So who remembers when I was whining several months ago about hating house shots because it turned everything into a carry contest and led to "less skilled" bowlers beating "better" bowlers more than they should?  Everybody came back and told me that the "better" bowlers will still win the vast majority of the time if they really were "better."  Of course I disagreed and went on to lament being accurate to a couple boards and getting beat frequently by guys using all 5 they had, to which again people reiterated that if I was really better I should be beating them.  Again I didn't agree and huffed off to pout in my corner.

I WAS WRONG.  I was spending a lot of time paying attention to all the little details instead of the point of the whole game, which is knocking all the pins down.  If the point was splitting boards, there would be no need for the pins.  I'm by no means just flinging it down there now, because focusing on scoring still requires a lot of accuracy, but it's so much more than just hitting boards.  The details are still important, but the reason you pay attention to the details is to raise your score.  If you didn't care about score, there would be no reason to improve. 

All the sudden I'm still just as accurate, but I'm winning the "carry contests."  I'm BOWLING instead of trying to split boards.  All my physical problems I thought I had have all but disappeared (but I'm not going to lie, my form still isn't very "pretty").  I've literally lost only a single point (game) in the last 8 league sets, and all the sudden breaking even or losing money in brackets every week has translated to me not only making the majority of my finals, but WINNING them.  Same shots, same opponents, same everything, it's just that now that I'm focusing on knocking the pins down instead of splitting boards and looking pretty, my scores have skyrocketed and that's translating to a lot of money . .

Nice work Giz.  Winning brackets really does make you feel good! I don't think I've been down in league brackets in over 2 months.  I know I'm up on the year, and it's fun!

I'm glad you've had a change of heart, but you still understand both sides.  You know accuracy is important, but you also know that hitting the pocket, regardless of 1/2 inch is paramount.

Here's to finishing the season strong   I think after prize money, I may double my league investment this year.

So so here, but somehow able to bowl with some of the best in the country by happenstance and coincidence.

Early on I got to bowl with a bowler that hadn't bowled for about 10 years.  He came in and averaged 236 with one ball and an old pair of shoes for the winter season.

One day when I hung near him score wise in a league session we got talking and he mentioned when he felt he had 3 inches at the arrows that his armswing loosened up so much that his carry skyrocketed.  But when he felt he only had 1 inch at the arrows or less in which to carry he felt he'd be lucky to hit within 3 inches at the arrows due to his tightened up armswing!

He demonstated and said it better in person through gestures.

Subsequently one of my strong over 220 teammates who could always go higher when the team needed him, mentioned to me that for him the most important thing for carry was balance, body position and release at the line.  His aiming area he noted was a "zone" say over third arrow, closer to the third arrow, etc.

When he got it right he said he had miss area both ways on the "crown".

At the same time we had a bowler who had been revered for years on our team who took great pride in his board splitting abilities often talking splicing the left or right side of his "board".    His average had dipped to about 217 that year, this for a guy with almost Walter Ray spare abilities.  Horrific for him and with a terrible carry percentage on pocket hits!

To splice these board parts he was all over the place in form to accomplish his board splicing.

He went on to moan and complain for about a year about other less accurate bowlers carry and fortunately we got together and discussed the concepts his teammates were using to carry and he changed his focus to form and balance at the line and being less accurate at the line especially in league.

Since then his averages under 230 have been few,  with some in the 240 area.  His blend of speed and revs now a focus of his is more matched, where he used to be speed dominant.  His carry has soared and he is nationally known Senior tour competitor who competes infrequently but strongly.  He also has been noted for some very strong accomplishments at Nationals.  (I am not sure how much he tightens his board focus there).

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS I am aware that talk of miss area and hold area is a frequent topic at Pro and high level tournaments.