Just thought I would share this with everyone. My average has been taking a nose dive the past several weeks. Right before my down hill spiral, I had bowled my best of the year (210 280 214 - 704 Series). This past league night could not do anything right. I had brief moment that night to quit (That has never happened before.)
Well, today, I went to practice. I was able to play our normal league shot because the Center had put down oil for their Sunday night league and I got to play on the two extra lanes they set aside if a machine goes down.
I set up my normal routine like I did every league night. Started throwing the ball like I did in warm up. I am getting the same bad results. Mostly the Ball is finishing too high (Splitsville). Okay, I started to view the situation.
1. I looked at my feet: Starting and Ending Positions. Okay. I tend to drift a 1/2 board to the right at times.
2. I started to change hand positions. Took less side roll and just kept hand behind ball. I got some results but I was not satisfied.
3. Changed to a new Sole and Heel on my shoe. Got a more even slide and I started hitting my mark better. Stopped pulling the ball. I still was having trouble.
3. Moved all over the place. Played different angles and tried different balls.
Then it finally hit me. My swing!!! I have been focusing so much on my feet, my slide, my mark, my ball speed, break point, and ball reaction; (Don't get me wrong they are important too!) that was not thinking about my swing motion. I wasn't relaxed. I was tight through the whole process. I relaxed and let the weight of the ball take me on my down sing and back. Then follow through with smooth forward motion. I started hitting my mark better, my ball was breaking a later point down the lane and I started hitting the pocket.
I realized that I was forcing the ball too much through my whole swing. As my struggles started, frustration would set in, and my bowling got worse. Trying to force the ball down the lane, pushing it, over rotating, pulling it.
The night I bowled my 280....I did so well, I was relaxed, hitting my mark, and watching the pins fly all over the place, it was EASY!
I might not get back to high scoring right away. But after my practice today, it has definitely put me in a better frame of mind for the weeks to come.
This reminds me of another sport. While golfing, some my best hits seemed like I did nothing at all and I would stand there admiring my shot and say "That was easy, What did I do?"
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Trash Heap (exflinger wannabe)
