200 League Average vs 220 League Average

**Cdolcejr** · 12-16-2014, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by RobLV1

The first thing that pops out at me is the huge difference between your heavy oil ball and your medium heavy oil ball. My guess is that you are burning up your line a lot the first game, which lets you ball down and score very well the second game. By the third game, however, the line is totally gone and you start to lose your carry. What line do you typically play to start, and where do you usually end up?

In my first shift league, the shot is a modified THS with the amount of oil being somewhere between medium and heavy. I usually play the 3/4 line starting with feet on 20 and rolling in between the second and third arrow playing somewhat straighter at first. The new house manager seems to have increased the oil at some point this season which is why I'm throwing my Mutant at 500 grit. Last night, in my 5 man league, I was able to throw the Mutant all the way into the third game whereas before they started flooding the lanes I could start the night off with my 400a. If I try to start off with 400a, it goes way too long and I can't really find the pocket until the second game or so. For instance, last week I bowled all night with 400a and shot 186, 248, 259. I usually end up playing about 5-10 boards left of where I started depending on who I'm bowling with and against.

**Cdolcejr** · 12-16-2014, 12:21 PM

[QUOTE=fortheloveofbowling;121654]

Originally Posted by Cdolcejr

Hi,

The last few seasons I've been 205+ in different leagues, different houses. For example, last year in one house I shot 210 in a 2nd shift league, and in another house I shot 217 in a first shift league. This year I'm back at 210 in the early league and 205 in the 2nd shift league. My question is to those who are currently averaging north of 220. What are some of the differences between a 200-210 bowler and a 220+ bowler? I've been practicing a lot as of late (a lot as in shooting over 6-9 games in league a week and 13-18 games of practice per week). What are the keys to reaching this level?

First of all 220 is just a number. A lot of what someone averages depends on the house they bowl at. You might be less or more than your average at my house. I tend to judge myself not by my average but what i perceive the par to be in my house. Because of the bowlers that are at the top at my center and their level it is fairly easy to gauge what par is there. Regardless of that though there are several things that factor in when trying to get past a wall at a higher level.

1) Spares
You posted your stats so you know what your weakness is in regards to those leaves. Like my mom told me long ago, pick up those spares and the strikes will take care of themselves. That is easy to say but it is true. The confidence knowing your going to pick up spares definitely loosens you up on the first ball and enables you to make more confident shots. In practice take some games regardless if a pin is there or not and shoot at where the 10 or 4 or whatever would be. Find your placement with your foot positioning and target so that when you have a spare that requires you to focus on a certain pin single or otherwise you are confident of your adjustment. Spares are huge, people tend to forget 1 makeable spare missed over 3 games is 4 pins off your average.

2) Lane Management
This goes along with equipment but really it is about what the lane and pins are telling you. On a tougher shot the first thing i look to do is find the pocket and be able to flat 10. Now on a house shot that is a major red flag. In addition to that the other major indicator of increased focus is 2 shots when you get that over/under reaction where you get it to the friction and go high and move to break point in next and come up light. When we are talking about house shots those 2 times are when you really need to take a really close look and stop and think about your movements. Todays game and the equipment make it really hard to out bowl a bad ball reaction and you have to realize that when you think you have to make perfect shots on a house shot you are in bad shape. It is very important to not only watch your game but others as well. Practice during different times of the day depending on what is out there so you see different looks.

3) Equipment
You seem to have a variety of balls so i'm sure you know the transitions and what they can and can't do. Practice with all of them and play shots that you normally would not play with a certain ball. Sometimes you find that a ball works better in a certain situation than you thought. Maintain your equipment as well so you know what it is going to do. I'm not a big advocate of resurfacing more than really needs to be done just clean them after bowling and keep up with how they might change a they get games on them.

