The bowling feels

[chiefnikki]

Because I'm new to the forum, I figured I'd share my feelings on bowling and get to know everybody else's.

I started bowling on a league for fun when I was in first grade, and 10 seasons later, it's my passion. My dad got me into it because he bowled when he was younger and it's something he enjoyed. I really am my happiest when I'm at the alley. I almost gave up about a year back. I'm so glad I didn't though. I think bowling is the only thing that is actually keeping me sane (I'm not entirely crazy, I swear LOL). To me, the most frustrating thing is when you know that you can do much better than you're doing, but you're just not making any progress.
I'm one of those people, where I can bowl better than I've ever bowled before and still not be excited about it because I know that I have so much room to improve. Also, when I'm having an off day, I get into one of those "F this, I don't want to be here, this sucks" kind of moods. Am I the only one? Does this eventually go away or am I stuck with it? haha
Feel free to share!

[sprocket]

Welcome to the forum!

Maybe because I'm almost 50 and have been at it so long I just don't care enough to let bad scores bother me. If I bowled 450 next week, oh well. However, just because something doesn't really get me down doesn't mean I don't want to learn what went wrong or try to improve. I practice a couple of times a week. Sometimes those practice sessions go well and sometimes I probably should have stayed home. Today I practiced and had the first 8 strikes the second game. Things quickly went downhill. I had some bad games because I was consciously trying some different things. Often when you don't let the delivery just happen naturally scores can drop. I never really had another good game but I did discover something I can change with my non bowling arm that I think will really help.

I never really feel like I don't want to be at league. No matter how bad I bowl I always believe I can roll 300 the next game. And I haven't had a 300 in years. After bowling for so many years I have just seen too many incidents of bowling a huge game after a terrible game that I always now believe it can happen again.

If I was going to think of one thing that really makes me mad it would have to be wasted or even damaging practice sessions. Wow, I used to go out and practice several times a week, without a coach and I think just to keep from getting bored or maybe a desire to try "new and improved" methods, I was always f'ing with my game. If I would have practiced far less and taken regular instruction I would have saved a huge amount of money and been twice the bowler today that I am. What a waste that was! I threw away money, didn't make my game any better and gave up many hours of my life that I can't ever get back!

Even to this day I really need to learn to practice with a purpose. If all I do is go throw balls because bowling is fun, then I am nothing more than a recreational bowler.

[chiefnikki]

That post really made me think. I need to start practicing with a purpose, as well. I've wasted hours and hours "practicing", but I never went in with intentions of fixing something in particular. I've always just gone in with intentions of being better. I guess that's not going to really get me anywhere.

A coach on my league told me to come in early in the morning before league starts so she can work with me, so I'm going to start doing that. She'll probably get me on the right track. I had such a hard time bowling yesterday. I cleaned my ball and it was my first time bowling with it since then. I was just getting much more hook than I'm used to and I couldn't control it. So frustrating!

[tr33frog]

That post really made me think. I need to start practicing with a purpose, as well. I've wasted hours and hours "practicing", but I never went in with intentions of fixing something in particular. I've always just gone in with intentions of being better. I guess that's not going to really get me anywhere.

A coach on my league told me to come in early in the morning before league starts so she can work with me, so I'm going to start doing that. She'll probably get me on the right track. I had such a hard time bowling yesterday. I cleaned my ball and it was my first time bowling with it since then. I was just getting much more hook than I'm used to and I couldn't control it. So frustrating!

When you get that much hook, you might have to start messing with your speed. For me the easiest way to get speed on the ball is just push it out further on the first step, but it should be something your coach can work with you on. That or get used to moving further and further left (or right if you are left handed).

I had one of those days where you want to walk out after the first game last week, just bowled awful. Ended the night on a decent game at least.