Author Topic: Practice ? (Read 6613 times)

Strapper_Squared · « **on:** November 30, 2014, 08:29:57 PM »

Looking for a few practice ideas. I would like to work on accuracy (repeating shots at the arrows and bp).

Thanks

S2

itsallaboutme · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2014, 04:32:30 AM »

Accuracy will come with consistency in your technique. If you try to practice being "accurate" what will happen is you will become tight, frustrated and mechanical. What you want to work on is being loose, smooth and athletic.

xrayjay · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2014, 12:08:55 PM »

Quote from: itsallaboutme on December 01, 2014, 04:32:30 AM

Accuracy will come with consistency in your technique. If you try to practice being "accurate" what will happen is you will become tight, frustrated and mechanical. What you want to work on is being loose, smooth and athletic.

Agree on that.....I don't have much rpm's and being accurate is a must for me. When I am "off" during warm up or practice, the first thing I ask myself is, did I stretch out enough? I'm older and wider lol so it takes longer for me to get my body loose. That's why I hate being late or just one time for leagues.

For practice, if I can't use black tape (and a quarter) down lane, I play a game of 3x5. I pick three targets at the arrows (1st, 2nd, and 3rd arrow or 15, 17/18, and 20 board) and try to hit it 5 times each. Or, I use 3 targets down lane. I do different things and make it a game for myself so I don't get bored during practice. Just hitting the corner/10 pin 10x in a row with my spare ball is another thing I do to. It also helps if you can get more than 2 games for free

bergman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2014, 09:42:06 PM »

That's a great practice technique.

xrayjay · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2014, 11:34:07 PM »

It helps if you can shadow bowl, bowl/practice without pins. It'll help you focus more in your practice goals of that day and not look for results. The hard part is to have the house allow you to do so. When I lived in Washington state, the house charged me $1.50-$2 for as long as I need the lane if they're not bz. Today, Bowlmor doesn't allow me to do such things..

spmcgivern · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2014, 08:23:42 AM »

One piece of advice I usually give bowlers pertaining to practice is to schedule/plan out your practice session and stick to it. This includes what you you will work on (i.e. hitting marks or spare combinations or form corrections) and for how long (X minutes or Y shots, whatever works for you). This will keep you on track toward your goal. (also include warm up time and any note taking at the end of the session)

Also, try to limit your practice session total time. If you are able to keep your practice sessions to 1-1.5 hours max, you will be able to stay focused and on task. Extend beyond that and you risk loss of concentration and bad habits will slowly creep in.

One other thing I believe more people need to "practice" or consider is how to pick up spare combinations. Too often I see bowlers attack a spare combination incorrectly giving them a smaller margin of error. Combinations like washouts, 3-6-10s for right handers (2-4-7 for lefties) or buckets. These combinations give even the best bowlers fits and approaching them in the incorrect way (or less effective way) will only make it worse.

xrayjay · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2014, 10:54:45 AM »

Quote from: spmcgivern on December 02, 2014, 08:23:42 AM

One piece of advice I usually give bowlers pertaining to practice is to schedule/plan out your practice session and stick to it. This includes what you you will work on (i.e. hitting marks or spare combinations or form corrections) and for how long (X minutes or Y shots, whatever works for you). This will keep you on track toward your goal. (also include warm up time and any note taking at the end of the session)

Also, try to limit your practice session total time. If you are able to keep your practice sessions to 1-1.5 hours max, you will be able to stay focused and on task. Extend beyond that and you risk loss of concentration and bad habits will slowly creep in.

One other thing I believe more people need to "practice" or consider is how to pick up spare combinations. Too often I see bowlers attack a spare combination incorrectly giving them a smaller margin of error. Combinations like washouts, 3-6-10s for right handers (2-4-7 for lefties) or buckets. These combinations give even the best bowlers fits and approaching them in the incorrect way (or less effective way) will only make it worse.

wow this is exactly how I do/think (like) this lol...it's good to know I'm not alone in thinking this way. I see 90-95% of bowlers I know who go to "practice" and work on their score. I also love it when they bowl 6 games and take a picture of the one score that is over 250. And it's funny to see guys I know who are practicing and get so pissed off when they leave a 10. Then don't even try to get the 10 pin - they miss it or reset the rack.....

trash heap · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2014, 11:06:58 AM »

Quote

And it's funny to see guys I know who are practicing and get so pissed off when they leave a 10. Then don't even try to get the 10 pin - they miss it or reset the rack.....

