Gotta Love Being Self Taught

[Paralipsis]

Everything regarding bowling in relation to me has been self taught. Everything from my approach, to the drilling, to the release. Yesterday, I had the general manager of my local center lay down the 2010 USBC Nationals pattern with a a heavy oil load. I had bowled on a the USBC Blue pattern (correcting a past thread where I said I loved the nationals pattern) but not the Nationals pattern. Bowled three games of practice trying different lines and different releases, then bowled three games with a fixed release and steady line.

MY MAJOR FLAW:

I figured out that I had a major flaw in my release. I hugged the ball close to my body and instead of letting the ball roll off of my fingers, I was pushing it out instead. I straightened out my arm when I'd get set for my release, had a much smoother release, and instead of averaging 118 over three games, it jumped up to 187. I was quite satisfied. Still working on a few minor issues, but so long as I keep this release, I should be able to do one hell of a lot better. Every now and then, I'd roll it a little to fast and I'd burry it and leave a 2-4, 2-4-10, or a double wood with a split.

STILL WORKING ON:

Consistency, consistency, consistency. I'm slowly dialing in everything to make my release consistent. I'm quite satisfied with myself considering I've had no formal coaching.

[The Mayor]

It's great that you're so dedicated to improving! I would definitely recommend working with a qualified coach. Even the best bowlers on the PBA have coaches, because many times a pair of eyes watching you from behind can see things you can't feel!

[Paralipsis]

I'm trying to get the pro-shop manager who's also a coach to help me out. Between him dealing with his pro-shop and him being the general manager of the bowling center and me dealing with my job, school, and side activities, I really don't have the time to.

187 average over 3 games for my first time bowling on a difficult pattern isn't bad...if you ask me. That's a better average than what I get on a THS during youth league...this 187 average came on a 5 minute old, brand new, oily, Nationals pattern. Three games of messing around trying things, then 3 games of serious practice. I <3 challenging patterns.

[BowlingObsessed]

I'm a self taught bowler as well and I think I can say that with pride. I feel like I know my own game very well due to the fact. I can correct certain problems in my game pretty much on the fly because I've had to learn the hard way. Being self taught can have it's advatages and disadvantages of course, you're very self reliant when it comes to correcting problems but when you hit a wall it's tough getting over it sometimes.

[Paralipsis]

^Well put. Very well put.

[mrbowling300]

What did you think of the usbc blue? We used that at our city masters tourney. In the Detroit area, we have a place called bowling IQ, thy have 4 Brunswick and 4 amf lanes. You can get coaching, have them put any pattern you want. It's a great place. In April, me and some buddies are going to play around with the us open pattern. Good luck to you. I'm self taught as well. The one time I used a coach, it screwed me up big time. They suggested I make radical changes like going from 5 to 4 step. My lowest average was after I worked with her.

[Paralipsis]

The USBC Blue was similar to the usual THS we have at the center, just a little bit more oil. Compared to a THS, I had the same breakpoint and aiming point, but I lined up about 5 boards further outside with a little bit lower ball speed. On nationals, I was all the way outside. That should give you an idea. Fun pattern, I just love the nationals. Really challenging.

[BowlingObsessed]

Just had a similar experience recently. My friend brought his camera with us about a week ago to get a couple shots of us bowling. Usually when he does this I usually don't like what I see on my part and my ego goes through the floor pretty hard and that night was no different.

My form had felt really awkward the last couple of weeks so I wasn't surprised but it was still a wake up call. The first thing I noticed was my first step (five step approach) it looked completely unnatural. My foot was walking way too far away from my body which was causing my other foot to also walk too far away from my body. Which ultimately was throwing my swing path off. Of course I didn't realize all of that until I got home so I was pretty frustrated about it, I spent all night trying to rack my brain on how to fix it.

I went down into my basement and practiced my first two steps and my pushaway. I figured out that I was opening up my hips at the wrong time causing my swing to move away from by body as mentioned in the latter. My left foot needs to open on the third step not the first one. Inorder to have that happen all I had to do was keep my first two steps locked up straighter.

It was like I had some sort of epiphany or I was some mad scientist yelling "AH HA!" This game never ceases to amaze me, at times it seems so complex but the answer is usually something so simple. A problem you've been trying to solve for years can come to an end that quickly.