Bowling, Baloney Popping, and Whales Exploding

A piece of baloney (bologna) I was frying exploded on me! I got slight burns from the oil splatter and pieces of it flew all over me and the kitchen. I found, and continue to find, pieces in every crevice there is (or so it seems). There was a very audible "popping" sound and I know it was loud because my girlfriend in the other room came running out to see what had happened. We immediately started laughing and I continued to laugh through the tedious clean up period. I still chuckle each time the incident comes into mind.

There are good baloney explosions and there are bad baloney explosions, it's a matter of how you treat them.

The other night, we happened to catch a documentary about an exploding whale in Japan. It sparked one of those moments where she looked at me, I looked at her, and we just started laughing uncontrollably for what seemed like 5 minutes or more. It was painful to the stomach. I can imagine that we may have similar bouts of laughter in the future.

I can also imagine the residents of that city in Japan finding pieces of whale for years to come. I expect they'll continue to laugh about their incident as I do mine.

In the sport of bowling, there are many variables that affect our score. These include such things as, but are not limited to, the weather, type of ball, weight of the ball, and oil patterns. Do I have to mention our individual attitudes, health, and frame of mind? Our performance depends on many factors being "just right," and us realists know that there will be bad scores as well as terrific scores. That's just life.

Over the past couple of weeks, my "bowling baloney" have exploded several times, both good and bad (and these are separate and distinct explosions) - a 134 game, a 511 series, a gutter ball, three 4-6-7-10 splits in one game, and a 718 series. Who can figure? You just have to make the best of it.

One of my teammates, "Dippy" (a 200+ average), shoots a 92 game on Thursday league, then shoots a 300 game on Friday night; rolls a 740 series on Thursday night and comes back on Friday night just barely breaking a 500 series.

Baloney explodes everywhere and at anytime! As "Dippy" is always fond of saying, "What do we know?"

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Bowling The Sun City Open With Larry

653 Doubles - 801 Singles - 761 Team. That's what my buddy "Larry" shot this past weekend (5/6 and 5/7, 2017) in a local tournament. These scores are really amazing since he's been in a slump all last season plus, enduring a two month layoff to have his knee replaced.

The tournament was held in two separate bowling centers in Sun City, AZ, The Bell Recreation Center and Lakeview Lanes. "Larry" has had averages in the 220+ but, all the pain caught up with him albeit, slowly over the past three to four years. It's been pretty tough for him; but, he never let things get him down too much and he persevered, always keeping a positive mindset that things would get better.
When he reported his scores to me on 5/6/2017, after shooting the Doubles and Singles, he added the comment, "I shot pretty good ... if only for a day." I immediately texted him back that those kinds of statements didn't sound right coming from him at this time. When he texted back on 5/7/2017 that he shot a 761, he agreed that I was correct.

Anyway, I asked him to write his thoughts and actions down and send it to me in an email. I present that email, with his permission, here. I have edited for clarity and some minor grammar and punctuation; however, these are basically his own words.

Choc,

When I talk to anyone about things I am doing to help my game, I am very careful in understanding what changes I made, because it helps me, in particular, and maybe not someone else. There have been too many times that I have mentioned something that I was doing to (my best friend) and he ends up trying it, but it doesn't work, because he doesn't do what I do. I feel that it does no good to tell somebody about something that is just a correction that I'm making because it's a mistake I am making. When you think about it, perhaps I should not be making that kind of correction anyway(?) because I'm not trying to put a band aid on it, I'm trying to fix it -- right now!!!

Where I have come to now is, I have incorporated those things into my game that I believe can help anybody with today’s game. It is all based on “Old Style” compared to “New Style.”

In the "Old Style," we were taught to lift upward and swing upward, because that is what helped the balls we were using to roll and hook on the lane conditions at that time. But none of that works today!! I even thought that if I broke my wrist back, that would solve the problem, but it did not, because I still lifted upward and swung upward. In those days I was told to picture a nail in the ceiling and then try to hammer the heck out of that nail with my thumb.

These days that just makes the ball overreact with total inconsistency all night long. It also uses up all of the energy in the ball very early so that it has nothing left when it gets to the pins. It looks good, but you cannot carry the corner pins. All the complaints we have heard over this past year that you cannot carry at Bell Lanes? Well, there were a bunch of guys that bowled this last weekend at Bell Lanes that did not have any problem, including me, and the lane conditions were still the same. So, why? How were they able to score?

