My dad used to be one of the biggest crankers in the area, noone hit it as hard as he did. He was also one of the most intimidating people to bowl against, he was pretty accurate, pretty consistant, and would just throw pins around like little dolls. But like all huge crankers age has gotten the best of him. He tore up his bicep at work and had major reconstructive surgery, he has had 3 knee operations so he cannot get as down at the line, and just the fact that he has gotten older he cannot do what he once did as a young man.

But he still thinks he can hit it like he used to, or crank it up. He still gets a solid hand in the ball, albeit a lower roll and track, but he just will not accept he cannot go coast to coast. He has always been notorious for muscling the ball, big loft, and this alot of times leads to chicken winging. Whenever i help him with his armswing by getting him to do a pendulum, throw it into the lane, come thru your thigh with your pinky, etc. He really bowls well. But then he says the same thing every time, let me try to get some more hand in the ball, or hit it harder, and back into problems he goes.

I love my dad and i know how much it bothers him to not be able to do what he did or score like he used to, and i just need some suggestions on helping him. He was always the big booming cranker who made fun of the lefties or strokers, and now he doesn't want to face becoming a stroker. I know how much it bothers him to bowl bad. I try to tell him nicely to just stroke the ball, hit your mark, but he always takes it as a joke as i try to help him, and tries to hit it harder and the problems start up again.

He is helpable i finally after 3 years of persistance got him to buy a plastic ball and now he makes every 10 pin he leaves instead of 50/50.

Any suggestions on how to let him know or tell him without being mean? I thought maybe video taping him and showing him the flaws might work, and let him see it first hand. Any advice would be helpful
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am i still considered a lefty, i never get to play the left side of the lane

Edited on 8/18/2003 4:18 PM

he is VERY competitive with me yes, and yes i am a cranker and that might have something to do with it. Thank you very much for the helpful hints i will definitley try them and see if they have any effect. Sometimes its tough for the dad to take advice from the son, he did teach me how to bowl, its like the student teaching the teacher i'm sure its awkward. From anyone else he would listen but me.
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am i still considered a lefty, i never get to play the left side of the lane

when i didnt have plastic i was 50/50 on all spares, since i got plastic i make every spare i leave, that finally proved to him to get one.

its strange he will start stringing when we practice, 6 or 7 in a row, then he always says the same thing, im gunna try to get more hand in the ball and immediatly i cringe because i know a sessions worth of work is just about to be ruined. He will listen and i will fix him, but he won't let it be, he has to hit it harder or roll it harder.

I'll keep working on him i need a doubles partner for this fall in tournaments and he always wants to split and i dont wanna be making ALL the money like last year he needs to pull his weight hehe
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am i still considered a lefty, i never get to play the left side of the lane