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A TOURNAMENT is an event that you will be competing in against other bowlers. If you have been bowling for awhile now and are getting pretty good, you may feel confident enough to compete in an Amateur Bowling Tournament. There are several types out there to meet your needs. There are HANDICAP tournaments where you will be given extra pins according to your league average, and if you are a more experienced bowler, you may want to go into a SCRATCH Tournament where no handicap is given out. These tournaments are for individuals or for an entire team.
Many bowling centers around the country hold these types of tournaments over the course of the year. They usually post notices in the center and you can also ask people in your league about them. In most of these amateur tournaments you will be bowling three games on 2 lanes like in the leagues. Below I have listed a few of these tournaments they may hold at your local center which may be held on week ends, once a month, or even more often depending on how many people have been signing up for them: 1. SCOTCH DOUBLES: This is a handicap tournament where you and a team mate or significant other can bowl together as a 2 man team. One of you bowls first and the other will pick up the spare. If the first bowler gets a strike, then the other bowler would go first in the next frame and you just keep alternating like that. The place where I bowl usually holds a fun tournament like this for Valentines Day or St. Patricks Day. You just pay the required fee and prize money will be given out for first, second, and third highest Series. If there should be a big turnout, they may give out prize money for fourth and fifth place as well. 2. NO-TAP: This is when a nine pin count will be the same as getting a strike. So if you get nine pins down on your first ball, the automatic score keeper will give you a strike instead and the machine will knock down the one pin that was left and just re-set the pins. There is no need to pick up the spare! If you get an eight count or less on your first ball, then you will need to pick up the spare. I always did great in this tournament because I used to get robbed a lot. If you get a lot of nine pin counts on your first ball, this may be a great tournament for you to try. 3. LOCAL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP: This is where the United Stated Bowling Congress (USBC) local associations throughout the US, host a championship tournament each season to find out who the best bowlers are in each area. This is a usually a large handicapped tournament so bowlers of all abilities are able to compete. 4. USBC WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP/USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Only those who are USBC members can compete in this one, but if you are in a sanctioned league and paid this fee at the beginning of your league, then you will be eligible to compete in this tournament. It is a very large event and held each season. Bowlers are placed in different divisions based on their skill level, and more difficult oil patterns will be put down on the lanes, not the usual ones you are used to from the league bowling. I'll be discussing different oil patterns in the near future, so keep a look out for them so you'll be prepared!! There are many other tournaments you can sign up for around the country. Just type in "Bowling Tournaments" online and put in the state where you reside. Then you can scan around to get further details about the date, time, entry fee, and prize money, etc. Before a tournament, make sure your ball/s and towel are clean and that you have everything you need. Practice a few days before and just do your best to stay calm, focused, and confident. If you don't do well, don't fret. As you keep competing in them you will become more and more confident and start to do a lot better. It's like anything else you do for the first time. When you are unsure, you may get a bit nervous but don't let that stop you! We need to step outside of our comfort zones once in awhile in order to grow and improve. Please try competing in one of these bowling tournaments, especially if you never have before. It's very exciting and good experience for you as you are improving.You'll meet other people with the same interest and maybe make a few friends along the way. If you're very competitive, you can rack up lots of extra cash as well. So go out and sign yourself up for something now or down the road soon! You may get hooked and win more often than you think. With this economy, who couldn't use some extra cash? Join me back here next week when I'll be talking about "Bowling Ball Maintenance". Good Luck and High Scoring!!
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Because we are only Human, we can and will get DISTRACTED by many things while bowling. Being distracted takes away our focus which in turn will lead to poor execution, poor ball delivery, and poor scores! Let's say you had a bad day at work or you have something important on your mind. This can be a huge distraction and certainly will take your mind off your bowling game.
