Lazy balance arm and leg video

[billf]

Bob, he lowered the ball in my stance, even lower than where I was in the video, to try to lower the backswing. I thought I was parallel then but it turned out that it was over my head! Talk about muscling the ball without realizing it. With the ball high in the stance i let it swing way too far back.

[Tampabaybob]

You know Bill, people that are not bowlers think this is a really easy game. As you and many others on this site have found out it takes a lot of work, effort and practice to get to where you want to be. You are one that realizes that and are a good example for these new bowlers to follow.

GRAVITY, GRAVITY, GRAVITY. I struggle with the same problem where my muscles try to interfere. After bowling one way for all of these years, its not that easy to make changes. I've been playing with the "relaxed" swing for a few months now and I can tell you it's not easy. Those stupid muscles keep trying to do the work. You'll get it where you want it, just keep practicing. We have a couple of guys in my league that do this (both lefties), and to watch them, you just kinda stand there in amazement. It almost looks like they just dump the ball on the lane with little or no effort. And they're both high 225+ averages !

Bob

[billf]

I have another coaching session scheduled with Ron Hatfield and Andy Parker next month. I will be so disappointed if I can't correct the stuff they wanted me to work on last time. Things were going great most of the summer.

Yes people. The coach gets lessons. It's like the old adage, "the lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client." I'm smart enough to know that a person has a hard time seeing their own flaws. I about passed out from embarrassment the first time I recorded myself. It was that night that I sought out coaches I trusted.

[edpup316]

at 5:50 I can see you throw a strike, then you walk back, grab your ball and go again. i think that maybe you should slow down a bit. take a little time when standing on the approach to run some thoughts through your head. just a suggestion. maybe it'll help a little!

I like this very much. Its something everyone should do. I tell my gf im going to practice and when i come back 2 hours later she asked if i bowled 10 games. I only bowl about 5 games but I take my time. At least a min between frames. Sure it would be physically challenging to keep bowling back to back to back but most of us have the physical part down, its the mental part of the game that we have trouble with plus you dont bowl like that in league or tournys.

Do you have the mental game to wait more the a min between frames?

[Tampabaybob]

I'm not sure it's the minute between frames thats important, but I teach bowlers to analyze their second shot while waiting for the ball to come back. This way you know what you're shooting, where you want to stand, and where you'll be targeting. Then I tell them to take an extra second or two when they get positioned with the ball on the approach. Several studies have also been done at KEGEL with taking a deep breath as you're setting you feet and exhaling as you take your first step. Their findings state that accuracy greatly improves. Keep in mind you don't want to over think the shots, but you do want to take the time to know what you're going to do and where to throw it. Once you're ready, your mind should be blank, and then just execute. Thinking during the shot can be hazardous to your accuracy.

Bob

[billf]

Part of it is I know my line for each spare and which ball I will use for that spare 99.9% of the time. So grabbing the ball is a no-brainer. The target line is usually the same way. The other part is getting use to the fast pace for the record attempt. If you van get ready and shoot that quick then you can definitely do it slower, in my opinion.
As for bowling that way in tournaments; I have. When they go to the cut and it's match play, PBA style (you shoot two frames), I will purposely pick up the pace. This has been especially effective on older bowlers. They can slow down but remember, there is a shot clock so they can't take too long. I can have both my shots off before some can get the lid off their drinks. That's where I use my physical game to screw with their mental game.

[Tampabaybob]

If your spare shooting percentage is in the 95% range then stick with what you're doing. Because I see so many bowlers pick up the ball and run on the second shot, I try to instill in them to take an extra second or two to KNOW where they want to throw the ball. Spare shooting to me is one of the most important aspects of this game. Give me a good spare shooter on my team anytime as opposed to a guy that throws 5 or six strikes in a game, then can't hit a bull in the *** with a bass fiddle, when he goes to shoot a spare. We've all seen those types of guys, and personally I love to shoot against them , because I know at some point in the game they'll blow it by missing that all important game winning spare.

[billf]

I've never tried to hit a bull in the *** with a bass fiddle. I've shot a camel in the *** with an AK-47 from 2,000 meters, does that count?
As I'm watching the ball go through the pins on the first shot I can usually tell what's going to be left. I already know that if a second shot is needed I will be using my spare ball. My target it the 18 board so all I need to know at that point is start position which depends on the pin leave. Anybody who practices spares should know that information right off the top of their head. So why should I wait a minute or longer? On league I have to wait my turn. During that time I don't even think about my shot. I've visualized it already, have my marks set and equipment in hand. What the hell else is there to think about? * I often wonder what people are doing on the approach. I get set, take a breath and go. Some people can be timed with an hour glass.

[billf]

I noticed over the past week that my first step was a baby step (once again!). Today I focused on my athletic pose and a full first step while reaching forward at my target with my balance arm. Things just started falling into place. My release was a lot earlier, speed back and the correct rotation with some sick reaction. So basically my footwork was backwards; small first step with a long last step instead of a full first step with a short slide step. So Bowl1820 was correct. My slide (lol) step was heel first and very long trying to make up the distance. That distance was due to such a very short first step. Whoever would have thought that such a simple thing as walking could cause so many issues?

[Tampabaybob]

I noticed over the past week that my first step was a baby step (once again!). Today I focused on my athletic pose and a full first step while reaching forward at my target with my balance arm. Things just started falling into place. My release was a lot earlier, speed back and the correct rotation with some sick reaction. So basically my footwork was backwards; small first step with a long last step instead of a full first step with a short slide step. So Bowl1820 was correct. My slide (lol) step was heel first and very long trying to make up the distance. That distance was due to such a very short first step. Whoever would have thought that such a simple thing as walking could cause so many issues?

Yeah, planting that heel on your slide step jumped right out at me. Pretty hard to get a good slide in, when the heel hits the floor first on the slide step. Looks like your on the right track.

Getting ready for my league to start in 2 weeks and have been practicing on Saturdays after coaching the kids. Not shooting a lot of games each week sure makes a difference. Just makes you have to hone in on executing each shot. Shot a 660+ the other day, so I'm not too concerned. One of the Kids, loves to beat me, and shot a 251 at me the first game. He was all cocky, and I told him the series is 3 games NOT ONE. He fell apart the last two and I remind him once again, " Old Age and deceit will always overcome youth and skill" !!

Bob