How do you build Consistency in bowling?-Part 2

This is a continuation of my blog Post from June 20,2022: 

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!! Have fun and be safe!!
    
​    Consistency is a vital part of your bowling game and the more consistent you are, the better bowler you are going to become. One of the greatest bowlers I ever met was "Earl Anthony. If you ever watched him, he was like a machine who kept doing the same thing over and over again. I was fortunate to get his autograph back in my earlier years of bowling. Here are more things you should try to do the same way each time you bowl and let them become part of your Routine:

4. Keeping the shoulders Square to the target. Try not to turn your body to the right or left at the stance, face the pins squarely. It's ok to be turned slightly toward your target, but NOT excessively.

​5. Keep your POSTURE the same each time. Most bowlers bend from the waist. When you do this, your torso can get ahead of the body which can cause you to lose your balance, throw off your swing, and cause a loss of leverage and power. To compensate, you'd need to use a more muscled swing instead of letting the weight of the ball bring your arm down naturally. It is better to bend from the knee and keep the body in a more upright position. This makes you release the ball out and onto the lane smoothly (like landing a plane) rather than into the lane which will cause a loss of power on the ball.

6. Do Not place the ball directly out in front of you because you will need to loop it out to the side to allow for body clearance. You may do it a little wider one time and not so much the next time which can be inconsistent. It's better to keep your arm swing consistent by moving the arm with the ball slightly out to the side at the stance so the ball is already in that position. 

​7. Remember to LOFT the ball out to approximately the same spot each time on the lane. You can improve this at your practice sessions by getting some painters tape in Home Depot or Lowes (the blue kind which doesn't leave a sticky residue behind when you remove it like other tapes can). I put it on the lane where I want to loft the ball out to and try to consistently hit that mark. Or you can put a towel on the lane instead. Ask ahead at the desk if it's ok to do this and step in the gutter because the lane oil is slippery!!

8. Timing in bowling is extremely important. You need to get the arm work and foot just right work so everything feels comfortable and in sync. It takes time to master but once you do it, then you'll be able to focus on other things. If the arm swing is faster than the feet, you will miss your target to the left. Holding the ball up a little higher can help correct this. The opposite is also true. 


    Remember, the name of the game is "Consistency". The less you do, the less mistakes you will make! Achieving muscle memory takes time and lots of repetition of doing things the same way. Once you start improving, then you can try changing some things with your speed and changing wrist positions. Take your time and be patient with yourself.

Join me again next week when I'll be discussing "The Secret to the Perfect Strike".

​Good Luck and High Scoring!