I believe that it's because these certain players were able to help the ball hold line, come in on a good entry angle and save energy at the pins. These were four man teams and (an old-time, former PBA player's) team shot 975 the first game, 995 the second game and 938 the last game. They carried just fine. Also, we bowled with some guys from Tucson that were very good and they had virtually no problem with carry. However, I saw some of our "local" guys that were still having the same old carry problems. Again, why?!!

Here are four things for bowlers in the modern sport of bowling to consider:

Number 1) They all push/roll the ball down the lane and not drag/roll the ball down the lane. What I mean by that is that their hand and fingers are behind the ball in a position to push the ball down the lane rather than just rolling the ball down the lane.

If your fingers are well above the equator**, then you are just dragging the ball through and dropping it off along the way. The ball floats on the lane, uses up all of its energy before it gets to the pins and then leaves the dreaded corner pin on what looks to be a good hit.

**Note: Equator of a bowling ball = A Line around the ball, perpendicular to the vertical axis and the mid-line covering the entire circumference of the ball.

So, the fingers and hand have to be low enough on the ball that you can use them to push the ball forward down the lane. This is what I finally did to stop from lifting up on the ball. When you push/roll the ball down the lane your swing also goes towards the pins and not snap up towards the ceiling. This is why it is so easy for the kids that throw with no thumb. They are already in the push/roll position.

I suggest to take some video to see where you are really at, because, if you are not truly behind the ball, then you cannot push/roll the ball.

Number 2) It is absolutely imperative that you clear your thumb as quickly as possible, again no problem for the no-thumbers. The reason I say this is because that is the only way you can keep the ball on your target line and also not over turn the ball. If you go to the Slow Motion Videos of the Pros, you will notice that their thumb flies out of the ball. A quick, clean release is essential!! Good line, good roll, later break to the pocket with good energy. I have made the changes necessary to clear my thumb much, much quicker.

Number 3) Focus on a target line. Use either 3 targets, 2 targets or just draw a line, but in any case use a line instead of just a single spot to target with. If you do not use a line, I guarantee that you will sometimes pull the ball and sometimes flare the ball. It is also much easier to use a target line when you push/roll the ball down the lane, because you are pushing right down the line you have decided on.

Number 4) I am holding the ball absolutely "dead loose." My wrist is firm in order to stay behind the ball, but, I am not gripping at all. I am so loose I should drop the ball. This helps me get a very clean release with no grab at the bottom of the arm-swing and at the release point.

Now, all of what I have said here would be easier if I am able to completely change to the new style with my swing under my head, my body more forward and my release like a Yo Yo, but my body just won’t take all of that, so I do what I can.

In any case, by just doing what I have mentioned here I have increased my power and energy at the pocket and, therefore, better carry.

Larry

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Bowling Against Your Own Worst Enemy

Are you practicing regularly but still having trouble improving your bowling scores and average? Have you sought out a bowling coach but feel it's not worth it because you're still not getting any better? Have you dedicated yourself to your efforts but it seems that you just  can't catch on and only seem to get worse after every practice session?

Over my years of coaching students, I've identified some things that seem to keep

them from improving their game in spite of repeated sessions. No one has exhibited all of the problems at once; but, each one has a profound effect on keeping progress at a "no-or-slow" pace. I can imagine what it would be like if someone was doing it without a coach.

Let's take a look at a few of them (for the purposes of this article, I'll label them as "Problem #1," "Proposed Solution #1, …" and "Solution #2," "Proposed Solution #2 …"):

Problem 1: Having no goal, objective, or purpose. Even hiring a coach, many students have no definitive goal of where they want their overall game to go. This would be the same thing as jumping in your car and just driving around because you don't have any specific place in mind that you want to go to. With no place to go, you can never get there.

Proposed Solution 1: Write down all the things that you want to accomplish with your bowling game - even if it's only one thing, such as, "raise my average by 20 pins.". If you have more than one goal, prioritize them and start with what you believe is your highest priority to work on. Put the overall list away and make a personal statement about the goal you've selected. Write it on a piece of paper and read it as often as you can. If you have a coach, discuss it with him/her. Once you've accomplished the goal to your satisfaction, review your ovarall list because by fixing one problem, it may have fixed another. Cross it (them) of your list, re-proritize them and move on.

Problem #2: Negative thinking and focusing on what's not working or what's not right. This is part of your mental game. As Henry Ford said, "whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're absolutely correct."

