Inconsistency

[HowDoIHookAgain]

I'd like to think of myself as a pretty decent bowler. I average about 170 and I make most of my spares. I feel like I'm a good team player and all, and I'm starting to learn more and more about the sport, thanks to this website. But for some reason, I have a really bad tendency to be pretty inconsistent with my first ball. Let me give you an example.

Let's say my first ball in a game carries high and leaves a 7-10 split. The next frame, I throw it perfect and get a strike. My third frame, I'll completely miss the head pin and miss my mark about 5 boards right, or throw a Brooklyn. It doesn't seem like much of a problem to most people because for the most part, I'll make my spares and shoot pretty solid games. But I've always had a problem with inconsistent first balls.

Would it be something in my release? Is it maybe just me changing something everytime I go up to bowl? IS it another technicality problem? Or is it just me having to grow a bit more, learn and practice some more, and get a better grip on the game itself? I'm only 15 so most people think I'm great. But if I can throw a more consistent first ball, I'll feel a lot better about myself going into games for the school next year.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[fortheloveofbowling]

I'd like to think of myself as a pretty decent bowler. I average about 170 and I make most of my spares. I feel like I'm a good team player and all, and I'm starting to learn more and more about the sport, thanks to this website. But for some reason, I have a really bad tendency to be pretty inconsistent with my first ball. Let me give you an example.

Let's say my first ball in a game carries high and leaves a 7-10 split. The next frame, I throw it perfect and get a strike. My third frame, I'll completely miss the head pin and miss my mark about 5 boards right, or throw a Brooklyn. It doesn't seem like much of a problem to most people because for the most part, I'll make my spares and shoot pretty solid games. But I've always had a problem with inconsistent first balls.

Would it be something in my release? Is it maybe just me changing something everytime I go up to bowl? IS it another technicality problem? Or is it just me having to grow a bit more, learn and practice some more, and get a better grip on the game itself? I'm only 15 so most people think I'm great. But if I can throw a more consistent first ball, I'll feel a lot better about myself going into games for the school next year.

Thanks in advance for the help.

At 15 years of age and your whole bowling career ahead, you need to go find a certified coach. This early in your bowling life doing that is going to improve your game much quicker. That extra set of eyes telling you what the problems are at this point saves a lot of time correcting problems you may create on your own. Not much of an answer but i don't know your game and erratic shot making can be so many different things it really hard to speculate. If a coach is not available in your center, seek out some better bowlers that may be cool and have a reputation of knowing what their talking about. Just ask for help, not every experienced player is a jerk. Good luck man.

[Mike White]

I'd like to think of myself as a pretty decent bowler. I average about 170 and I make most of my spares. I feel like I'm a good team player and all, and I'm starting to learn more and more about the sport, thanks to this website. But for some reason, I have a really bad tendency to be pretty inconsistent with my first ball. Let me give you an example.

Let's say my first ball in a game carries high and leaves a 7-10 split. The next frame, I throw it perfect and get a strike. My third frame, I'll completely miss the head pin and miss my mark about 5 boards right, or throw a Brooklyn. It doesn't seem like much of a problem to most people because for the most part, I'll make my spares and shoot pretty solid games. But I've always had a problem with inconsistent first balls.

Would it be something in my release? Is it maybe just me changing something everytime I go up to bowl? IS it another technicality problem? Or is it just me having to grow a bit more, learn and practice some more, and get a better grip on the game itself? I'm only 15 so most people think I'm great. But if I can throw a more consistent first ball, I'll feel a lot better about myself going into games for the school next year.

Thanks in advance for the help.

A lot of inconsistency at your age comes from paying too much attention to crap that really isn't important.

With practice you can develop muscle memory, and you will try to do the least amount of motion required to achieve a high percent results.

Another thing that is significant at your age is as you practice, you will become stronger, and that will allow you to throw the ball stronger.

If that stronger method isn't producing a better percent result, more likely you need to throw it easier, and use the additional strength to allow you to throw the higher percent method for a longer period of time.

Consistency isn't about how good your good shots are, but how good your bad shots are.

The more you develop muscle memory, the better your bad shots get.

[J Anderson]

Without watching you bowl, it's hard to give an exact answer to your problem. All I can do is sggest some possibilities.

1. Some people seem to focus better after a miss. I've often joked with other bowlers that they need to throw their second ball first. It may help to develop a consistant pre-shot routine that gets your mind focused on executing a good shot every time.

2. Do you check to make sure you're starting the right spot on the approach, not only in terms of what board you're on, but also how far back from the foul line.

3. Learn to observe the ball all the way through the pins. After every shot you should be able to answer the following:
Was the ball on target at the arrows, or where ever you actually target?
Where was the ball at the break point?
Where did it hit the pins?
Where did it leave the pin deck?

Being able to answer these questions will let you figure out why the first ball is so inconsistant

[foreverincamo]

Another thing that throws off teenagers is that they are still growing. Add a little weight, or a half inch in height, and there goes your timing. I had one year where during the season my average dropped from 167 to 142. I also grew 13 inches in height during the year. Longer arms and legs that are constantly changing will cause issues.

[HowDoIHookAgain]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll try to use what you guys told me to do and improve from there.