Then there are those of us who are lucky enough to have bowlers on our team that are smokers and need to go out to have a cigarette. Then we have to wait for them to come back to bowl while the opposing team is giving us looks as if to say "Where is your other bowler, he/she is holding up the rest of us". Then you slip on your shoe covers to go and locate your team mate because you feel bad. There are also rude bowlers next to you on the next pair of lanes who think they should go before you even though you were already set up on the lane to bowl, or maybe a team mate or opposing team member shows up late, but just in enough time and is able to bowl the current game. Then all of us have to stop bowling to let them catch up. What if you are bowling with someone who is very close to you in average and you are worried that you might not bowl up to par or that they may bowl really well and get ahead of you. It takes a tremendous amount of SELF-DICIPLINE to BLOCK OUT all of the distractions and it takes some time to master, especially if you are new to the game. In reality, most of us do let the little things get to us. The best possible advice I can give you is to just TRY your best to NOT let these things distract you. If you have an issue on your mind for example, the problem will still be there even after you are done bowling, so why not just try to stay focused on your three games since you are only at the center for a few hours. If you do bowl well, you may have a different perspective on the issue and may approach it more positively after the bowling is finished. Also BE AWARE of things. Here are some examples: If the opposing team says their team member will be a little late, just be prepared to have your rhythm thrown off a bit but say to yourself " I am going to make sure I am counting my steps so I can keep my good rhythm up". If you are already set up on the lane and someone comes up to bowl on the next lane because they are unaware of the bowling etiquette, don't get angry. Just discipline yourself to step back and set yourself up again after that person is done bowling their total frame so it won't happen again. Afterwards you can politely inform them of the etiquette and that the bowler to the right has the right of way, unless there's a person already set up to bowl. Let's say you have 4 or 5 consecutive strikes and the guy on the other team says loudly "Hey why don't you take a break and cool off"? This should NEVER happen, but if it does, try not to get upset. That's exactly what that guy wants.He would love it if you stopped striking. Just ignore that wise guy and just stay focused and keep that string going!! Perhaps you have a chatty team mate that is constantly talking about his/her job or family and you had a few bad frames.? Just walk away as if you are going to the restroom or getting a snack and sit somewhere quiet to get focused back on your game and what you may be doing wrong. Remember Bowling is a 90% mind game. The less likely you are to be distracted, the better you are going to bowl! I know it's easier said than done, but keep your guard up. You are only at the lanes for a few hours a week. Try and keep the problems out of your mind for that short amount of time.The times I stayed focused and bowled really well, I noticed that the rest of my week went well too. Problems may still be there after you finished bowling well, but I'd rather have a good round of bowling and worry after I'm done, rather than worrying and having a lousy three games to deal with too, and perhaps some angry team mates for not hitting my average! Please join me next week when I'll be discussing "What is an amateur Bowling Tournament"? Good Luck and High Scoring!! This Blog Post is a continuation from Part 1 on 12/6/21:
Previously I mentioned that Bowling is only 10% physical and 90% mental. The physical part comes with many years of practice, several lessons, and lots of experience in leagues and tournaments. When I took some lessons, the topic of pressure was never brought up and it should have been. Maybe because it's a bit complicated and everyone has a different way of approaching it and adjusting to it. Below I have listed a few ways for you to deal with feeling pressure when a big tournament is coming up or just bowling in your league and trying to make a crucial strike or spare for an important win. **** POSITIVE ATTITUDE: Everyone that wants to achieve a high level of performance in Bowling needs to have a positive attitude and a positive Self-Talk before each bowling session. For example, instead of remembering all the splits you had last week, just shake them off and say to yourself "I have practiced and I am prepared to bowl well for myself and my team today". Doing this over and over again will increase positive thoughts and keep the harmful ones out of your mind! Setting GOALS will help you stay focused on what you want to accomplish. When you can concentrate on your "pre-game routine" I mentioned in Part 1 (repeating knowing, and feeling the moves), negative thoughts and emotions will be released and the positive thoughts and emotions will come through. **** CENTERING: A bowler needs to release unwanted tension in the muscles that can be caused by pre-game anxiety or just from a busy, hectic week at work. Make sure you do various stretches before the lanes come on for practice. Breathing in slowly and exhaling slowly at the stance will help you relax. ****VISUALIZATION: Just before it's your turn to bowl, you can think