Had my first coaching session today

[backahead]

I went over to White Plains AMF Center this morning for my first coaching session. This is my coach: http://www.richardjacobsonbowling.com/

First we talked for a few minutes about my bowling history. The he looked over my hands and noticed first thing the knot at the base of my thumb. Some have said it was a callous, I thought it was an internal tumor! Anyhow I was more correct. It's an internal issue where the body is trying to protect a nerve from futher damage. If left alone, it would require surgery and 4-6mo recovery.

So he checked my grips. The fingertip inserts were two sizes to small and my thumb was way too tight, causing the nerve knot. He replaced the figertips and shaved the thumb insert down considerably. Had me roll to ball a couple times on the carpet to make sure there is no pressure on my thumb.

As for the lesson, we started with video. He said I had good mechanics for a new bowler but the biggest mistake I make on every throw is at my release. I stand too straight. He showed me on video that my spine angle on release is 13 degrees. He compared that with a number of pros who are around 35 degrees. While they are attacking the foul line, I am pulling away from it. This affect my balance, velocity and aim.

So we spent 30min working on lowering my hips and keeping my shoulders in front of my slide knee. Oh btw, I slide now The we worked on my approach. Basically he is teaching me the pushaway, not the hinge. I didn't ask him why. Pushaway on the first, let it drop on the second. I'll do it this way while I'm paying him and decide for myself somewhere down the line.

We talked about my ball and he agreed it is too much for me but too late to change that. He did not recommend I get another ball though. He said my smartest move would be to put a shine on the dull vivid and get consistent with it. So we did that, took his machine 5min to make it glossy. I went and bowled one game without him and scored 189. I'll take it.

It lasted over an hour and he only charged me $60. Can't wait to work on this stuff tonight, next lesson is on the 25th.

[Hot_pocket]

its cool to see there are people in my area on this site lol ... White Plains is my home center and i Know Rich. He's a good guy he drilled my stuff for me for years when i was a JR. bowler. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to the sport. You will learn alot working with him and your game will definitely change.

[backahead]

Yeah, I saw you are from the boogiedown. I'll be there again on Sat. Aug 25 if you can get there around 11:30am we could bowl a few games. That house is much nicer than where I bowl. White Plains looks like a fancy movie theater, my place looks like a biker bar lol.

Very nice guy, easy going and super helpful. I offered him business (buying a new ball) but he said it wasn't necessary yet, gotta respect that.

[billf]

Glad it went well. I hope you took notes. Sounds a little silly but you would be surprised how much you can forget in the next week.

[backahead]

Glad it went well. I hope you took notes. Sounds a little silly but you would be surprised how much you can forget in the next week.

You are correct again Bill. We did not start with video, we started with stretching. I forgot about that. Back, shoulder, legs, and wrist/forearm.

[striker12]

stretching is good comes in handy soo when u get there u dont jsut drop the ball on the first shot i made that mistake for the first year or 2 then got into walking around the bowling allie for the hr i was there before league started its the only time i had to stretch.

but im planning on getting a few coaching session this year to inprove my game and my spares.

[Hot_pocket]

Yeah, I saw you are from the boogiedown. I'll be there again on Sat. Aug 25 if you can get there around 11:30am we could bowl a few games. That house is much nicer than where I bowl. White Plains looks like a fancy movie theater, my place looks like a biker bar lol.

Very nice guy, easy going and super helpful. I offered him business (buying a new ball) but he said it wasn't necessary yet, gotta respect that.

The 25th ill be in the Poconos with the family. But if your ever around we can definitely bowl. I havent been bowling much because of work and I have a 1 year old but im trying to bowl at least twice a month now. Whats your home house?

[Greenday]

This...explains a lot. I DID end up with a tumor at the base of my thumb after I had taken up bowling. It turned out to be a tumor wrapped around the nerve in my thumb and they nearly had to remove the nerve in my thumb, which most likely would have prevented me from having feeling in my thumb ever again. Had to deal with the stitches (most painful place I've had stitches), then after having them out, still had to let it heal. It was a long time before I could bowl again and even to this day (six years later), my thumb is sensitive there and prone to skin ripping off when I bowl.

[vgw]

Great results. What is the hinge you are referring to?

[backahead]

stretching is good comes in handy soo when u get there u dont jsut drop the ball on the first shot i made that mistake for the first year or 2 then got into walking around the bowling allie for the hr i was there before league started its the only time i had to stretch.

but im planning on getting a few coaching session this year to inprove my game and my spares.

Yeah I had been doing a little bit of stretching, just twisting my back for a min. This is far more involved now.