Language of the Pins:

[zdawg]

I think that those videos were interesting in that they put the viewer in the position to make choices and not just sit and watch. As far as over simplifying adjustments what do you expect from 1 min video segments.I think these videos are a good starting point to understanding different adjustments.

That's what I got out of it, and being a complete beginner I felt some of it helpful. The advice for a ball switch fell mostly on deaf ears as I currently only have one ball (although my second is on the way), but it will be a while until I'm good enough or compete at a high enough level (tourneys, multiple leagues/houses, etc.) to consider having 4,5, 6 balls+ so I just kinda ignored that part for now.

[swingset]

I think that those videos were interesting in that they put the viewer in the position to make choices and not just sit and watch. As far as over simplifying adjustments what do you expect from 1 min video segments.I think these videos are a good starting point to understanding different adjustments.

What do I expect? I expect a teacher who is oversimplifying to qualify his statements PRECISELY with this information so that the student is aware of it.

I teach marksmanship at the high school and collegiate level, I coach and teach perishable physical and mental skills very much like bowling. I'm not at all ignorant of what he is trying to do and what he's actually done.

He has at his disposal the means to make a longer video should he wish, or if he's going to make his lessons short then preface them with an explanation that his adjustments are subjective to his game and the conditions and equipment he's using, or heck put that in the comment section. The videos have some good lessons, and could be helpful...they for sure are something to consider. More like a "things to think about or try" rather than "what's the correct answer here?". Because his answers leave so much more to the equation. That's over simplifying and that will get a student in worse trouble, if he doesn't understand the nuances of the adjustment....or that in some cases they might not apply to him.

My real beef was throwing a crap shot and then using an adjustment as a "what to do next" option...that was just silly.

Standing in his position, on that lane, with a REAL view of what the ball did, I think most of us would instinctively know that not missing was the correct adjustment and it turns out that no matter what option someone clicked there they were wrong - and he was wrong in framing the question and giving what amounted to false choices. Nothing wrong with throwing a bad shot, btw, he could have said "Here I just threw wide a bit and I've been on the same mark for a while...what should I do?"

And, that honestly IS a good lesson to impart and he failed to impart it. Instead he asked a flawed question.

[Aslan]

My frustration wasn't so much with the video itself. I understood what he was saying. I think thats probably the hardest thing in bowling is to know when to change something AHEAD of making a bad shot. It's what makes 300 games so special.

What I found frustrating was the overwhelming attack mentality against those that had a slightly different opinion. Some have the mindset that because THIS guy has a higher average than THAT guy...then THIS guy can do no wrong and you need to do everything he says and if you so much as question it...you're "uncoachable" and doomed to never be a good bowler.

Yet THIS guy....is he the best jr bowler out there? Best collegiate bowler? Best amateur bowler? Best PBA bowler? Best PBA HOF bowler? At what point do we find a bowler with a slightly better average or resume that might slightly disagree...and suddenly abandon THIS bowler....because the slightly better bowler thinks differently?

It's sad...because if some guy with a 176 average says he doesn't use a spare ball...he gets told he's a worthless, helpless, soul-less monster with a cement block head. Yet I GUARANTEE if Norm Duke came in and said, "Yeah...I agree...I don't think it's "necessary". To each their own."...nobody....NOBODY in this forum would say "boo". Not ONE person would make the arguement that 99.7% of bowlers use one...not ONE person would make the technical arguements. Because he's Norm friggin Duke and he's "earned his right to be different".

And I GET that....I do. You want respect...go EARN it. But sometimes it gets just a little too hostile when really at the end of the day...folks....we're just talkin bowlin...we're just shootin the breeze about a GAME. Come on...it doesn't need to get hostile or snippy or rude. As the Dude himself said, "well...opinions vary man."