No Preconceived Notions

[classygranny]

Lately, it seems I've read a whole lot about not having preconceived notions when you arrive at the lanes to bowl. And how true that seems to be for the last month on both my leagues at two different houses. Whether it be caused by the Corporate changes from Brunswick to Bowlmor, the change from summer to fall, change in personnel, or whatever seems to be going on, it appears we are on a different condition every single time we bowl. Although, so far we have not encountered dry lanes which is the only consistent issue going on.

So without preconceived notions, and assuming the bowler has a typical three or four ball arsenal, and you have time for a four frame (maybe five) warmup, what would you suggest doing for warmup?

[djp1080]

Granny, Try Ron's Ten Minutes of practice found here: http://bowlercentral.com/RonClifton.htm

Another point Ron has is for dry lanes too. Check out "How to Handle Dry Lanes"... Hope this helps...

[RobLV1]

Granny, I'm so proud of you! Most bowlers don't realize that there can be drastic changes to the lanes from week to week. Don't forget about the one thing we have in common between Phoenix and Las Vegas: the weather; particularly the humidity can make huge differences in the lanes.

[classygranny]

Granny, I'm so proud of you! Most bowlers don't realize that there can be drastic changes to the lanes from week to week. Don't forget about the one thing we have in common between Phoenix and Las Vegas: the weather; particularly the humidity can make huge differences in the lanes.

Yes, the good ol' humidity that we live in the desert to avoid, and it has been bad this year!

Rob, I was really hoping you would weigh in on what to do with the 4 or 5 frames of warmup/practice prior to a league. Also, it is impossible for me to bowl a game or two prior to league play, as Friday we bowl as soon as the center opens, and Mondays there isn't enough time between work, dinner and bowling.

Also, anyone else have a good warmup routine they would like to share?

[RobLV1]

Yes, the good ol' humidity that we live in the desert to avoid, and it has been bad this year!

Rob, I was really hoping you would weigh in on what to do with the 4 or 5 frames of warmup/practice prior to a league. Also, it is impossible for me to bowl a game or two prior to league play, as Friday we bowl as soon as the center opens, and Mondays there isn't enough time between work, dinner and bowling.

Also, anyone else have a good warmup routine they would like to share?

I too am bowling two leagues this year where there are no lanes available for pre-league practice or warm-up. I don't know if I can tell you what to do during the ten minutes of practice, but I can tell you what not to do: don't try to find a strike shot until the last ball or two when you are somewhat warmed up. Looking for a strike shot too soon will just ensure that it will no longer work once you do warm up. Personally, what I try to do during the warm up period is to make sure that I develop a feeling for the two things that are the most important for my own bowling: staying behind the ball, and extending out through the shot. Once I get these feelings going, I'm usually warmed up enough to try a strike line or two before the lights come on for real.

[ALazySavage]

I would have to say that finding a line during warm-up has so many variables that are dependent on the bowler, the other people on the lane, the lanes, etc. that the process would greatly vary from bowler to bowler. My personal process is to spend the first couple shots just getting loose and maybe working on a key or two. I agree with Rob that I would not start the practice looking for a particular line because it could easily change in the time warm-up occurs. In the scenario that you explain where each bowler is getting 5 to 6 frames of practice you have to think of it like this; how much have you seen the lanes transition in half a game of bowling? Now accelerate this by the fact that many league bowlers generally start with the most aggressive piece of equipment in their bag (usually a lower rg ball with surface). What you will tend to see is by the end of such a practice a transition has already begun and if you have "found" a line early in the practice the shot may have transitioned and now you are behind the move.

As for a particular plan, I know that Susie Minshew has a 5 (or 6) shot system that helps you understand where the oil is in the pattern that she has written in BTM in the past. Depending on how well you are able to read ball roll this may or may not be helpful. If anything it may create a routine so that it is easier to focus on getting everything crisp and ready for the start of league.

[vdubtx]

I remember reading Susie's article in BTM and it was about warm up and finding your shot. Called "Warm Up Once, Line Up Forever" and is a very good article.

In no particular order:

1. Choose the line.

2. Choose the ball.

3. Try forward roll or close to 15 degrees or so of axis rotation.

4. Increase your rotation to your version of 45 degrees.

5. Give it your maximum axis rotation, your version of 90 degrees.

6. Lay the ball down early.

7. Try a little loft.

8. If you have found A shot, move. It may not be THE shot. Try to find more zones of the lane you can play. I don’t mean a two board move. I mean go to a totally different area of the lane. If you can play down 8, can you swing 15? What’s happening at the 1st arrow? Knowing that you can or cannot play those alternative places on the lane is like having a savings account. You’ll have somewhere to go if the shot you thought you found goes away or is not scoring well.