BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: abcarr on February 14, 2016, 01:06:11 PM
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Due to personal, medical and financial reasons, 4 of the 6 guys on my men's league team (5 man teams) have become, at best, part-time bowlers. More often than not, we're taking at least one blind. And sometimes two. So to fill the void, I recruited a guy I work with. Problem is, he hasn't bowled "since college" and he's now in his 50s. And it shows. I'm grateful that he's giving it a try and he says he's having fun, so what more can I ask, right??
Well..... Short of paying the pro shop operator for a lesson or two, what are some good, solid tips or lessons that I can give this guy? For starters, and I know this isn't teaching him anything, I got him out of wearing house shoes and throwing a house ball. I gave him my old shoes, an old bag and an old black Rhino ball that was given to me. He got it drilled fingertip (his first time throwing fingertip) and just in one night of throwing it says it feels better and more natural. So now what do I do?? Where, with the fundamentals, should I begin? I told him we need to get out and practice and he's all for that, so what are the A-B-Cs of teaching someone to bowl?
Appreciate any and all advice!
Thanks!!
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If your friend is serious about improving his game, there are lots of youtube tips and demonstrations on every aspect of bowling: grip, approach, armswing, release, and equipment. The video library at http://www.usbcbowlingacademy.com is another relatively low cost way of picking up some basic pointers. There is even a good tutorial on the correct way to practice.
There is probably no substitute for a few sessions of instruction with a good coach, but you asked for alternatives.
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Also, tell your friend to scroll through the Forum here on Ball Reviews. There are lots of topics and valuable pointers at his fingertips.
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Getting a mini football and tossing spirals underhand is a common drill to help with proper release. It's one that is easily done away from the lanes.
He can practice his release of the ball itself by tossing the ball into a couch. Don't need to through it hard, just work on the release.
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Go to the lanes and practice --- repeat. ;)
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Don't be stiff as a board when throwing the ball.
Though you can have him watch Norm Duke's lesson videos on YT. Though if the guy is a power player, the timing video isn't quite right for him. Norm is not a power player, so his timing with his foot and swing should match up exactly, but with a power player the foot should be there first, then the swing.
Well according to my dad who is a little bit of a power player.
The shorter you are, the faster your feet has to be moving for the timing to be right. If you're tall, then it's slower.
According to Norm.