Author Topic: self taught bowlers (Read 2316 times)

six pack · « **on:** October 07, 2003, 09:01:23 AM »

for those of you that are to cheap to pay someone to watch you bowl,what do you do in practice to improve you're game.do you try diffrent things or do you just go out and chuck the plastic hopeing to find that missing peice of the puzzel.I went out last time to practice and discovered something ,but I consider myself lucky to just seemingly stumble across it.the funny thing is I discovered something that I was doing and now it's leading to a few other flaws I need to improve on.

Saw Mill · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2003, 12:14:05 AM »

I sure hope that you are j/k about being too cheap to pay someone to watch me bowl, for a way to improve. Why pay someone to do what I can do myself, and get my teamates, which are good enough to do what some "expert" wants money to do?! Hmmmm, let's see, my average has gone up every year (currently 229 and 218 between 2 leagues), consistency has increased, 10 pin average has improved, and confidence has jumped, and ALL was done for free. Does this mean that I have no room for improvement? NO, BUT likewise I do not need to "pay", to continue to improve or fix any problems. Practice is a key, as well as watching others better than myself, and having even bowlers who might average less than me, to watch during league or practice. I am convinced, that ANY bowler, whether they average 150 or 250, can stand behind ANY bowler, and spot what mistake was made, if any. Most bowlers no "what" they are supposed to do, therefore should be able to notice when I execute a fundamental error. Maybe you did not intend for the misunderstanding of your thread, but that is how it seemed to come across.

Dave
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If You Are Not Using a BuzzSaw, All You Get is SAW-dusted!!

baiki · « **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2003, 12:55:59 AM »

I would'nt say it's cheap by not paying for a coach.
When bowling started in my country of origin,there was no coach. Friends just get together and bowl. We'll pot bowl and it can be more expensive than getting a coach. You learn fast or you pay.

Nowadays with coaches, Youth bowling, programs on TV, books, this forum and internet, it's easy to know that you are doing somthing wrong and there is something to learn and the correct way to practice and learn it.

Look at my profile. Do you think I'd choose to play 3 step if I know that the 4 step is easier and more acceptable?

It's too late now for me to change and I do not think I can improve much by changing.

Personally, I'd be happy when I fill all frames. Find the strike line in warm-up or as few frames as possible, smooth and balanced delivery. If I cannot get all that, I'd practice to get it.

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baiki

matt smith · « **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2003, 02:37:41 AM »

Personally i dont understand the big hoo-haa about having a coach. No one knows your game better then yourself. Sure they can see you bowl, but that doesnt compete with you FEELING how you bowl. Coaches make suggestions to better your game, and deep down inside as soon as they are mentioned you know if they will work for you. For this reason i have a coach, which i go to 4-5 times a year. Other then that i have more success teaching myself to improve in ways that i find comfortable.

Good luck and high scoring
matt

BTW: My coach is the highest rated coach in my state, known all over the country, and doesnt charge me for coaching, so it isnt a matter of cheap.

slimeypebble · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2003, 03:45:50 AM »

Well first off I am that cheap to pay for a coach, isn't the whole idea of bowling is to have fun. I know your going to say you have more fun when you are bowling better, which is true but i feel I can do a better job figuring out what I do. One thing that helped me was just setting up a video camera and just taping my swing, release, and my ball so I can see what I could be doing. ANother thing is with practice is just consintency. I will just throw one line in practice so I get that repetitive motion down. Next game I will just imagine I am throwing at spares. For my final few I just bowl. Its all about comfort and you have to figure out your own thing.

David Lee Yskes · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2003, 05:23:35 AM »

Well, as everyone has said, I guess i am too cheap too, to pay for a coach to watch me bowl, when i can find what i am doing wrong after bowling one game of practice after a bad day on the lanes.

I also, have my proshop buddy who can watch me throw the ball a couple times and see what i am doing wrong or if i am outa sync. And it is true that you dont need to be some great PRO or whatever coaching level to be able to watch someone throw the ball a couple times and notice what he maybe doing wrong.

I mean in the same turn, my proshop buddy, who has more skills in bowling than i do, in turn is better than me, has even asked me to watch him bowl a couple times to see what he is doing wrong if he happens to be in a lil bit of a funk.

I mean i find myself able to spot something wrong in a persons delivery/throw a bit easier than most, because i watch how other people bowl during leagues and can tell if they have thrown the ball well.

