Q & A

Have a Question of your own? Ask your questions right here:

qna@rkhcoaching.com

 

Questions will be answered on this page.  Check back often to see if your question has been posted.  If I don’t know the answer, I will make something up... No, I wouldn’t do that... as far as you know…

 

I understand how important spares are to my scores, but how do I work on spares correctly when I go to practice?

Devon B.

Minnesota

This is a GREAT question! Most bowlers make the mistake of practicing by bowling regular games as if they were in competition because the scores are generally on even though we are practicing. But what if in a practice session you don’t leave any 10 pins or 7 pins? Then in league the next night you leave several of them and miss more than you should. This happens frequently. Remember practice is not about score, so who says you have to throw your strike ball first and then convert whatever is left standing? On a full rack, pick a spare to shoot. For example, with all ten pins standing convert a 10 pin, and then on the second shot throw your strike ball at whatever is left standing. Not only will this guarantee you get much more needed practice at those single pins, but it also gives you more practice shots in your time at the lanes. You will be throwing two shots every frame instead of just one. This will help your spare shooting when it matters because you actually got the needed repetitions, and your confidence will soar.

-Coach Ron

 

Why does it seem like my bowling center changes the house shot in the middle of the season every year? This doesn’t seem like a good idea.

John F.

Ohio

It isn’t a good idea, and that is why the vast majority of proprietors do not do this. When you notice the shot changing during the season from week to week, you will probably also notice a change in the weather. The culprit is topography. No lane in the world is flat due to the little hills and valleys on the lane surface. Your eye cannot see them, but your bowling ball does. This is why you sometimes play one lane on a pair different from the other lane on the same pair. Topography changes season to season due to changes in humidity. So, when you think the house shot pattern changes in the middle of the season, now you know it is not the bowling center’s fault. It is Mother Nature’s fault. You just need to adjust to the changes that your bowling ball is trying to alert you to.

-Coach Ron

 

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I see more and more two-handers in our sport. Is this something I should consider switching to?

Erica F.

Indiana

I can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but I can say ‘try it’. Whenever anyone is considering starting out two-handed or switching to two-handed, my response is always the same - try it. You will never know which style is right for you, or which one you enjoy more, until you give it a shot (pun intended). I would suggest, however, that you do the ‘experiment’ with a coach who can video and look at both versions with you to also determine which one has the highest ceiling of improvement. Both styles are fun and can be successful. You need to be the best version of you and have fun doing it!

-Coach Ron

 

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I try to target at the arrows, and whenever one of my teammates ask me where my ball was on a particular shot, I have no idea. Is this a problem?

Ben M.

New Mexico

In short, yes. This means that either your eyes are not staying on your target like you are intending, or it means that your mental focus is not contributing to what the eyes should be doing. Eye targeting, or keeping your eyes on your target from stance until the ball rolls over it, is a physical skill that needs practiced and developed. This is a huge factor in accuracy and should not be taken lightly. Many bowlers believe their eyes are staying on their target, but when a video is taken from out on the lane, the evidence proves otherwise. This skill should be practiced routinely just as the swing and timing fundamentals are worked on regularly.

The mental focus that you put into a particular shot is also going to affect accuracy and how well your eye targeting can actually do. There is a difference between looking at a target and seeing a target. Looking at a target just involves the eyes. Seeing a target combines looking at a target and mentally focusing on what the eyes are looking at. Think of it as eye targeting on steroids. You are now utilizing the eyes and the brain to really immerse yourself in your target. Once you do this, you will see far better accuracy than you have before.

-Coach Ron

 

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I finish over a foot from the foul line, and my ball gets out about three feet on the lane, but my teammates keep telling me I have to finish closer to the foul line. Is this true?

Kate S.

Arizona

If you are getting the ball naturally out three feet on the lane without ‘helping’ the ball, then you do not need to worry about finishing closer than where you do now. The only reason to move you closer to the foul line would be to help get your ball into the oil on the lane at release. You are already doing that. There is a misconception in our sport that everyone has to finish very close to the foul line, and this is not true. It depends on the individual, and whether they are getting their bowling ball to hit oil upon release, or friction if they lay it down before the oil starts.

-Coach Ron

 

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How important is it to keep score in practice?

Brad W.

Arkansas

Keeping score in practice is not only unnecessary, but it is also detrimental to your improvement. When you keep score in practice, whether you want to or not, you are focusing on the results. You may think you are not caring about the score, but it is hard not to when the pins are adding up on that monitor. When your mind is partially or mostly on the results, you are not putting the focus where is should be - on your fundamental physical game improvement. If you ask, most centers will oblige and not have the scores running while you are practicing. They still know at the front desk how many frames you have bowled. If you can practice without scores, your mind has no choice but to be totally immersed in the feel and execution of better physical shots. In the end, that is what will raise your scores… when they matter.

-Coach Ron

 

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I want to start getting coaching, but how frequently should I practice?

