Young(er) Bowler Seeking Advice

[DR3AMxCATCHER]

Hey all! Thanks for checking out my first post on the forums. I'm 21 years old and will have been bowling for 2 years come this December. I started at a 135 average and am now peaking at 193 in league and 173 in the other league.
I shot my first 700 series and also my highest game of 266 this weekend in a tournament here in Houston, however I've been watching a video of me from this past December, 2011..compared to a video shot on July 7th. I had a few people talk to me about how long I take while at during my whole ritual of preparing for my shot, basically telling me that I'm taking to long and it is most likely tightening up my arm swing. I range from 530-598 series depending on which league I'm at.

Anyways, any feed back would be nice! I really want to make something out of this sport and I feel like I can through learning. I've never had a coaching lesson, however, I do have a Hall of Fame coach where I bowl but getting a lesson takes months. I've been cancelled on once and everything I do now is mainly self-taught and learned through observing.

Here is a video from both places, however, one was shot during a practice and one was shot before the tournament began this past weekend.
In the second video, I'm aware of the auto-focus problem. I'm trying to get a video of a close of me on the lanes during a whole game to look at.

Some of the things I've noticed that are changed are I'm more down towards the ground and also don't turn my foot, I've worked to keep my foot straight on my throws. I'm using a Tropical Heat (14 pounds) in the two videos. I do own a Defiant (14, had a 15 dropped it too much) and a Taboo Spare (15). The Defiant and Tropical Heat are drilled differently, mainly because the Heat was my first ball ever. The Taboo Spare is usually for the corner pins on the right. I'm a full-roller as well, with a much better throw with the brace on.

Practice December 2011


Practice before Tournament. July 7th, 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3ChyiDHOBU

[martinezsam2495]

you post a video that's private?
That makes no sense we can't see it,
anyways welcome to the forum!

[billf]

In the video we can see, you didn't take too long.

[TheSheibs]

That's about how long I take. Seems about 6-8 seconds from time the next rack is up to the time u deliver the ball. About 8seconds overall. Could it be the people wh late telling you that you are taking too long are just F#%*ing with you?

[DR3AMxCATCHER]

That's about how long I take. Seems about 6-8 seconds from time the next rack is up to the time u deliver the ball. About 8seconds overall. Could it be the people wh late telling you that you are taking too long are just F#%*ing with you?

I don't believe so, mainly because I had a minor talk against a bowler who just comes into sub with about a 230 average. Our talk was about some pro bowlers that come to mind such as Tom Baker and Mike Durbin, saying that I do take my time sometimes too much like they did and it causes me to tighten up and not let the ball work.

I've made the video un-private now as well.

Also, anything from the video(s) that I should work on that looks a little off? Just trying to see if there's anything I could work on.

[TheSheibs]

I say screw them. If you aren't taking up to a minute then I wouldn't worry about. I bet during that time you are getting in your start spot, moving the ball to your bowling hand, looking at your mark, and getting your head in the right place to take the shot. Since that whole video was only 12 seconds, I wouldn't worry about. What could cause you to tighten up is standing around waiting a long time for your next turn. As for the ball not working, that depends on a lot of other things and not just how long you take to get set to take those first steps. 193 is a good average for an amateur. Not sure what you could do to increase your scores or average without seeing you bowl some more. It seems like just some practice and working on consistency would do the trick.

[Dogtown]

A few things I noticed you might consider working on:

First: You have a 4 step approach. On your first step you should be pushing out with the ball and letting it drop into your swing. Currently, you are into your 2nd step before this happens. This can cause you to be late with your timing (which can cause all kinds of things to go wrong).

Second: At the foul line you have a shallow knee bend. This causes you to stand up at the foul line and be off balance. Notice your back leg is way up in the air. You want the chest up, leg down. Post your shot.

Last: Follow through with your swing. Right now you are swinging inside to out. In other words your arm is circling clockwise (which is okay), but you are slightly short arming the ball.

Watch some YouTube videos of Diandra Asbaty, Stephanie Nation and/or Kelly Kulick. I know they're all women but fundamentally they are GREAT examples. Most of the guys on the PBA turn the ball a lot which requires opening the shoulders. You're not there, yet. I think most of the ones I mentioned have a 5 step approach so you should pay attention from the second step on.

Good Luck. Hope that helps.

[DR3AMxCATCHER]

A few things I noticed you might consider working on:

First: You have a 4 step approach. On your first step you should be pushing out with the ball and letting it drop into your swing. Currently, you are into your 2nd step before this happens. This can cause you to be late with your timing (which can cause all kinds of things to go wrong).

Second: At the foul line you have a shallow knee bend. This causes you to stand up at the foul line and be off balance. Notice your back leg is way up in the air. You want the chest up, leg down. Post your shot.

Last: Follow through with your swing. Right now you are swinging inside to out. In other words your arm is circling clockwise (which is okay), but you are slightly short arming the ball.

Watch some YouTube videos of Diandra Asbaty, Stephanie Nation and/or Kelly Kulick. I know they're all women but fundamentally they are GREAT examples. Most of the guys on the PBA turn the ball a lot which requires opening the shoulders. You're not there, yet. I think most of the ones I mentioned have a 5 step approach so you should pay attention from the second step on.

Good Luck. Hope that helps.

Awesome examples. My 3rd tournament I was ever in near Dallas I bowled on the lanes right next to Stefanie Nation, I wish I could of paid more attention to her when it was live! I'm going to do my homework a little bit on the others though.

After watching both my videos, I do see my hands doing the clockwise movement which I'm going to try and correct. I do turn my body down, I see that now too. I'm going to work on those for sure as soon as I can. Thanks for those tips. I always feel weird with my steps, I've been told to take larger steps but it feels too weird and I don't understand why I bend down on my steps either.

[J Anderson]

I always feel weird with my steps, I've been told to take larger steps but it feels too weird and I don't understand why I bend down on my steps either.

As bowlers we all get into habits, both good and bad ones, without realizing why. You probably got a lucky break one time when you bent down and your subconscious mind keeps telling your body to do it.
If I understand you correctly your steps feel a little weird now. Trying to take bigger steps feels a lot weird. The fact they feel weird now is a sign that you should change your steps. Unfortunately all change feels even weirder. You just have to work through it.

[billf]

One thing to notice on all the ladies mentioned above (and the men too), at the finish remember Tony Chin; that's toe, knee, chin all lined up in a straight line. We can't see how you are at the finish but given your balance leg and waist bend I would bet you're off line. The proper alignment allows for the most leverage.
Some articles you may want to check out and ask questions if need be, by USBC Gold coach Joe Slowinski www.bowlingknowlegde.info most of the articles are archived and available for saving as pdf files.