Now in the same Token, my proshop buddy was also telling a guy who was looking to take lessons, or have someone watch him bowl and stuff, that there was a couple of PBA pro's and certified coaches who are really good, and that they would be able to fine tune his stuff alot more than your average person. But it would also cost him too.

six pack · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2003, 07:36:09 AM »

sorry, I didn't mean to imply you guys are cheap.that comment was more geared towards me.so far it sounds like the general idea is if you don't want to pay a coach,drag a friend along to watch you bowl or have a team member give advice on problems you're having.I started off in a slump this year and all my team mates have proven to be not so good coaches.I got allot of advice but no one could tell me what was really wrong,I had to figure it out by myself.coach Tommy,I wish you were closer to my neck of the woods,5 bucks and a few beers is a a great deal.the guys over here are 25.00 a half hour and then they usually step out to go sell some more bowling balls.that plus lane fees.I think pro shop operators should give one free lesson with a ball purchase,maybe that would be a good way to compete against on line pro shops.even if you thought you didn't need any lessons you might pick up a tip or improve in some way.

Scolai · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2003, 09:49:44 AM »

Two simple words: Video Camera

I came back to bowling in January 2002. I averaged 194 from January-May. That summer, I borrowed a video camera and took about 30 minutes of footage from behind and the side. Saw some areas in need of improvement and practiced some more. Averaged 201 in the summer. Destroyed my abdominal wall and inguinal muscles while practicing one day and had to take 10 weeks off. Within a couple weeks of resuming bowling, I was again averaging 200+ and finished the year with a 203 cumulative average for 2 leagues. I currently average 207 and 201 in leagues.

All of the "improvements" in my game are made by myself while watching film of my approach, release, slide, etc. My biggest problem now is fear that I will reinjure the muscles I tore in August last year. I find myself cutting my follow-through short to avoid stress on my abdomen. No video camera or coach can help me get through the fear; just regular practice and willpower.
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Nut

If you wonder if you're good enough, then you're not good enough.

seadrive · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2003, 10:04:59 AM »

If all you want to do is bowl on a wall in your Tuesday night league and score great (vs. bowl great), no, you do not need a coach. If you ever want to compete with the big boys, a great coach (I'm not talking about the guy who runs the pro shop) will help you improve your game in ways you never would have thought of.

These uninformed opinions regarding coaching are very disheartening. I really hope Magic Carpet doesn't read this thread.

A guy who volunteered his time in the Saturday morning VFW AJBC league I bowled in as a kid taught me the basics of bowling. From there on, for the next 18 years, I was self-taught.

Returning to the game after a 20-year absence, I realized I needed help, and went to a clinic. I've been working with Dr. Jeff Briggs about 4x per year for the past 3 years, trying to undo all the damage my self-teaching did, and to learn how to play the modern game of bowling.

I still suck, but I'm a hell of a lot better bowler than I ever was before, and most of the credit goes to Dr. Briggs. If you think your bowling buddies can spot all the flaws in your game as easily as a professional bowling instructor, you're, ummmm... wrong.

On edit:

Sorry, I almost forgot one other important point. A top-notch professional instructor not only knows all the flaws in your game, he knows the order in which you have to fix them. You can't work on problem C until you fix problem B, otherwise you will screw up your recently-fixed problem A.

People who coach bowling for a living understand the game at a different level from the rest of us. When Pete Weber (remember him, one of the best ever to lace 'em up?) has a problem with his game, he doesn't ask Norm Duke to watch him bowl; he goes to John Jowdy.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

Edited on 10/9/2003 10:50 AM

Rick Wunder · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2003, 10:35:19 AM »

Seadrive,
BINGO! I couldn't have said it better!

With the help of professional coaches and instructors (including Ron C.), I am still trying to overcome my 30+ years of "self-teaching."
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RW (THB)

Author Topic: self taught bowlers (Read 2316 times)

six pack

self taught bowlers

Saw Mill

Re: self taught bowlers

baiki

Re: self taught bowlers

matt smith

Re: self taught bowlers

slimeypebble

Re: self taught bowlers

David Lee Yskes

Re: self taught bowlers

six pack

Re: self taught bowlers

Scolai

Re: self taught bowlers

seadrive

Re: self taught bowlers

Rick Wunder

Re: self taught bowlers