What's your practice routine?

[SouthpawTRK]

So, I've been bowling for almost two months and been having a blast doing so

One thing (among many) that eludes me is a solid practice routine. I'd like to make the most of my time practicing so to better my technique and increase my average.

I was curious to know what is your practice routine? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated (the more descriptive the better).

Thanks in advance

[Greenday]

Get up and throw a strike ball. Was it a strike? Good, throw another one. Did I leave pins? Oh well, reset the pins, throw another strike ball. Repeat for five or six games.

My main problem is stringing together strikes. So I practice my strike ball. It's a lot of trying to repeat the same motion over and over. Once I can get it a bunch of times in a row, I know I've gotten whatever new technique I'm working on down.

[Cochese]

I usually try to focus on one specific thing for a whole game, then work on something else next game. So first game I will concentrate on releasing low and close to me ankle. Maybe next game focus on footwork, next game work on wrist position. I might end up working on just one thing the whole session.

One thing I have been working on a lot is trying to take a break between frames. Maybe throw two frames, then relax for a minute. I have found that slow league play really throws off my timing versus practice when I can just get up and throw at my own pace. Much easier for me to string strikes together just throwing one after another compared to throwing one, waiting a few minutes and throwing again.

[J Anderson]

My practice routine varies. Sometimes I'm trying to get ready for the next sport pattern and will try playing the part of the lane where I will need to be for that pattern. Other times I will be focused on one or two aspects of my game that seem to need attention. If I'm feeling particularly goofy, I'll put my name in a second time and bowl right-handed vs left-handed.

The following are things that are almost always in my routine, followed by things that may or may not be used:

Low ball; One game of shooting at the 10 pin on the first ball and the 7 pin on the second. A perfect score for this would be 20. My favorite way to play this is to shoot the 10 righty and the 7 lefty. A variation is to just shoot a corner pin on the first ball and try to convert the spare on the second. Perfection would be to wind up with 110.

Move across the rack; Shoot the 10 on the first ball in the first frame, try for the spare, shoot the 6 pin on the first ball in the second frame and so on. Any time you don't hit the pin targeted on the first ball, shoot at it again the next frame.

Alternating balls; Throw each ball that you've brought to the alley in a repeating order, for example I might throw Hy Road, White Dot, Virtual Gravity Nano, Black Widow.

Alternating targets: Using one particular ball, start using the first arrow as target, adjust until you get at least 2 strikes in a row, change target to second arrow, adjust until you get at least 2 strikes in a row, Move on to third arrow and so on. Variation; move target one board at a time.

[Tampabaybob]

Wow John, that's quite a routine. Just got back from practicing myself for tonite. Shot ok... 213, 227, 203. Bowling alone is fast and furious and I always have to remind myself to sit down once a game to slow things down.

But to answer Southpaws original question, practice on accuracy. Today I threw several that I was off of my target and there's nothing that pisses me off more than missing that damn spot. You see, a big percentage of your average depends on hitting your spot/arrow, or whatever target you're aiming for. I've taught this game as a certified instructor for almost 40 years and I've ALWAYS taught accuracy, accuracy, and accuracy. I don't care if you throw the ball between your legs, if you're accurate you'll shoot good games. So my answer to you is can you hit a gnats butt at 16 feet? If you can't, then that's the first thing to work on. Everything else, like swing, speed, footwork, rotation, can be worked on a little at a time, but give me accuracy and you'll improve much faster.

Greenday.....I know you like to throw strikes, but have you ever calculated your spare percentage ? When I was younger, I too, used to reset every rack and just throw first balls. When I started shooting the PBA regional tournaments, it became VERY apparent how important those spares are. Miss one and you may miss a cut. That's $$$$ in your pocket. If your spare percentage is lower than 95 or 96%, I'd rethink you're practice routine. Just my thoughts.

Bob

[e-tank]

i practice on spares which has help raise my average tremendously. I just got into 3 finger hook bowling so ive been practicing my approach, back swing and follow through. Usually at best i can string together a turkey in league but id rather focus on more basic things right now instead of strikes.

[Tampabaybob]

i practice on spares which has help raise my average tremendously. I just got into 3 finger hook bowling so ive been practicing my approach, back swing and follow through. Usually at best i can string together a turkey in league but id rather focus on more basic things right now instead of strikes.

Just remember one thing.....Strikes are for show and Spares are for MONEY !

Bob

[scottymoney]

Not shooting spares is a huge mistake. I gained 20 pins easily when I got my spare system down and was able to be more accurate on them. I know now that when I am having a bad striking day I can at least pick up my spares and have a respectable game.

When practicing take full advantage of every shot you have. Like Bob said, make sure you are hitting your mark.

My practices consist of just playing games. I just go in thinking I am there to post my best possible score and do my best. I normally take one of my practice games and try to play the lanes different than I normally do. I normally play 2nd arrow, but I try to play 3rd arrow or 1st arrow just so I can bewtter myself in case it ever comes up where my normal lines is just not working.

Most spares are the same as throwing your strike ball just from a different position, so just go in and make sure you are hitting that mark and making the most of each ball.

[J Anderson]

Wow John, that's quite a routine.

Bob

Some form of low ball is the only thing that's always included. Most of the time I either don't have the time or the money to throw more than 4 practice games.

[ArtVandelay]

Accuracy. I just want to feel like im placing the ball where i want it. Ive bowled games where i cant avoid a strike, and ive bowled games were i leave the 10 pin 5 times. But ive bowled strikeless games and still hit 180.

Ive found that if my accuracy is there, everything falls into place.

In league practice, i always throw my first ball at the 10 pin, and my second ball is my strike ball. It maximizes my practice time, and helps me warm up.