when is it time to realize you are a has been...

[LOUVIT]

25-30 years ago I averaged 190, now no matter what I do or what I learn and try to change I average 150 on my first league since...Am I over thinking? I always released outside the ball, I was told not to. Now that I release the ball correctly I am all over the place. What would you do....Do it right and keep trying or do what's comfortable?

[1VegasBowler]

While it could be one small thing, it could also be a multitude of things, and since I have never seen you throw a ball, the best thing is to get a coach so that they can determine what's going on and get you to make the adjustments.

[ep1977]

25-30 years ago I averaged 190, now no matter what I do or what I learn and try to change I average 150 on my first league since...Am I over thinking? I always released outside the ball, I was told not to. Now that I release the ball correctly I am all over the place. What would you do....Do it right and keep trying or do what's comfortable?

Do whats comfortable!! Look at all the bowlers with different styles and releases who are successful.

[billf]

Depends. Comfortable got you a 150 average. If you're alright with that then stay with comfortable.
If you want to get better than you need to leave your comfort zone.

Bob is your coach, what does he think?

[billf]

Oh and while I'm at it.....don't even mention your age and size. Those won't keep you from improving. They are obstacles for sure but not complete road blocks. Don't make excuses, don't accept excuses and you will see progress.

[Amyers]

I agree with bilf it's not a size or age thing. I bowl with guys that are bigger than me and yes I'm big and I bowl with guys that are older than me that can kick my ***.

Keep working with it and if your spraying the ball with the release it's probably not right either lol. Your most likely out of time which causes that. I've been back at it for three years now and I'm just now getting to be solidly in the 190s after a similar layoff.

[ep1977]

Depends. Comfortable got you a 150 average. If you're alright with that then stay with comfortable.
If you want to get better than you need to leave your comfort zone.

Bob is your coach, what does he think?

He didn't say comfortable got him to where he is now. He said he's went away from what is most comfortable because everyone said it was wrong.

[fordman1]

Lou I know that most don't take my posts to well. What I am thinking and what I am typing don't always sound the same.
Most people like me in person.
Now I have to disagree a little Size, Age and fitness do matter.
You are retired so older. Are you over weight? Have any health issues?
I think I read you are using a 16 lb. ball that isn't good.
If you have been out of bowling for a while you may notice everything about how to throw the ball has changed.
I wonder if getting advise from a local PSO or coach who can watch you isn't a better idea than asking strangers who have never seen you throw a ball.

[LOUVIT]

Lou I know that most don't take my posts to well. What I am thinking and what I am typing don't always sound the same.
Most people like me in person.
Now I have to disagree a little Size, Age and fitness do matter.
You are retired so older. Are you over weight? Have any health issues?
I think I read you are using a 16 lb. ball that isn't good.
If you have been out of bowling for a while you may notice everything about how to throw the ball has changed.
I wonder if getting advise from a local PSO or coach who can watch you isn't a better idea than asking strangers who have never seen you throw a ball.

First, yes since I started the correct release, behind the ball instead of outside it I seem to be bowling worse. The ball reacts better but I have issues with getting the ball where I want it. The new correct release is not comfortable yet. I feel like I'm forcing my hand to stay behind it when my body wants to be outside of it. Could be I need to get used to it more. i am an impatient person for sure.

Fordman.. yes I am overweight a good bit. When I first came back 6 months ago I took 2 face flops and that is always in the back of my mind even though I haven't had a close call since. I also have some back issues so if I do fall I cannot get up myself, between the embarrassment and fear of that it's an issue. Bob is my coach but I haven't had the opportunity to see him in a while.

My 2 new balls are 15 pounds not 16. I think my confidence and concentration is way down, I was at a high point during the summer practice league. I shot as high as 235 with a few 200's and down to maybe 160-170. Now I can't shoot anything decent. I went into the league with high expectations of averaging 175+ I was even nervous when after 2 weeks I averaged 140. I figured when I woke up I'd be accused of sandbagging...lol

that's all I can think of now

[Tony]

If the release, footwork, timing, or anything else is not comfortable to you then you can change it. There is no magic formula to being a good scoring bowler, I have in recent years studied the form. release and timing of many of the bowlers that average in the 200's.
If nothing else I have concluded that anything goes. I bowled yesterday against a guy who's a hard throwing lefty, I watched as he fell off his shot frame after frame, never posing in a perfect end position....he had a 267 that game. The guy I was bowling is 65 and wears a back brace, can barely bend over to get the ball off the rack, the ball was a 15 or 20 year old Fury pearl, he shot a 255 one game.
An 70 year old guy was on the lane next to me, he never bends over at all and releases the ball a good 3 feet short of the foul line and lofts it barely over the foul line, he shot a 289 265 234. Another guy on his team takes a hop step, looks like he is jumping over a small dog on the way to foul line, had a couple of 200 games. Another guy I bowl with has averaged 215 the last 10 or so years, bends over so far his back is parallel with the ground on his release, throws tons of strikes. Several guys I know including the PSO that averages 250 has late timing using a 4 step delivery doesn't move the ball forward until the second step, takes slow steps,plants the slide foot and pulls the ball through to release at the correct time.
The point being, do what you did before when you were a 190 bowler and see what you need to tweak from there instead of reinventing the whole game. Keep in mind that age, strength, condition, flexibility and everything else concerning your physical condition is a consideration, it doesn't mean you can't improve but it might hamper you a bit in some ways.