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Author Topic: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight  (Read 5660 times)

rockerbowler18

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Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« on: November 30, 2012, 01:36:59 AM »
So after taking a 2 year hiatus from bowling, I decided to start again and shot 700 a couple times my first weeks back. Then it has been all downhill.

Parts of my game where I used to be the most confident, I'm now losing confidence faster than any other aspect.

Specifically: ball changes, adjustments, and equipment (layouts and surfaces). As such, I find myself gravitating towards the older balls I knew so well: sr300, NV series, lanebreaker, etc.) I used to lay out my own equipment as well - and mostly pin up. After some advice to go with tamer layouts with the pin down, I find myself with only 2 pin up balls as opposed to the majority of my arsenal in years past

The reason I say "rock bottom" is: I shot 485 tonight. For 3 games. That's my first under 500 series in a LONG time. I had no equipment to battle the condition from 5th arrow (everything was too early or not enough and then eventually both), and even if I did - I had absolutely no confidence in it. A lot of the problem comes from the fact that AMF puts no oil in the first 18-24" of the lane, meaning the ball reading early by game 2 is unavoidable, but even that is navigable.

I would like someone to teach me about bowling balls and layouts and how to build an arsenal, as well as a little help deciding what balls are worth purchasing (sorely disappointed with the 503c, my only new ball since returning).

Any help on what to drill or how? Basically feel like I'm starting from scratch because I've lost so much ground in 2 years.

Current arsenal: avalanche urethane (above ring), backlash solid (under bridge), 503c (under ring), lanebreaker (stacked label), hyroad (above ring), full swing (under middle), outburst (pin high and right of fingers)

 

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2012, 01:56:39 AM »

Don't let it worry you too much.  If you never have a bad set you're probably not bowling enough, because odds are that eventually you'll have a night, or week, or month when it just doesn't come together easily.

As much as we'd like to think we know exactly what ball X does on this pattern, or that one, we still have to deal with the "human" element. Sometimes we are not at our best, but no biggee.  Learn something if you can and move on to the next match
.


billdozer

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2012, 02:17:52 AM »
A few weeks back I went 783 on a Tuesday...and the following night shot 508 I believe....

I had those same thoughts except I had no hiatus...I'm in decent bowling shape...but some nights you have it...some you don't. 
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dmonroe814

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2012, 07:29:39 AM »
Sounds like you are on my rollercoaster.  750+ followed by a 530.  Some thoughtful poster noticed my bad nights were at the end of the week.  I did some calculations and found that my bad nights were on Friday's that I worked.  I am now making a special effort on those nights to focus much harder.  It is paying off.  That being said,  our house has changed the oiling pattern to rediculously easy.  My league averages, along with everybody else's, are about 20 pins over last year.  On my bad nights, I am in the pocket, but instead of a 7-bagger, I end up with 4 strikes and 3 10-pins for a 200.  Go fisihing for carry, and I leave a split or washout.  Suddenly my 230 turns into a 180-190 and my 700 turns into a 530.  Just keep pluggin along.
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Artimust

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2012, 04:49:44 PM »
I'm worse off than you, shot 434 last league session on Monday night.   :o
Been in a sluuuuummmpppp for a while now, and not getting any better, and we are only in the second week of our season.  Good thing is that I did have a decent practice session yesterday to try and work out some of the bugs.  Where's the can of RAID!!!!!!!

scotts33

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2012, 05:19:35 PM »
Scott

Zanatos1914

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2012, 06:00:00 PM »
The difference between back then is the front part of the lane - eliminate that and your scores will increase....

tommyboy74

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2012, 12:04:29 PM »
The slump happened to me too for a good 7 week stretch after shooting over 700 in week 1.  My absolute worst was shooting a 429 in the Wednesday night league 7 weeks ago.  All of this caused my average to be about 15 pins less than last year starting out.

What I found with the help of my driller/coach is that I was getting into the swing a little too early and my footwork was a little too fast compared to what I had been doing.  All of this was throwing my timing off track.  From there, I spent a good amount of time practicing with the changes to my swing and footwork and have been bowling much better over the past 5 weeks.  My confidence is coming back, and the changes made are paying off.  A perfect example was shooting 211-256-230 for a 697 set on a modified 43ft house shot where you had to be nearly perfect with shotmaking.   Miss 1-2 right and you'd be through the nose.  Miss 2 left and there was a hang spot.  I would have shot over 700 if I didn't leave 8 solid 10's.  I was drilling the pocket all night long and had a great look throwing my Outlaw.

Best advice is to not let these slumps bother you.  I know it can be tough.  All of us will go through this from time to time.  The other advice I can give is to not be afraid to ask your driller or coach to watch you.  They may see something that you wouldn't have realized and that can be all the difference in the world.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2012, 12:11:36 PM by tommyboy74 »
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stc067

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2012, 10:35:29 PM »
In my experience, you have to let it go.If you focus too much on bowling poorly, you can actually end up convincing yourself to bowl bad.My advise would be to not worry about it, and if it continues for more than a few weeks, see a coach to see if there is a physical cause for your performance.

Bowl_Freak

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Re: Comeback to bowling: hit rock bottom tonight
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2012, 11:42:30 AM »
Sometimes thinking too much is a downfall. The harder you try, the harder you make the game sometimes it seems. There are times when Im shooting a 10pin and while Im on approach, I think to myself I better not miss. And then what happens, I miss left by a board and miss it. I come to realization that pre shot routines are a must. When I was bowling bad, I didn't have one. Starting this season, I try to do exactly the same Everytime while picking up my ball off rack, wiping with towel 2-3 times, put my hand over blower, setting my feet, taking a breath, then focusing on making my shot. Doing this Everytime has really helped me mentally making my shots. Focus on a preshot routine, and you should be fine