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Author Topic: Should I make this drastic change?  (Read 3762 times)

lhooker

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Should I make this drastic change?
« on: May 02, 2012, 10:22:22 AM »
I have been bowling for years, roughly 10 or so. Over the years I have tried different releases, backswings, etc and have always been inconsistent  but good enough to get by. I've decided that I really want to improve and had a few practice sessions, taping some of my shots.

Lets just say that my backswing and hand placement is awful and im not sure why my wrist hasn't cracked in two yet. I honestly think that I would have to start from scratch if I wanted to truly improve as my mechanics are pretty awful. I have been experimenting with a two handed release and feel far more comfortable throwing with this style, so much so that I am thinking about going full time with a two handed release.

There's a driller in my area, a pba guy that offers coaching/lessons for a reasonable rate. Should I get with him first and have him evaluate my wretched release or start over with the two handed style. Just looking for suggestions or experiences with overhauling backswing/release mechanics. I am really leaning towards sticking with this two handed style for a while, see how I improve over time with it.
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Brian Green

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2012, 11:13:56 AM »
I'd go pay for a couple of sessions with the pro.  It would never hurt to have another set of eyes look at your release .   Norm Duke said it best: " when the scoring pace is high, two handers will revolutionize the game and create entry angles never seen before.  When it's a grind out shot (us open for example), they are nothing special"
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Polish_Hammer

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2012, 12:29:02 PM »
Brian is dead on and so is Norm :) The questions you have to ask is where are you in your bowling career and how far do you want to go and for how long. Switching to two-hands still requires good fundamentals and consistency in release and timing. My son is a 17yr old two-hander and had only been bowling for 2 years before switching to two-hands. Not that much invested and like all young people he wanted results quicker and wanted more power and revs. (good decision or not?) We will have to wait and see.  If on the other hand you are more like me, a 40 something bowler who bowls the occassional regional and wants to bowl the senior tour then a drastic overall may not be the best thing.  In that case being something you're not may not be best.  If you just want to complete on the local leagues level the 2-hander can exploit the house condition better than just about any style
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lhooker

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2012, 02:33:42 PM »
I'm 26, basically put off bowling for college, and then 3 years after college due to an insane travel schedule for work. I would bowl with friends, jackpot occasionally, etc. Could never commit to a fall league.

I eventually want to become a better overall bowler, not just the everyday house hack. I just know with my current mechanics I will never be consistent enough to do both. On a house shot I currently would average in the 195-205 range, my last book average is a 197 from a year ago. The two handed approach is more of a frustration thing, my mechanics (approach, follow through, balance, etc) are better after a month of playing around with the style as opposed to my regular approach. I'll probably end up having my driller (Kurt Pilon) take a look, but my mechanics are so bad right now that I feel like I can start over without any bad habits with the two handed style.

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RadioActive

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2012, 03:23:04 PM »
I agree with taking a couple of lessons. Make sure to ask these questions to the coach and tell him what you want to do, then decide which style is for you.
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zmansmustang

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2012, 03:34:45 PM »
Here's what i did when my timing would fade away, which happened bout every 5 weeks. find a pro bowler that has a similar style as yours, mine was Wes malott. Watch everything about their delivery that you would like to work on. Then dry bowl at your house just going thru the motions without a ball. I was bored at work and did mine there. then when you feel comfortable and everything seems in order. hit the lanes. Use a soft speed to get feel of the same approach but with weight in your hand until you are at full motion. Worked for myself and i got a buddy start doing it and has worked for him also. Another thing is get video of yourself doing an approach you feel comfortable with. when you feel out of whack, go back to the video for refresher on what you look.
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lhooker

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2012, 08:14:53 AM »
Will give that a try zman. Just need to get back to a comfort level.
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2012, 08:30:50 AM »
Quote from: RadioActive on May 02, 2012, 03:23:04 PM
I agree with taking a couple of lessons. Make sure to ask these questions to the coach and tell him what you want to do, then decide which style is for you.

Second that. Having (at least) one pair of professional eyes on your game is not wrong, esp. when you feel that there's something wrong or flawed. An external/neutral person will be a good help in diagnosis - and make clear what you want to achieve.

A coach is only good when he or she actually takes care of YOUR problems. I know the case of local, self-claimed experts who offer training sessions who simply make the trainees copy their personal style, be it a beginner or someone with a developed game. This is IMHO counter-productive, if not frustrating, because it is YOUR game that needs an optimization, and that's IMHO rarely done through amulating someone else's style.
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lhooker

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2012, 02:57:02 PM »
Hopefully I won't run into those problems dizzy, the coach has been my driller for a year now, drills some of my closer friends stuff also. He seems to go the extra mile quite often has shown true interest in our progression (although the more we progress and make $$, the more equipment we will buy lol). I just think that I've really come to the point where I cannot be satisfied chucking the ball to the right, stringing a few strikes here and there and shooting a 220. Once our schedules align, I will try to get out on the lanes with him for at least 2hours and then go from there. In the next few days I may try to post a quick vid or two showing my array of awful backswings/releases.....
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ithinkican

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2012, 09:21:04 PM »
Just a thought. nothing against two handers but how many 50-100 yr old two handers do you know?? exactly.... none. if you go two handed now, you will have to switch back to one handed eventually. then youll be back through the same problems that you are having now... just somethin you should think about.
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lhooker

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2012, 12:00:14 AM »
I started thinking about that today Ithink. I am sore in various areas around my back and shoulders, the two handed style works different muscles. Can't really maintain the two handed style forever, puts a lot of stress on the body.
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Polish_Hammer

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2012, 09:59:12 AM »
You can still throw 2-handed in your fifties and beyond..........Of course you'll be throwing it between your legs with two hands  :)
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Should I make this drastic change?
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2012, 04:13:03 PM »
Last week we had a 93 year old learning to throw two handed, I heard they put him on CATS and he was at only about 450 rpms and about 17 mph at the pins!

He's dying out man!

Rumors are Walter Ray's working on it!

Soon they might have a Senior Two handed only tour!  One handers on that tour, two handers only on the new!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS have you ever seen when the two handers get their revs  so extreme that the ball looks like it is accelerating it's revs at dizzying speed as it gets to its breakpoint.  It leaves me dizzy.  Fortunately or unfortunately for my wallet I get to see it quite a bit!
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