Author Topic: Last night drove home the need to practice (Read 2369 times)

mumzie · « **on:** May 22, 2008, 04:42:04 PM »

practice, practice...

Which I haven't done for a year or more.

When I was practicing between 30-60 games a week, I woulda figgered this one out in 3 shots. However, last night was a bit different.

I was bowling the PBA experience league. I felt like I was throwing the ball pretty well, but my teammate kept saying things like "you helped that one a bit" - "you guided that one" "you placed that one on the lane" etc, etc....

Well - did I get a clue?

? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
I struggled for 2 games and 9 frames, throwing the ball "well" but watching it react differently every shot.

I got up in the third frame, and realized that prior to that frame, I was walking too far right, and doing STRANGE things with my armswing to make the ball hit the target. 3 shots DEAD on - great release, hit the target perfectly, and struck on all three.

It ONLY took 30 frames to figure it out.

DUH - <hits self squarely on forehead with heel of hand> whaddya want when you don't practice!
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Dan Belcher · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2008, 06:56:43 AM »

quote:
Practice on a THS is a waste of time as far as helping your game

Then practice on something other than a THS! For example, my center where I bowl in the PBA Experience league puts the PBA shots down for practice at least three days a week. If I really want to practice, I'll practice on that.

Strider · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:15:43 AM »

That's great for your center Dan, but it's probably the exception, not the rule. The house I did a PBA league at last year had some practice time, but only in the afternoon when most people are at work. I have three PBA leagues to choose from this year, and none of them have practice time.

Mumzie, the tighter shots tend to make people tighten up and try to make perfect shots which make you tighten up even more. Relax, keep the arm swing loose, and try to pretend it's just a house shot. If you miss your mark being loose, you're no worse off then trying to be perfect and being tight/mechanical. Easier said than done however. I think that's my biggest problem on tough shots also.
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n00dlejester · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:20:46 AM »

Some people don't have the luxury of practicing on something other than a THS. I would have to say that practice, any form of practice, is good. If you practice, don't practice for the sake of shooting a higher score, but practice for the sake of bettering your game. I have been lately going to the house and shooting at just a mark at the arrows from everywhere. I usually use the 10 board when on the right side, and the further left I go I'll move my target to the 20 or whatever it needs to be. I would say poor practice would result in poor habits, but if you practice to work on a weak part of your game, then you're on the right track.

psaunders300 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:33:18 AM »

quote:
DUH - <hits self squarely on forehead with heel of hand> whaddya want when you don't practice!

So that's why I see so many bowlers with dents in their forehead...wait...what's that I see in the mirror...a dent? No more like a cavern!

You are right on the mark mumzie, practice is key! I too had some "DUH" moments with my PBA exp. league. I shot a whopping 529 and 563 (on Cheetah no less) to start off this summer league when last year (when I practiced a lot) I averaged 223...just goes to show you how important practice is.

Thanks for the reminder!
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Thanks,
Paul Saunders
USBC Bronze Level Coach
My web site: http://www.psaunders.net

Edited on 5/23/2008 8:07 AM

psaunders300 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2008, 08:05:27 AM »

To those that say practicing on a THS is a waste of time do not understand how to practice.

In practice sessions, I work on things like push away, timing, footwork, follow through, and spares. I work on playing parts of the lane that I know I need to throw when the "lights come on". Who cares if your ball hits the pocket? IT'S PRACTICE and the scores do not count!

Push your limits in practice, get out of your comfort zone...throw the ball up the one board if you do not feel comfortable doing so because you will need this skill at some point. Use your plastic ball or grab an alley ball and throw that for a game or two. Or throw the ball from the fifth or sixth arrow and try to hit the pocket if you do not feel comfortable doing so because you will need this skill at some point.

Be creative, make up games, throw a game of "low" ball, throw a strike from all six arrows, etc., etc.

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Thanks,
Paul Saunders
USBC Bronze Level Coach
My web site: http://www.psaunders.net

« **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:02:10 AM »

mumzie, you probably know this, ^^^^^but what he said^^^^

Work on "something" and practice will always help.

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff

Rileybowler · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:26:31 AM »

PRACTICE IS NOT A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME BY AT ALL . REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF SHOT YOU HAVE THERE IS TIMING, RELEASE , SPEED AND ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS. ALSO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GET A VERY DIFFERENT LANDE CONDITION WHEN PRACTICING AND IT WILL HELP YOU LATER ON WHEN YOU MAY HAVE THIS TYPE OF SHOT. I GUESS THE PROS ARE WASTING THERE TIME AS WELL PRACTICING
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Carl

rustylegacy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:34:44 AM »

Alot of times Ill throw the 1st shot from where I know Im not going to strike, then see if I can pick up the spare. I had a disastrous night last night on what was supposed to be the cheetah, Ive never bowled it before. Both my teammates and the other team said it was definately not the right pattern. It was hard as hell.

