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Author Topic: A good problem to have  (Read 3043 times)

Gizmo823

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A good problem to have
« on: June 24, 2014, 09:45:00 AM »
I've got a really backwards problem. I've been fighting my mechanics for a long time. Put in a lot of thinking, reading, asking questions, and it's gotten to the point where I throw the ball so clean that I'm having reaction problems on house shots. I used to have a weird little corkscrew twist or flap in my backswing, and I fixed that, I still turn my wrist instead of going straight back (think old school Mike Edwards), but the flap is gone, and I snap through at the bottom so quick and clean that I'm having trouble getting the ball to read soon enough when I have to move in to fresh head oil. I'm sure I'll get it figured out, but I just wanted to share proof that if you put in the time and the effort, you'll get there. I had a marathon practice session Sunday and I had the front 7 or 8 so many times I lost track. I'm used to having to play the lanes to cover up my common misses, so now it's a little odd being able to play them for good shots. I've got to figure out what to do in transition now, but again, when the more common mistake is throwing the ball TOO good instead of throwing it bad, I'll take that anytime.

I've got the high average on our summer sport league by several pins, and with my average already close to 230 on our regular house shots, I'm excited for fall league to start now . .
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis?

 

avabob

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2014, 10:11:53 AM »
Not only is yours a good problem to have, but your approach to dealing with sport patterns ( practice and changing your game ) is a good example to people who want to improve.  Bowling is a challenging game, not withstanding the ease with which people seem to score on house shots. 

For what it is worth, over the almost 50 years I have been bowling competitively I never was the best bowler on our local scene at any time.  However, I kept practicing and working on my game which allowed me to make the transitions that new lane finishes and balls seemed to bring in every few years.  The result was that I was able to stay near the top while others came and went over a long period of time.   

itsallaboutme

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2014, 10:15:37 AM »
I never met a good bowler that keeps score when they practice.  But then again I've never met a good bowler that would say they are throwing the ball too good. 

I hope you didn't hurt your shoulder.


Gizmo823

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2014, 10:55:45 AM »
I never keep score, but since my transition adjustments are a little up in the air right now, that's what I was trying to figure out.  It's hard to get an accurate picture of how it's hurting you without the numbers.  Since the mechanics are in good shape right now, I'm working on other things that do help to have some score reflection.  If you get your league sheet at the end of the year and your average is 230 the first game, 200 the second game, and 225 the third game, that's telling you something.  I'm starting to swing back the opposite direction with certain things.  You absolutely CAN'T keep score when you're working with mechanics, but while people have always said you can't practice carry, I think you can.  That goes into reading lanes, ball reaction, getting layouts and surfaces and ball choice right, etc.  That's basically what the difference is for the pros.  The guy that gets the breaks or the extra kick 10 or trip 4 is the guy that wins.  He's the guy that has the better ball motion or reaction.  Hitting the pocket is important, but how you hit the pocket is more important.  All kinds of things contribute to how the ball transitions on the backend and how the energy is transferred to the pins.  If I shoot 230 and have three 9/s scattered throughout that game, I want to figure out how to carry those 3 pins instead of going, "eh, it was a good game, just got unlucky a few frames."  I also know plenty of people who can't get out of practice mode.  The lights turn on, they can't turn themselves on and are instead standing there making excuses or going through the same routines instead of having the right perspective and sense of urgency.  Bowling IS about scoring, and you practice mechanics to increase the scores, but there's a different attitude about working on things and trying to knock the little white things down.  I've got the right balance and perspective, trust me . . I understand what you're saying completely, but I've got it under control. 

And I guess what I meant by throwing the ball too good is that I'm used to adjusting differently to accommodate my mistakes, which are usually getting slow with ball speed or finding the dry to the right too quick, so I usually move a board or two further left than I need to.  Now that the ball is coming off cleaner, the usual moves I make are too much, so I'm getting the ball too far down the lane too easily and I'm getting movement too late.  So in essence it's just that I'm throwing good shots more often, and sometimes that makes them too good for the moves I'm making.  Shoulder is just fine, actually better now that I'm not flailing and my timing is good. 

I never met a good bowler that keeps score when they practice.  But then again I've never met a good bowler that would say they are throwing the ball too good. 

I hope you didn't hurt your shoulder.
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis?

lilpossum1

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2014, 11:00:29 AM »
Just out of curiosity, do you have a video of yourself bowling recently? Perhaps throwing the venom shock if you have it? don't take this as me not believing you. I just want to see this as most people are able to point out flaws in their game

Gizmo823

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2014, 11:13:29 AM »
No, actually I don't.  Taking video gets me in trouble, I start nitpicking things and trying to change stuff that doesn't need changed.  The most important things are consistency and repeatability.  Not everyone can be or look textbook.  Now that's not an excuse for sloppy form, because form plays a huge part in the ability to repeat and be consistent . . but some people have natural motions you don't want to mess with.  You could take nearly any pro and pick them apart, but they do what they do very well.  Walter Ray has never had great form, but he's the most accurate bowler ever.  Mark Roth had bad form, Dick Weber had bad form, etc.  Those guys just knew how to BOWL.  There are tons of guys out there with EXCELLENT form, but how many of those guys are hall of famers? 

I can get a video though, I've got no problem showing anybody and I'd definitely welcome comments.  Trying to look or be textbook has always been what has derailed me in the past though. 

Just out of curiosity, do you have a video of yourself bowling recently? Perhaps throwing the venom shock if you have it? don't take this as me not believing you. I just want to see this as most people are able to point out flaws in their game
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis?

lilpossum1

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2014, 11:26:08 AM »
Trying to change anything never goes well for me. I have been trying to become more "textbook" as you say, but every time I change something, it screws everything up. I have been told by a few people that I throw a good ball (one of these people is legally blind and has to aim at the dots to bowl because he can't see arrows,) but I just feel like my release is nowhere near clean. It isn't the drilling being off, it is technique

kidlost2000

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2014, 11:30:36 AM »
Videos are great in my opinion. Vids when you're bowling your best, and vids at your worst. This helps as references to look back on.
…… you can't  add a physics term to a bowling term and expect it to mean something.

Radical In RI

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2014, 11:32:58 AM »
Try reading Mark Baker's "Game Changer" book. It's not really important to have a "text book" style.  More about body angles/body position at certain points in your approach.  I thought his book was a very good read. 

Gizmo823

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2014, 12:08:16 PM »
That's a great point . . I always wished I could find a video I had of myself from youth days when I really threw it good.  Before I went to adult, I thought I had to look the part, and so I started trying to change stuff to look "prettier" but that started the avalanche, and I'm just now finally recovering from it. 

Videos are great in my opinion. Vids when you're bowling your best, and vids at your worst. This helps as references to look back on.
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis?

Gizmo823

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2014, 12:11:33 PM »
Mechanical changes always feel weird and they always take a while to get changed because you're erasing habits and then developing new muscle memory, so if something initially feels weird, if it's the right thing to do, you just have to work with it, BUT sometimes it's hard to tell if something really needs changing or if you should just improve it or try to work with it.  Again, consistency and repeatability.  If something is causing problems, at the very worst working on it shouldn't do any more damage . .
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis?

itsallaboutme

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2014, 02:01:13 PM »
Hurt your shoulder patting yourself on the back.

Gizmo823

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Re: A good problem to have
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2014, 02:35:50 PM »
Ah, touche . .

Hurt your shoulder patting yourself on the back.
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis?