Author Topic: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON! (Read 6489 times)

ccrider · « **on:** January 14, 2012, 11:43:30 AM »

I have always focused on becoming a better bowler and mastering the game. I do this by nature. However, it is perplexing to see people that can not repeat three shots in a row to save their life and know very little about ball reaction and proper lane adjustments, shoot 300 spraying the ball all over the place, and then claim that they have arrived.

Truth is that you do not have to be good to shoot three hundred and you can be a good bowler and not shoot a 300.

I am happy to see most bowlers do good. There are a few that I do not care for so I must say most. As things now stand, I have concluded that shooting a three hundred in some houses does not mean that you are a good bowler at all. I can't say that about an 800 series as there has not been one shot this year. There have been numerous (around 20) three hundreds.

In my second old wood house-- 0 three hundreds, 0 eight hundreds and two 750+ series.

Vent off.

Those that can do. Those that can't complain. Pimpin ain't easy, but it's mandatory.

Most things we like, we don't need. Most things we need, we don't like. Don't confuse your likes with your needs.

txbowler · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2012, 09:26:53 PM »

It is possible in a one game match against anyone, you can get tied or beat in the game of bowling.

That is why most of not all tournaments are defined by a multi-game series. The more games bowled, the more lilely the talent will prevail.

I'm seen a 130 average bowler shoot 300. His next game was a 72. He had his once in a lifetime moment.

You know who truely the talented bowlers are. And you know what....so do your peers.

ambi1 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2012, 09:40:31 PM »

Seen a bowler, fluff two 300 games in a six game set. Had two or three brooklyn hits I think. If its your day, its your day.

DARK BEER IT IS THEN!

WaltMisser · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2012, 06:49:35 PM »

I could not agree more with the two previous threads here. With the ball technology, etc. of today, 300 games do not really seem to mean much. Besides, 300 is just a score.

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2012, 08:06:15 PM »

Focus a little more on average and spare ability then anything. There is a site that post your odds of shooting a 300 based off your strike %.

quick math, if you roll 90% strikes, there's a 25% of rolling 12 in a row, which works out to roughly a perfect game every 4 games. 80% strikes drops it down to under 7% (15 games) and 70% is roughly 1% (100 games).

"1 of 1."

TDC57 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2012, 08:27:57 PM »

A high series or 300 game will never define you as a bowler. It's about gaining some skill in the game and being consistent. I'm not a big game shooter or a guy that throws a lot of high series but I always average near the top part of my league.

ccrider · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2012, 10:08:05 PM »

Light switch on. Bowling is different than other sports to some extent, and in other ways, very simlar. A novice golfer may hit a hole in one. A horrible shooter may hit 25 free throws in a row. And for sure, bad bowlers bowl high games at times.

Those that can do. Those that can't complain. Pimpin ain't easy, but it's mandatory.

Most things we like, we don't need. Most things we need, we don't like. Don't confuse your likes with your needs.

pin-chaser · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2012, 01:16:01 PM »

Ive quite on more than one occassion over this very issue since returning in 2000 from a 10 year hiateous. Too often the better bowler looses to a guy with the right ball in his hand. I have reconciled the issue in my brain as:

The definition of a good bowler:

1. Execution (being able to repeat shots)

2. Tools in toolbag (being able to make changes in your physical game that aides in "maching up" to the pattern ...ie... ball speed control, rev rate control, loft control...etc) and the ability to repeat them.

And now the big one:

3. The ability to understand what is happening on the lane well enough to choose the right ball to exploit the current condition.

And now a follow up:

4. Arsenal - Understanding your game enough to be able to choose a great arsenal that aides in your limitations.

Im my days... 1 and 2 definied a great bowler. Today those are only tools and 50% of the requirements. Today balls are certianly required to make a good bowler by todays standards. I want so much to return to the days where execution was the only requirement to winning but alas that will never happen. I therefore have been studying for 3 years the use of technology and for me it is not coming easy.

jdball299 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2012, 11:47:42 PM »

In my 18 years of bowling I haven't done much of anything as far as high games or honor scores, a couple 299s, an unsactioned 300 in practice a few years back, an 800 two years ago...that's it. BUT, when I bowl my focus isn't to go big or go home, I don't want to be a one and done bowler. My goal is to be consistent, hit the pocket, take what the lanes give me at that point in time and cover my spares. To that avail I am consistently shooting in the high 600s on a regular basis, and on the odd days when I happen to find the right ball at the right time I run a string or two and shoot a middle 7, but sticking to my main goals, my league sets are clean, no opens. In tournaments I shoot for 95% single pin conversions (6 games or more), 80% multi-pin conversion, and 50% split conversion (keeping in mind that I normally go for count on bigger splits).

I have been beaten by house hacks that shoot 300, 150, 150...but not as often as i beat them shooting 228, 230, 220. It all evens out in the end, and the more games you bowl, the more the cream of the crop rises to the top of the field....no matter what technology is being used.

"...do or do not, there is no try."

St. Louis USBC Sport Bowling
Best Bowling Pro Shops Inc., St. Louis MO.

dmonroe814 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2012, 06:09:58 AM »

I bowl with a guy who averages 235+. I average 214. I tease him about the rest of us only being mere mortals. He said it was because he bowls all 10 frames and not just 7 or 8 like us. (referring to our missed spares). I have been working on my spares a lot more since then. I also notice that he brings a 4-ball bag, but only uses one strike ball and one spare ball. Some times he switches strike balls if the lanes are tough scoring. A sub 700 is a bad night for him, and it is never because of bad shots. It is merely carry. His strength is repeatability. I never see him go from deep inside to straight up behind the ball up the 5 board. He just adjusts his line and keeps on striking. His hand position and revs always seem to be constant. His footwork is slow and deliberate. He may miss 5 out of 100 10-pins or less and that is about the only spare he leaves. Watching him, I am convinced that repeatablilty is the key to great bowling. BTW he averages about 5 800s and 5 300s per year. He holds the association record of an 877.

Old Man Still Learning

300's - 3

800's - 3

Hi Avg 218

Cur Ave 214

Former Stroker (Plastic and uerathane)

Tweener-Cranker (Reactive)

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2012, 06:53:56 AM »

dmonroe814 wrote on 26.01.2012 7:09 AM:
I am convinced that repeatablilty is the key to great bowling.

Agree much with that - for myself, I will admit that lack of practice keeps me from becoming a "better" bowler. I feel I should do training at least twice a week, to build "mechanical routine" and work on spares. But real life prevents this. That's frustrating, but the truth. I am positive that a 300 will come along for me, but I stopped "waiting" for it as a "proof of skill". I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about bowling - what I personally lack is practice, or a better executional level.

Besides, IMHO you do not need a 300 in your record to be a "good" bowler. What does it tell? Can be luck, can be skill. Show me a bowler on the lane, and I can tell if it is a good bowler (read: someone who will be competitive in the long run and on foreign ground) or just someone who tosses an orb, with hardly any intelligence behind.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

MrPerfect · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2012, 08:47:59 AM »

Yeah, I would tend to agree that repeatability is the key to bowling well. No matter what I shoot I'm never not in the pocket. For the most part it's an issue of finding the right angle and bowling ball to maximize my carry percentage. As well, I don't throw away pins by missing spares. I typically only have 1 open over a 3 game set and that's typically a light or high pocket leave like a 7/10 or 4/9.

Oh, and thanks for the stats on carry percentage relative to 300's shot.

ccrider · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2012, 05:56:53 PM »

Thanks for the well reasoned replies.

Now, please tell me how to work a full time job, raise a family, hunt, fish and go 28 out of 30 clean on a regular basis?

Those that can do. Those that can't complain. Pimpin ain't easy, but it's mandatory.

Most things we like, we don't need. Most things we need, we don't like. Don't confuse your likes with your needs.

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2012, 06:31:17 PM »

As mentioned, spares is what cost a lot of bowlers a higher average and in many cases some very good sets. When you eliminate opens you have done something very impressive. A clean set to me is still a very very high accomplishment and one of my goals every time I bowl, right behind 900, 899, 898, 897 ect. or what ever my max score becomes as the night goes on.

Not everyone can throw the ball like many of the touring players, but there is absolutely no reason you can't have a spare game like theres.(just like in golf, you may not be 340 off the tee but from 100 yards in if you put in the work you can save the most shots.) Because it isn't the big hook, it gets over looked by many many many of today's bowlers.

"1 of 1."

BrianCRX90 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2012, 07:20:52 PM »

I know what I am. I've had 3 sanctioned perfect games and haven't broke 700. Wouldn't take any of them back. I also have 50 700 games at least. In other words, don't really give a fuck.

Author Topic: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON! (Read 6489 times)

ccrider

Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

txbowler

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

ambi1

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

WaltMisser

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

kidlost2000

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

TDC57

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

ccrider

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

pin-chaser

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

jdball299

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

dmonroe814

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

dizzyfugu

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

MrPerfect

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

ccrider

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

kidlost2000

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!

BrianCRX90

Re: Becoming a better bowler or bowling 300???? VENT ON!