Progress slow and frustrating...

[Aslan]

I'm sure many other beginners (or even former beginners) can commiserate...but it is SO frustrating that every time I practice or bowl at leagues now...it's a 420-465 series. It's like my progress has just grinded to a halt. I try to stay positive...and remind myself that before August I averaged 121 with a high game of 184...and was routinely throwing games in the 90s...and I've brought that lifetime average up to 138 in less than 5 months.

But man...it seems like lately I've become more consistent...but it's consistently throwing a 140-160-130....160-150-120....145-155-130....etc... Is it too much to ask for a 500 series?? I don't want to sound ungrateful or impatient (although...I AM impatient)...having gone in 5 months from throwing 363 series to 445...but I feel like I'm stuck on some funky plateau.

Anybody that can relate?

[e-tank]

Maybe time to add some more sessions with your coach?

[J Anderson]

My suggestion is to stop judging your progress by your scores.

I always get goals and objectives confused. Whatever the correct term is, it should be measurable so you can see whether you've improved or not. Unfortunately this makes raising one's average by X number of pins the the easiest goal to keep track of. It may tell you if you're getting better, but if you're not getting better it won't tell you why.

In addition you need to set goals that address specific problems with your game. It may be something like going from 50% on shooting spares to 75% or trying to throw every shot within + or - 1/2 mph of a given speed. This way you may be able to come away with a positive feeling about part of your game even if the scores are still mediocre. Or you'll know that need to work on some thing specific , life left side spares.

[zdawg]

...but I feel like I'm stuck on some funky plateau.

Anybody that can relate?

Yep, I'm right there with you. For me continuing to practice on my own has me spinning my wheels the last two weeks especially, so I had a visit to my coach this morning and that helped tremendously - having anyone with a trained eye helps IMO, otherwise I just keep doing the same thing or reading something new online and then trying it to no avail, so then you end up going in circles.

I also think plateaus are a natural part of any athletic progression, so its just a matter of finding someone who can advise you to get to the next level

[zdawg]

Oh, and to second what J Anderson posted, I stopped keeping score during practice sessions altogether, of course during league its a different story

[Aslan]

My main goals at this point are:

Clean games…525+ Series.

So I'm not trying to score high per se…I just want clean games in terms of both striking more often (thus not needing to pick up spares) and picking up more spares. I HAVE noticed more striking…like about 5 per game versus 1-2 in the past. But I haven't noticed as much the spare situation because one minute I'll be picking them up almost automatically….then the next game I'll miss 70% of them. So I guess "consistency" isn't there yet.

[J Anderson]

My main goals at this point are:

Clean games…525+ Series.

So I'm not trying to score high per se…I just want clean games in terms of both striking more often (thus not needing to pick up spares) and picking up more spares. I HAVE noticed more striking…like about 5 per game versus 1-2 in the past. But I haven't noticed as much the spare situation because one minute I'll be picking them up almost automatically….then the next game I'll miss 70% of them. So I guess "consistency" isn't there yet.

I know that in league it can be difficult to analyze your shot making, between the beer, the socializing, the beer, the pressure of competition, the beer, etc. On those games when the spare making stinks, try to keep track of which ones are giving you the most trouble. Then the next time you practice you can work on those spares.

Obviously if the problem spare is a corner pin you can try shooting that pin out of a full rack. That will also work for any of the front pins; the 4, 2, 3, & 6. The 1 & 5 pins are just your strike shot. The 8 & 9 are a little tougher to practice but you can figure it out based on how you shoot at them. Multi-pin spares you need to figure out what the key pin is and practice hitting that.

[SouthpawTRK]

I can relate to your situation Asian; I too would like to be consistently above a 500 pin count rather than below it. A friend asked me if I wanted to be the best 150 average bowler in the world or be the best bowler I could be. Obviously my answer was the latter of the two choices. He stated that if I picked up my spares (that were reasonable) that I would elevate my average and would be on the path to higher scores. Obviously there are a multitude of things to do to become the best bowler you can be, but picking up spares could raise your average very easily.

[Aslan]

I know that in league it can be difficult to analyze your shot making, between the beer, the socializing, the beer, the pressure of competition, the beer, etc. On those games when the spare making stinks, try to keep track of which ones are giving you the most trouble. Then the next time you practice you can work on those spares.

Obviously if the problem spare is a corner pin you can try shooting that pin out of a full rack. That will also work for any of the front pins; the 4, 2, 3, & 6. The 1 & 5 pins are just your strike shot. The 8 & 9 are a little tougher to practice but you can figure it out based on how you shoot at them. Multi-pin spares you need to figure out what the key pin is and practice hitting that.

My most difficult spare leave is easily anything with a sleeper (not counting splits and baby splits). A 16lb ball has helped regarding sleepers, but they are still my worst.

Next worst is either the 1-2-4-7, 1-2-4, 2-4-7, 3-6-10. I used to better at them, but recently have fell into a bad habit of chopping them in some way.

I've gotten much better with the single pins including corners.

My biggest problem with "leaves" presently is the 1-2-4-7-10. Because I struggle to get enough of a dramatic hook on the back end..if I'm playing moderate to heavy oil synthetics and I miss my target by more than 1 board to the right...I come in right of the headpin and go straight through leaving the 1-2-4-7-10 lined up. And I've really struggled not only with leaving that grouping but also with picking it up. And the 16lb ball seems to have led to more of those leaves because my 15lb ball tended to deflect a tad more and not leave that 10 on the opposite side.

[Aslan]

I can relate to your situation Asian;

I am SO not Asian. See my videos...I'm 6 feet tall and weigh about 215lbs. Thats 189cm and 97.5kg for nerds and people that hate freedom. <----See what the lack of left wing radio shows does!! Believe me...I play in alleys where there are a large concentration of Asian bowlers...and when I show up they look at me like I'm Godzilla.

He stated that if I picked up my spares (that were reasonable) that I would elevate my average and would be on the path to higher scores. Obviously there are a multitude of things to do to become the best bowler you can be, but picking up spares could raise your average very easily.

Agreed. And that HAS been the main driver. I still get frustrated when my spare shooting is good and I end up with like a 165...because I can't string 2 strikes together...but I'm firmly in the camp of better spare shooting makes you a better bowler for sure.