Post by: HamPster on June 05, 2003, 08:22:35 AM
I have NEVER done this before, and always looked down on people who did, but it was so bad tonight that I just gave up. I had a great practice session last night, and was feeling great during warmup tonight, but things started out bad and stayed that way. The shot was there all night, I was just moving to find carry, and never found it. I played everything from 4th arrow to 8, 4th arrow to 12, 3rd arrow to 10, 3rd arrow to 6, 2nd arrow to 8, 2nd arrow to 5, and everywhere in between, and nothing made a difference. I'm sure everyone looking thought I was being unusually inaccurate, and on some shots I was, but for the most part I was trying to find a line that would carry. Nothing worked, period, and it was 90 percent carry issues. I only had release problems 3 or 4 shots, I made all but one of my makeable spares (before I gave up in the 4th game), I only left a few splits, a couple of them being track burn issues, but still not great shots to begin with. There was one ball I threw from 2nd arrow to 6 that I KNEW was going to react and set up perfectly right off my hand, and it was by FAR the best shot of the night, and probably my best shot in the last month, everything clicked and felt perfect, it just rolled off my hand, slid down the lane, set up, and left me another 10 pin. I can honestly tell when a shot is going to hit weak or not carry, but some of the leaves at this house make my shake my head.
Bowling is the only thing I'm good at, and because of reasons I won't get into, it's the only thing I look forward to every week, and anyone that watches me can tell you that I'm extremely hard on myself, I always try to do my best, and never let myself get comfortable. I'm absolutely NEVER satisfied with any scores, I might be happy for the moment, but I always find the places where I screwed up or could have done better. I'd sure save a lot of money and time if I quit, but I don't know what I'd replace it with. I wouldn't have anything to look forward to, I don't have friends I see more than once a week, I just don't have anything else going for me. You can say I'm just having a pity party, that I just really suck and don't know it, but I don't care. I'm being honest, and dead serious, and I just need either some help or advice. Again.
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I know Kung Fu!
I am the one, the one that will bring balance. All the pins shall be destroyed!
Post by: Bjaardker on June 05, 2003, 11:46:20 PM
(just kidding brah. Sorry to hear about your crappy night)
Post by: gripitandripit on June 05, 2003, 11:49:43 PM
Post by: Strider on June 06, 2003, 12:02:20 AM
Everyone goes through a night like that once in a while. Sometimes "giving up" for the remainder of the night is exactly what you need. You are probably trying too hard and putting too much pressure on yourself.
If you are constantly trying new things and practicing different parts of your game (If this is not the case, forgive me, but that is what I read into some of your posts), you may not have an "A" game anymore. Get back to basics. Do what YOU do well. Get to know YOUR strengths and weaknesses. Let your arm swing itself and feel the weight of the ball when it hits the bottom of the swing. KISS (keep it simple, stupid).
Not trying to be smart or anything, but if you're relying on trip 4's and weak 10's, you might not be as much in the pocket as you think.
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Strider
Penn State Proud
Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say.
Post by: B Pirnie on June 06, 2003, 12:08:47 AM
Post by: DP3 on June 06, 2003, 12:10:24 AM
MY best advice is take your efforts at bowling one day at a time. After that day is over you always start the new one off fresh with nothing in the past affecting you. You're only in a slump if you tell yourself you're in a slump.
Post by: HamPster on June 06, 2003, 12:30:32 AM
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I know Kung Fu!
I am the one, the one that will bring balance. All the pins shall be destroyed!
Post by: Game In a BoxLC on June 06, 2003, 01:13:17 AM
Try this approach, just try it, its summer. This is bowling, its a sport, you've done it for awhile now, albiet not as long as most of us on this board (2-3 yrs i believe). But you have alot of reps. Trust your abilities, don't worry about what you should be or should do. Just do what comes naturally. If you make a bad shot, hey it happens, move on. Take a care free easy attitude, if you make a mistake, your human right? Believe in yourself, believe in your abilities, have CONFIDENCE in your abilities, you've accelled before, you can do it again. Thats the biggest hump from going to juniors to adults, it isnt physical, its mental. You may as it sounds have a fine physical game. But i am sure most on this board will agree your mental game is a travesty. When you take the time and stop making excuses on why your mental game is what it is and fix it, is when you will go past the level you are at and be dominant or very successful.
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am i still considered a lefty, i never get to play the left side of the lane
Post by: Pinbuster on June 06, 2003, 08:17:30 AM
Read your ball reaction. Look at others that are having success to see what line they are playing, where their breakpoint is, what is their entry angle, etc. Make adjustments in line, speed, where you are playing the lane. Sometimes you have to play where the amount of help to the pocket is not as good in order to improve your carry.
Second, find a style that suits you, your body and your temperament, and use it. Maybe you should drop trying to cup the ball. Not everyone has the body type to crank a ball. Learn an “A†game and become proficient at it. Use it until it is clear that it will not work at all on the condition. Example, if you threw a slow big hooking shot as your “A†game and the lanes are fried everywhere then you are going to have to go with more speed and a less aggressive ball.