Kay R.

Kentucky

Congratulations on wanting to take that next step to improving your game. There is no set answer to that question as it depends on many factors. Those factors include, but are not limited to, work schedule, free time, family obligations, bowling center availability, finances, etc. The answer also depends on what your goals are - do you want to improve your league average or do you want to go out on tour, and there are many possible goals in between those two. I think for most bowlers in most situations 2-3 times a week (not including leagues or tournaments) is sufficient. Just remember one very important thing - more frequent practices with less time, roughly 60 minutes, are better than fewer practices that last 2-3 hours. It is great that you are going to start getting coaching. Discuss your own personal practice frequency with this coach as they will have a good idea of what it is you want out of coaching and a great path to get you there.

-Coach Ron

 

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In my stance I feel like my thumb hole is tight enough, but during my approach to the line I feel like I am going to lose the ball off my thumb and end up grabbing. What can I do to help with this?

Jack C.

Idaho

This is more common than you may think. Most bowlers bowl with a thumb hole that is too loose. Not that this is the fault of any pro shop. It is simply a matter of bowlers not adjusting their thumb hole feel on any given day with tape to make it snug enough to eliminate additional grab during the swing. Practice taping your thumb hole more than you might think you need, one piece at a time. Do this in a practice session so that you don’t feel uncomfortable wondering what is going to happen on the next shot. You can put a piece of fitting tape on your thumb to take the place of one of the pieces you put inside the thumb hole. If you go one piece at a time, you will soon see that what feels too tight in your stance actually comes off the hand very easily at the release.

-Coach Ron

 

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I have been told, and feel sometimes, that my hand is more on top of my ball when I release it, and this causes the ball roll to be weaker. Do I need a wrist device?

Susan F.

Mississippi

Probably not. A wrist device can certainly help with that, but it is not necessary for most bowlers. The answer is in your index finger of your bowling hand. The index, or trigger, finger is the one that helps control our wrist position. Try this - in your stance after putting your two fingers and thumb in the ball, cup your wrist towards you into a stronger position. Then press your index finger against the outside of the ball so that if someone tried to casually pull your finger away from the ball, it wouldn’t be easy. Maintain that pressure on the outside of the ball all during your swing and approach, and your wrist will stay in that stronger position. At release, this will position your hand a little lower on the ball and give you that stronger ball reaction you are wanting every shot.

-Coach Ron

 

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In many tournaments I compete in, when transition occurs and I move left, the zone I move into is not nearly as good as where I was. What else can I do?

Ricky V.

California

This is a fantastic question! We all dread that moment - we start out a tournament locked in with the right ball and the right part of the lane, and we never want transition to happen, but we know it is going to, and then what do we do? It is all about versatility and ‘camping out’ in a good zone as long as possible. To stay in a good zone with a good ball matchup, work on increasing body speed for more ball speed. In other words, rather than moving left and right, move backwards 12-18 inches and increase your body tempo significantly in order to increase your ball speed by 1-2 mph. This will allow you to stay in a good part of the lane longer, and it is a win-win scenario. Not only can you stay in this zone longer, but the increased ball speed will also give your ball more kinetic energy at the pins, thus increasing pin carry. So, go ‘camping’ as often as you can!

-Coach Ron

 

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Is it just me, or are there what seems to be new ball releases every week? How is a bowler supposed to make sense of it all?

Brad R.

Nevada

It is not just you. With all the ball companies and all the ball releases, it does seem like almost a weekly task to keep up with it all. Without a deep ball dynamics or pro shop level understanding of what they are all designed to do, it can make choosing your next bowling ball purchase a little challenging. The best answer is to have a good discussion with your pro shop professional. Just because the newest ball looks good in someone else’s hand, doesn’t mean that it will fit your game or your current arsenal. Don’t get caught up in all the hype. Take your entire arsenal in to your local pro shop and have a discussion about what your current bowling balls do for you and what gaps in ball reaction you might be missing. Then your pro shop professional can suggest the best fit for your personal game, your release characteristics, and your current arsenal.

-Coach Ron

 

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When I go into my finish, I plant my last step instead of slide. I see a lot of bowlers who slide. Am I putting myself at a disadvantage?

Carl P.

Wisconsin

Not at all. There are many great bowlers who plant. It all still comes down to timing, and as long as your timing matches up to when you plant relative to where your arm swing is, you are in as good and leveraged a position as a bowler who slides with equally good timing. Just be aware of the knee of that plant step and make sure you don’t start developing any pain or discomfort. Sometimes a plant step can aggravate existing knee issues or even start to develop them.

-Coach Ron

 

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After the long break due to the coronavirus, my spares are horrible. How can I get those back?

John C.

