhelpful. Yes he has a Storm bowling avatar but it doesn't mean he was using a storm ball when the problem occurred.

[Tampabaybob]

[QUOTE=classygranny;86570]

Great help all around!!!

It seems that in this case, I was releasing my ball just a tad early which cased a very shallow axis tilt...and I was carry a little to much speed to complicate matters more. I slowed down and concentrated on releasing the ball after I 'almost' completed my slide. I was able to move back left (yes, I was compensating by getting into the second arrow 'no man zone')and start throwing back over 15+ board.

Much better!

I may write down some of your ideas and put them in my bag, just in case I run into this again and can't figure it out![/QUOTE]

I have what my teammates, hubby, and sister refer to as my "bowling bible". I keep notes from here, from coaching sessions, those "light bulb" moments while I'm bowling, reminders of what I need to work on for the coming up session, etc, etc. Then I review the previous coach session and my goals of what to concentrate on for the upcoming session while i'm waiting for the bowling league to get started. Then if I get into trouble, I have notes in my folder/notebook that I can easily refer to - and yes, they are in alphabetical order for the most part.

I would suggest everyone do this until you are bowling at the level you want to plateau at. I find that just writing the information down (maybe never looking at it again) will often help me to retain and recall the data easier.

Of course, you have to remember to - I can't remember very well, so I rely on any little trick to help me in this way, so you may want to just take this with a grain of salt.

It's funny that yo mention "the bowling Bible". As many of you know, I recommend to all bowlers to get "Bowling This Month" magazine. THIS is what I call the bowling Bible. Go online and you can get this months issue free to look it over. You will get more insight from a couple of issues than you ever could imagine. It's a GREAT resource for ALL bowlers. Here's the link:
http://www.bowlingthismonth.com

[classygranny]

[QUOTE=Tampabaybob;86600]

It's funny that yo mention "the bowling Bible". As many of you know, I recommend to all bowlers to get "Bowling This Month" magazine. THIS is what I call the bowling Bible. Go online and you can get this months issue free to look it over. You will get more insight from a couple of issues than you ever could imagine. It's a GREAT resource for ALL bowlers. Here's the link:
http://www.bowlingthismonth.com

After you told me about this magazine - thread was something to do with the over/under lane conditions - I subscribed. I have already copied a few pages and inserted them into my notebook bible and have kept the magazines in my office for easy reading and rereading.

You are right....it has soooo much information! Every bowler should be reading it.

[Tampabaybob]

I'm so glad you got the magazine. It has a multitude of information about the sport. The articles are well written and I refer to them many times when I get stumped with a question or something I'm working on for myself. Be sure to look one some of the past issues, as there are many, many great articles from those issues as well.

The article I referred to here was in the Nov or Dec 2009 issue, by Rob Mautner. The cove of that issue says "THE DEAD ZONE" . Great article...check it out.