Now that we are upon the holiday season, trying to get that bowling game back on track after a slow start can be difficult. For some, a slow start may just be in their nature, even though they normally finish strong.
What I mean by a slow start is that your average may not be where it was at the end of last season or that the quality of your shots are either not consistent or not up to the level that you would like them to be. You are not alone if you’re having a slow start, but myself and others have gotten through such starts by knowing how combat them.
The reason for a slow start can be attributed to a variety of reasons, including: lack of practice or participation over the summer (if you did not bowl in a league), the conditioner pattern put down on the lanes in the bowling center may have changed slightly, or just plain old lack of motivation, knowing that the season is long. However, they can be overcome in a short period, and you should be back on your way.
If you have not had time to practice, by all means go out and do so. Just because you are bowling in one or more leagues does not mean practice cannot help. Practicing normally helps rejuvenate one’s game (unless you practice harmful or improper techniques) if the sessions are focused on some fundamental skills. These skills include footwork, armswing, and the release.
Also, the grip or span drilled into the bowling ball should be in accordance with the physical makeup of your hand. This is not to say that having the right bowling ball in your hand does not make a difference because it can. However, if your span is not right, if your physical game is off, or your release is not consistent, the bowling ball is at the mercy of what you may or may not do correctly on a given shot.
If you are not sure what is ailing you, start at the beginning. Go back to your favorite pro shop and make sure the span in your ball is still good for your hand. I am not saying that your hand will change, but you never know. Even the slightest bit of change can cause problems. If you are not satisfied with what your pro shop technician is telling you, by all means, get a second opinion.
If the span feels fine, consider your footwork, which should be comfortable and not give you the feeling of awkwardness or being off-balance. Footwork also should resemble in some manner the natural pace of how you walk or the type of tempo you normally have.
If your body tempo is normally upbeat and accelerated, you may want to check if your approach to the line is in tune with your natural tendency or whether it is too slow. If you do not normally take big steps or have a lot of distance between steps, you may want to check how far from the foul line you begin.
Just because you are bowling
in one or more leagues
does not mean practice cannot help.
An easy way to check this is to go to the foul line, turn around, put your heals where the dots are, and take the number of steps you make in your approach plus an extra half step (5˝ for a 5-step approach, 4˝ for a 4-step approach, etc.). Once you take the appropriate number of steps from the foul line, turn around and see where you stand in relation to the foul line. Then try a couple of shots, starting from that point and emphasizing an easy, flowing motion to the line.
When doing so, make your first step the easiest and smoothest of all the steps. It does not have to be short or abbreviated but rather effortless and casual. Try this a few times, and if it turns out you still go over the foul line, back up another half step and do the same routine again. Eventually, it should work itself out.
Once you get footwork where you like it, move to the armswing. The key things to remember in this area are an effortless, pendulum-type motion, pushing and finishing in the direction of your target, and letting the ball swing your arm. See if you can execute the shot without having to emphasize pulling the ball into the backswing or pulling the ball toward the follow-through.
Of course, always make a complete follow-through, and try not to cut it short. Think of this as bringing your arm through and then upward toward your ear while keeping your arm extended as straight as possible.
The next area is the release, which should occur without feeling like you are hanging in the ball. The release, no matter what kind you have, should generally take place next to your slide leg at the bottom of the swing plane. Basically, your swing has a flat, straight area at the bottom where you bring the ball through and project it onto the lane.
When you do this, think of your swing as a sweeping motion as your arm comes through and the ball is projected onto the lane. Releasing the ball on the upswing can cause you to lose momentum on the ball as it hits the lane. Alternatively, having the release point on the downswing can cause you to lose leverage and rotation on the shot due to driving the ball into the lane.
If the physical part feels adequate, think about what ball you are throwing or which part of the lane you are playing. If your ball always seems to go high on the headpin or does not make it to the pocket, it probably is time to try another ball that will give you the reaction you are searching for. If this ball does not exist in your bag, your options are to change the surface of an existing ball you own or purchase a ball that fills the void.
With regards to where you play the lanes, one of the things I try to do is watch where people whose game is similar to mine play the lanes. From a more advanced point of view, if you cannot find a good break point, watch where the break point is for other bowlers who are succeeding. Chances are you may not be in the right part of the lane. Break points can change with different conditioning patterns on the lanes.
If motivation is a problem, think of each shot as having equal value—that value being it is the most important shot you will ever throw because you cannot change the past or know what will happen in the future. Also, being aggressive is important, but, by all means, do not overdo it. What I mean by being aggressive is staying firm with the shot and getting the ball to your target.
If you are throwing a ball that has a hooking motion, remember that it is better to miss to the right than left (for right-handers). The last time I looked, the odds for converting a washout or a 2-10 split were better than those for converting a 4-6 split.
Finally, think of each shot as you against the lane and the pins. The goal is to knock down the pins and beat the lane condition more than your opponent. If you accomplish that enough times, scores will take care of themselves with regard to defeating your opponents.
Keep in mind that proper practice makes a better bowler. A solution may not come in one or two practice sessions, but at least you have options regarding how to check out your game and make the adjustments necessary to return to top form.
If possible, practice a different aspect each time you go out, such as focusing on footwork in one session, the armswing in another, and so forth. The best way to judge if you’ve got it right is to try and hit the pocket from numerous angles. If you come close or achieve great success, you will know that it is working.
If all else fails, you can always contact a local certified instructor, purchase instructional video tapes from your pro shop technician, acquire instructional books or magazines, or get the opinion of someone who has seen you bowl for a while. It can be a simple thing that individual may notice, such as something that no longer exists in your game.
Slow starts do not have to be agonizing for long periods, but sometimes it takes extra work on your part to remedy the situation. This extra work often is needed because you previously did not put enough work into your game. Remember: It is your game, and what you make of it determines how successful you will be.
Until next time, take bowling one shot at a time, make the best shot you can each time, and keep thinking.
Lewis Twine Jr., NCABA’s 1992 scratch all events champion, is a USA Bowling Silver Level certified coach. He conducts individual instruction sessions at AMF Waldorf.