Bad footwork, bad slide, bad balance.

[billf]

I don't slide either but I do bring my balance foot to where it belongs. I just changed the heel and sole to where it grabs but not so much that it strains my joints.

[RoccoRock]

My balance foot is in the right spot, it's just sideways. No matter what, I have to start wearing a sneaker on my right foot. Buying new bowling shoes every six months is too much money. I went to Walmart and bought $15 sneakers. I want to upload video, but my camera sucks almost as much as my phone.

[RoccoRock]

Tonights my coachingthe session, and I'm a little nervous about telling the pro that I want to either bowl in sneakers or just not slide in my shoes. He's open minded, he never tried to talk me out of two handing, I just feel wierd about this subject though. I'll bowl a few practice games this afternoon and see how it goes before i tell him anything.

[billf]

Don't hide anything about what you are going through about this from him. To get your money's worth he has to know what's happening, how it's affecting you and what you expect before he can help you. A coach's job isn't to judge you as a person only to teach you the techniques needed to improve your game. Every coach's goal is to have the client be the best they can be, nothing else.

[RoccoRock]

So the shop pro called me this afternoon to confirm, and while I had him on the phone I told him about my sneakers idea. He did chuckle a little, but he said to come down, do whatever I want, one hand, two hands, sneakers whatever, and he will give me an honest opinion on what I should do. Now, he knows I am trying to convert to a conventional delivery, but I did tell him when i got there that I was thinking of two handing the strike ball, and one handing spares. So he said "why don't you feel like you can throw strikes one handed." I told him because I have bowled a lot of games, both ways, and I just strike more two handed. So he told me to throw a few one handed. He said "if thats what you want to do, you are closer than you think if you stick with it." This was my favorite quote, he said "your not as screwed up as I thought you would be." That's the nicest thing someone has ever said to me I used to palm it, two hand it, I tried a Sarge Easter grip, so he figured I would be confused. I told him I'm not really confused, but I am working on too much at once. He liked what I was doing, he said my footwork, though a bit odd isn't bad. He said the only issue with my feet is they get too quick sometimes. He brought up the ball I was using, a 505a, and that it's not strong enough. So I will get the 919c reworked soon. He got me to loosen my arm swing, so I'm not pushing, or muscling the ball. Any time I missed, it wasn't by much. Lots of good stuff. I told him for now my only goal is too not tank my average. It's at 178 right now. After 6 games of the lesson, my average for those 6 games was exactly 178. Felt good, felt smooth, and I'm happy. Still have work to do, but I am closer than I thought.

[ursus]

Did you end up going with the 2 handed or did you go 1 handed?

[RoccoRock]

One handed, thumb in, in my bowling shoes, sliding. I've been wanting to switch for a while, but just wasn't confident, or confortable. Now that I had my session, and I've learned what I needed to learn, I feel good about it. I have 6 weeks until my leauge starts up again, and I will be bowling one handed every game for the rest of the summer, unless I suck then I may have to switch back, but I don't think that will happen.

[ursus]

Stick with it and it will become second nature. Best of luck

[billf]

If you suck you will switch back. How long of sucking are you willing to give it? We all have slumps and suck for awhile. It's part of life in any sport. Keep thinking positive. Glad you enjoyed the lesson and was able to learn from it. I don't know what it cost you but it sounds like it was money well spent. Many scoff at the notion of paying for a lesson from a certified coach but they are properly trained to pick out key flaws no matter the bowler's personal style. And the real good coaches check their ego at the door and will confer with another coach they can't seem to convey the message to the bowler. We all learn differently and we all coach differently. Think happy thoughts and watch this season's average, one-handed with thumb be at least 190.

[RoccoRock]

At first, I found it hard to sign up to "take a lesson." I feel like I've been bowling long enough I don't need a teacher. I look at it a little different, to me it's a coaching session, and everyone, even pro atheleates need coaching. I define sucking not so much by scores. It's more consistancy. If I can't hit my mark repeatedly, something is wrong. However, at this point, I think instead of "giving up" if I am sucking, it may just be time for a refreasher with the shop pro. I originaly had a time frame of two weeks before the league starts, if I can't do it then I need to switch back, and give myself to weeks to dial back in two handed. Now, I am shifting my timeframe, to November. Honestly, I think I can easily keep up my average, and more than likley improve it by one handing. Especially with help from my coach, and the people on this board. I don't see me switching back, I think I'm pretty well set on this. Especially beacause I am spending good money to get my balls re drilled, and coaching sessions, I've pretty much commited myself to it.