TP,

A good pro shop operator will be able to answer your questions.  But maybe go seek the help of a couple of local pro shop operators that are highly recommended and seek their advice.

Pitches effect your release but someitmes picth chnages seem to hard to overcome.  Not everyone believes in changing pitches if the ball feels good.  Left and right pitch changes can effect your track higher or lower.  I can't remember which way raises the track.  Also thumb pitch can effect your track and coming around the ball too much.

If you messaged T-GOD I know he has a great clue on this subject as well as a lot of other posters on Ballreviews.  But I recommend going to see someone that doesn't drill your bowling balls.  That operator might be a little defensive.  I had that problem with my ball driller for awhile. he only did things his way and he was old school.  i started getting my bowling balls drilled somewhere else and then brought the ball to him to put the exacacator thumb slug in.  Now he drills the bowling balls the way I want unless I ask for a recommendation.  I know it sounds bad, but he does not keep up on bowling balls and doesn't know one from another so far a cover, weight block etc.  But he drills the ball to perfection.

Good luck.  Just throw the ball, don't finese it.

Barry

i too am and have been in a slump for over a year now seems like nothing i do works .I had thought about quitting ,but the other side of me doesnt want to be a "quitter", not saying u are ,but alot of getting better is being around the right people in the right atmosphere, a more experienced bowler gave me a tip a couple of weeks ago .He gave me a few tips ,but there was one inperticular that seemed to bring my game back. I say this to say if u love something u work at it i.e, marriage, kids,whatever take some time off if u need to ,but if not or when u come back ,u will diversify your sources of info ,read ,ask for help from bowlers you see that seem to have there games together and practice i promise there is something that works all u need to do is find it and its there to be found.
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my style, the art of bowling without bowling

TP,

   You are viewing your bowling from the perspective of the glass being half empty instead of half full. Even the very top professionals have aspects of there game that need improvement or want to improve. They dont focus on those areas as much as they accept there situation and make the most of it.

   What most bowlers get confused about is practice is used for improvement by focusing on specific details and repeating them. And when the lights come on they do the exact same thing. And there in lies the problem. When the lights come on the focus should be on reacting to what is happening on the lane and reacting to that.

   Another point, how many times have you seen other bowlers doing the same thing you are doing and having success. Today's technology is forgiving and allows bowlers to score well. Look at Scroggins... certainly he is rev deprived and makes the most of that style. Dont you think he wants to hit it more? So what... right now you are spining it work on fixing it when your not trying to knock down pins for score.

   Final point..., your coach is not much of a coach if he is not saying these things and has you to a point where you want to quit the game. Find another coach, read and teach yourself, goto Kegel, ask us here, but what ever you do run (not walk) away from that coach. Not every coach is for every bowler. I guarantee you that bowling is as much about your attitude (between the ears) than it is about your physical skills and any coach worth his salt will teach you the mental side at the same time they teach you the mechanical. I believe improvements in bowling happen in stages. And maturing both mechanical and mental (knowledge/attitude) skills are required to improve to the next level. Having all the best physical skill with no head, or the best head without the skill will keep bowlers from stepping up to the next level.

    Starting looking at the glass as half full by putting the improvement in your bowling in your own hands and not in the hands of someone else. Your coach is a tool and if that tool is a negative factor its not a good tool. Take control, react to the lanes, dont focus on the negative aspects and next week you will see improvements. EVERY BOWLER can be a 200+ bowler today, I believe that.. it might be harder for some... but it is totally possible today. As soon as you take control again.. the sooner you will get there.


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Bowling Tips and Articles at: www.bowlingknowledge.com
IRC: Internet Relay Chat on Dalnet #striketalk. 24x7x365

toomanytenpins,

No one wants to see anyone struggle day after day doing something they are supposed to love.  If you are in the same boat then I hope that you also have gained some perspective from the posts in this thread.  Buy Focused For Bowling by Dr. Dean Hintz and get a weekly or bi weekly coach to get your game back online.  

When I was in my slump for nearly 3 years, no one felt sorry for me either.  I was still shooting over what many thought was great.  But it was all relative to what I knew my skill level could and should be.  So we all have stuggles no matter what your average is.  The thoughts supporting the posts in this thread hold true for everyone no matter how elevated your skill level.  So please take all that is offered, be a "sponge" and soak up all the information and make a pro active move to change your situation if you have not already.  

If you are doing better, maybe you can share with the thread what it was that really helped you move on from your slump.

For me, I got a different coach.  Dropped my league play to once a week.  Visited my coach at least once a month (at $65/hr) and put in 4 days a week practise.  I never practised with the score on.  I took written notes.  And I let myself go with whatever my coach wanted me to do at the time.  

Erin