Illinois

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that… This has been a common theme among bowlers, so you are not alone. We can chalk this up to a simple lack of repetitions. The unwanted break from bowling caused a little ‘bowling rust’ on all of our games. This has seemed to show up most frequently in spare shooting. Best advice - be patient, and put more time in your spare game than you were just prior to the shutdown. The repetition will bring them back. While you are doing this, double check your stance and target numbers to make sure they are still the best they can be. You may have to adjust a little left or right to create the room for error on those spares you once had.

-Coach Ron

 

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How can I keep the momentum going with my team after a break in playing a match or, more importantly, in a tournament? The team does well and gets on a roll, and then we have a break and they come back out very flat. They are close but just not there. Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Gary K.

Ohio

A couple of things you could consider for the breaks:

1. Monitor what they are eating and drinking, if anything. Bad intake can certainly affect the energy and mood. I would suggest only water, and maybe a granola bar or protein bar if they are hungry.
2. Keep them moving. If they are sitting or lying down, they can become lethargic. I would have them do some stretching to keep them moving and the blood flowing.
3. A good ole pep talk is always a good thing, Review what they did really well up to that break, and keep them motivated through positivity to make the momentum even stronger when play resumes.
4. Have them do some mental imagery of their own games to keep them ‘practicing’ while they are not bowling. This increases confidence, and the brain doesn’t see it as a break.

Just a few thoughts there. Hope they help.

-Coach Ron

 

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I’ve recently started to understand the dynamics and to get a feel for the modern high rev release, after being a stroker when I played as a kid. I have definitely seen an increase in revs, but this of course came with other issues that come with making changes to style. I went from 240-260 to probably around 310-350 in roughly two weeks. But beyond that it seems like getting to 500 would be quite difficult. I’m caught between certain coaches/players having a more “MAKE the ball hook” - sort of advice.... and other advice where perhaps I need more relaxation or muscle memory.

How can I make the next leap? Is it naturally going to come with time? I’d love to get from my current low 300s into at least the 400 range... I’m a very physical player - firefighter and power lifter. I know I have the physicality for a more powerful style... I still throw around 14-15mph. Could it be I’m not generating enough momentum or speed in my approach to reach these revs?

Any advice would be amazing.

Kris

United States

This is a very good and common question. First of all, congratulations for getting your revs up as much as you did in two weeks. That is very impressive and rare. Yes, getting that into the low 400s range will be even more challenging. Part of it will come with time in keeping up the work and reps you have done already. The other part would be in increasing the range of flexion your wrist can cover from thumb release to finger release. If your wrist is in a more relaxed, or uncupped, position as the thumb is releasing from the ball, you can then have more room and range with which to flex the wrist forward, therefore creating more revs. Couple this with as much finger flexion as you can and you will have what will most likely be your max natural rev rate. Remember this flexion usually requires fast twitch muscles, so if you don’t have those, it will be even more challenging.

However, all the revs in the world won’t matter if the speed is not keeping up. Most bowlers are speed dominant, and this is a good thing because speed is the most important factor in pin carry. Continue working on your revs, but you should spend equal amounts of time getting your ball speed up. That will pay off even more.

-Coach Ron

 

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How important is a good pair of bowling shoes?

Arnold C.

Wisconsin

Very important! Especially if you are bowling in multiple centers. Bowling shoe technology has advanced so much and now allow for bowlers to change their soles and heels to match the approach. If your shoes are not interchangeable, how likely is it that your shoes will match up to the approach friction of every bowling center you go to? With the interchangeable shoes, you can always match your slide characteristics to the approach friction so that you can forget about your footwork and focus where your mind should really be - on the lane for targeting and watching ball motion.

-Coach Ron

 

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When I go practice, my scores are higher than in my league. This is very frustrating. How can I score as well in league as I do in practice?

Viktor R.

Bulgaria

The most important part of this answer is to stop keeping score in practice. In practice, you don’t feel the stress and pressure of league, so it is normal scores would be higher. Also, and more importantly, when you keep score in practice, you are not truly practicing. You are competing… by yourself… and for nothing. Practice should be about skill improvement so that you get better for your league competitions. Focus on quality of shots, not quantity. Focus on improving one part of your game for the entire practice session. Have that goal when you walk in the bowling center and don’t veer away from it. When you finish your practice, you will now feel as if you really accomplished something that will pay off when it matters. If you keep score in practice and have some good games, all you have created for later is false confidence. This will not typically carry over for when you need it in league.

-Coach Ron

 

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When I try to play more direct up the outside around the first arrow (I am a right-hander), I commonly throw the ball in the gutter or miss left more frequently. What might be causing this?

Tom B.

