Here is some advice that can help just about anyone who is experiencing problems with consistency in their game. I call this the "process" of bowling, and it encompasses three basic, yet sometimes complex, areas of concern that I point out to those with whom I work.
This process has a starting and finishing point, and all three areas are equally important. However, to work cohesively, they should be remedied in this specific order: the grip, the physical game, and lane play.
The first area in the process is your span or grip in the bowling ball. Many bowlers I know have good physical games and on occasion can repeat shots and figure out how to play the lanes. However, their grips cause them problems time and time again.
An incorrect grip disrupts any chance of long-term consistency, not to mention the pain it can cause in the hand. When you think about it, the first thing you must do to throw a bowling ball is put your fingers and thumb in the ball (this will not apply nearly as much for those who do not put their thumb in the ball). Bowlers with stretched grips have their hands so tight that the ball either falls off or else they hang in it at the point of release.
The opposite are those with short grips who must squeeze with their fingers and thumb, which also can cause hanging in the ball. Having a solid physical game is important, but if you cannot get out of the ball or drop it at the point of release, that timing becomes negated.
The second part in the process is the physical game. After you put your hand in the ball, the next thing to do is step up on the approach and execute the shot.
I also know a number of bowlers with grips that fit their hands properly. However, their physical motion to the line (arm swing in conjunction with footwork) is not in proper timing. This falls basically into two categories, late and early timing.
Late timing is when you get to the foul line and the ball remains too far behind you and not in sync with your slide, thus the body improvises by pulling the ball through, causing an errant shot.
Early timing is when you get to the foul line and the ball is ahead of your slide, which causes you to release the ball on the upswing, which also results in an errant shot.
Another key part of the physical game is a straight swing in relation to your target on the lane from where you are standing. A swing that is not straight has the tendency to either flare out, thus missing outside of your target, or a pulling of the armswing, thus missing inside of your target.
A comfortable grip, a solid physical game,
and knowing how to play lanes all work together.
These three areas are the basis for an individual's game.
The third part in the process is how to play the lanes. Today’s high-tech reactive bowling balls can create super scoring, but they also can be quite frustrating. Having a comfortable grip and a solid physical game are important areas; however, if you play the lanes wrong, scoring consistency becomes a problem which works against a lot of the effort you have put into the other two areas.
Playing the lanes properly requires choosing a ball (surface, pin position, drilling) that works best with the lane condition while finding the best break point for scoring. A number of bowlers I know try to play the shot they are used to in their home center at other centers and find that it is not the same. Of those bowlers, a number also are less likely to make adjustments, and they try to force the issue by staying where they are comfortable, which does not always make for optimum or consistent scoring. Many factors go into playing lanes properly to create higher and more consistent scoring.
A comfortable grip, a solid physical game, and knowing how to play lanes all work together. These three areas are the basis for an individual's game. Should you begin to develop consistency problems and/or find yourself struggling more often and you are not sure why, retrace your steps to the beginning of the process.
While retracing your steps, it is important to have an open mind—and leave your options open as well. A solution exists with your pro shop operator or a certified instructor. If you still are not satisfied, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion, as one person may see something that another did not.
The rewards reaped from bowling are based on the time and effort allotted to your game. Basically, it is what you make of it. Trial and error, patience, and a positive outlook go a long way towards getting where you want to be in the sport.
Future articles will go into more detail on the three areas of the process. Until next time, take bowling one shot at a time, make the best shot you can each time, and keep thinking.