ahead on what you want to achieve and then try to VISUALIZE it at the stance. Picture the ball rolling smoothly down the lane over the intended target and all 10 pins falling down! You can even try feeling how smooth the release will be in your mind. Then like the Nike saying "Just do it"! By consistently visualizing good shots over time, they will become a "Consistent" part of your game!! When you are at the lanes practicing, do incorporate these three important items into your regular routine. They are just as important as timing, walking straight, and getting your ball over the correct target. As you get better and more experienced, you can focus on: *The last shot to always be a strike. *Block out what's going on around you so you won't be concerned with other bowlers doing better than you. * Aiming for a Clean game (Meaning no misses). Most of all, try and remember to have FUN!! You need to picture what the worst case scenario would be too so you know if that does happen, you can try to remain CALM. Learning from our mistakes is part of the whole process. Even the professionals started out at the same point we all did. Check out my ebook available on Amazon/Kindle--"Let's Rev Up Those Bowling Scores"! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZSMB99G/ref=sr_1_2?crid=P3PQWHFB1WYS&keywords=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores&qid=1652035291&sprefix=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-2 Join me here again next week when I'll be discussing "How to stay focused while bowling". Good Luck & High Scoring I wanted to take some time out to ask you how you’re doing? Have all the posts you’ve read make sense to you so far? If you are confused at all, welcome to the rest of the Bowling Community. It’s NOT as easy as it looks. You can’t just stand anywhere on the approach and toss the ball down the lane (like you may see lots of people doing during open play at the bowling centers) if you want to get a high score.
It takes lots of practice, devotion, and a real desire to get better. It’s like anything else, the more you really want it, the more you will do anything to achieve it. Do your best to fit in the necessary practice sessions, even if it means going in the evening after you’re a bit tired after a long day (most leagues are in the mornings and evenings, but sometimes there may be a few open lanes). Or go on the week end and bring the family if you have to. You can practice staying focused on some of my basic principals with some distractions, which is how it is in the league anyway. If you join a summer league (which is only about 12 weeks long), you can use that as practice for the upcoming winter league which usually starts up in September. Most of the Winter leagues are about 34-36 weeks long. Bowling is a game where you can't just figure out things in your head. You need to physically get out there on the lanes to try different things, because each lane is different and a pair of lanes you my be bowling on can differ 4-5 boards. Take notes on what you discover and review them often to refresh your memory. It’s not easy to remember everything, especially if you're a beginner. Most importantly, Don't panic or GIVE UP!! If you can’t figure something out and it drives you crazy, move on to a different thing and go back to it at a later time in your practice. As I previously mentioned, you can also consult the better bowlers in your league about what is happening and they may be able to offer you a solution. They'll also be flattered that you think highly enough of them to ask them some questions. Just try to come out swinging every time and keep going over the Basics I have mentioned in previous posts. Always start in the center of the approach (20th Board) and observe how your ball is working and where it's breaking (starting to hook). Then adjust by moving LEFT, RIGHT, FORWARD, or BACK. Don’t move more than a few boards at a time for each adjustment. Remember if you miss to the right, adjust by moving to the right. If you miss to the left, adjust by moving to the left. If you know you did things right, you could be dropping your shoulder. Move your bowling shoulder up a little at the stance and hold it that way throughout the pendulum swing and release, and the problem will usually correct itself over time. Spot check where you stand on the approach and look down at where you end up after you release the ball to insure that you are walking up fairly straight on the approach. A little wandering toward the target is normal but you don't want to end up more than 1 or 2 boards difference. Wandering excessively can cause inconsistency! Have you incorporated all or at least some of the exercises I suggested to stay strong and help with stamina so you can bowl well all three games and not feel tired? Have you gotten that new ball you’ve been wanting? If you haven't gotten your own equipment yet, please try to do so as soon as possible. Consistency is the name of the game!! Join me in "2 WEEKS" when I will be discussing "How to stay calm while bowling". Good Luck and High Scoring! When you are on a bowling league and know AHEAD of time that you can't make it to the lanes on a certain date, you have the option to either let your team take your average (minus the 10 pins penalty depending on your leagues' rules), OR you may tell your team Captain that you wish to "PRE-BOWL". You will need to pre-bowl a few days before your league will meet for the next session so they have time to get your scores.