Proposed Solution #2: Discipline yourself to get away from the "negative-speak" and turn each thought or question around to be more positive. Instead of saying, "I can't pick this pin up," turn it around by saying, "I have picked this pin up many times before, I know what to do." Rather than saying, "well, here I go again," say the more positive, "this is not me, and I know I'm better." Start noticing (and writing them down in a notebook) all the negative things you say about yourself and then, turn them around to the positive point of view. Start thinking about "what is working," and "what is right."

Problem #3: Getting caught up with what you've done in the past so you're afraid of what will happen in the coming frames. "With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Proposed Solution #3: Each game in bowling consists of ten frames. Therefore, bowl each game on a frame-by-frame basis; that is, the frame that you are in at the time is the frame you should concentrate on. You cannot go back and re-bowl any previous frame. You cannot predict what each future frame is actually going to be. The only frame you have control over is the one you are in "right now." Say to yourself, "this is my frame, I will do the best that I can do, when it is over, I will move on to the next frame."

Problem #4: Comparing yourself to your teammates and/or other better bowlers so you feel that you'll never be "as good as they are." There's an old saying that goes, "You are unique, just like everyone else." There are too many variables such as physical build, drill of the ball, knowledge of the game, and a myriad of other things that make you different from everybody else. Simply put, "you are you and the other person is not you." Be yourself

Proposed Solution #4: Make a list of as many of your bowling accomplishments as possible. Now make a list of things you like about how you bowl. Keep reviewing the list and adding to it as you accomplish more and more things. Whenever you find yourself comparing against someone else, remind youself of how good you really are and that it serves no purpose to compare yourself against another person.

This may sound like something out of a motivational book or seminar. You're absolutely correct. It's working on your mental game and once you get your mind helping you instead of battling against you, your scores and average will begin to show improvement.

Don't continue to bowl against your own worst enemy.

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Bowling Improvements One Thing At A Time

Do you have a tendency to try to concentrate on "everything" at once in order to bowl good? When you're on the approach, are you making sure that your starting stance and position is "just so;" are you mentally counting your steps to keep a smooth tempo; are you thinking about keeping your armswing free; do you make sure you're walking straight, are you thinking about keeping your eyes on your target; uhmmm, where was I? … I lost my concentration just writing that!

If you're attempting to do this when you bowl, I'm pretty sure that you're having some trouble with your game. You're wanting to master every detail all at once, therefore, you really aren't mastering anything. You're probably feeling (or appearing to others) as if you're tight and mechanical. You're also not seeing any improvement in your scores and average.

How can anyone improve if they're trying to concentrate on so many things at once? Goals and improvements are best accomplished by going them step-by-step, one thing at a time. I contend that it would be best to focus on one aspect of your game, completing each task separately until it is completed, then moving on to the next one at hand.

Here's a suggestion for how to figure out which things you should work on first in order to improve yourself. Make a list of the different aspects of your game - starting stance, pushaway, armswing, walking straight, balance at the foul line, ball release, hitting the target, and follow-through.

Analyze your degree of confidence with each and make yourself a scale so that you can rate them accordingly. Here's a suggested scale: 1 - comfortable, 2- so-so, 3 - uncoordinated, 4 - not sure what I'm doing, 5 - totally lost. (I say, "suggested scale," so feel free to make up your own.)

When rating the items on your list, you can use each rating number more than once. It's okay to have "starting stance" and "armswing" with a "1," or "walking straight" and "ball release" as "3." After you've rated each item, make your decision as to what you will tackle first - usually, you would pick the highest number as something to tackle first. If there's a tie, flip a coin and take the winner of the toss first.

Once your decision is made, don't change your mind. Commit to the fact that you'll concentrate and work on that facet of your game until it's mastered and you feel comfortable with it. Once you feel that way about what you're working on, take your list and evaluate yourself again.

The reason for this is that by concentrating and fixing one part of your game, you may find that another part has seemed to "fix itself." This is the beauty of concentrating on only one thing at a time rather than trying to do everything at once.

For example, while working and focusing on your armswing, when it improves, you may find that your balance at the foul line has improved at the same time.

Throughout your bowling career, you may find you'll have to run through this rating checklist regularly. Even the best professional bowlers in the world have slumps where they have to go "back to the drawing board" in order to fix bad habits they've picked up seemingly overnight. One way they'll be able to fix their problem, or problems, is to concentrate on them one at a time, just the same as you'll have to.