Florida

You are probably not doing anything physically wrong in your approach to be causing this. Most likely, it is as simple as you are not standing in the right spot on the approach. Most right-handers who are trying to play direct up the outside part of the lane finish at the foul line too far to the left. When this happens, one of two things occur. First, they hit their target at the arrows and the ball goes in to the gutter. Or second, they miss left and play directly up the 8 or 9 board. If the bowler would simply look down at their slide foot position before leaving the foul line, they would most likely see immediately what is going on. Bowlers line up visually to what is comfortable back in the stance, but unfortunately this leads to the wrong position at the release. Try moving farther right on the approach than you ever have. It will look visually awful. But all that matters is where you finish when you release the ball. You will find that immediately you can play direct up the first arrow like you are wanting to.

-Coach Ron

 

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I am a right-hander and keep leaving too many 10 pins in my opinion. Is this just bad luck or is there something I can do about it?

Kasey L.

Maryland

It is not bad luck, and there certainly are things you can do about it. Leaving a 10 pin is feedback that your ball is actually not hitting the pocket, which is quite different from what most bowlers think. The pocket is not an area. The pocket is board 17 1/2. If your ball is there when it impacts the head pin, you will strike a lot. If it is not and you do not strike, you got what you deserved. If it is not and you do strike, you got lucky. Most bowlers make the mistake of thinking a 10 pin is just bad luck and they do not adjust the next time they are on that lane. And when they leave another 10 pin, they just throw their hands up in disgust as if giving in to the fictional bad luck. A 10 pin is a signal to adjust and to adjust now. On a typical house shot, the adjustment would be to move your feet one board right or to move your feet and eyes both one board right. This will take care of those 10 pins most of the time. If it stands again, try that same adjustment again. If it doesn’t work the second time, change balls. Just remember that any adjustment is better than no adjustment at all. At least then you are not defining the word ‘insanity’.

-Coach Ron

 

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I am probably not alone in this, but when I am on the approach, I am thinking way too much. How do I stop over-thinking?

Matt R.

Tennessee

No, you are certainly not alone. In fact, you are quite normal. Over-thinking on the approach is a common problem among bowlers. We need to think less to do more. We need to quiet our brains and just bowl. How do we do this? As with anything, there are several possibilities. One of the most effective, common, and fun ways is to play music in your head while you bowl. Most people can bring up a song in their heads. Now we just need to use that skill while we are on the approach and delivering our shot. Playing music will distract you from thinking about the things you do now that negatively affect your shot and cause your brain to get in the way of your body. Try it in a couple of practice sessions and see how it works for you. Then use this new fun skill in league to see if your brain shuts down more and lets you do what you know how to do.

-Coach Ron

 

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I currently use a 14 pound ball, and several people have told me I need to go up to 15 pounds. My ball speed only registers 13 mph. Would my pin carry improve if I went up in weight?

Sarah K.

Oregon

In short, probably not. Your ball speed is already not that high, and if you go up in ball weight, that speed will go even lower. The number one factor in pin carry is ball speed, not ball weight. It would be best for you to stay at 14 pounds and maintain the speed you have. That extra pound of ball weight will do you no good if the ball speed drops. Plus, the lighter ball is easier to throw and does less wear and tear on your body than a 15 pound ball potentially would.

-Coach Ron

 

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Sometimes in league one lane will play differently than the other. If the lanes were oiled the same, how is that possible?

Tommy D.

Maryland

It doesn’t seem like it should be possible, but we see this a lot. The lanes are all the same, right? Actually no. There are no two lanes alike in the world, at least when it comes to topography. Topography refers to the little hills and valleys on a bowling lane that you will not see with your eye, but your ball will see and show you with its ball motion. The resulting ball motion from topographical issues is due to gravity. Gravity will trump oil every time. You can’t see the hills and valleys, but just know they are there. And when your ball does something different than expected, trust it and adjust accordingly.

-Coach Ron

 

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What should I use as a target - the dots, the arrows, or the down lane markers?

-Brent R.

Wisconsin

There really is no wrong place to target as long as the bowler is consistent with it and that it works for that bowler’s accuracy and shot making. However, the arrows are the only marker on the lane that will be, by USBC rules, consistent from lane to lane anywhere in the world. The down lane markers on Brunswick Pro Anvilane surfaces are only on that type of surface, and to learn targeting on those and then to go to a center that doesn’t have them would likely cause anxiety. The dots between the foul line and the arrows are not as regulated as the arrows. The only rules regarding the dots are that they be 6 to 8 feet past the foul line, and that there be a maximum of 10 of them. So, in essence, they are a moving target. There is a reason the arrows are the most commonly used target in our sport - they are consistent and dependable.

-Coach Ron

 

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I see more and more bowlers using a plastic ball for their spares. Why is this?

-Kathy V.

Arizona

First of all, I am glad to hear that! The reason it is better is because a plastic ball doesn’t have friction and will not hook on the lane. Therefore, it goes straight and does not depend on the current lane conditions. It is called ‘taking the lane out of play.’ This results in a more dependable reaction on the lane when shooting spares and not relying on the ball to hook into your spares. Give it a try. I am sure you will like it, especially on your corner pin spares.

-Coach Ron

 

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My teammates keep telling me to slow down. Is that really the best thing to do?

