Grade Yourself in Summer School - bowling

Bowling Digest, June, 2000 by Jeri Edwards

Using this personal checklist, rate your own game and set some specific goals for yourself during the summer league hiatus--and then reap the benefits in the fall

FARMERS AND BOWLERS SHARE some similarities when April rolls around. For most bowlers, that's when the harvest of the traditional league season ends--you've collected your trophies and earnings, and are looking for the next step. Just as late spring and summer, with the planting season and the growing season, are glorious times for the farmer, bowlers can use this time to evaluate their current status, sow the seeds of development, and work to grow a stronger game. Sometimes it can be hot, sweaty, even frustrating work, but there is always the anticipation of the fruitful harvest.

It is important to plan your work so the purpose is clear in your mind, and there are several ways to do that. Going through a personal checklist can give you a brighter picture of the things in your game that are strong and the things that need work. Sometimes searching out a professional coach can be the best option. And you can use the summer season to test new things like wrist supports or modified grip drillings.

The farmer's furrow is mostly straightaway, just like your path to better bowling, but be ready for some fun twists in the road. In fact, search them out if you can! Bowling in a few summer tournaments can be fun and prosperous--and to keep everything in perspective and to lighten your spirit, go "Glow in the Dark Bowling" at least once.

Think of your personal checklist as a tool. Fill it out at the end of your league season and note the areas where you feel you need the most work. Spend some time focusing on these weaker areas, and at the end of two weeks of practice, fill out the checklist again. This will help you "see"' your progress and will keep you on the path to better bowling.

You may feel you need some information on each of the areas to make a judgment on your current bowling status. The following will give you a point from which to start.

Stance: Starting your body in the proper address position is important to good bowling. It's like a farmer preparing the soil: If you spend some time and pay close attention, it can make for a great beginning.

Look for balance in your stance. Feel the weight of your body--are you leaning into your toes or heels? The sensation of feeling balance over your entire foot is a good goal. Check to see whether your knees are flexed or stiff--most people prefer to have their knees slightly flexed. Also your spine angle should incline slightly forward. This can vary in degree from person to person, but make sure that you're not leaning backward.

In the proper stance position, your hips are not tucked forward--they are pushed back slightly. For many people who have never assumed this position, it feels like your backside is sticking out, but if your knees are slightly flexed and your spine is tilted forward a bit, your rear can't be sticking way out there. Check it out in a mirror at home. This will help you get a clear picture.

Your ball position should be in front of your bowling shoulder. The ball position can be from shoulder high to thigh high, but varying its position too much either in or out will affect your pushaway direction and your armswing path. Once you find the position that works for you, don't vary it too much. If you change the height of your starting position every night your timing will never feel the same, so once you determine your best natural spot, don't vary it more than three inches higher or lower.

Always make sure that your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders are in alignment. This keeps your spine happy. If your body is twisted in different directions, it will put pressure on your back and as soon as you start to move your body will try to right itself.

Finally, feel that your bowling hand, arm, and shoulder are firm, but relaxed. Your bowling shoulder is beating weight so it should be slightly lower than your other shoulder. Extra tension in your hand, arm or shoulder will make having a smooth start difficult.

Start: Getting started correctly puts you in a good position to have good timing throughout your approach. It's like a farmer putting the right seeds in the right soil. If he makes a bad choice and starts the seeds in poor soil, he may get a crop, but it may not be bountiful. Likewise once you start the ball into the swing you'll probably arrive at the foul line in one piece, but you may not get the desired result.

There are three items of concern with the movement of the ball in your start: when you move it, the shape of the movement, and the speed of the movement. The proper movement of the ball in relation to the footwork is critical.

On the first step of a four-step approach, you want the ball and foot to move together. (With a five-step approach you take a small first step with the upper body remaining steady, and then the ball moves forward with the second step.) The shape should be a smooth, rounded motion with no jerks or stops. And for most people, the speed of the start should be moderate. If it starts too fast, it is difficult for the slower, bigger muscles of your buttocks and legs to match up.