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You Gotta Bowl The Current Conditions

In the final frame of the title match of a televised PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) match, Pete Weber muttered, "Oh, man, stupid, try to play (the lanes) the way I played all week instead of what was out there now," as he was losing. The words may not be exact, but, I think you get the point.

How many times have people come to you and said things like, "I practiced here last week and shot 250;" "During the practice, I was throwing nothing but strikes;" or "The last time I bowled here, I really scored well."

Actually, how may times have you felt that way? It's not to say that there may be times when you'll be able to play the same lines and targets day-after-day or week-after-week. The odds are, however, that you may have to make some adjustments - be it changing balls, hand positions, or your line/target - to keep hitting the 1-3 pocket consistently so your scores don't look like a roller coaster when graphed.

Once, I subbed on the Monday night league and shot 257-236-213 for 706; but, I tried to maintain the same ball and same target throughout.

To paraphrase Pete Weber, "Oh, man, stupid, try to play the lanes the same as the First game instead of playing what was out there in the Second, and then the Third games."

Three days later, subbing in the Thursday night league, using the same theory, I shot 175-189-224 for 588 - "Oh, man, stupid, try to play (the lanes) the way I played Monday night instead of what was out there Thursday."

Would I have shot better had I made some changes? Perhaps, but, I might not have done any worse, I think; but, we'll never know because I didn't make the adjustment(s) that were needed to get the ball to the pocket strongly and consistently.

The point is, the lanes will change and you cannot expect that every time you come to bowl, the conditions will be the same. The variables are too numerous to mention here; but, they range from the types of balls being used by the other bowlers on the lanes to the temperature inside the bowling center from one side of the house to the other. Remember the saying, "the only thing that doesn't change is change?" Well, change will surely take place as you bowl so you have to get used to it.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that the amount of adjustment that must be made is not an exact science. In other words, no one can throw a few balls and be able say exactly how many boards, which of your bowling balls, or what position your wrist must be in to throw strikes more effectively.

That's why no one is dominating the PBA Tour; and, that's why, although you have your high average bowlers where you bowl, they do not bowl the highest scores day-after-day and week-after-week. Sometimes they guess right and sometimes they don't.

Just keep in mind that one of the keys to raising your average is to become flexible in making adjustments when the lane conditions seem different to you. So you don't like the fact that your ball is breaking earlier on the lane than you would prefer it to? - ADJUST!

You gotta play the current conditions the way they are and not the way it was the last time you bowled on them. When in doubt, refer back to what Pete Weber said in paragraph one, above.

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Senior Bowling Observations - Discussion #4

Here’s Discussion #4 in a nutshell:

"On a 38-foot to 41-foot length oil pattern, if you throw your ball and it rolls over the '8-board at the outer marker,' your ball will hit the pocket."

For ease of discussion, I generalize the following:

(1) The "outer marker" is the dark-colored, three foot mark, on the 10-board, 40 to 43 feet from the foul line on many modern, synthetic lanes.

(2) What I refer to as the "8-board at the outer marker;" is actually the broader 6-board to 9-board area.

(3) This applies to oil patterns between 38 feet to 41 feet.

For the past three to four years, I've advocated an aiming point based on articles I've read and, by closely watching / studying videos of national and international bowlers and events.

Recently, my observations were validated while watching a broadcast of a bowling event and the technical commentator made a statement to the effect of, "spray painting the 8-board at the 40 to 43 foot outer marker on the lanes, so that everyone would aim there and at least hit the pocket, giving themselves a better chance to strike."

This doesn't mean the bowler has to target 41 feet down the lane. (More power to you if you can, but, bowlers like me have a difficult time seeing that far down the lane.)

Let's factor in the "3-point Targeting" theory (By USBC Gold Coach Joe Slowinski) to illustrate how to fine tune where a bowler can aim. (Keep in mind that every bowler has to take any hints and/or suggestions and tailor them to suit their style of bowling.)

What I utilize is a “modified 3-point targeting system."

For example, if I'm using the 12-board at the arrows, I look at the 8-board at the 40 to 43 foot marker as I get into my starting stance, then bring my eyes down to the 12-board at the arrows just before starting my approach.

If I'm targeting the 10-board at the arrows, I sight down lane to the 8-board, then bring my eyes to the 10-board at the arrows, and so forth.

Some of my friends have told me that they target down lane, then at the arrows, and finally end up sighting at a mid-way point between the down lane marker and the arrows as they start their approach.

This method of getting to the pocket will work regardless of whether the bowler is launching the ball from the 5 board, the 15 board, or the 35 board. Just make sure the ball gets to the “8-board at the outer marker,” and the ball will get to the pocket.