-John P.

Georgia

It depends on what exactly they want you to slow down. Most of the time, people are referring to your feet. In this case, I would say that it is probably not the best thing to do. Most bowlers actually do not move quickly enough to the line. The feeling may be that it is too fast, but in reality, it is not. And the reason is simple - ball speed. Today’s best bowlers certainly do not throw it slow. And if your feet and body are moving slow to the line, the ball will have that same tempo going down the lane. And if your arm is just swinging faster to get the speed, this will be inconsistent at best. I would suggest you keep your speed up and ask for another solution to whatever is ailing your game.

-Coach Ron

 

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I notice that halfway through my approach my eyes move off my target. Why is this such a challenge?

-Henry W.

Utah

Seems crazy, doesn’t it? Why is it so hard for bowlers to keep their eyes on their target for a mere 3-5 seconds? Well, first of all, it is a skill just like any other skill you work on in your physical approach. So, be sure to give it the time it deserves in your practice sessions. And don’t try to combine this skill with something else when working on it or it won’t be getting the sole attention it requires. Also, be sure to stay hydrated while bowling by drinking lots of water. Dehydration, even at the smallest levels, has been shown to increase eye movement in athletes. And finally, practice managing your mental stress more effectively while you bowl. Falling short of this has also been shown to increase eye movement.

-Coach Ron

 

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When I put my hand in my ball in the stance, the holes feel snug. But it seems like I lose the ball off my hand at release. Tape doesn’t seem to help. What is causing this?

-Tom S.

Ohio

It sounds like you may have some early timing. What you have described is a common symptom. Bowlers often have the sensation of losing the release when the feel of the thumb hole seems to be fine. This is because the arm gets ahead of the body at release and the hand turns early. This causes the thumb to drop out early without any leverage for a strong release.

-Coach Ron

 

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On bowling balls, I have seen some with the pin above the fingers and some with the pin below the fingers. What’s the difference?

-Bill S.

Canada

The pin position up or down on a bowling ball is primarily for distance. For example, when a pin is positioned above the finger holes, this will cause the bowling ball to go a little further down the lane before starting to hook. If that same ball had a pin that was below the finger holes, it would want to start rolling earlier. It’s a small tweak to ball reaction, but it can certainly make a difference that is important.

-Coach Ron

 

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I have heard some bowlers talk about urethane bowling balls. I am a league bowler and don’t bowl many tournaments. Do I need to have one?

-Marie F.

Arkansas

In short, no. Urethane bowling balls are great choices for tournament bowlers, especially those who may often see short oil patterns. For your leagues that you are competing in, reactive balls will do the job you need. And be sure to have a plastic ball for your spares. Your league lane oil is probably somewhere around 40 feet or so. Urethane bowling balls are good tools when the lane oil is shorter in length or lower in volume. So, as said earlier - in short, no; on short, yes.

-Coach Ron

 

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Can I practice too much??

-Jason B.

Texas

You can do anything too much, and practicing is no exception. There has to be a balance. Some of the concerns of practicing too much or for too long at one time include:

• burnout
• physical injury
• wearing yourself out physically and mentally prior to a tournament
• practicing the wrong things and/or the wrong way
• losing motivation if goal setting and achieving are not utilized

Again, remember balance is the key. And remember it is about quality, not quantity. Good practices, even for just an hour at a time, can be hugely effective. Set goals, have a few skills in mind that you are going to work on, don’t keep score (to keep your focus on you and not your results), and always finish your practice by ‘turning your brain off’ and just bowling to help develop the feel you worked for that practice.

Don’t overdo it. Don’t neglect the other parts of your life. Have a few, or several, good quality practices a week that leave you feeling like you accomplished something significant each time, and you will see better results sooner - without feeling exhausted or burned out.

-Coach Ron

 

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It seems like no matter what I do, I can’t get any of my strike balls to work for picking up my 10 pin. They all want to hook left just before getting to the pin. Every once in awhile I will pick one up, but it has to be perfect. What can I do?

-George L.

Colorado

 

Well, there are two primary options. First would be to make an angle and hand position change with your strike balls when shooting the 10 pin. Move as far left as possible to create more angle through the oil in the middle part of the lane. Then try to relax your wrist more and create as little rotation as possible at release.

Secondly, and more preferably, get a plastic ball for shooting your right side spares. In today’s game, a plastic ball is one of the most important balls in your bag. You can significantly increase your margin for error for right side spares with a plastic ball. You will still want to move left as much as possible and use a relaxed release, but you won’t have to be “perfect” like you have to be now when using a strike ball for those 10 pins.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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When I am bowling league, I keep thinking about my timing and I probably shouldn’t. What are your thoughts?

-John M.