On the day you want to pre-bowl, go to the bowling center where your league meets and tell the person at the front desk that you are "Pre-bowling" for your league and let them know the day and time of your league. You will be given two lanes to bowl on and you will get some practice time, just like in the league. You'll type your name into the computer and after you bowl your 3 games, go to the front desk and the person will print out a copy of your games for you to keep and will also give a copy to your league Secretary so your team can have your scores to enter into the computer on the day you will be absent. The big question for you is "Should I Pre-Bowl or Not"? There are several pros and cons to this question: PROS: 1. You may be able to concentrate better since you are bowling alone and there won't be anyone to chat with or for you to get distracted by, as long as you can get there on a week day when the kids are in school, or early in the morning when there aren't many people around. 2. You can stop, take a break, or even have time to review your bowling notes in private if any problems should arise because you won't have anyone waiting for you to bowl like in the league. You'll be bowling at your own pace. 3. You may have more energy because it may be earlier in the day than your regular league. 4. Some bowling centers oil the lanes early in the morning and if there are no day leagues, the oil won't come off the lane as quickly because you'll be the only bowler on that pair of lanes as compared to the 6,8, or 10 in the normal league.You can play the same line without having as many adjustments to make. 5. If you're on a string of strikes, you can keep that momentum going by not having to wait for others to bowl. CONS: 1. You may not be able to get to the lanes until the afternoon when there will be a lot more inexperienced people bowling. If you're set up on the lane, they won't know the etiquette and could throw you off, causing you to possibly have a poor shot. 2. Because there are no other bowlers with you so you may bowl too quickly and tire out by the third game. 3. Some centers do not oil the lanes until the evening leagues. If there's no oil, your hook may be too large for you to control well unless you have a plastic ball that you can use to throw a straight shot instead. In my own experience, when I was a beginner, I preferred NOT to pre-bowl and just let my team take my average. My average was a “SURE” thing, and I didn’t know how the lanes would be if I wanted to pre-bowl and whether or not I’d bowl well. Now that I'm a more experienced bowler, I do like to pre-bowl at times. I have more confidence that I'll be able to focus and do very well. Try pre-bowling and if you do very well and the lanes have been conditioned, then you may want to keep doing it whenever you know you’re going to be absent. If you don’t do as well, then just let your team take your average for that night. Leagues usually have SUBSTITUTE bowlers and if you can’t bowl and don't not want to pre-bowl, let your team captain know ahead of time and the league can arrange for a sub for your team. Subs are bowlers that don't want to bowl every week and just fill in when needed. Their averages range from low to high. Your average will not change if you are absent, and the sub will be responsible to pay for the three games and you’ll only have to pay for the difference of what your league costs each week. Also some bowling centers may give out a coupon for three free games when you’re absent if you can't get a sub because you still have to pay for those games. It's really up to you and how experienced and confident you are whether you want to pre-bowl or not. Every situation may be different so ask your team if they prefer you to pre-bowl or just take your average if you are unsure. Check out my ebook available on Amazon/Kindle--"Let's Rev Up Those Bowling Scores"! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZSMB99G/ref=sr_1_2?crid=P3PQWHFB1WYS&keywords=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores&qid=1652035291&sprefix=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-2 Please join me back here next time when I'll be giving you a Checkpoint!! Hope to see you then. Good Luck and High Scoring!! Happy Valentines Day! Have fun and wear something red if you are bowling today/tonight!
