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I started bowling last November with my father, who hadn't bowled in years. I had NEVER bowled, so needless to say, I wasn't great. For Christmas last year, my father gave me a Sport Reactive 10 pound ball, shoes and a bag. I've been practicing at least twice a week. This past summer, my father, boyfriend and I joined a summer "Fun League" and tried our hands at that. I average a 120, bowling straight. I started trying to learn to throw a hook, and my average dropped to 112. I'm still practicing a lot and have started throwing more of a modified "straight-hook" shot. My first throw is fairly good---I usually get 8 or 9 pins, but I am horrible on my spares. I get no more than 2 strikes a game on average (I have gotten "lucky" a few times and bowled a 185 and a 190). But, I cannot get consistent! I've started getting instruction from the pro at the pro-shop..hopefully that will help. We just signed up for a 34 week league, and honestly, I'm not enjoying it much. My boyfriend averages much higher, and I feel he gets frustrated and puts A LOT of pressure on me when I don't do well. Once that happens, and he starts throwing out "tips", I am concentrating on so many different things at once that it ALL goes to hell and I lose it mentally, which manisfests itself in me having a poor game. My average (w/o the handicap) for last night's games was a mere 103. My question (after all that buildup--sorry it was so long!!) is this: for those "seasoned" bowlers out there, how long did it take you to see improvement and then to get consistent? I am starting to put too much pressure on myself during the league games, and I know it. But, I can't seem to relax! (beer does seem to help, though!) Any words of wisdom? I'm trying so hard, but I'm starting to really not enjoy the sport now! |
"Melissa" <mwfloyd@swbell.net > wrote in message news:e99654cc.0409010737.279a423@posting.google.com... > I'm new here, so please bear with me! > > I started bowling last November with my father, who hadn't bowled in > years. I had NEVER bowled, so needless to say, I wasn't great. For > Christmas last year, my father gave me a Sport Reactive 10 pound ball, > shoes and a bag. I've been practicing at least twice a week. This past > summer, my father, boyfriend and I joined a summer "Fun League" and > tried our hands at that. I average a 120, bowling straight. I started > trying to learn to throw a hook, and my average dropped to 112. I'm > still practicing a lot and have started throwing more of a modified > "straight-hook" shot. My first throw is fairly good---I usually get 8 > or 9 pins, but I am horrible on my spares. I get no more than 2 > strikes a game on average (I have gotten "lucky" a few times and > bowled a 185 and a 190). But, I cannot get consistent! I've started > getting instruction from the pro at the pro-shop..hopefully that will > help. > > We just signed up for a 34 week league, and honestly, I'm not enjoying > it much. My boyfriend averages much higher, and I feel he gets > frustrated and puts A LOT of pressure on me when I don't do well. Once > that happens, and he starts throwing out "tips", I am concentrating on > so many different things at once that it ALL goes to hell and I lose > it mentally, which manisfests itself in me having a poor game. My > average (w/o the handicap) for last night's games was a mere 103. > > My question (after all that buildup--sorry it was so long!!) is this: > for those "seasoned" bowlers out there, how long did it take you to > see improvement and then to get consistent? I am starting to put too > much pressure on myself during the league games, and I know it. But, I > can't seem to relax! (beer does seem to help, though!) > > Any words of wisdom? I'm trying so hard, but I'm starting to really > not enjoy the sport now! Melissa, I have several "rules" that I teach my students. I'd like to share them with you Rule 1: Try to avoid league bowling with your spouse, boy friend, girlfriend - whatever. Avoid bowling on the same team just like you would avoid talking politics on a first date. Rule 2: Once you have found someone who will help you with your game, ignore all other unsolicited bowling advice. Just answer "OK , I'll try that at my next practice session as I can only work on one thing at a time". Rule 3: Realize that incorporated something new into your bowling game is sort of like an investment; your average most like will dip down at first but will pay off with big dividends later - if you don't give up. Rule 4: Never just practice w/o any goal or plan. Simply practicing your game as it is will only program your muscle-memory to repeat whatever flaws you may have. You really should stick with whatever coach you choose and allow he or she to help set goals for practicing. Rule 5: Stick to basics, try to avoid any unorthodox elements in your delivery if you can Rule 6: If you're going to bowl leagues, there's always going to be somebody trying to pressure you. Learn to blow it off. All you need to do is bowl your average - you are not responsible for "picking up" a poorly bowling team mate. Rule 7: Be aware that consistence comes with time and experience. Accept the fact that sometimes you'll bowl 120's and sometimes 190's. As you gain more experience, those numbers will even out. Be patient with yourself. Rule 8: Try to have fun! Paul |
