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Author Topic: After 28 years it is time to call it quits  (Read 7094 times)

ThongPrincess

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After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« on: February 05, 2006, 02:38:41 PM »
Come June I will have completed my 28th Winter season and 27 Summer seasons.  I never really thought I would be saying this...but it is time to give up this sport.

Last Feb, I started working with a certified coach.  In the year since, we have fixed many problems, only toreveal additional problems.  Now it is to a point I have no clue how to fix this current one.  Our last session revealed I come out of the ball, fingers and thumb almost together, causing my ball to spin and not read the lane properly.  I have tried working on the release, but now the reaction is even worse.

Hitting a 150 is a good game.  I have no clue how to come out of the ball, adjust, and basically hate going to league.  It is just no fun any more, so come the end of this season, barring some miracle, it is farewell to bowling.  North Carolina may well be the last time I roll a ball down the lanes.
 
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Edited on 2/14/2006 1:51 AM

Edited on 2/15/2006 2:51 AM
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9andaWiggle

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #16 on: February 06, 2006, 10:52:24 AM »
Switch hands, it's easier on the Correct side!  

Sorry to hear of your frustration.  After 28 years of round-the-clock bowling, you might just need some time off.  Take this summer off, maybe go practice a week or two before the next fall season kicks off and see how you feel.  If you still don't desire to bowl, take the fall season off as well.  Maybe a break will help clear your head and help you regain focus when/if you come back.  I wish you the best of luck, whatever you decide.

Just won't be the same without a Thong Princess around here...

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T-GOD

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #17 on: February 06, 2006, 11:39:06 AM »
Thong, put on a Cobra wrist device. You'll immediatley see a difference if you use the product correctly. After you've learned the proper technique, you can take the wrist device off.

If you can't release the ball properly, you need a different coach and/or driller/pitches to work on your release.

My statements should not necessarily be taken in the order I gave them. =:^D
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mrbowlingnut

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #18 on: February 06, 2006, 11:52:15 AM »
2 quick tips you can try out first like said above by the t-god have pitches checked make sure your finger pads are in contact with the grips or ball surface. Mine was too far forward i went to 1/2 reverse in both fingers i can actually get more on the ball now.

Tip 2 only good if spans/pitches are good as taught by Ralf Gauger put pressure only your fingertips make them as he says fish hooks. The ball will come off your hand better and it will have something on it besides the spinning motion. Lead with the ring finger and it the fingertips firm this will keep you under the ball and it will rev up nicely. I am a natural spinner i try to help a ball which guess what on the right lane pattern is still great if you add in the fingertip trick. The ball will spin through the heads on fried heads and backend were it needs too.

ps-dont quit something you love period!!
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mrbowlingnut

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #19 on: February 06, 2006, 11:55:55 AM »
ps i use a mongoose more comfort than the cobra or strong arm from storm, a robby's is good also but i can highly recommend the goose. In fact Wendy Mac uses one also gives us nice consistent releases, i dont need it but it keeps the wrist firm and straight and makes it easy on your fingertips to do what i suggested.
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SrKegler

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #20 on: February 06, 2006, 01:11:03 PM »
Hey TP, don't quit entirely.  You're about the only person I can count on whipping at the gathering.

I'd take the summer off, then cut back on leagues to maybe two a week.  Just make bowling fun again.  After my wreck I only got in about 21 league games last year.  Sucked big time not having leagues to look forward to.  Afraid you'll be in the same boat.

I think it's a bad case of burnout.  You can have my coaching time this year with Ron, he worked miracles with me, you should be a piece of cake.  

CYA in July.
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Steven

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #21 on: February 06, 2006, 01:14:08 PM »
quote:
Hitting a 150 is a good game. I have no clue how to come out of the ball, adjust, and basically hate going to league.  


I've watched you bowl at Mission, at you're much better than a 150. With all the changes you've been making, you're now in a state of confusion, and it sounds like you've hit rock bottom.

If you're interested, I'd be happy to do a practice session with you and give you my unbiased opinion. Sometimes, people will tell you what you want to hear instead of what you need to hear, and I promise you won't get smoke from me.

Anyway, message me if you're interested. Otherwise good luck in whatever you decide.
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JohnP

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #22 on: February 06, 2006, 02:29:47 PM »
TP -- Try concentrating just on being accurate.  Put your hand in its proper release position and leave it there.  Keep your eye on the target and your head down until after the ball has rolled over the target, then you can raise up to watch the strike!  Good luck  --  JohnP
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ThongPrincess

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #23 on: February 06, 2006, 04:59:20 PM »
I want to say thank you to all of you for your kind words and advice.  I am printing it all out and will reread it.  I am floored at the outpouring of advice.

My coach does know his stuff, but maybe another perspective will help.  He has told me I have come a very long way, and that this change will come easily.  It hasn't and as said, I no longer know what to do.  He did say that too much of my equipment is drilled stacked, to go long, but I know nothing about drilling.  My previous coach was also my driller.    

I have moved my pitches forward, on Ron's advice.  I can't remember how much forward I now have.  I am currently using 15#.  I bowl 3 leagues, 1 Sport League (4 games) and 2 House Leagues (3 games each).  I also bowl between 10 and 12 practice games a week.  

I do have several tournaments coming up.  City April 1st & 8th, State either May or June, Nationals July 1-2, Petersen July 13th (never any high expectations), and NC July.

For those of you who know me, know I wear my heart on my sleeve.  I have been in tears reading this, I probably should have waited until I got home.  When anyone asks why we come back...this is it.  