I have actually seen someone correcting their score to strikes after leaving several single pins in a practice session.

The other one I like is people that correct their score after fouling.

xrayjay · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2014, 11:31:20 AM »

Quote from: trash heap on December 02, 2014, 11:06:58 AM

Quote
And it's funny to see guys I know who are practicing and get so pissed off when they leave a 10. Then don't even try to get the 10 pin - they miss it or reset the rack.....

I have actually seen someone correcting their score to strikes after leaving several single pins in a practice session.

The other one I like is people that correct their score after fouling.

I was friends with a really good youth bowler who would trigger the foul line sensor as the ball hit the pins. By doing this it put an X on the box score. He had many practice 300's......too bad this kid did stupid things in leagues and in tourney's.... he was blackballed from all local leagues....

itsallaboutme · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2014, 11:39:25 AM »

Everybody strikes in practice.

300 in practice is like kissing your sister.

Strapper_Squared · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2014, 01:32:54 PM »

^^^ yes.

I think the intent of my question was... you go out to practice and decide to work on accuracy. How do you accomplish this? Simply picking out a target line and repeating doesn't necessarily improve accuracy. Hypothetically speaking, a bowler looks at the 10 board, but actually hits somewhere between 7 and 13. Repetition isn't going to improve their accuracy. What do they do?

Is it coaching and technique..or are there specific drills that can help improve?
I guess it depends on the specific bowler?

spmcgivern · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2014, 01:43:57 PM »

Quote from: Strapper_Squared on December 02, 2014, 01:32:54 PM

^^^ yes.

I think the intent of my question was... you go out to practice and decide to work on accuracy. How do you accomplish this? Simply picking out a target line and repeating doesn't necessarily improve accuracy. Hypothetically speaking, a bowler looks at the 10 board, but actually hits somewhere between 7 and 13. Repetition isn't going to improve their accuracy. What do they do?

Is it coaching and technique..or are there specific drills that can help improve?
I guess it depends on the specific bowler?

I think the most accurate bowlers have relaxed armswings and impart the least amount of muscle to the swing. You can't have a muscled swing with an out-of-whack swing plane and expect consistent accuracy. So coaching is a must to achieve a better swing then practice to make it more consistent.

Along these lines, the mental approach is important also to ensure pressure and outside influences don't hinder this accuracy. You could have the most amazing approach and swing, but without the mind to control it, you will not be successful.

xrayjay · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2014, 02:50:33 PM »

Being accurate isn't easy to achieve....THS masks the truth for many league bowlers. anyone can hit the 2nd arrow but their BP is never the same board(s). The two quarter drill I learned from Pete Somof(?) was a good fun drill to do. placing a quarter on the second arrow and at whatever BP you desire down lane. You have to hit both coins. (quarter is placed with the permission of the house and use black tape to hold it in place)

My sensei always said...."you can punch the makiwara 100 times, but only one will be perfect."

itsallaboutme · « **Reply #13 on:** December 02, 2014, 03:12:00 PM »

Get a rubber mallet and bounce a golf ball off the face to improve your concentration and hand/eye coordination.

Like a paddle ball without the rubber band.

Do this outside or in the garage without the cars in there when you start. You won't be very good at it in the beginning.

baer300 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 02, 2014, 03:36:11 PM »

Proper footwork and swing allows someone to be accurate. Trying to hit a dime, as said before does not improve accuracy. It will make you mechanical and that is bad. Practicing straight footwork and a straight swing is the best start. An easy reputable shot is the easiest way to become accurate. And lastly, no one is perfect. If you focus too much on being that accurate, again you will create bad habits. FUNDAMENTALS is where it all starts. You cant make yourself be accurate. You can only make your fundamentals great.

Author Topic: Practice ? (Read 6613 times)

Strapper_Squared

Practice ?

itsallaboutme

Re: Practice ?

xrayjay

Re: Practice ?

bergman

Re: Practice ?

xrayjay

Re: Practice ?

spmcgivern

Re: Practice ?

xrayjay

Re: Practice ?

trash heap

Re: Practice ?

xrayjay

Re: Practice ?

itsallaboutme

Re: Practice ?

Strapper_Squared

Re: Practice ?

spmcgivern

Re: Practice ?

xrayjay

Re: Practice ?

itsallaboutme

Re: Practice ?

baer300

Re: Practice ?