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Author Topic: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...  (Read 1017 times)

astrodanco

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50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« on: October 16, 2009, 05:54:04 PM »
So what do all you planters do when you reach 50 and your knee starts to give out?

As a planter I've always used only the cheapest bowling shoes available. You know, the ones that are the same for both left and right feet. But now that I'm almost a senior, my left knee is getting sore after only three or four games. If I continue planting, my bowling days may be numbered. I recently bought myself a pair of 3G Tour Ultras and will be trying to learn to slide over the next few months. I tried out sliding during league last week. Big mistake as my scores dipped into the toilet until I stopped that. I'm working on it during practice games only from now on.

I'm interested in hearing what you did when your knee started to give you negative feedback.  Maybe there's something I can do other than learning to slide?
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Nicanor

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2009, 09:45:17 AM »
How quick is your approach to the line?  If its rather quick, slowing the approach will help and also help with the transition to a slide.  So many planters have a quick approach and it helps generate speed and the plant helps generate lift.  Neither really needed with today's bowling balls imo. If the ew shoes you bught have interchangeable soles, you can work with the soles that give the most stopping power, get use to them, then change the soles to slowly let you slide more and more until you come up with a combination that allows you to slide, yet get the power you want and lessen the stress on the knee from stopping or planting so quickly.


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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)
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astrodanco

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2009, 12:33:48 PM »
quote:
How quick is your approach to the line?  If its rather quick, slowing the approach will help and also help with the transition to a slide.

My steps are actually too short.  I'm working on lengthening ALL of them, but especially the second one.  This is a PITA because I have nowhere else where I can work on it other than at a bowling center.  I feel like a total fool while I'm working on it.  The embarrassment is palpable.

quote:
If the ew shoes you bught have interchangeable soles, you can work with the soles that give the most stopping power, get use to them, then change the soles to slowly let you slide more and more until you come up with a combination that allows you to slide

Yup, exactly what I'm doing.  Sliding isn't anywhere near as difficult as I thought it would be.  I thought for sure my left foot would slide out from under me at the line and I'd fall, but that hasn't happened yet.  It screws with my stability in far more subtle and insidious ways!  Another problem I noticed on my first time out sliding on the approaches was the radical change in approach conditions from pair to pair.  One pair would be fine and dandy for sliding while another would be a barnyard. I had to switch between less aggressive and more aggressive heals as I changed pairs otherwise I would either come to a very sudden forceful HALT at the end of my slide or slide too much.  Any sudden halt at the end of the slide was worse on my left knee than planting ever was.  Gee, they oil the lanes, but they very obviously don't just as regularly damp mop the approaches.  I honestly wanted to wring the center manager's neck it was so bad.  Conditions I was totally oblivious to as a planter will now drive me nuts? Oy vey!
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slashrr69

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2009, 12:56:59 PM »
this is not a stab so please do not take it a such, but how is your overall physical body like?? as we get older we all need to start doing certain things to keep ourselfs in shape.. Iam 42 and have had 3 surgeries on my sliding knee do to a work accident that took me out of the game for about a year in a half.. I have noticed that if I don't keep my legs in shape my knees both really hurt.. a exercise routine might just be the thing that helps you with your knee/s.. my doctor says being just a little bit over weight adds a ton a extra pressure on our knees.. slashrr69
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six pack

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2009, 01:21:43 PM »
slow feet works well, how high is your back swing? the higher the back swing the less speed and force you need with the legs.
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The harder I try the harder they fall
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The harder I try the harder they fall

astrodanco

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2009, 09:21:43 PM »
quote:
this is not a stab so please do not take it a such...

Thank you.  Don't worry about offending my feelings.  That was an obvious one that I completely overlooked.  When it comes to bowling knowledge, you guys are good.
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astrodanco

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2009, 10:11:50 PM »
quote:
the higher the back swing the less speed and force you need with the legs.

Thanks.  That'll definately be something to work on with a coach for sure.  So much gone wrong here that I have to prioritize.  So far I think the very best advice I've received (it's all been good actually) is to loos weight.  Think of me as a taller fatter Norm Duke.  When I was younger, thinner and had more hair, I actually did look just like a taller Norm.  It was uncanny.  Good looking guy that Norm.  Norm is catching up on the hair thing though.  I'll stick to little changes until the weight is off.  I'm guessing that'll be 15-18 months gradual weight loss.  At least that's something I already know how to do properly.
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six pack

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Re: 50yr old planter and now my knee hurts...
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2009, 04:27:01 PM »
I had back problems for years untill I lost 25 pounds,no more back problems.it took about a year eating right and walking every day.
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The harder I try the harder they fall
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The harder I try the harder they fall
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