> Rule 1: > > Try to avoid league bowling with your spouse, boy friend, girlfriend - > whatever. Avoid bowling on the same team just like you would avoid talking > politics on a first date. > I disagree with this rule unless you clarify it. I've noticed that there are good bowling families, which leads me to believe that someone in that family that knows how to bowl and they passed the knowledge along. And it can't just be genes. There are spouses of good bowlers that are good bowlers. Maybe a clarification would be to practice with someone who knows bowling and league bowl with someone other than your mentor/coach? Personally, I try real hard not to give advice during league or tournament play. If it's practice, I might say something, but then the assumption is, if you are practicing with me, you must be wanting to get better. |
"midwesterner" < > > Rule 1: > > > > Try to avoid league bowling with your spouse, boy friend, girlfriend - > > whatever. Avoid bowling on the same team just like you would avoid talking > > politics on a first date. > > > > I disagree with this rule unless you clarify it. I've noticed that > there are good bowling families, which leads me to believe that > someone in that family that knows how to bowl and they passed the > knowledge along. And it can't just be genes. There are spouses of good > bowlers that are good bowlers. > > Maybe a clarification would be to practice with someone who knows > bowling and league bowl with someone other than your mentor/coach? > > Personally, I try real hard not to give advice during league or > tournament play. If it's practice, I might say something, but then the > assumption is, if you are practicing with me, you must be wanting to > get better. I know of very few people who are capable of coaching the people close to them. Their advice sometimes feels like criticism instead when there are intimate connections. Besides, coaching is a skill that takes some time to develop. Just because you have a high average is not a reason to expect you to be able to share your knowledge well. Also, too many nontrained coaches want a student to bowl as they do instead of working on helping the new bowler to learn the basics and improve their own style. Practice is not a group going out and open bowling. Practice is a bowler working on their game not socializing. If you are there to coach do not bowl, do one or the other. Not being able to resist telling some one how they should be bowling is not coaching. My coach used to charge a hefty fee because he found that people value the lesson and pay attention when it costs enough. Free advice too often is worth what you pay for it. I have coached YABA for 25+ years and do not charge, but my kids get a good start before I turn them over to more advanced coaching. Dar |
>Newsgroups: alt.sport.bowling >I know of very few people who are capable of coaching the people close to >them. Their advice sometimes feels like criticism instead when there are >intimate connections. Besides, coaching is a skill that takes some time to >develop. Just because you have a high average is not a reason to expect you >to be able to share your knowledge well. Also, too many nontrained coaches >want a student to bowl as they do instead of working on helping the new >bowler to learn the basics and improve their own style. > Practice is not a group going out and open bowling. Practice is a bowler >working on their game not socializing. If you are there to coach do not >bowl, do one or the other. Not being able to resist telling some one how >they should be bowling is not coaching. > My coach used to charge a hefty fee because he found that people value >the lesson and pay attention when it costs enough. Free advice too often is >worth what you pay for it. I have coached YABA for 25+ years and do not >charge, but my kids get a good start before I turn them over to more >advanced coaching. >Dar > In the youth leagues here we have a rule that relatives or team mates cannot coach relatives or team mates. It just seems that you are less likely to listen to someone who says "Eat your Spinach" or someone who has a vested interest in your score than a person who may know what they are doing. NimBill |
> them. Their advice sometimes feels like criticism instead when there are > intimate connections. AMEN, BROTHER! My wife and kids KNOW I'm a better bowler than they are and it "doesn't help" I'm a YABA Level I coach. The hardest one to try and teach is my boy. My daughter is SOMETIMES receptive to tips and my wife...well, let's not go there. ;) The only one who's "close" to me who is really open to help is my daughter's boyfriend and it GALLS my daughter that he's "progressing" faster than she is.... |
