Author Topic: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it? (Read 2130 times)

Hex017 · « **on:** June 08, 2005, 10:37:38 AM »

All I can say is I think the tank is empty right now. As soon as school ended I started bowling everyday, practicing at least 3 games of 7's and 10's everyday, my first game I always tried to score, making adjustments FAST. But lately I am off, everything is off. My timing is off I think but I have no video camera anymore to look at so I'm not sure, my feet are sometimes slow/sometimes fast. My armswing is inconsistant. I think my flattened out spare release has creeped into my strike ball release and is making my roll very weak, especially now that I've changed to a lot more forward roll. I'm starting to wonder if the way I'm rolling the ball now and the way my equipment is drilled, if my equipment is rolling out. And of course my spare game is horrible. Left 5 ten pins on monday night and missed them all. Rolled 12 games of practice today, chopped 13 spares, that's right 13.

I never even gave this consideration before but I am seriously thinking of putting the equipment in the closet for the summer and just working out, I'll bring the stuff out a couple weeks before school starts and hopefully I'll be ready.

I guess I'd call this a slump but I've never felt this off before. It seems even worse. Anybody been through something like this, and how did you get out?
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.

a_ak57 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2005, 06:44:35 PM »

If you just aren't having fun, take the time off. It'll be well worth it. I'm going through the same thing as you, and I'm taking the summer off.
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- Andy

Brunswick...........'nuff said.
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Andy-Bowling

Hex017 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2005, 06:52:46 PM »

quote:
If you just aren't having fun, take the time off. It'll be well worth it. I'm going through the same thing as you, and I'm taking the summer off.
--------------------
- Andy

Brunswick...........'nuff said.
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Andy-Bowling

Well it's not that I'm not having fun, I really enjoy just going out to the lanes and bowling but I'm really competitive, and when I can't do anything it really drags on you. I will bowl my sport shot league no matter what because I want the experience but I am just off, way off.
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.

Tweener92 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2005, 06:59:19 PM »

Dude! Take a break! Go play some golf for a couple of weeks then come back re-energized
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- never be afraid to tear your game down and start over from scratch.

Hex017 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2005, 07:02:10 PM »

quote:
Dude! Take a break! Go play some golf for a couple of weeks then come back re-energized
--------------------
- never be afraid to tear your game down and start over from scratch.

It might take me a day or two to clean the dust and cob webs off my golf clubs

--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.

GordoJ52 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2005, 07:04:23 PM »

I've always had a saying when I've gotten off in any sport I participate in and it's not to take a break. It's to go back to the basics. Slow everything down and make sure your form is correct, everything else will fall into line.

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AIM: GordoJ52
Email: GordoJ52@AOL.COM

It may not be pretty, but it gets the job done!!

Snap10 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2005, 07:11:20 PM »

"My advice to you is to start drinking heavily"

If you want to know what you are doing different physically, taking video or having someone watch you (who has seen you bowl often) is probably the answer

If you need a mental break, try just a week or two week before you take the Summer off.

Just my $.02

MSC2471 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:35:33 PM »

My suggestions would include seeing if you can have a person or two who has known your game for awhile watch you bowl and see if they notice a thing or two that may be off. Sometimes an extra set of eyes can see things that we can not see objectively. Videotaping yourself would be another option- coaching can be a third option.

I try to work on things one frame at a time when I seem to be in a slump. Sounds like you may need some help on your spare system if you are practicing them for 3 games and then having trouble picking them up in league/ competition. Do you think you are putting more pressure on yourself in league/ competition versus when you are practicing by yourself?

A lot of times the slump goes from the physical side and weighs heavily on you mentally, which can make it tough to break. Try your best to have a positive outlook on what you are trying to accomplish, believe in your game and then the mechanics will follow.

Matt

Edited on 6/8/2005 10:27 PM

RaceBanner · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:53:34 PM »

I'm by no means an expert as I've only been at it seriously a year. I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds with any advice to a more seasoned bowler. But, in that year I've worked very hard (80 games a week at times) and have studied hard and worked with a coach. I've had my ups and downs and I think for most of us problems crop up with timing more than anything else. You even mentioned timing and armswing yourself. One piece of advice a very good bowler in my area gave me, and I go back to this advice whenever things get off, is always start with the pushaway (no-pun intended). One little kink there can cause so many other problems along the way. Problems you wouldn't even think to connect with your pushaway. I know when I'm really working and concentrating on that pushaway I usually hit the ball much better and consistently. Sometimes we tend to turn things on autopilot on the simple parts of the game and it shows up in other areas we wouldn't think to attribute to the pushaway.

I was going through a real tough stretch for a couple of months. Working on everything imaginable other than the pushaway. I just took that for granted. Once I got back to that basic my timing, balance and release came back. If the fires still there keep working hard. You'll get it back.
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You're not Mr. Purple.
Some guy on another job is Mr. Purple.
You're Mr. Pink.

Klugh · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:53:46 PM »

When I'm slumping, I generally:

A. Take a few days off, then go back and try and bowl my normal game, if this fails I go to option B.

B. Go bowling with large groups of friends or family, so that there is a large time gap between each frame. Play cards or something between frames to get your mind off the game. This will get you having more fun, and you'll loosen up.

Or, there is always option C.

C. Start over. Work on your basic approach, throw either a straight ball or very small hook, and just work your way back up.
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Bowl. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
A member of www.bowlinballexchange.com, www.ballreviews.com, and www.bowlingballreviews.com . . . Check out the others!
"Insert Ball Manufacturer here" Amateur Staff Member wanna-be.

230-n-up-or-bust · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:59:28 PM »

One answer.

Practice. Immediately.

I'm talkin' basics. Don't worry about the score. Simply work on release, follow-through, precision, and ball speed. Make certain that all of those aren't completely out of whack before you're trading your NIB Shock & Awe for a bucket of balls on the practice range, 18 holes w/cart, and lunch at the turn at your local mediocre golf course.
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Pain is weakness leaving the body.

Hex017 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2005, 11:59:22 PM »

Thanks for all the replies guys. I don't think I'll take time off, I mean I will probably lose my mind if I quit bowling since it really is my stress reliever to. I think I will go back to basics, especially timing and armswing, I'm going to try to raise the height of my backswing to help with speed(I throw 13-14 right now) I think I'm going to try to rework my approach and change my starting position. I will also probably change my pushaway, I've always pushed the ball all the way out away from me to put the ball into a pendulum like swing, I think it's time to get away from that. I should have posted videos on here a long time ago but never did, so if I get the video camera back I'll be sure to do that.

I don't think I'll go all the way back to the beginning. I think there are just some major kinks that need work. Also I think I'll try something different for spares. I'm going to visit my pro shop(s) and check spans and pitches and talk drillings. I've been changing my release to more forward roll, so that might be another problem. Will probably get some new grips in my stuff and play with the surfaces of my equipment, try to get that starting again feel. I'll take tomorrow off and go out to practice on friday, again thanks for all the replies everyone.

--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.

Overhand · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2005, 12:07:33 AM »

find a coach

may just be a simple thing and an experienced coach can do nothing but help

--------------------
Marge : "Why do you have so many bowling balls?"
Homer : "Ah, I'm not gonna lie to you, Marge. So long."

Author Topic: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it? (Read 2130 times)

Hex017

What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

a_ak57

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Hex017

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Tweener92

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Hex017

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

GordoJ52

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Snap10

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

MSC2471

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

RaceBanner

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Klugh

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

230-n-up-or-bust

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Hex017

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?

Overhand

Re: What do you guys do when you've completely lost it?