Post by: Dannyboy on March 19, 2009, 10:06:55 AM
So....how long does it take to get reasonably good at this? I see tons of 700 and 800 players here. How long did it take y'all to get that freakin' good?
Post by: Jay on March 19, 2009, 06:24:05 PM
Post by: Juggernaut on March 19, 2009, 06:25:33 PM
Even with easy lane conditions, it was harder to knock them over. All in all, I would say probably 5-6 years before I could actually consider myself "good", and by good I mean able to perform in different houses on different conditions.
P.S. I don't bowl nearly as much as I used to, so I am not nearly as good as I once was.
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Norm Duke was right
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Post by: JessN16 on March 19, 2009, 06:38:56 PM
It took me eight years of bowling to get above my house's all-men's average. From there, I stair-stepped up pretty quickly to my current level, then leveled off when my work schedule cut into my practice time and I hurt my wrist. But if I had unlimited time, I still wouldn't be able to advance much further, as I'm reaching the tap-out limit on my talent. I won't ever be "great" or "elite."
What you'll find as you get better is that you're more likely to advance in steps than on a steady incline. You may hang out at, say, 160 for a couple of years, then all of a sudden jump 10 or 20 pins in average, stay there for awhile, then jump again.
Most of all, welcome to the sport. It's a sport that's easy to get hooked into and most of the people involved in it are great folks.
Jess
Post by: ThongPrincess on March 19, 2009, 06:42:28 PM
It may be to late for that to happen.--------------------
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Post by: Gabriel94509 on March 19, 2009, 06:48:15 PM
Post by: Ebonite BowlToWin on March 19, 2009, 07:10:00 PM
Edited on 3/19/2009 7:10 PM
Post by: tuckingfenpin on March 19, 2009, 07:17:35 PM
I've been bowling for almost 10 years total now, my high avg on a wall of china is currently 227 for 40 something games at the easy house, 223 for 66 games at a different (harder) house. My PBAX average is in the john currently (159 or some crap..typical house hack, you betcha), but I've only gotten to bowl on each pattern twice in my life..so there is a bit of a learning curve on how to play the patterns, obviously. I bowled a hell of a lot better on them the 2nd time around, and also am starting to practice on them (when they DO lay them down..lazy sob's) for the upcoming spring/summer PBAX league in my area.
It definitely doesn't come easy to be consistent though..
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Big B > *
Edited on 3/19/2009 7:18 PM
Post by: Scolai on March 19, 2009, 07:21:02 PM
In the modern era, it doesn't take long at all to become proficient at knocking down pins. Where the difficulty for most people lies is between their ears. Either technology has given them the idea that they are gods gift to bowling (and they act like it) or they believe every pin should fall on every shot no matter how much the lane conditions change from game to game and house to house. Many, many bowlers just can't get beyond themselves to grow in this sport.
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ScolaÃ
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Post by: shelley on March 19, 2009, 07:37:48 PM
The highest I've ever averaged for a season is 181 and I'm down to 176 now. I would hardly call myself a good bowler. I'm looking to get back up to 185 next year. I may never average 200 and I may never shoot an 800. To get to 200 I'll need considerably more practice than I have time to put in, and probably a good bit of outside help. Right now, I'm self-taught.
My USBC profile (http://"http://members.bowl.com/SearchUSBC/ViewMember.aspx?prefix=1295&suffix=823").
SH
Post by: neverbackdown_x7x on March 19, 2009, 08:06:03 PM
I'm still working to improve every year and practicing physically and mentally alot helps.
Post by: agroves on March 19, 2009, 11:14:06 PM
I don't judge people on house shot scores. Sorry, but I don't. I watch mechanics, repeatability and how quickly that person can adjust. I watch our house guys bowl tournaments and see how much their scores fall.
I guess good is relative. Good at bowling as a recreational game, there are many good "bowlers". But, good at bowling as a sport, there are far less.
Post by: on March 19, 2009, 11:29:32 PM
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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
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www.brunswickbowling.com
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Post by: JohnP on March 20, 2009, 10:27:25 AM
First, you have to have some degree of natural talent. I've seen a few bowlers that will never be "good" because of lack of natural talent.
If you have that talent, find someone that can help you with your approach, swing, and release. Repeat these until your foot at the foul line is within 1/2", side to side, each time you slide (for the same starting position). Mark your starting spot with your slide foot so you can compare to your finishing position at the foul line.
PRACTICE. Bowl at least 25 - 30 games per week, including your league games. When the pro's are working on their game they bowl 40+ games a day. In your practice sessions, try different things. Start with an extreme outside line, then work your way to an extreme inside line 3 boards at a time, staying on each change until you're hitting the pocket. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT SCORE IN PRACTICE. Use your first ball to shoot 10 and 7 pins, then your second ball to hit the pocket. If your center will allow it, make a layer of two pieces of white adhesive tape, cut to 2" width - center the tape on your target board and practice hitting it. By the time you can hit that 2" piece of tape 9 times out of 10 you will be well on your way to being "good". -- JohnP
Post by: Phoneman on March 20, 2009, 10:39:33 AM
Now i have been bowling since I was about 6 years old. That would be about 37 years ago. I have bowled just about every form of the game duckpin, candlepin, and tenpin. for the last 3 years I have been averaging 224+ in all of my leagues. I have double digit 300s. It all depend on the level you are at as to what you call good. I dont consider my self good right now. I am better than i was but the real good players make a living doing this. It's all about perspective....
Post by: A_P_K on March 20, 2009, 11:14:18 AM
Got a couple of honor scores and plenty of big games but nothing compared to what these people would call very good, talented, etc etc..