The state of the Hand holding the bowling ball is extremely important. The bowling hand should be kept dry, but not too dry and i't's best to keep a Rosin bag and a regular or micro fiber towel in your bowling bag so you can wipe moisture away (Check out my Blog Post from 4/26/21 on Equipment needed for Bowling). Too much sweat or wetness on your bowling hand can cause you to lose your grip and you may drop the ball or have a poor release. There is also a little air blower at each pair of lanes near the ball return that can help keep the hand dry. I like to hold my hand a few inches away just before I'm getting ready to bowl. Here are a few tips and suggestions that will help keep your hand in good condition: 1. CALLOUSES and BLISTERS-- Excessive bowling, a tightly fitted bowling ball, an improper ball release over a period of time, and just the natural swelling of the fingers can cause unwanted blisters which can turn into callouses. SOLUTIONS-- Use a product called "Nu-Skin" or "Defense Skin Protector" which I spoke a little about in my Blog Post from 4/26/21 on Equipment. You can purchase it online or right at the pro shop in your bowling center. If the shop is closed, you can borrow it from a fellow bowler if you should get a blister while your in the middle of bowling.Some centers have vending machines and you can get a package there. You can just apply a small amount of the liquid onto the blister (it will sting a little) place one of the small patches in the box on top of that, and again just apply a small amount of the liquid over that. Allow it to dry a few minutes by blowing on it or holding your hand over the air blower. It will act like a new piece of skin so you will be able to bowl with minimal pain. When you are done bowling, just run water over it and it should peel off. Callouses can be softened by soaking the area in warm water or by just filing them down a little. You can use sand paper or a nail file to do this. I bought a small sanding block that I like to use. You can also do some of the hand and finger exercises I mentioned in my Blog Post from 5/17/21, especially if you have a tournament coming up and may have to bowl more than the normal 3 games (do this several weeks before the big day). These exercises will help you prevent any hand strain. If the ball is too tight for your fingers, you can call the pro shop and have him widen the hole a bit more before your next league night. It's better to have a slightly larger thumb hole so you can use the tape I mentioned and get a perfect fit for your thumb each time. Remember, it's important to have all the fingers feel right in the ball to assist with a good ball release. 2. FINGER NAILS-- Keep your nails clipped short! I know some of you gals out there love to have long nails, but if you want to be a serious and more competitive bowler, you'll need to keep them clipped otherwise you will NOT be able to grip the ball or release it properly and therefore you will not be able to get much action at the pins! 3. FINGER SWELLING-- This happens to everyone from time to time from blood pressure, changes in weather, and water retention in the body and is usually temporary. SOLUTIONS-- You can take some aspirin or Advil which are both good for inflammation in the body. Check with your doctor first if you have never taken them. You can also soak your hand in some icy water for about 5-10 minutes or as long as you can stand it. I have taken a tissue or handkerchief and wrapped my swollen finger in it, then inserted it slowly into the bowling ball hole. I repeated it a few times and it would then fit into the hole. DO NOT go to the pro shop and have him widen the holes for you. Hopefully the swelling is just a temporary condition. If you find you are retaining water and your fingers are swelling often, then you will probably need to have the hole/s widened more, just not too much. You shouldn't have to use more than a few pieces of the hole tape to get the right fit. Don't forget to do your exercises and especially the hand/finger ones too! Please join me next week when I'll be discussing "What is Pre-Bowling"? Good Luck and High Scoring!! What exactly is a "slump" in bowling? Well, it's what happens to all of us at some point or another during our bowling years and it's not fun at all! If you're not bowling up to par for several weeks and can't figure out what you're doing wrong, then you are in a Slump! But don't PANIC!! When you panic and start worrying about your average going down, or that your team is losing games because of you, it will get worse.