I will give some serious thought to just taking some time off.  Once again, Thank you!


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"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean
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"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean
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I am a proud member of BallReviews.com and  Bowling Boards.com forums

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Saw Mill

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #24 on: February 06, 2006, 05:16:31 PM »
Hang in there TP,  I like the advice of Doc and Nicanor, as well as taking another look at your pitches.  Also maybe a visit to the doctor to have your hand checked out is a possibility.  

I live in the High Desert of California (Hesperia/Victorville), and would be willing to bowl with you to try and help; while I am no certified coach, I might be able to give some insight as a friend; message me if interested.

Dave
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novawagonmaster

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #25 on: February 06, 2006, 08:24:14 PM »
I got to this a little late, but I must say I am floored!
Someone who puts in this much effort with all the leagues, all the practice, a coach, time spent in here with all of us, etc...does not just up and quit. I think you just have too many things going on, and in a fit of confusion, your mind has overloaded. Stacked drills will not cause a ball to spin. Twisting your wrist does. I think you should either try coming straight up the back of the ball, delivering it like a suitcase, or a handshake. Once you've got these down, you can tweak from there. In any event, it sounds like you may be struggling with heavy equipment (causing a weak wrist position at delivery). If you need time off, go for it. However, I think it's in your blood to continue once you've collected your thoughts and put together a game plan. For goodness sake...don't make us beg to keep you around!!!
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CPA

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #26 on: February 06, 2006, 09:32:45 PM »
TP,
Go have some fun while bowling and don't worry about the scores.  Remember this is a game.  I believe your scores will improve once you start having fun again.
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chitown

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #27 on: February 06, 2006, 09:42:47 PM »
Before you quit try using a wrist brace.
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DanH78

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #28 on: February 06, 2006, 09:50:33 PM »
Hey TP, I'm not gonna repeat all of the wonderful ideas already presented.  I agree that you shouldn't give up, take a little break.  I did notice that you are going to be bowling the Peterson in Hoffman Estates.  Well, that's just a short stones throw away from Hawthorne Lanes, home of Bill Spigner.  If you're still slumping when the date is nearing (even if you're not slumping) I suggest giving him a call for a lesson or two.  He's a gold level coach and knows his way around a drill press.
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Atochabsh

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #29 on: February 06, 2006, 10:21:49 PM »
I'm going to tell you something no one else is going to fess up to.  Its the Sport League.  Plain and simple, you are not ready for a sport league and its challenges mentally and mechanically.  At 150, no one should be in a sport league.  There's nothing to be learned....yet.

Confidence is so much a part of this game.  Sport Leagues do not breed confidence, they feed off it. What do you learn from a Sport League?  You are not as consistent as you think you are.  That's it.  A Sport League does not infuse you with consistency or accuracy.  

When I told you in my original post that I was in a 3 year slump, it was brought on also by a Sport League.  It was the first year such leagues were out and the one and only house in the area to do it had 50 year old wood lanes.  The leader of the league wanted the most difficult shot.  And that's what was put out there.  No one averaged over 190 and no one shot a series over 650.  And these were regional pros that averaged over 240 on any house shot.  At that time, I was not ready for the mental beating such a league gives you.  What they dont' tell you when you buy into the Sport League talk is that it very well may drop your averages in all your leagues.  The mental bruising on a weekly basis takes it toll.  At 150, you don't need that.  You need confidence, technique and a secure spare regime.  No one under 200  average (on a house shot) should be in a sport league...period.  

I have told my story many times privately to others that have felt the same way you do.  And they too were in Sport Leagues.  After dropping the Sport League, they were able to concentrate more with less penalites (forgiving house shots) and their confidence grew.  While they confidence grew so did their skill level.  And eventually, with that elevation comes the ability to actually gain something usable from the Sport League environment.  

Erin
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Atochabsh

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Re: After 28 years it is time to call it quits
« Reply #30 on: February 07, 2006, 10:36:04 AM »
Simple math will also reveal why you feel the way you do about the sport right now.  You said you bowl three leagues.   That's three days, out of 7.  Leaving 4.

You take lessons...that's now leaving you 3 days in your week.  You say you practise between 10 and 12 games a week.  That's probably in two days?  That leaves you one day where you do not bowl.  

Now I don't know your family situation or your work situation, but it must be difficult to fit in bowling 6 out of 7 days a week.  And take the mental beating you are. Even of you only take a lesson once a month, you are still leaving yourself 2 days a week for everything else in your life.  That may just be too much.  For someone that is struggling to improve, bowling multiple leagues (sport or handicap) is not the answer.  You need more time for more constructive practise and leagues are not practise.  

 Right now you probably feel like a dog the Sport League has kicked around for 1/2 a year.  I know how you feel.  You feel like you don't know how to release the ball, nothing feels familiar, you feel out of time, you don't feel like you have any muscle memory, you feel like every walk up to the foul line is a bad dream.  Every ball goes where it wants and that's not usually where you want it to go. You have no control over your game.  

I know you don't want to quit.  I know, because if you did, you would not have bothered to write the post you did.  But I do think you wanted some support and help.  You have it.  Now, pull up your boot straps and do what you need to do to get better mentally and then physically.  If that means quitting some leagues then do it.  If that means getting more frequent lessons, do it.  If you end up quitting the sport, no one will believe the worse of you.  If I'm totally off base, then I hope that you find another solution to your situation.  

Erin
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