Hi,

I’ve been bowling on and off for 7 years. Took the last 2+ years off due to injury.

Currently avg. 175 – 185 in soft condition (thanks to my poor spare game and unable to string strikes), so my true avg. is probably a mere 150.

I’ve never had any access to coaching, so over the years I’ve developed more than a few bad habits.

To take my game into the next level, I will have to work on my flaws. I still don’t have any access to coaching, but I’ve read all the tips from Ron Clifton, Joe Slowinski etc. and there are a few things that I will need to improve:

Accuracy (Strike and spare) –

Strike: With my strike ball, when I miss my target at arrows, I usually miss it by two boards right.

Spare: I’ve just started using my spare ball for EVERYTHING apart from sleeper. Before, I use my spare ball for anything on the right-hand side and strike ball everything on the left.

I also tend to look down at the point of release, rather than keeping my eyes on target, but I’m getting better. (Thanks to tips from bowlers on this website)

Arm swing –

Think Brian Himmler, though not as extreme. I’m trying to keep my arm as straight and loose as possible, but years of bad habit has made this difficult to do so. I tend to open up my shoulder and twist my body slightly to the right. I’m trying to get my body more ‘square-up’ to the foul line so that my arm doesn’t go around the back.

Release –

I’m trying to learn Joe Slowinski’s method. Keeping my hand at ‘strong position’, but the track remains low-ish. As a result, I have problem with long or heavy pattern. The only way I can track high, is to use a suit-case release / or keeping my hand behind the ball. When I do keep my hand behind the ball, I do track higher, but it’s more like end-to-end forward roll and it’s not powerful and accurate.

Balance at the foul line –

Tend to drop off to the right as I don’t keep my trail leg to the left.

I don’t practice much (time and money) but I bowl in two leagues. I still NEED to ‘score’ in league cos I don’t want to let my team-mates down. The last two week I made the mistake of trying to work on too many things at the same time, and I was all over the place and only avg. a pathetic 140 in my last six league games. My score suffered and I ended up not achieving anything. I figure I should only work on one or two things at a time so it wouldn't lower my score too much.

Question is, which one should I focus on first?  

Also any other tips welcome.

Thank you.
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I'm a THS hack and a ball junkie.