The key is to realize that something has changed but in order to figure it out you ned to stay CALM and realize that you're NOT alone. When I was a beginner, I always tried to figure out what I was doing wrong which was very difficult. I decided to just focus on the things I needed to do correctly in order to execute a good shot. Here are some check points I've listed below. Make sure you focus on doing these things correctly. Check Points: 1. Walking slow and straight 2. Having the trailing foot more in back of you rather than out excessively to the side. 3. Checking your hand position for the 10:00 or 11:00 release. 4. Getting the ball out over the correct target. 5. Being square to the target and staying on balance. 6. Making sure you are not dropping the bowling shoulder. 7. Having a nice smooth pendulum swing, no jerky movements. 8. Attacking the pins with confidence so your speed will be good, and consistent. If you're getting disgusted with your performance, it could affect your speed and if you are going too slow, the ball will hook too much for example. 9. Check the bowling ball FINGER grips for being too loose or too snug. If you have gained or lost weight, you need to check those, otherwise your release may not be able to be good. 10. Check THUMB hole for being too lose or too tight. 11. Check if the ball is skidding rather than being in the ROLLING phase when entering the pocket. 12. Counting your steps so your timing is good and in sync with the arm swing. 13. Are you trying too hard or worried about not bowling your average? 14. Check the finger grips for not being too loose or too tight. Here are a few things that may be happening that you may not be responsible for that may be the culprit: 1. Is your ball performing the way it's supposed to? Maybe it is oil soaked and it's time to get some of the oil out of the ball. 2.. Has the weather changed? Is it harder to get the ball to hook? Play from the outside line more directly into the pocket. If you focus on the check points, the problem will eventually correct itself. You can also have a friend come along with you during your practice sessions and take a smart phone video of you. Then you can examine yourself from the back so you may be able to see any issues. If you are having family issues, try not to take it to the lanes with you. You are only there for a few hours and having that time to get your mind off it and relax a bit could actually help you solve the issue. If you bowling in a lot of tournaments and usually win prize money, take a break for a few weeks so you won't lose fee money just waiting to get out of your slump. If you prefer, ask a friend in the league that bowls better than you to come down and watch you for a few frames. They may be able to spot the issue right away so you can back to getting those high scores again. If you are still bowling under average after several weeks of practicing these check points, don't beat yourself up! We tend to talk negatively when we are not at our best which can make things worse! If it goes on longer than a month or so, it may be time to talk to the PRO in the pro shop for a lesson or two. Tell the pro the issue you are having and they will get you back on track! This too will pass! Join me next week when I'll be discussing "The Bowling Hand". Good luck and high scoring! This is a continuation of my Blog Posts from 1/3/22 and 1/10/22. There are generally three types of Bowling Styles previously discussed in my Blog Post from last week, 1/10/22. They are "Cranker", "Stroker", and "Tweener" Styles. How a bowler walks on the approach, the amount of revs placed on the ball, the balls' speed, and a bowlers arm swing, will all determine the kind of bowling style a player has. Today I'll be discussing the style of a "TWEENER". This name "TWEENER" almost sounds like "In-Betweener" which is exactly what it is. It's a bowling style that's not quite a "Cranker" or a "Stroker", but a combination of the two. Because of this, this style can vary quite a bit from Tweener to Tweener. Steps 1-5: The majority of Tweeners play a little more towards the center of the lane and walk fairly straight on the approach, but occasionally you will see one walking at a slight angle toward their target. They have a nice slide on their last step and the shoulders are usually square to the target (but like the other styles a bowler may open up the shoulders at times for a little extra power when needed). The backswing is usually shoulder height which will produce an average ball speed. Hand & Wrist Position: Tweeners 1. Insert all three fingers into the bowling ball. 2. Will use a straight wrist position with or without a wrist device. 