4) Practice
Some guys need no games a week and some need 50. You need to practice in a diverse way though. Don't just go out and get 2 lanes and line up and bowl 10 games. While you should try to get lined up and build confidence sometimes during your session that really isn't utilizing your practice time wisely. Get 1 lane and play some different lines so you can see some transitions not only from your normal starting spot but others as well. Take some games as i stated earlier and just shoot at the 2,3,4,6,7,10 spots regardless if they are there or not. Use all of your equipment and think about what they do on different lines. During competition you don't want to be guessing about what a ball is going to do when you make a move you want to know based on your practice.

5) Talk
Engage other bowlers in conversation and look at there lines and equipment. A lot of guys are more than willing to talk about what they are doing and thinking in order to make them successful. You would be amazed how simple ways of looking at the lane or thought processes can help your game. It is not just the higher average guys either that you can learn from. If a guy is having a good night look and see what he is doing or maybe look to see if he got a different ball. Talk to the head mechanic about the condition and what is going on with the lanes and machine. You can learn a lot by just observing and talking to the other bowlers around you.

6) Effort
This to me may be the most important thing. How many times have you just seen guys throw away pins on fill ball or miss the 10 on a 7-10 split? If you are truly grinding trying to get your scores up focus on EVERY SHOT. I don't care if it is the fill ball in your last game and you are having a off night and you think you have to move 2 left to strike, do it. Those pins add up up over the course of the season and if i don't care on my fill shots and get 2 pins less every other game that is 1 pin off my average. I see it all the time, guys throwing away tons of pins because they get pissed and don't take their time. From the first ball to the last give it your full attention no matter if it is a spare you never miss or the most difficult shot you have all night. That is one of the things that makes a good teammate as well.

That was a lot of rambling and there several other things that i could talk about in addition to expanding on what i have written. The thing about bowling and finding your ultimate level of success is you have to find what works for you and perfect it. Also, along the way try to correct the problems you have as well. I applaud the fact that you want to reach a higher level and hope you attain your goals. So many people don't really have that desire and that is fine as well. I don't care if a guy wants to go out and drink and have a good time or if they are completely focused on their game and trying to get better. I just want people to bowl and keep coming back. If you reaching your goal of 220 is what makes you keep coming back then more power to you and i hope you get there.

Thank you for this- I'm bookmarking this page as we speak. Very good stuff!

**fortheloveofbowling** · 12-16-2014, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Cdolcejr

In my first shift league, the shot is a modified THS with the amount of oil being somewhere between medium and heavy. I usually play the 3/4 line starting with feet on 20 and rolling in between the second and third arrow playing somewhat straighter at first. The new house manager seems to have increased the oil at some point this season which is why I'm throwing my Mutant at 500 grit. Last night, in my 5 man league, I was able to throw the Mutant all the way into the third game whereas before they started flooding the lanes I could start the night off with my 400a. If I try to start off with 400a, it goes way too long and I can't really find the pocket until the second game or so. For instance, last week I bowled all night with 400a and shot 186, 248, 259. I usually end up playing about 5-10 boards left of where I started depending on who I'm bowling with and against.

Doesn't look like you need much help! Good bowling!

**Blacksox1** · 12-16-2014, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by fortheloveofbowling

First of all 220 is just a number. A lot of what someone averages depends on the house they bowl at. You might be less or more than your average at my house. I tend to judge myself not by my average but what i perceive the par to be in my house. Because of the bowlers that are at the top at my center and their level it is fairly easy to gauge what par is there. Regardless of that though there are several things that factor in when trying to get past a wall at a higher level.

1) Spares
You posted your stats so you know what your weakness is in regards to those leaves. Like my mom told me long ago, pick up those spares and the strikes will take care of themselves. That is easy to say but it is true. The confidence knowing your going to pick up spares definitely loosens you up on the first ball and enables you to make more confident shots. In practice take some games regardless if a pin is there or not and shoot at where the 10 or 4 or whatever would be. Find your placement with your foot positioning and target so that when you have a spare that requires you to focus on a certain pin single or otherwise you are confident of your adjustment. Spares are huge, people tend to forget 1 makeable spare missed over 3 games is 4 pins off your average.