As to why the ball won’t strike every time, the reader needs to keep in mind the parameters necessary for a “perfect pocket strike:”

a) The ball enters the pocket at the 17-1/2 board with less than 1/8-inch discrepancy;

b) The ball has an entry angle of 6 degrees;

c) The ball makes contact with only the 1, 3, 5, and 9 pins.

I heard a great term recently, “Eliminating Variables.”

To wit: “The entire game of bowling is based on eliminating as many variables as possible.”

I think hitting the pocket consistently may eliminate a large part of the variables a bowler is faced with in any given game at any given time.

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Senior Bowling Observations Discussion #3

Special Note: In both the (Senior) PBA50 and PWBA events on Xtra Frame, there is a Central Commentator but, throughout the telecast, actual participating bowlers "drop by" to give their input and insights about a myriad of technical aspects and subject matter that are of, and might be of, concern to bowlers competing in the event. This, in turn, helps me (and perhaps, you?) with my THS (Typical House Shot) game.

Why do I watch and listen to the Seniors/PWBA events and technical commentating closely? It's very simple.

IMHO, the Seniors/Ladies closely resemble my style and type of bowling - that is, they have more "strokers" than "crankers," and they tend to have less "revs" than the Regular Touring PBA Men do.

As a matter of fact, I'd venture to say that, as a Senior bowler, I have nothing to learn from watching the physical game of the Regular PBA Tour.

Here's some of the subjects the Senior's/Ladies are talking about and I've picked up on:

1) Exercise and keeping physically fit. This is mentioned and talked about a lot more during the Senior's PBA and PWBA events. The necessity for a regular exercise program. Walking, jogging, physical fitness rooms, pre-bowling stretching routines, and healthy diets.

I've always done a minimal amount of pre-bowling stretching and walking; however, I've recently started using 3-lbs weights to bolster my arms, legs, and wrists.

I'm slowly building an exercise regimen and routine that will help me with my overall bowling.

2) Launch Angles. For the past 3-4 weeks, I've been working with this on my own and it's yielded some good results for me; especially since I don't have to make any drastic and/or radical moves right away.

Launch Angle Bowling Tips

Adjustments and Launch Angle

When accuracy and spare-making are of prime importance, a bowler cannot afford to "lose" the pocket. Making large moves may not be advantageous at all.

Even though we bowl mostly on THS conditions, accuracy and spare-making should still be of prime importance so "minor" moves may be better than drastic ones.

This has helped me on several occasions already this young season. Rather than change bowling balls right away, I've moved my eyes and it was all the adjustment I needed.

4) Asymmetric versus Symmetric bowling ball cores. I picked up on this during an Xtra Frame broadcast. I did some research and found that it is a general concensus among elite bowlers, although it's a subject that's not widely discussed.

I guess that goes along with a lot of other subjects that are good for your game; but, not openly discussed often enough - Posting your shot, free armswing, exit point strategy, and so forth.

In a nutshell: 1) asymmetric cores are good for "strokers" and lower rev bowlers; 2) symmetric cores are better for "crankers" and higher rev players.

If a recommendation were to be made, a "stroker" (which most of us Senior bowlers tend to be) building an arsenal would have 80% Asymmetrics in their bag. Nothwithstanding the requisite combination of Reactive Resin, Hybrid, Urethane, Pin-up drilling, pin-down drilling, and various other surfaces/drillings to suit your particular style.

Carolyn Dorin Ballard used the term, "Bump Area," during the PWBA Tour Championships. This is only my guess, but, she's probably referring to the area on the lane where the ball encounters friction and starts turning left, making its run to the pocket. In a typical conversation with my coach, we talk about "banking" the ball off the dry so that it comes back to the pocket with more energy.

A comment here concerning the Storm Crux. (Different bowlers may have different results depending on their style of bowling. There's just too many products out there to make a statement that, "one size fits all." I'm merely relating my experience with the Pearl Crux.)

I watched the original video and they described the design of the core, and it gave me the impression that the core is meant to "auto-correct" mistakes we make in our deliveries. I finally broke down, saved up my money, and bought the Pearl Crux three weeks ago.

Storm Cux(TM) - Ball Technology

I'm extremely happy with the ball and I'm carrying hits that were not carrying for me previously. My frustration with taps have been non-existent since I got the ball. Needless to say, I'm saying to myself, "Why did I wait so long to get it?"

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