Technique ?'s

[kingpin_98]

I'm new to bowling regularly.  Right now, I have a power groove 15 lb ball with a finger trip grip.  Just starting to get technique consistent and starting to hook a little.  Anyway, one thing I have noticed is that after about 2 games in to a 3-4 game set, I start to get a little bit of a charlie horse in the mid to upper left outside quadricep.  I'm a right hand bowler and using a 4 step approach.  I thought that it might just be getting used to bowling again or being a little out of shape, but I've been working out and running regularly for a few weeks and it still seems to be nagging me and affecting my game.  Any suggestions?

[Graaille]

Not seeing how you bowl, I can only guess.  But my suggestions are:
1: Relax - let gravity be your friend, both on the entire backswing and the entire follow thru.  Muscling the ball/guiding the ball thru the entire swing is one possible reason for what you're going thru.  Think of your arm as a pendulum of a grandfather clock (if you're familiar w/that analogy).  The less arm muscle you put into the shot, the more accurate and the longer you'll be able to bowl w/out fatigue.
2: According to PB3, the only real workout you may do would increase wrist and forearm strength -- squeezing a tennis ball a few dozen times a day.  Not to kill it and mash it flat, but just to increase grip strength.
3: And if 1&2 fails, perhaps a bit more potassium and calcium in your diet.  Charlie horses are a type of cramp, and natural potassium (bananas, spinich, etc) along w/a bit more calcium (to help metabolize the potassium) will help combat it.

Edited on 8/29/2007 1:11 PM

[canesrock82]

He is talking about his leg (quadricep) and you are talking about his arm...

quote:Not seeing how you bowl, I can only guess.  But my suggestions are:
1: Relax - let gravity be your friend, both on the entire backswing and the entire follow thru.  Muscling the ball/guiding the ball thru the entire swing is one possible reason for what you're going thru.  Think of your arm as a pendulum of a grandfather clock (if you're familiar w/that analogy).  The less arm muscle you put into the shot, the more accurate and the longer you'll be able to bowl w/out fatigue.
2: According to PB3, the only real workout you may do would increase wrist and forearm strength -- squeezing a tennis ball a few dozen times a day.  Not to kill it and mash it flat, but just to increase grip strength.
3: And if 1&2 fails, perhaps a bit more potassium and calcium in your diet.  Charlie horses are a type of cramp, and natural potassium (bananas, spinich, etc) along w/a bit more calcium (to help metabolize the potassium) will help combat it.

Edited on 8/29/2007 1:11 PM

[canesrock82]

Is it a cramp, or a fatigued muscle? When I first started back my left quad was sore/fatigued. I started stretching and that alleviated most of the problem and I also started bowling more which helps. I still get it if I don't stretch properly. You may want to try touching your toes for 30 sec 3 times, grab your foot and pull your calf to your hamstring (this helps the quad) same reps and time, and also do calf stretches. I find this helps me.

quote:I'm new to bowling regularly.  Right now, I have a power groove 15 lb ball with a finger trip grip.  Just starting to get technique consistent and starting to hook a little.  Anyway, one thing I have noticed is that after about 2 games in to a 3-4 game set, I start to get a little bit of a charlie horse in the mid to upper left outside quadricep.  I'm a right hand bowler and using a 4 step approach.  I thought that it might just be getting used to bowling again or being a little out of shape, but I've been working out and running regularly for a few weeks and it still seems to be nagging me and affecting my game.  Any suggestions?

[kingpin_98]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I'm currently bowling 1 night a week, but I am starting a 12 week league too.  So maybe the combo of stretching and more bowling will help.  It's definitely more of a fatique thing rather than a cramp, its gone by the next day after a night of bowling.

[urpo]

You could try to alter your release, approach and such to feel if some change feels better altough you might not want to make changes now when you are about to begin league play. But for me I have found a much more relaxed approach and a non-muscle release. I also do have a bit air (2-3 inches) on release which I will lower to a smoother release when I get more strenght in my leg and back.

As for grip, haven't tried a tennisball or anything, I simply squeeze my hand while wattching tv. I will try the tennisball thing.

Good luck with your league play.

BR from Sweden
--------------------
my homepage web.jannol.com

[kingpin_98]

slowed my approach down and did some stretching before starting and it seemed to help.  I'm still inconsistent, rolled 135-226-125.  How's that for anomalies...

[kingpin_98]

Cristofori,
Thanks for the info.  I will look into a vid.