Wisconsin

 

There are two types of focus: internal and external. Internal focus is for training when you are working on things such as your timing, swing, release, etc. Results are not important, and hopefully, you are not even keeping score. Your focus is on your process of throwing good shots. External focus is for league and competition. This is when you are watching the ball reaction and making adjustments to the lane conditions. If you are thinking about your timing and are being internal, then your focus is not where it should be in league. Trying to manage both internal focus and external focus at the same time is difficult and will most likely lead to lower results.

Try to leave your timing thoughts to training and let your game take over naturally in league. At that time, limit your thoughts to ball reaction and lane adjustments.

-Coach Ron

 

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I am going to join three leagues this coming fall and was wondering how many bowling balls do I really need to be competitive?

-Jason B.

Missouri

 

Not knowing how many different centers you will bowl in and the lane conditions you will face, three balls would be the minimum and four would be optimal. With the three ball arsenal, you would need one ball for oil, one for medium to dry, and a plastic ball for spares. With the four ball arsenal, you would need one ball for oil, one ball for medium, one ball for dry, and a plastic ball for spares. With these arsenals, you would be competitive on virtually all house patterns and would also be able to make the necessary ball changes due to lane transitions. To make the best ball choices and drilling layouts based on your game and the center’s lane conditions, we strongly recommend you talk with your pro shop professional. He or she will be well versed on what particular balls have worked with different styles in their center. As you can see, regardless of how big your ball arsenal is, a plastic ball for spares should always be included.

-Coach Ron

 

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I have just returned to bowling after ten years away. I am bowling in three leagues and have very little time for practice. I am concerned that I will not see much improvement this way. Your thoughts?

-Jamie W.

Tennessee

 

Your concern may be justified. When you are bowling in leagues, you are trying for score, so physical skill improvement is not if the forefront of your mind. You most likely will see limited improvement this season unless you are able to devote more time to practice. And don’t forget - practice is not for keeping score. You need all of your focus in practice to be on physical development, and all of your focus in league to be on scoring. So, our advice would be to eliminate one or two of your leagues, and devote that extra time to practice and getting your game back to where it was and better. If not this season, next season for sure.

-Coach Ron

 

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I have returned to bowling after an absence of a few years. The span on the ball I am using feels too short, and I feel like I have to squeeze the ball to get good lift, which in turn, is causing me to not be able to relax my arm swing. What are the symptoms of a short span and how do I correct the problem?

-Frank M.

New Jersey

 

Well, you have already described some of the symptoms – squeezing the ball, tight arm swing, etc. Generally, the biggest symptom is the feeling that you have to squeeze the ball and that you just can’t relax your hand or arm no matter what you try. When you notice any of this occurring, it is time to visit your pro shop professional. That person is the expert who can effectively check your fit to see what corrections, if any, are needed. As an adult, we recommend you get your fit checked at least once a year. For bowlers under the age of 18, every couple of months is a good idea. So, to correct the problem you are having, you need to see your pro shop operator as soon as possible. The corrections in your fit after your absence will make all the difference in the world for your physical game and future improvement.

-Coach Ron

 

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I have been told that my foot and ball should arrive at the foul line at the same time.  Is this true?

-rebecca t.

Kentucky

 

Absolutely, if you want to have extremely early timing!  But for effective timing and better bowling, the lower body should arrive to the line before the ball.  This is how a bowler creates leverage.  In fact, this is how athletes in many sports create leverage - quarterbacks in football, pitchers in baseball, golfers, etc.  To create power, leverage and balance, the lower body arrives at the foul line shortly before the ball does.  This also allows bowlers to create shoulder angle and better accuracy at hitting their intended ball paths.  A lot of previous teachings in our sport told bowlers this.  But with today’s game and the leverage and power needed to increase pin fall, the two halves of the body do not arrive at the same time.

-Coach Ron

 

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How important is it to keep score during practice sessions?

-John M.

Oregon

 

Rarely is it important. In fact, it can be detrimental to a quality practice. If your practice is designed to work on physical components, then keeping score will take your complete focus away from that. Practicing requires internal focus, or what happens before the foul line. Competition requires external focus, or what happens after the foul line - ball reaction, lane changes, etc. For a very efficient and quality practice, you should bowl without scores so that results are not on your mind. Then you can devote your full attention to skill development. And conversely, in competition, focus your attention on the lane and ball reaction with little to no thoughts about your physical game. You have to go with what you have!

Spend a significant portion of your practice time honing the skills of versatility – ball speed changes, wrist position changes, rotation changes, loft changes, etc. These are not physical game fundamentals, but adjustments you can make on top of changing your angles on the lane. Having these in your bag of tricks will allow you to adjust to any lane condition without sacrificing your physical game. And this will allow your focus to always be in the right place. Having these tools really increase your confidence as well. And when you are confident, you are likely to throw the ball much more consistently physically and mentally.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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When I practice, I have internal focus while I am working on different parts of my physical game. I always finish a practice session off with about 5-10 minutes of external focus, just watching my ball reaction and making moves to strike. My problem is that as soon as I go to a hard lane condition and am focusing externally, it seems that my technique changes quite a lot. For example, today I bowled on shark, and all my focus was external. I compared video today from yesterday, and everything is a lot worse. How do I bowl completely externally focused on difficult conditions yet still keep my technique the same? I don’t want to be worrying about my physical game during a tournament, especially not on a hard pattern with no room for error.