Krakken · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:55:45 AM »

quote:
Mumzie, at the risk of alienating everybody on this board, don't worry about practicing. Most practice is only used to ingrain bad habits.

Practice on a THS is a waste of time as far as helping your game. It works to strengthen your legs, hand, etc., but as far as helping you attack different types of lane conditions, it is a waste of time. Do your leg, arm, hand conditioning at home and save your money.

Your biggest job is to analyze your game and ball roll. Know just exactly what your ball or balls will do, with your release, when encountering slick or dry. If you know this, adjust accordingly. It's not some "alien" thing. Your release, if consistent, and if your ball selection is good, should let you "play" on most any condition.

As much as I hate to admit, don't try to have a game for "slick" and a game for "dry". In todays game, stay with what you know, and switch balls.

As a last shot, develop a system of "reading" the lanes. Your "warm up balls shouldn't be used looking for a shot to the pocket. Look for the reaction shooting at a 4 pin or 6 pin. Look for the reaction shooting at a 7 pin or a 10 pin. These reactions will show you the way to the pocket.

You can do all that on THS, just don't worry about the pin count. Concentrate on hitting a mark to impove acccuracy, or perfect a different release. You can even use a plastic spare ball to do that.

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I love gettin a mittful of it at the bottom

BrianCRX90 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2008, 04:58:08 PM »

exactly. Who cares what the condition is. I mean it's nice to play on something hard...but sometimes it's nice to practice on a cake shot also.Practice is practice. Work on your game, not score.

tenpin477 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2008, 05:59:35 PM »

I do agree that you can sometimes get some decent practice on a THS, but its much more productive to practice on a challenging shot, because it better eccentuates and points out your flaws.

ccrider · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2008, 06:38:29 PM »

One poster above hit it on the head. Good practice is good whenever you can fit it in.

One thing that is hard to practice on a THS is hitting your breakpoint consistently downlane. I have yet to figure out a way to practice this due to the various changes caused by lane conditions. I think this is important and underemphasized.
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themagician · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:14:17 PM »

psaunders300 nailed it on his reply, the only other thing I will add is practice without the scoring monitors on. Some alleys will give you a lane for a set period of time with no scoring, it works great as you can just focus on your shots and it helps even having the temptation of looking at or worrying about your scores.
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mumzie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2008, 12:05:18 AM »

Great input, guys.

I agree to a point that practice can, indeed, ingrain bad habits. When I was truly bowling seriously, there were days I'd throw some shots, and put my stuff away - I knew it was going to do more harm than good.

When I say practice, also, I'm not referring to throwing shots for score. I don't even mean throwing shots to get to the pocket.
When I practice, I only pay attention to the first 15/30/45 feet, depending on what I'm working on. I deliberately pick the wrong ball for the condition - because then it's an accident if I hit the pocket and/or strike.
I will throw the first game just to get loose.
The second, working on the 10 pin. I don't stop practicing the 10 pin until I've picked up a certain number IN A ROW. It used to be that I would make myself pick up 5 IN A ROW for every one I missed in league or tournaments. So, if I missed 3, I'd have to pick up 15 IN A ROW before I could move on.
Then I'd shoot a game of spare drills. First shot, 10 pin. Second shot 6 pin. Third shot 3 pin. Fourth shot head pin. Fifth shot, 2 pin, Sixth shot, 4 pin, 7th shot 7 pin. If I missed, I'd take another shot. Each extra shot would count 2. If I hit the pin square, I'd count one. If I barely hit it, I'd count 2. Perfect score for the drill, 7. I usually made it in 8 or 9.
Then I'd throw a game or two working on something to do with my timing/release/targeting. For example, I'd work on staying behind the ball. Playing the twig. Playing 5th arrow. Starting in front of the ball return. Whatever I picked to work on.
Then, and only then, if it had been a SUCCESSFUL practice, I'd throw a game or two just for fun.

Yes - it was work. Was it worth it? I think so. And for those of you who "knew me when", I think you'd agree.

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Author Topic: Last night drove home the need to practice (Read 2369 times)

mumzie

Last night drove home the need to practice

Dan Belcher

Re: Last night drove home the need to practice

Strider

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n00dlejester

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psaunders300

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psaunders300

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Rileybowler

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rustylegacy

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Krakken

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BrianCRX90

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tenpin477

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ccrider

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themagician

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mumzie

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