3. Thumb position can be anywhere from a 4:00-11:00 at the stance for a right handed bowler (8:00-2:00 position for the lefty). 4. At the release, they use a small wrist rotation. A modest axis tilt is applied which allows the thumb to exit the ball first followed by the fingers. Then the fingers apply the rotating action from the side of the ball which creates a moderate amount of revs with a moderate hook. The ball speed will be about 20 mph and the thumb will finish at the 10:00 or 11:00 position. Tweeners have a controllable and very effective ball motion which allows them to be able to play well on different lane conditions. They can crank when necessary to get some extra power, or they can tune down the larger hook when more accuracy is needed. To sum things up: Parts 1-3 CRANKERS give the ball a lot of side rotation which causes the ball to break and hook very sharply at the pins. They tend to start more to the left side of the lane. The professional bowler, Mark Roth had this Cranker Style. The STROKER rolls the ball more forward and smoothly without a lot of spin, which creates a gradual small hook that is easier to control and they tend to start on the right side of the lane. The professional bowler, Walter Ray Williams has this Stroker style. The TWEENER is a hybrid of these other two styles which gives you several options to choose from. The professional bowler, Jason Belmonte has a Tweener style. I developed and learned the Stroker style and averaged over 200 for several of my bowling seasons. If you are just starting out, I advise taking a few lessons from a professional coach or pro at the pro shop and let him help you decide which one you should develop to get the most out of your games. If you are very athletic, you may have the strength to develop the Cranker Style for example, but learn from someone who has mastered that style to help you get over the problems more quickly so your scores will be high. There are two other styles that aren't used as often but they are the "Straight Ball and Back-Up Ball styles which I'll be discussing at a later time. Check out my ebook available on Amazon/Kindle--"Let's Rev Up Those Bowling Scores"! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZSMB99G/ref=sr_1_2?crid=P3PQWHFB1WYS&keywords=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores&qid=1652035291&sprefix=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-2 Join me here next week when I'll be discussing "How do you get out of a Bowling Slump"? Good Luck and High Scoring!! There are generally three types of Bowling Styles previously discussed in my Blog Post from 1/10/22. They are "CRANKER", "STROKER", and "TWEENER" styles. How a bowler walks on the approach, the amount of revs placed on the ball, the balls' speed, and a bowlers arm swing, will all determine the kind of bowling style a player has. Today I'll be discussing the style of a "STROKER".
The most common of the bowling styles is that of the "STROKER" and there are several reasons why. First, there is only a small AXIS TILT at the release, which creates a smaller more gradual hook that's easy to control. This helps a player get a higher percentage of good pocket hits and more spare conversions. Second, this style is very versatile, allowing a bowler to do well on different lane conditions and being able to play from different angles. Steps: For a four step approach: 1-4- Most Strokers start with their stance between the edge of the lane and the 15th board. They walk fairly straight along the approach with a nice slide followed by the release. Unlike the Cranker, the shoulders will be more square to the foul line at all times (although some may open up the shoulders slightly for a little more power if needed), and the backswing is usually no more than shoulder height. Wrist and Hand Position: 1. Strokers insert all three fingers into the bowling ball. 2. Use a straight or only a slight broken wrist position (where the hand is tilted slightly down at the stance). If you aren't sure of what these positions look like, check out my Blog Post from 10/4/21. 3. The THUMB is at the 3:00 position (on the face of a clock) with the fingers at the 12:00 position. 