-Bob D.

New York

 

You shouldn’t have to worry about your physical game during competition. You certainly have the right practice and competition mindsets. The problem could be in your versatility. When you encounter difficult lane conditions and make moves to strike, maybe it’s not enough. Consequently, your body and physical game are making unwanted adjustments to compensate for what you need your ball to do. This could explain why you look and feel so much different from training to competition.

Spend a significant portion of your practice time honing the skills of versatility – ball speed changes, wrist position changes, rotation changes, loft changes, etc. These are not physical game fundamentals, but adjustments you can make on top of changing your angles on the lane. Having these in your bag of tricks will allow you to adjust to any lane condition without sacrificing your physical game. And this will allow your focus to always be in the right place. Having these tools really increase your confidence as well. And when you are confident, you are likely to throw the ball much more consistently physically and mentally.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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I generally have timing issues. Can you give me some keys on the start in the bowling approach?

-Fred W.

Michigan

 

The important thing to remember is that a good start equals a good finish. The best key to give you is when to start your ball movement and swing. If you take a four step approach (and are right-handed; just reverse this if left-handed), the pushaway should start with your first step. So, engage the whole right side of your body at the same time. If you take a five step approach, the arm would move with the second step. In essence, this is the same as the four step approach – the only difference is that the left foot moves first without the ball moving. It’s a baby step to “get you going.”

-Coach Ron

 

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Is it normal to use a fingertip grip for your strike ball and a conventional grip for your spare ball? I saw a bowler the other night with this.

-Janice D.

Florida

 

This is something that is not widely done and not recommended. Our guess is that person is using a conventional grip on the spare ball to reduce the hook potential of the ball. The problem is going from one type of grip to the other and maintaining consistency. Those are two very different types of grips, and it is best to stick with one. Our recommendation would be to stay with the fingertip grip on every ball. And with the spare ball, the hook can be reduced by using less rotation at release. This combined with a plastic coverstock will keep the ball on the desired straight path to the spare.

-Coach Ron

 

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I’m having trouble with early timing. When watching myself on video, the ball is almost at the top of the backswing on my second step (4 step approach). There are no delays in my cadence and my feet are already moving fast, the swing just seems faster. How can I delay the swing to correct this?

-Bill W.

Alabama

 

If your feet are moving fast, try these other ideas: Make your pushaway shape bigger Make your pushaway motion and the beginning of your backswing slower and smoother Make your backswing higher If these ideas don’t work, try a 5 step approach and see if you can gain a better rhythm between your arm swing and your feet.

-Coach Ron

 

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Should you feel the weight of the ball in your hand/palm all the time and does the forward swing really happen naturally with zero initiation from your part as long as you let gravity does the work?

-Howard W.

Hong Kong

 

These are two really great questions. Feeling the weight of the ball in your palm all during the swing would indicate that your hand is staying stable. This is good and would mean that your bowling thumb and wrist are not moving left to right. If your hand opens or closes (thumb moves outward or thumb moves inward), this can cause your swing to go offline and create accuracy problems. It can also cause inconsistency at the release point.

It’s unrealistic to think that the forward swing will happen without any effort on your part. You are hanging on to and swinging an object that weighs up to 16 pounds. There is always going to be a little force on the arm and hand. The key is to minimize that as much as possible. This is done by making sure the fit of your ball is good and comfortable and that you are not having to squeeze it to hold on to it. Another key is to not try to get all of your ball speed with your forward swing. Too many players over-accelerate their forward swing in an effort to get more power. The power should come from the whole body, not just the forward swing. If these two items are taken care of, the forward swing should be smooth and consistent with the rest of the swing, with minimum force exerted.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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Sometimes I have problems following through to the target. What factors negatively affect the follow through?

-Emily M.

California

 

The most likely reason you cannot follow through to the target is because of improper timing and posture at the foul line. If your timing is early, typically you will be leaning forward at release, and this forward posture position restricts how you follow through. But even if your timing is mostly good for your game, check to see if you are leaning excessively forward during your release. As soon as your posture becomes more upright with just a little forward tilt, you will see that your follow through can continue through to the target with no problem.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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Typically, when I miss my target it is almost always to the right (right-hander). What causes this?

-Max w.

Australia

 

There can be several causes for this.  The two most common would be swing direction and timing.  If your back swing goes in behind your back, then your forward swing oftentimes will go out to the right.  And if your timing is late at your release, this will cause your shoulder angle to be open to the right, again causing you to miss to the right.  Another possible cause is if your body angle in your stance and during your approach is too much to the right relative to your target and intended ball path.  This open body angle will make the ball go right of your intended target.  Check these three common causes and see if they apply to your accuracy problems.

