Good or bad practice idea?

[75lockwood]

shadow bowling!

people think i'm nut's, because they will randomly see me pretending to bowl. every time i'm in my kitchen or hall at home i do it because i can slide on the tile floor

[SmilingBowler]

The head bob looks like of a result that you're REALLY trying to throw the ball hard, so you can get the speed and rev rate. Have you tried a slower release and approach? Eventually, through practice, you may be able to generate the speed and rev rate with a nice slow, controlled approach, like Osku or Belmo. Although I'm a 1 handed bowler, I used to have a really high back swing to generate the speed. Of course, that ruined my timing, accuracy, & rev rate. I lowered my back swing, but increase my follow through speed, which created faster speed, higher rev rate, and better accuracy.

That was exactly what I did in my third game last night. Once I lowered my back swing and focused my forces on my release and my follow through, my ball worked its magic. Threw a 193 (+20) after throwing an abysmal 147 and 159 in the first two.

[GeoLes]

I practice swing and release at the gym on the basketball court with any ball I can find. I hold dit like a bowling ball, stand 8 feet or so from a wall (we have a portable drape that separates one side of the court from another that seems to work best). The ball its the curtain, rolls down and back to me.

Lots of good ideas out there.

[billf]

Stop trying so hard. In an effort to get smoother I attempted to slow everything down, including ball speed to emphasize form. After three or four throws I felt better and looked up to see that my ball speed had INCREASED. When everything is right it will be fluid, smooth and easy. When it all comes together, you too can throw a 20+ mph hook.

[GeoLes]

I have to agree. Think of it this way. There is a little old lady in a seniors league who weighs 95lbs and throws a 12lb ball. The ball goes slowly down the lane, hits the pocket and all pins fall. it does not require force, just momentum.

I concentrate on simple push away, let is gently swing down, back and forward on the same line smoothly. Just let it swing back and forth with no effort. Just put the ball on the lane and follow through with finger lift from a low finish stance. Let the ball "do what it do". Adjust accordingly to find your pocket.

[sprocket]

I don't know if it's a good idea to actually throw the ball, but for sure you can practice your foot work at home. I took a lesson one time from a guy who was a really good instructor. So, for at least an hour all he had me do was WALK (walk being the key word) to the foul line and then relax totally at the release point. With no ball of course. He'd tell me over and over that I had tension at the release point. He didn't stop until he was satisfied that I was doing what he wanted me to do. I have put marks on the laminate floor that represent where I want my steps to go. Be careful if you do this though, and don't assume you know where your steps should go. Look it up first online.