4. The thumb leaves the ball first followed by the fingers which create a rotating action from behind the ball or from the side of it, and the fingers will have a pulling motion toward the palm. 5. The thumb finishes up at the 10:00 or 11:00 position at the release and the hand rotation and the lifting of the fingers toward the palm, gives the ball low to medium revolutions with an average ball speed of about 17-19 mph. Strokers depend more on a smooth swing, smooth delivery, and accuracy and the placement of the ball over the same target, rather than the power of more revolutions doing most the work. They walk straighter along the approach, and the release is at the end of the slide on the last step. Strokers have a more controlled, and consistent style and tend to begin their stance more to the right side of the lane as compared to the Cranker which starts on the left. Meet me back here next week when I'll be discussing What are the Different Types of Bowling Styles"-Part 3, the "Tweener Style" Don't forget to do your bowling exercises if you've slacked off a bit. Good Luck and High Scoring!! There are basically THREE types of Bowling Styles that a bowler may have-"CRANKER, STROKER, or TWEENER". Today I''ll be discussing the "CRANKER" style of bowling. Lately there is another FOURTH style where bowlers do NOT insert their fingers into the ball at all.! They throw the ball with both hands and get a tremendous amount of Revs on the ball. This style is very hard to master though and I don't really recommend it because it is difficult to maintain accuracy which is a crucial factor needed to convert spares. Have you ever seen a bowler that throws a very large hook, and then when their ball hits the pins, they look like they are dancing around all over the pin deck or just exploding off the pin deck? These are the big power players who are labeled as "Crankers". It's very interesting to watch someone with this style because they need to be very flexible, and have to be quite athletic. Cranking requires a lot of strength and skill to be able to get many more revolutions on the ball which does give a higher chance of achieving strikes. A stronger releasing action helps the fingers quickly rotate the ball about 45-70 degrees giving a greater Axis Tilt and a much larger hook. Axis Tilt is the spin that is put on the ball by the way a player throws it. A lower axis tilt creates a smaller more gradual hook that is easier to control. A higher axis tilt gets the ball farther down the lane before it begins to hook which creates a larger hook. It's difficult to control a large hook and there is a higher chance of cutting into the pins in such a way that the bowler may leave some nasty splits because of the larger angle the ball is coming in at with this Cranker Style. Steps a Cranker Takes: They usually start on the left side of the lane and aim between the center and third arrow to accommodate the large hook. 1st- For a four step approach, the first step begins with the right foot (for a right handed bowler) going straight out in front of the body. 2nd- Left foot actually steps 4-5" to the left of the body (does not walk in a straight line). 3rd- The third step is slightly to the right and towards the center of the body, opening up the shoulders with a very high back swing (the shoulders are turned slightly to the right and Not square to the target). 4th-The last step has very little slide and the left foot is planted solidly and the ball is pulled upward on the release.The left foot arrives at the foul line before the ball, giving the body a solid foundation to assist in the stronger releasing action. Wrist and Hand Positions: 1. Some Crankers don't insert the thumb into the ball and may also hold the ball up higher at the stance for extra power. 2. Some may over rotate the thumb to the 5:00 position at the stance to help get extra revs on the ball at the release. 3. Crankers keep the wrist under the ball in a CUPPED position and move the elbow out slightly from the body. If you're not sure what a cupped position looks like, you can check out my Blog Post from 10/4/21. 4. Keep a tilted wrist position just before the release. 5. Pull the fingers quickly to rotate the ball with the thumb finishing straight up. To feel what it's like, at your next practice session, try bowling without your thumb in the hole. It forces you to keep your hand under the ball so you don't drop it. If you think you may want to give this style a chance, I recommend taking lessons from a pro who specializes in it so he can give you the best advice in developing it properly. Check out my ebook available on Amazon/Kindle--"Let's Rev Up Those Bowling Scores"! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZSMB99G/ref=sr_1_2?crid=P3PQWHFB1WYS&keywords=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores&qid=1652035291&sprefix=lets+rev+up+those+bowling+scores%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-2 Join me in 2 WEEKS when I'll be discussing "What Are The Different Types of Bowling Styles?-Part 2 Good Luck and High Scoring!! |
AuthorHello!! My name is Joanie. Although I'm not a professional bowler, I have loved the sport for more than 45 years, averaged over 200 for several seasons, and learned quite a bit with research and experience. Archives
August 2022
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