You know, sometimes it's the things that are just staring you in the face that you miss.
A little history before I get to my "light bulb" moment. I started bowling when I was 8 or so, I'm 33 now. I literally had a bowling center in my back yard so that place was like my after school babysitter. Back then I always used a 2 handed style, later I graduated to 1 handed thumbless. I was content with the inconsistency of the style because I never got serious about putting up big scores. The short swing and high speed of that style is what lead to my recent problems.
Move to now...
I got on a league for the first time ever this winter season. I started late so this week will be my 5th week in. I decided that I needed to get my own gear so I bought a 14 pound Cherry Vibe and had it drilled up with all 3 holes, expecting to only use the thumb for straight shot spares like I always have done.
After a couple weeks of the high/lows of thumbless and actually having to pay attention to my scores I decided to learn to use my thumb. As expected, I had all kinds of problems but I read up on the internet and gained as much "book" knowledge as I could and applied it as much as I could. It wasn't enough though, I was still gripping the ball and throwing it all over the lane. At least once a game I would toss the ball straight in the gutter about 15 feet out. At least I knew I was consistent with that little mistake once a game.
I finally got fed up with it and asked the gal working at the center I bowl at if she knew of any coaches in the area. I haven't had any luck finding one lately but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. She had me come in today and meet up with the coach for a youth league that bowls in the morning.
Taking the information from my bowling style I had before and the fact that I'm 6'5", he spotted my problem on the first throw. I was only taking 3 steps. That made me force the ball through my swing and have absolutely nothing resembling repeatable timing. I would grip the ball and do all kinds of messy shots because of that too. He moved me back about a foot on the approach and we added in that extra step and there it was. The light bulb.
He went over a couple other things like lining up for spares and positioning myself for them and that was it. I had a whole new game that I could be consistent with.
I just wanted to post this up to maybe get others to ask for help if they need it. I talked with the people that work at the center and they said noone really coaches adults around here because too many people have the egos and won't ask for help. I figure if I can do it, being the big, confident (been a bouncer in a tough bar for 12 years), person that I am, that anyone can get over their ego and ask for help and get results.