"Smokey" > > I know of very few people who are capable of coaching the people close to > > them. Their advice sometimes feels like criticism instead when there are > > intimate connections. > > AMEN, BROTHER! Ummmmmmm, that's Sister, sir. :) Dar > > My wife and kids KNOW I'm a better bowler than they are and it "doesn't > help" I'm a YABA Level I coach. The hardest one to try and teach is my boy. > My daughter is SOMETIMES receptive to tips and my wife...well, let's not go > there. ;) The only one who's "close" to me who is really open to help is my > daughter's boyfriend and it GALLS my daughter that he's "progressing" faster > than she is.... > > |
> > Ummmmmmm, that's Sister, sir. :) Sorry...I've never met you personally.... |
> frustrated and puts A LOT of pressure on me when I don't do well. Tip #1...lose the boyfriend. :-) Just kidding, mostly. But what kind of guy does that? Bowl with Dad instead. Anyway, it's pretty common to drop a few pins when you're learning something new. (Unless you're very small, 10 lbs is *really* light...Santa is bringing a 10 pounder for my seven-year old this year.) > My question (after all that buildup--sorry it was so long!!) is this: > for those "seasoned" bowlers out there, how long did it take you to > see improvement and then to get consistent? A lot longer than I wanted. Sounds like you need to work on a spare shooting strategy. Can your dad help with that? It's all about using the arrows and dots on the lane, and throwing straight balls. There's a system, maybe google for "spare shooting system". >I am starting to put too > much pressure on myself during the league games, and I know it. But, I > can't seem to relax! (beer does seem to help, though!) If there's beer, there should be no pressure. Drinking leagues are supposed to be fun, and while it's cool to get a good score, it really shouldn't matter. Go back to Tip #1. Maybe he'll grow out of it. -John O |
LESSONS from a USA Bowling Bronze or Silver Certified coach. Believe me, the inve$tment of time and $$$ will be of greater help than "self-teaching". True, using books like Parker Bohn's is useful, but until you get a "trained" pair of eyes observing you and giving you feedback, you won't improve much more than you have already. Until you can find such a coach, see if you can "attach" yourself to a high-average bowler on your league for assistance. Chances are that person will be happy to take you under his/her "wing" and, if you sense you can trust that person's judgment, etc, you'll definitely see improvement. Of course, this assumes that "coach" has the "teaching skills" to impart the knowledge, etc. It seems that in many cases "top-notch" league bowlers are CRAPPY teachers whereas many "lower-average" bowlers make GREAT coaches (proving the adage "those who can't do, teach!"), especially if they've been blessed with completing either of the YABA Junior Coaching classes. :) That's my input. Take it for what you think it may be worth.... :) |
> My question (after all that buildup--sorry it was so long!!) is this: > for those "seasoned" bowlers out there, how long did it take you to > see improvement and then to get consistent? Me? Two, maybe three years to get to where I thought I should be. During that time frame, I've quit several times when my scores got to where I thought they were too low, or I got too frustrated. Yet, I always went back. Over the first four months of this year (the last time frame where I kept track) I managed to average 207. No, this wasn't league. I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Paul's rule 4, at least to a point: I distinctly remember one youth league I bowled. Got it into my head somehow that I should practice twice weekly. Had no set plan; had no clue, really. My average started inching up. I took league high average that year. On the other hand, I absolutely, positively, agree with #7. Low scores, high scores... that's why they call it an average, right? ------------------------------------------------+------------------ "One World, One Web, One Program." -- Microsoft |
>I'm new here, so please bear with me! OK! > I started bowling last November with my father, who hadn't bowled in >years. I had NEVER bowled, so needless to say, I wasn't great. For >Christmas last year, my father gave me a Sport Reactive 10 pound ball, >shoes and a bag. I've been practicing at least twice a week. This past >summer, my father, boyfriend and I joined a summer "Fun League" and >tried our hands at that. I average a 120, bowling straight. I started >trying to learn to throw a hook, and my average dropped to 112. I'm >still practicing a lot and have started throwing more of a modified >"straight-hook" shot. My first throw is fairly good---I usually get 8 >or 9 pins, but I am horrible on my spares. I get no more than 2 >strikes a game on average (I have gotten "lucky" a few times and >bowled a 185 and a 190). But, I cannot get consistent! I've started >getting instruction from the pro at the pro-shop..hopefully that will >help. > >We just signed up for a 34 week league, and honestly, I'm not enjoying >it much. My boyfriend averages much higher, and I feel he gets >frustrated and puts A LOT of pressure on me when I don't do well. Once >that happens, and he starts throwing out "tips", I am concentrating on >so many different things at once that it ALL goes to hell and I lose >it mentally, which manisfests itself in me having a poor game. My >average (w/o the handicap) for last night's games was a mere 103. > >My question (after all that buildup--sorry it was so long!!) is this: >for those "seasoned" bowlers out there, how long did it take you to >see improvement and then to get consistent? I am starting to put too >much pressure on myself during the league games, and I know it. But, I >can't seem to relax! (beer does seem to help, though!) > >Any words of wisdom? I'm trying so hard, but I'm starting to really >not enjoy the sport now! Don't listen to either of them! If there is a certified bowling coach there get lessons. You are doing well enough to be on my team. |