2) Lane Management
This goes along with equipment but really it is about what the lane and pins are telling you. On a tougher shot the first thing i look to do is find the pocket and be able to flat 10. Now on a house shot that is a major red flag. In addition to that the other major indicator of increased focus is 2 shots when you get that over/under reaction where you get it to the friction and go high and move to break point in next and come up light. When we are talking about house shots those 2 times are when you really need to take a really close look and stop and think about your movements. Todays game and the equipment make it really hard to out bowl a bad ball reaction and you have to realize that when you think you have to make perfect shots on a house shot you are in bad shape. It is very important to not only watch your game but others as well. Practice during different times of the day depending on what is out there so you see different looks.

3) Equipment
You seem to have a variety of balls so i'm sure you know the transitions and what they can and can't do. Practice with all of them and play shots that you normally would not play with a certain ball. Sometimes you find that a ball works better in a certain situation than you thought. Maintain your equipment as well so you know what it is going to do. I'm not a big advocate of resurfacing more than really needs to be done just clean them after bowling and keep up with how they might change a they get games on them.

4) Practice
Some guys need no games a week and some need 50. You need to practice in a diverse way though. Don't just go out and get 2 lanes and line up and bowl 10 games. While you should try to get lined up and build confidence sometimes during your session that really isn't utilizing your practice time wisely. Get 1 lane and play some different lines so you can see some transitions not only from your normal starting spot but others as well. Take some games as i stated earlier and just shoot at the 2,3,4,6,7,10 spots regardless if they are there or not. Use all of your equipment and think about what they do on different lines. During competition you don't want to be guessing about what a ball is going to do when you make a move you want to know based on your practice.

5) Talk
Engage other bowlers in conversation and look at there lines and equipment. A lot of guys are more than willing to talk about what they are doing and thinking in order to make them successful. You would be amazed how simple ways of looking at the lane or thought processes can help your game. It is not just the higher average guys either that you can learn from. If a guy is having a good night look and see what he is doing or maybe look to see if he got a different ball. Talk to the head mechanic about the condition and what is going on with the lanes and machine. You can learn a lot by just observing and talking to the other bowlers around you.

6) Effort
This to me may be the most important thing. How many times have you just seen guys throw away pins on fill ball or miss the 10 on a 7-10 split? If you are truly grinding trying to get your scores up focus on EVERY SHOT. I don't care if it is the fill ball in your last game and you are having a off night and you think you have to move 2 left to strike, do it. Those pins add up up over the course of the season and if i don't care on my fill shots and get 2 pins less every other game that is 1 pin off my average. I see it all the time, guys throwing away tons of pins because they get pissed and don't take their time. From the first ball to the last give it your full attention no matter if it is a spare you never miss or the most difficult shot you have all night. That is one of the things that makes a good teammate as well.

That was a lot of rambling and there several other things that i could talk about in addition to expanding on what i have written. The thing about bowling and finding your ultimate level of success is you have to find what works for you and perfect it. Also, along the way try to correct the problems you have as well. I applaud the fact that you want to reach a higher level and hope you attain your goals. So many people don't really have that desire and that is fine as well. I don't care if a guy wants to go out and drink and have a good time or if they are completely focused on their game and trying to get better. I just want people to bowl and keep coming back. If you reaching your goal of 220 is what makes you keep coming back then more power to you and i hope you get there.

Fantastic post. You should win the prize soon with quality like this. I salute you.

**fortheloveofbowling** · 12-16-2014, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Blacksox1

Fantastic post. You should win the prize soon with quality like this. I salute you.

I don't think i would go that far. So much of bowling is finding a way to approach the game from a physical and mental standpoint that works for you. In my rambling i was basically describing some of how i approach the game. In no way am i trying to say this is a definitive way of thinking about the game. If there is something in my post that works for some individual then great but i'm sure a lot of those same things won't work for everyone. Thanks anyway.