Weakness--Not Making a Move Quick Enough

[LadyW]

Based upon what I've seen, IMHO, one of the major weaknesses of lower average bowlers is not making a move quick enough when the lanes are transitioning.

I am only a 170ish average bowler which is partly due to my not being consistent with my release.

If I'm not getting a good reaction during my first game, I'll move around to try to find a line.  I can usually find something that will work and tend to bowl better in the second game which is not the problem.

It's when I'm bowling a real good game and then my reaction starts to change.
Since I'm not overly consistent I have trouble determining if the problem is me or the changing lanes.  It always appears that the reaction is so close to what I was getting before that I'm convinced that it has to be me.  I then start concentrating on my release and as a result everything seems to get progressively worse.  

How can I trust myself enough to know when it's not my limited ability that's creating the poor reaction but the changing lane conditions?

How did you overcome this problem when you were in the beginning stages of the game?

Are there any sure signs that it's the lanes changing and not just bowler error?

I'd appreciate your input.


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LadyW....

Edited on 9/19/2004 4:03 PM

Edited on 9/19/2004 4:16 PM

[debs130]

Lady W,

I was hoping you'd get a good response to your question, because I have the same doubts about my release.

Jeff, good response.

Debbie

[livespive]

Keeping your mind out of the shot.

I do this by keeping a song in my head.
The song is the same tempo as my approach.
It helps with my timing.

I also have the same problem, because when I have a bad
leave I first think that I came out of the bal wrong.
so I won't move, I will wait till I get back to that lane.
Well if it wasn't my release, I have lost 3 frames alredy.

I am getting better at making moves alot sooner.

Also one other thing to help you out LadyW.
I like to bowl by "feel"
Meaning, if my releas is right, the ball feels a certain
way coming off of my fingers.  If I don't get this feel,
then I know that my fingers aren't in the ball right,
or my release is not right.
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Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
 Visionary Test Staff Member
http://www.visionarybowling.com

Edited on 9/21/2004 1:02 PM

[Constantine]

quote:It's when I'm bowling a real good game and then my reaction starts to change.
Since I'm not overly consistent I have trouble determining if the problem is me or the changing lanes. It always appears that the reaction is so close to what I was getting before that I'm convinced that it has to be me. I then start concentrating on my release and as a result everything seems to get progressively worse.

How can I trust myself enough to know when it's not my limited ability that's creating the poor reaction but the changing lane conditions?

Too many bowlers get caught up in perfection.  Any line on the lane will work if you execute perfectly everytime.  The best line to play is when you don't have to be perfect to strike.

With that basic concept in mind, if you've thrown a ball that felt pretty good and hit your mark within your normal tolerance, then it was good enough to read the lanes from and adjust with.

Desperado mentioned examining what you left; however, I prefer to watch how the pins fall.  I pay attention to the pocket, 9, and 10 pin.  I watch the pocket for heavy vs light and for entry angle.  I watch the ball strike the 9 pin--if it hits the left side of the pin I need more deflection thus less backend.  I watch the 10 pin because its evil and I hate it.  Actually, I look to see how it falls--if it falls late or its tripped from the ditch then I look to increase backend depending on the pocket and 9 pin.


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Good luck & good bowling

[Constantine]

And one last thing...if you read the lanes wrong, you can always move back.
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Good luck & good bowling

[LadyW]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I guess I need to pay a lot closer attention to how the ball is hitting the pins so that I can try to adjust accordingly.  The extent of my observation right now is whether I'm hitting the pocket light or coming in too high.

I've tried leaving my mind blank and I bowl worse.  I seem to do better when I remind myself to either "stay behind the ball" or "complete the shot".  That's my signal to go and it seems to work.

I'll attempt to focus more on my ball reaction the next few times out so that maybe I'll have a better understanding as to what's really going on.  Maybe then I'll be able to answer some of the questions you've posed.

Livespive -

I'll think about trying the song but I'm not sure if it would help in any way.  I rarely have timing issues.  That's the one thing that I never seem to have to worry about.

Thanks again all and I'll let you know what I observe in the next few weeks.




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LadyW....