Lastly, sometimes it just doesn't happen. We have all been their. For some reason you just don't match up and can't score high. But if you stay clean you can generally shoot a decent score and in a season format that may be enough.
Post by: Game In a BoxLC on June 06, 2003, 12:43:36 PM
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am i still considered a lefty, i never get to play the left side of the lane
Post by: HamPster on June 06, 2003, 01:08:08 PM
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I know Kung Fu!
I am the one, the one that will bring balance. All the pins shall be destroyed!
Post by: Buzzhead on June 06, 2003, 04:54:47 PM
Post by: jkiser01 on June 06, 2003, 07:01:48 PM
If I quit eveytime I had a bad night, I wouldn't be bowling right now. Earlier in the fall season, I shot 802 in my Thursday night "fun" league with my wife and came back the very next Thursday with a 525 and I was saying to myself, "take the carry when you can" because most nights are gonne be struggle and no carry..
Seriously, just practice, keep your chin up and most of all have fun!! Thats whats its all about.. I love bowling!!
JIM KISER
Post by: Phillip Marlowe on June 06, 2003, 07:35:48 PM
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TTFN
Edited on 6/6/2003 7:41 PM
Post by: 10 In The Pit on June 06, 2003, 09:28:25 PM
Post by: HamPster on June 07, 2003, 01:56:39 AM
I've figured out my biggest problem, however, and that's having a lack of fingers in the ball. I've been concentrated for the longest time on pitches and spans and grips that will just allow me to hold onto the ball, and at the same time be able to get my thumb out of the ball when I release it that I didn't notice I was relaxing my fingers completely. When I bowl lefthanded, everything feels absolutely perfect, I can hang onto the ball, and my thumb slides out just right and I can feel my fingers with just the right amount of dig into the ball and it just flows right off my hand. Then when I go back to bowling right handed, everything feels out of place and just very uncomfortable, like it's my off hand instead of my primary hand. I've even gone to shooting a basketball lefthanded, and it feels so much better. I don't know if it's something that's wrong with my right hand or not, but it just feels so dead most of the time. And I can't fix my pitches or spans either, because since I work at the pro shop and it's slow during the summer, the ball plug and slugs are under lock and key.
I've got one ball that's at 4 3/4ths for both spans, reverse 1/4th in the fingers, and reverse 3/8ths and left 1/4th in the thumb, and then I have one that's at 4 3/8ths for both spans, reverse 1/8th in the fingers, and reverse 1/4th in the thumb (not to mention I tried this one without grips, I HATE it), and another that's in between. My span I think is going to end up at 4 5/8ths, and reverse in the fingers at 1/8th, and reverse in the thumb at just 3/8ths, but I won't be able to work on anything until August.
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I know Kung Fu!
I am the one, the one that will bring balance. All the pins shall be destroyed!
Post by: Strider on June 07, 2003, 03:13:14 AM
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Strider
Penn State Proud
Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say.
Post by: 10 In The Pit on June 07, 2003, 03:32:41 AM
Post by: bowlingmytmouse on June 07, 2003, 04:08:18 AM
I used to always get down on myself during games when I wasn't doing well and it killed my average greatly. If game 1 was bad, you better believe that 2 and 3 were also. But the 2 things that I found out were hurting me was 1) I expect to do well and 2)I try too hard. I mean we all go out on the lanes and expect to throw strike strike strike, but that doesn't always happen. Stay cool when u don't strike, spares count too. And when the ball is hitting the pocket and u don't strike, keep throwing it, because odds are you will get easier spares. And when u are having a bad night, just exhale and move on, thats life none of us are pros playing for a hundred grand so just move on, what is done is done.
BMM
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June 3, 2003 First 600 Series(208,258,170)!!!!!!
Post by: BT on June 07, 2003, 09:46:10 AM
After reading all of this it's OBVIOUS to me what your problem is. It has nothing to do with relaxing, or beating yourself up and, probably nothing to do with your personal problems since it sounds like you are totally focused on bowling when you bowl.
It's ALL of those changes you are trying all the time. period. A 3/8" span difference alone will totally blow my game. Switching from left to right! Good grief! Your muscle memory doesnt know which way is up!!! Changing wrist positions among all of the other things your are "experimenting" with ALL take time to program your muscle memory and repeat without THINKING. ONE change alone can take 100's of repeating and even monthes to get it down so it isnt necessary to conciously think about what you are doing as you bowl.
So, the solution is simple.
1. Get your balls ALL drilled and fitted the SAME.
2. Pick an arm to use (LEFT OR RIGHT)
3. Go back to your basic style that you have bowled best with in the past
4. Dont think conciously about any aspect of your physical movements when on the approach
5. Throw the ball!
After this all starts working THEN pick ONE change you think needs work and, practice it. During league/competition forget about the change since it will only screw you up to think about it.
Good Luck!
BT
PS:
Forget about trying to cup your wrist. You answered one of your own questions by saying your wrist isnt strong enough to do it!
Post by: HamPster on June 07, 2003, 11:44:12 AM
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I know Kung Fu!
I am the one, the one that will bring balance. All the pins shall be destroyed!