QuestionI'm a fairly new bowler about 2-3 months in and over that time Ive developed a "hook", and where to position myself to get the ball to the pocket. I play about 2 dots Left of the center and make my target slightly to the left of the center arrow. To my eyes what the ball does is slide out a little bit and make more of a turn to the pocket than a hook or arc. Recently I had a quick lesson with a coach as I was finishing up practice and he felt I stand to far left and should play more to the right and aim for the 2nd and 3rd arrow. He also said if i still didn't see hook, to stand further right and target between arrows 1 and 2.
Next practice i tried what the coach suggested and faced a bit of problems. It seemed as if my rev rate is too low to make the ball come back to the pocket from that far right. The line I play is dead center where most of the oil is supposed to be and I find it weird that I get that little turn but it seems to work for me. Is the line I play a bad habit that Ive developed? Any tips or advice on creating more revs, and a new target point to try would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
PAP- 5 3/4 right 1/2 up
Current Ball- Track 607A
Lane condition- Medium
Answer
www.TrueBowlerAdjustme
Hi Shawn, thanks for your question about where to play on the lanes and your rev rate. First off, it's great to have another set of eyes looking at your game. Concretely, where you stand is the first item of a complete setup. It's extremely important. I hope you will agree that if you move to a particular spot on the approach you could be playing in the oil that is not conducive to giving your ball a chance to hook back to the pocket.
Without a doubt, the ball has to hit a spot on the lane, (break point) where it will begin it's strongest turn back to the head pin.
There are several things you and your coach can work on. My opinion is that your coach is trying to give you the strongest look on the lanes for general bowling. I agree that if you stand more to the right this would help. However, your release, the ball you are using, the lane and lane conditions, all contribute to down lane reaction.
It's extremely difficult for any coach to fight with "what a bowler sees is working for them." Yes, you may have had some success, but you must "grow" into bowling. This means being able to play different parts of the lane.
I teach coaches to "not" stand around and take people's hard earned money by watching them do the same ole' thing they have been doing the last few months, or the last few years. Give all bowling students "something different," is my request.
Shawn, advancing you by moving to a potential high scoring spot is a great move. Once there, see if you can adjust your hand position, your speed and engage some new depth perception for targeting. Learning to adjust is the name of the game! This is why I wrote my new bowling book, "True Bowler Adjustments." If a coach is willing to spend the time to work with a bowler, hear them out concerning the benefits of what you are learning.
It takes about 1500 times to learn a new muscle movement. It happens on every level, from your balance, your arm swing, to your eyes. After several practices and coaching sessions, the three of you, (your ball, you, and your coach) will come to an agreement that you can truly play almost anywhere on the approach and the lanes, or you will make some great changes that will get you to the head pin no matter where you "need" to stand to play the lanes most effectively for the lane conditions.
As bowlers, we may want to stand in a certain spot to throw the ball, however we often are "teaching ourselves" to do it that "one way." Success in bowling is to have multiple adjustments you have experienced, so you can draw from that experience when "your spot to the left side of the lane" is not working.
In summary Shawn, "go for it!" Coaches are a unique brand of individuals. They often risk scrutiny and sometimes ridicule for taking a bowling student one step back so that they can take two steps forward. You are making "adjustments" and this is "positive" even though you may get stuck for a minute learning to standing in another spot.
Shawn you will need other parts of the approach, hand positions, and ball changes to truly become the best you can be at your bowling. As far as revs, getting the ball to read the lanes is a matter of speed, ball rotation, and ball cover and core values. Your coach can help you find the best position for your hand, and ball for the condition.
Playing different parts of the lanes, getting a feel for success in certain spots on the approach, will yield big benefits in the future. Doesn't matter if it's just shooting a simple spare. These are benefits that you may be able to teach to other beginning bowlers in the future. Enjoy your weekend. God's Bless the USA and the budget! Bowl great Shawn!
- Coach Gary
Las Vegas, NV.
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's a great bowling book!)
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