I want to try an experiment. I know there are very few good coaches in the country or at least they are spread pretty thin. Many people simply don’t have access to a good coach. With this in mind I am considering accepting video tapes from bowlers for me to analyze. I would in turn send back a tape that would include my smiling face showing you things on YOUR tape that I think would improve your game. Although I will not promise the production value of the tape I send back to meet the standards of Steven Spielberg, I will promise that the returned tape will be packed with useful information.

I will be the first to admit that I may not be able to help everyone by simply watching the content of a video tape. Although you can get a lot of good information from watching a video tape of someone bowling, it is not nearly as good as seeing them in person. Should I receive a tape in which I believe I am unable help the bowler without seeing them in person, I will return the tape along with any fee I would charge.  

How much would I charge?  I am guessing I would charge about $40 for each tape. This would include the cost of sending the tape back. I would send the bowler’s tape back as well as my instructional tape. I am not sure as of yet the actual price because I expect this to be very time consuming. I know other coaches have done something similar to this and they charge a lot more. They may be more correct about the price than I, but I am willing to at least start out cheap should I decide to do this.

Why 3 guinea pigs?  I am looking for 3 people from this board THAT I HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH OR MET IN PERSON before. I will analyze their video tapes and send back my instructional tape for free. The only cost to the 3 guinea pigs will be the mailing of the video tape (Less than $5 Priority Mail) to me. I will pay to send the tapes back. The 3 guinea pigs must agree to review my instructional tapes and give a complete report back here on this board. Therefore, I want my 3 guinea pigs to be able to at least write in complete sentences and be able to express themselves here on the board. So none of this “I got da tape bak from Ron and it is Da Sht. Or “da tape I got back sucked”.  I am pretty sure that the instructional tapes I send back will be unlike anything other coaches have done. Those that have worked with me know I tend to do things that are very different than other coaches. I also want the 3 reviews to be totally honest. This is one time I don’t want you to play Mr. Nice Guy. I can only make my decision to do this if I am dead sure the bowler will get more than he or she expects for their money.

If you want to be one of my 3 guinea pigs, don’t go grabbing your video camera just yet. Please post here why you want to be one of my guinea pigs and I will pick 3 out of those that post and announce them here along with instructions on how I want you to be video taped.

Ron Clifton
AKA Magic Carpet