I attended the Bowler's Education Clinic this past weekend at AMF Shadey Grove in Gaithersburg Maryland. The Clinic was put on by Dr. Jeff Briggs of Briggs consulting
http://webpages.charter.net/bowlfit/, Ron Clifton of Ron C's Tips on this site
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ and Dan Shore of AMF Shadey Grove.
I learned so much in the past three days, I had to write it all down so I wouldn't forget. Here is what I learned:
The Friday Morning seminar was on The Starting Position.
Make sure you take the same stance every time for repeatability, and how to line up to play certain lines.
The afternoon seminar was on What Makes our ball hook.
A bowler must match side rotation, speed, Rev-rate and tilt to make the ball hook in the correct point on the lane.
Saturday morning seminar was on Stress in our lives and stress in our bowling life.
Stress is your reaction to pressure situations. Stress is unavoidable, knowing about it and your reactions to it under pressure will help you deal with it when the time comes.
Saturday after noon was on What Type Of Bowler Are You Cranker, or Stroker. I am a power stroker.
Sunday’s seminar was on Ball Maintenance, I found out you can put the ball in the dishwasher, use dish washing detergent, set it on low heat and turn off the drying cycle.
On the lanes:
I learned to move forward and backward to change my cadence and change speed on the ball.
I also learned to go up the back of the ball, by keeping my hand inside on the downswing.
Body tilt, I need to keep my body in a “C†shape all of the way to the foul line. I am too up right which causes me to keep too much of my weight on my heels and stick and drop the ball at the line also.
The Belly Walk. Walk with the ball normally taking the four steps I normally take to the foul line, turn and come back. Then do the same thing only throw the ball this time. This takes away fast feet and numerous other cadence and rhythm issues.
Relax my follow through don't fire my hand through the release point when playing on dry lanes this makes the ball hook immediately. They were toasted, and I could still play any shot on the lane I wanted.
Kick the ball to your break point. Walk to the foul line and find your break point down the lane and imagine kicking a soccer ball to your break point line up with the arrow that the ball crosses on it’s way to the break point. Slide in the spot where the ball crosses the foul line. Walk in a straight line to the break point. Kick the soccer ball again from your starting position to make sure you are facing your target line.
Walk to the line as stated above and bend my knees more and slide with the heel out instead of in, then out.
Use a stronger ball when playing a straighter line. This ball will lose its energy and hit the pins harder.
I have learned something new every time I attend one of these clinics. If you would like to put one of these clinics together in your center, contact Dr. Jeff Briggs on his website.
http://webpages.charter.net/bowlfit/Edited on 5/1/2003 3:22 PM