-Coach Ron

 

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Do I always need to use my most hooking ball when the lanes are oily?

-Gary B.

Ohio

 

Absolutely not. In many cases, this would be the wrong decision. You need to keep an open mind when making a ball selection for a given lane pattern. If the pattern is flat, you will want to see the lane as direct as possible and select a ball that gives you a controlled and predictable motion at the breakpoint. Sometimes, your most hooking ball will not be the best choice to accomplish these two goals. In some cases, you will be better off choosing a medium ball that you can keep in a direct line and that will be predictable down the lane. In your practice session before scoring begins, start with your benchmark, or medium, ball to get a read of the lanes and then make your best choice from there. Don’t get caught in the mental trap that heavy oil = most aggressive ball.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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I have been reluctant to use bowler’s tape.  Isn’t that a crutch or a sign that something isn’t right with the fit?

-Stacy W.

Connecticut

 

Bowler’s tape is not a crutch.  Tape for the holes or skin tape for the fingers or thumb is an adjustment for comfort and hole size.  With temperature and humidity changes sometimes come fluctuations in thumb size.  These minor changes can be corrected by using tape correctly and effectively.  Most bowlers today carry an assortment of sizes and textures to match the feel they are looking for.  Now, if there is an excessive use of tape to make a hole feel right, that may be a sign that it is time for a fit check up and possible adjustment.  Try using some tape to see if you can find an even better feel that what you currently have.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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Recently, I feel as if my release has become very inconsistent.  I have not made any physical game changes in my game and feel like everything is the way it should be.  I am 27 years old and have been bowling for 15 years.  Any ideas?

-Michael N.

Canada

 

When was the last time you had your fit checked? It may be as simple as that. If you feel good physically and nothing is different in that aspect, have your pro shop professional give you a fit check up. It usually happens that the hand can change just a little and without the necessary fit adjustment, bowlers can start to see inconsistencies in their approach and release. And going forward, be sure to get your fit check up at least once per year, preferably twice.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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There are so many bowling balls to choose from at my local pro shop. How do I know which one or ones are best for my game?

-Karen A.

New York

 

It does seem like there are new ones every week.  But, believe it or not, they all do different things.  There are many decisions that need to go into which bowling ball is best for your game.  This is where your pro shop professional comes in.  This person can watch your game and match the best ball to you and the lane conditions you will bowl on.  The three most important factors when choosing a ball are surface, RG value, and differential. Your pro shop professional can explain what each means and can put all of these factors together for you, your game, and your lane conditions.  Remember, though, a plastic spare ball should always be one of the bowling balls in your bag.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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My backswing keeps going too high and I am having trouble controlling it.  Any suggestions?

-Duane E.

Washington

 

The first thing to check is your posture during your approach.  Many people “follow” the ball into the downswing and backswing, and this excessive leaning forward will cause the backswing to get higher.  To make it the correct height for your game and to make it consistent from shot to shot, focus on your spine and upper body.  As the ball moves out and down, keep your upper body stable.  You want to keep a similar spine angle throughout your entire approach.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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Is it best to take the summer off bowling or continue practicing for next season?

-John s.

Texas

 

Well, there is no right or wrong answer here and it is certainly an individual answer.  Some people benefit by practicing and working on needed skills for the upcoming season.  But then there are others who need not only a physical break, but a mental one as well.  This break could be even more helpful to their games than actual practice.  If you are feeling like you are getting burned out or if you feel happy that the current season is coming to an end, this may be your sign to take a break this summer.  If not, go ahead and practice and improve your game with a certified coach for next season.

-Coach Ron

 

 

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The house pattern in my home center is very oily, and I have trouble getting the ball to hook early enough to hit the pocket consistently.  What can you recommend?

-Don R.

Minnesota

 

Don,

Actually, there are several things you can try.  First is with your bowling balls.  You would want a ball that has a low RG value, a low pin position, and a dull surface.  You can discuss these variables with your pro shop professional to get the right matches for your game.  Second is with your physical game versatility.  Obviously, the best battle against  heavy oil is speed.  Move up on the approach and lower your body speed going to the foul line, and this will lower your ball speed.  Playing straighter lines to the pocket is usually beneficial with heavier oil.  Reduce how much angle your ball has going through the heads and mid lane.  And you can also create earlier hook with less hand rotation at release.  When you release the ball more ‘up the back’ and not by getting ‘around it’, you bring the breakpoint closer to you and also reduce how much and how severe the back end reaction will be.  Try each of these separately to see which ones have the biggest effect for you, and then you can determine which variables you need to combine.  Don’t worry - heavy oil is not a problem if you are just willing to implement some new skills in your game.

-Coach Ron