> >We just signed up for a 34 week league, and honestly, I'm not enjoying >it much. My boyfriend averages much higher, and I feel he gets >frustrated and puts A LOT of pressure on me when I don't do well. Once >that happens, and he starts throwing out "tips", I am concentrating on >so many different things at once that it ALL goes to hell and I lose >it mentally, which manisfests itself in me having a poor game. My >average (w/o the handicap) for last night's games was a mere 103. > >My question (after all that buildup--sorry it was so long!!) is this: >for those "seasoned" bowlers out there, how long did it take you to >see improvement and then to get consistent? The first thing to keep in mind is that bolwing is a sport and leagues are for FUN. Enlist your boyfriend to help you remember to laugh and enjoy the league. I have only bowled in a league for one season. I have been coaching my YABA leagues for a couple years. Something that helped me was being certified for coaching levels 1 and 2. If you can volunteer, help coach the local youth (YABA) league. You will learn a LOT. You will soon be coaching your boyfriend. (I recently coached a young professional woman bowler. She has at least one 300 game under her belt.) If you can't coach the YABA league, consider taking the coaching classes anyway. One other thing. Enlist your boyfriend to help you with only ONE thing per night. It is way too confusing for a new bowler to try to change several things at the same time. |
needs to be that complicated for a 100 average bowler. My take on your post is that there are two issues that need to be addressed: 1) Your boyfriends reaction to your scores. 2) Your scores. While I'm not a relationship expert, I do believe that 1) above needs to be addressed immediately. First of all, unsolicted advice is both arrogant and unacceptable--and secondarily, if there's no $$ changing hands on that league then he shouldn't have anything to be upset over. I don't mean to sound sinnical, but what is he mad about... he won't get that patch he's always wanted?? Regarding your scores, the best advice I've seen so far has been to get a coach, and a ball that is drilled properly. I would also get your own shoes. Just because someone averages more than you do, does not mean they know their head from their a$$, and remember that. The 180 average guy that tells you to "walk like this" or "swing the ball like this" may be doing you more harm than good, and it is for this reason that it's best to find a reputable instructor and stick with it. And now, ironically, I'll talk about your bowling game :) I would recommend not learning how to throw a hook yet. Your priority, if you are averaging 100, should be basic, basic, basic mechanics. Footwork, timing, follow through, body position would be the major things, IMHO. |
on new balls and exotic drillings? I am sure that would help her go from 100 to 102 or 103 in no time! "Pat Umphrey" <PatUmphrey@aol.com > wrote in message news:38f71864.0409220859.15de371@posting.google.com... > While most of the advice I've read above is good, I don't think it > needs to be that complicated for a 100 average bowler. > > My take on your post is that there are two issues that need to be > addressed: > > 1) Your boyfriends reaction to your scores. > 2) Your scores. > > While I'm not a relationship expert, I do believe that 1) above needs > to be addressed immediately. First of all, unsolicted advice is both > arrogant and unacceptable--and secondarily, if there's no $$ changing > hands on that league then he shouldn't have anything to be upset over. > I don't mean to sound sinnical, but what is he mad about... he won't > get that patch he's always wanted?? > > Regarding your scores, the best advice I've seen so far has been to > get a coach, and a ball that is drilled properly. I would also get > your own shoes. > > Just because someone averages more than you do, does not mean they > know their head from their a$$, and remember that. The 180 average > guy that tells you to "walk like this" or "swing the ball like this" > may be doing you more harm than good, and it is for this reason that > it's best to find a reputable instructor and stick with it. > > > And now, ironically, I'll talk about your bowling game :) > > I would recommend not learning how to throw a hook yet. Your > priority, if you are averaging 100, should be basic, basic, basic > mechanics. Footwork, timing, follow through, body position would be > the major things, IMHO. |