Wondering what to do

[Aslan]

2. Practice keeping your shoulders "quiet" throughout the swing. This means minimal lateral movement from the shoulders through the downswing and release. To see a good example of quiet shoulders, take a look at videos of Rhino Page - reputed to have the quietest shoulders on Tour.

Good Luck!

The quiet shoulders thing is "huge". And I fear it's going to be a big change for you. Having bowled in a similar style in the past...with late timing and planting and kinda athletically chucking the ball...there's a ton of NOISE in that whole motion/release. To this day, even after 6 months of slowing things down and quieting the shoulder...I still have to REMIND myself to do it because it doesn't feel natural. If I don't THINK about it...I naturally will TRY to propel that ball down the lane rather than just let it happen.

Watching the PBA WSOB recently really impacted me regarding the quiet shoulder. Especially watching the female bowlers. They have very smooth and effortless swings. The ball speed isn't tremendous...but they can still score in the 220s-270s...averaging over 200. Personally I think speed is over-rated. If you master consistency, targeting, and spare shooting...but only throw the ball 16mph...you can easily average above 200. Maybe to beat Sean Rash or Jason Belmonte you need a 21mph shot...but why not beat folks like Iceman or some amateur tournament players before getting too far ahead of ourselves.

[Amyers]

Well I was going to practice yesterday but there was so little oil on the lanes I ended up throwing the plastic spare ball. Just ridiculous standing on thirty throwing over 12 with plastic to try and keep the ball on the right side of the head pin. Seems that my home house isn't putting oil down except for Friday and Sunday's now. They had been oiling on Mondays but after I gave up after 2 games I asked the manager and for some stupid reason they only oiled two sets on Monday which is not on the ones I was bowling on. Usually on Tuesdays they are not that bad but I had one of the better bowlers on the next set over from me and he couldn't get anything to hold either. I don't understand this does the oil really cost that much? I can tell you my next practice session is most likely going to be at another house. So their goes $25 in bowling and $30 dollars in food sold. Glad you guys are saving the $5 to $10 bucks you saved on the oil unless that stuff costs way more than I think. This is about the 3rd time I've had this problem in the last couple of months. I've moved my practice day from Thursday to Tuesday to try and accommodate their oiling schedule. I'm getting tired of scheduling my practice around when they want to present lanes in a playable condition. I'm not asking for a fresh shot but I do think it should be good enough that I can at least throw one of my reactive balls. Rant over

[RobLV1]

Well I was going to practice yesterday but there was so little oil on the lanes I ended up throwing the plastic spare ball. Just ridiculous standing on thirty throwing over 12 with plastic to try and keep the ball on the right side of the head pin. Seems that my home house isn't putting oil down except for Friday and Sunday's now. They had been oiling on Mondays but after I gave up after 2 games I asked the manager and for some stupid reason they only oiled two sets on Monday which is not on the ones I was bowling on. Usually on Tuesdays they are not that bad but I had one of the better bowlers on the next set over from me and he couldn't get anything to hold either. I don't understand this does the oil really cost that much? I can tell you my next practice session is most likely going to be at another house. So their goes $25 in bowling and $30 dollars in food sold. Glad you guys are saving the $5 to $10 bucks you saved on the oil unless that stuff costs way more than I think. This is about the 3rd time I've had this problem in the last couple of months. I've moved my practice day from Thursday to Tuesday to try and accommodate their oiling schedule. I'm getting tired of scheduling my practice around when they want to present lanes in a playable condition. I'm not asking for a fresh shot but I do think it should be good enough that I can at least throw one of my reactive balls. Rant over

I feel compelled to ask how you go from standing 30 to hitting 12? That 18"! The ball is 8 3/4" in diameter, and if your hand is behind it and under your shoulder, that means it should be no more than 5" from you slide foot. Where did the other 13" come from? Where we stand is irrelevant if we don't slide into the same board where we started. If you are starting at 30, and sliding into 20 to get the ball to twelve at the arrows, it is impossible to stay behind the ball just based on the fact that your intended line is so different from the line that you are walking. If you are walking right and throwing left, you have no choice but to come around, or over the top of the ball. These are things that you can work on whether or not the lanes have been recently oiled if you can free yourself up from the concept of score being the end all result of a practice session.