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The original Pin Krusher
Post by: abnormal on March 20, 2009, 11:19:01 AM
JK
Somebody had to say it.
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Pleased to meet you. Hope you guessed my name.
Post by: DON DRAPER on March 20, 2009, 11:28:53 AM
for me, practice was the key. also i had the drive and determination to improve. i still bowl two leagues a week and practice once a week. i'm always trying to learn.
Post by: ElectricLeftSlider on March 20, 2009, 12:10:04 PM
Then about 05' started back up and thought I had lost all the bowling skills that I had learned from way back when. But that wasn't the case. These days, I ave 210 on THS, 200 on Experience PBA league, and 200.5 on sport pattern. And till this day, I have the same approach & release that I used back in 1985.
Post by: keglerx on March 20, 2009, 12:29:01 PM
Post by: Tim G on March 20, 2009, 12:37:07 PM
Post by: Nodsleinad on March 20, 2009, 01:01:55 PM
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LTBOCSFM
Post by: stopncrank on March 20, 2009, 02:39:38 PM
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STORM:If You Hear The Thunder,Sorry,The Lightning's Already Struck!
Post by: cpo_bee on March 20, 2009, 03:05:46 PM
Post by: sdbowler on March 20, 2009, 09:28:50 PM
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Kyle
Post by: rhbowling07 on March 20, 2009, 09:59:19 PM
Post by: blacknois on March 20, 2009, 10:10:48 PM
Post by: Rev_O on March 20, 2009, 11:53:23 PM
Seriously though, I started in leagues when I was 7yrs old (1979). I bowled my first 700 series @ 12yrs old with a 279 game. At age 17, I rolled my first 11 in a row (290 with the last 11) in a tournament and won the singles and all events of the tournament. At age 18, I roll my first 300 and 800 (814), was the youngest in the area to do it at that time, and still the younger to throw an 800 around here. Check out my profile for more great facts!
I'm not gonna keep going becasue I don't want to be nominated for FIGJAM/r of the decade. The key is to PRACTICE with a purpose. Don't just throw shot's at full racks. Practice your weeknesses and SPARES!! Also, learn as much as you can about ball reaction and surface prep, as well as lane conditions and reading lanes!
Hope this help, good luck!!
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Rev-O
Check out www.springerrescue.org and help save the life of an English Springer Spaniel!
Post by: rockerbowler18 on March 20, 2009, 11:55:31 PM
Been serious about it for 3-4.
Still don't consider myself "good", but to get where I am, it took the better part of 4 years.
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JAT Junior Amateur Tour
Robb's Pro Shops: Bakersfield, California
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Post by: 10PinGod on March 21, 2009, 03:54:20 AM
I have 1 300 game and 2 700 series
Edited on 3/21/2009 3:55 AM
Post by: charlest on March 21, 2009, 10:21:32 AM
I've been working at it for 40+ years more or less. When I get 'good', I'll let you know.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Post by: VIXIV on March 21, 2009, 11:01:45 AM
quote:
When I get 'good', I'll let you know.
'Ep. I've been bowling for almost 2 years and mostly on THS. Lately started some small tournaments to get a little more experience on other patterns. My scores are a good bit lower (190-ish house V. 170-ish other). They've been good experiences so far. It's always a little easier to have fun when your scores are high, but it's like learning to play all over again because I have to sharpen my skills.
The next 5-gamer I'm entering will be on the USBC Masters pattern, I think. That should be SO MUCH FUN. Hooray for 160's
Post by: rvmark on March 22, 2009, 06:39:35 AM
Mark
Post by: dizzyfugu on March 23, 2009, 05:39:38 AM
Currently 180ish official average (calculated from traveling league and various tournaments), no 300 so far, but cracked the 700. I consider myself a very average bowler, but still with some flaws I am fighting with and that keep me from the next "step", much like JessN16 mentioned. Aynway, there's still a lot to learn and practice.
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Post by: bcw1969 on March 23, 2009, 06:41:24 AM
Brad
Post by: Buddy Christ on March 23, 2009, 07:15:11 AM
I started bowling around 10 years of age. Of course, knowing really nothing about the game, and neither did my folks, we went to Sports Authority where the met all my needs for a $65 dollar Ebonite Maxim. [Please, catch the sarcasm.]
After tooling around with that for a year, averaging 120-ish in my league, and watching the PBA I wanted to improve my game. My folks read about Visionary equipment and their membership packages. I belive I got the silver, with 2 free balls, a bag, and all that crap. I got the Scorcher and Crimson Executioner. Also, I picked up a wrist brace cause I was doing a whole bunch of goofy crap developing my 'technique'. So, for my second year in the league, I end up averaging 168, with a 600+ series with the high game of 256. I was really proud of that for being as young as I was. Some time after that, I saw Robert Smith on television and wanted to go coast to coast like he did. I asked for a whole bunch of equipment thinking the ball would do most of the work without any basic mechanics learned, and I started caring more about hook than scores. [Figured hell, might as well look cool, right?] Dropped that scene when I was about 16, got rid of all of my equipment, and bought a Storm X-Factor and developed my game from there. I averaged about 190-200 every league after that.
I guess I can say I can FIGJAM when I bought the Visionary equipment. By far, the greatest products I've ever thrown. And I was 12 for Buddy Christ's sake!
Definitely going to have to get a 2 ball arsenal from them in the future.
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=Sean=
“Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is just energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.†- Bill Hicks
Post by: pop_1 on March 23, 2009, 07:48:19 AM
Post by: collegebowler on March 23, 2009, 08:31:47 PM
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Former Wisconsin Collegiate Bowling Conference President