Even though he isn't your kid, you are to be commended for being an excellent example of a role model. As you said earlier, teaching him the fundamentals is only 1 part of it. Having fun is definitely the other. Mesh them two together and he will love the sport for eternity.
You actually got me thinking of how I started with the sport. Quick story- my dad got me involved in the sport at an early age. I still remember my very first ball: a black Ebonite Maxim plastic alley ball when I was 6. The house let me keep it and had it redrilled with a custom fit. From there, I progressed into the following: a purple/silver Brunswick Laser plastic ball at age 8, a purple Rhino Pro when I was 10, an orange Columbia 300 Piranha when I was 12, and a purple C300 Cuda/C when I was 14. Then, I took some time off from bowling as my parents split and just got back into the sport last year.
Now turning 30 this coming July, and back in the game for the past year, I still feel like a kid in a candy store out on the lanes. I just love it. Only difference compared to back then is now having the ability to do different things with hand position, speed, and timing on the approach. Also, I carry 5 different balls at this point for different lane conditions. Getting a new ball punched is always 1 of the most fun days at the lanes for me.
At the same time, I still use the fundamentals that I learned back then. When subbing for a friend tonight, I was forced to the extreme outside at a house I normally don't bowl at. (Playing the outside up the 4th board throwing as hard as 23mph to keep the ball on line.) I actually ended up using stronger equipment (Track 919C and Ebonite Vital Energy) to control my breakpoint as well. I had a better night than most earlier: 220, 247, 197= 664). All I had to do was only move about 5 boards all night and make a ball change 2-1/2 games in. Knowledge and fundamentals were key.
Looking back, if my dad not taught me the fundamentals as well as the having fun part of things, I wouldn't be where I am now. In fact, he still loves to hear different bowling stories I have from league nights or anytime I have a practice session, regardless that we both live about 2,000 miles apart now.
Long story short, you're a good man for taking him under your wing and teaching him these things about the sport. Just think of the great bowling stories he will be able to tell you as time goes on. You'll always have that, and that is really cool.
My arsenal
Heavy Oil: Storm Virtual Gravity Nano: 2000 AB
Medium-Heavy Oil: Storm Anarchy: 1500 polished
Medium-Heavy Oil: Track 919C: 3000 AB
Medium-Heavy Oil: Ebonite Vital Energy: 4000 AB
Medium Oil: Roto Grip Nomad Dagger: 1500 polished
Medium-Light Oil: Roto Grip Rising Star: 1500 polished
Edited by tommyboy74 on 12/29/2011 at 9:08 PM