[Aslan]

and if your hand is behind it and under your shoulder, that means it should be no more than 5" from you slide foot.

I calculate that to be more like 10" for most people. That may be one of my many "problems" though. Ideally, I BELIEVE, you want the ball inside your head and just outside of you slide foot. Thats the very "pro style" release. But if you watch most people bowl, and especially Amyers with his higher loft style...I don't think you'll see a ball that is < 10" from his slide foot.

I can stand 30 and target 12, even with my very low rev rate. But it has to be with a sanded ball on dry lanes.

[Amyers]

I feel compelled to ask how you go from standing 30 to hitting 12? That 18"! The ball is 8 3/4" in diameter, and if your hand is behind it and under your shoulder, that means it should be no more than 5" from you slide foot. Where did the other 13" come from? Where we stand is irrelevant if we don't slide into the same board where we started. If you are starting at 30, and sliding into 20 to get the ball to twelve at the arrows, it is impossible to stay behind the ball just based on the fact that your intended line is so different from the line that you are walking. If you are walking right and throwing left, you have no choice but to come around, or over the top of the ball. These are things that you can work on whether or not the lanes have been recently oiled if you can free yourself up from the concept of score being the end all result of a practice session.

I'm not sure Rob. I never noticed a tendency to walk right but it is a possibility. I will say I highly doubt that the ball is five inches from my foot at release. The ball has to clear my fat A$$ so I figure its out farther than that. I will check my foot placement when I bowl next time and see if I am walking right as far as the ball being within 5" of my foot maybe I can have the wife take some video next time so I can see where it is but I'd be willing to bet money its farther right than that.

As far as score and practice goes if I am by myself practicing then yes most of the time I don't even turn the scorer on to keep from distracting myself. In addition to practicing it was a family outing also. If I had let one of them beat me I would have been hearing about it for the next six months so yeah in this instance I was paying attention to the score . When the lanes are dry like that and I'm paying attention to the score I tend to quit paying attention to what I'm working on and try to get the ball to the pocket yes I know it's not the best way to practice

That is 12 at the arrows not laydown also so I would think the ball would move at least some during that time and I don't loft it to the arrows or anything. Is that really that far out of whack? Standing on thirty with a Target of the third arrow is a pretty normal line for me.

[Amyers]

I calculate that to be more like 10" for most people. That may be one of my many "problems" though. Ideally, I BELIEVE, you want the ball inside your head and just outside of you slide foot. Thats the very "pro style" release. But if you watch most people bowl, and especially Amyers with his higher loft style...I don't think you'll see a ball that is < 10" from his slide foot.

I can stand 30 and target 12, even with my very low rev rate. But it has to be with a sanded ball on dry lanes.

28-30 standing and target of 12-17 is pretty normal for me but that's with the asylum. When your doing it with a plastic ball not a lot of fun.

[Aslan]

Yeah, Amyers, next time you bowl...as you release and after the shot...do 2 things?

1) Try to estimate how far the ball is away from your slide/plant foot. If it's right under your shoulder...thats about 12 boards for a guy your size. If it's closer to your plant/slide foot...estimate the distance.

2) Look at where that foot is. I have an amazing ability NOT to drift. Despite my jackalope first step which is both nonsensical and confusing...by left foot ends up in the same place it starts with very little effort. Some people struggle GREATLY with this. The only time I tend to drift is if in my head, I really feel like I'm at an extreme angle and the ball has no shot of coming back...then I'll sometimes subconsciously "cheat".

If your foot is relatively in the same spot...and you know how far the ball is from you foot...then it's easier to evaluate. Don't get me wrong, Rob is 100% correct...modern bowling teachers will almost unilaterally tell you to get that ball close to that foot...but very few bowlers actually do it or take lessons and stuff. It's also noticeable when you see people "fall" sideways after their shot. If I don't get the ball between my slide foot and my head (ball to the right of my head)...it pulls me sideways...and I usually don't make the best shot.