The Power of Positive Bowling: what separates good bowlers from champions? The strength that lies between the ears - The Coach's Corner

Bowling Digest, Oct, 2003 by John Jowdy

THIS COLUMN IS INSPIRED BY A youngster who averaged more than 200 in his local league but fell short of his expectations in road tournaments.

Does this sound familiar? We all know players who are accustomed to house conditions but enter tournaments in unfamiliar scoring circumstances and hit a wall.

What goes wrong? Simply put, the comfort zone players are accustomed to on house conditions isn't there. This is the area where the Power of Positive Bowling--an element in a bowler's game that requires proper execution and bowling smarts--plays a major role. This is the area that rewards the thinking player.

Knowledge of equipment may perhaps account for 50% of a player's mental game. Most amateurs are not as fortunate as PBA players, who are afforded the services of bowling ball representatives. These specialists have made scientific studies of ball surfaces, pin placements, and sophisticated weight blocks. Nevertheless, a number of ball manufacturers have added top non-professional players to advisory staffs on yearly contracts. Some are inked to limited arrangements, sponsorships on tournament-to-tournament agreements.

Amateurs who do not have access to ball reps have the alternative choice of soliciting advice from their pro shop operators or seeking out competent coaches.

"Competent" is the key characteristic here. Bowling is overstocked with wannabe experts. Serious players should seek out qualified coaches in order to absorb accurate information in proper execution, as well as the mental aspect of the game.

The modern world boasts excellent bowling manuals, books, and tapes. Furthermore the emergence of competent bowling instructors has played a major role in the development of outstanding talent. Unfortunately, manuals, tapes, or books cannot successfully inject the essential ingredients into any individual's mental game. That factor, more often than not, plays a major role in the success or failure of physically talented bowlers.

Most sports feature defensive measures to neutralize an opponent. Bowling poses no defense, It is solely dependent on individual prowess. Possessing the Power of Positive Bowling is the principal ingredient for bowling success, especially when two players of equal ability face off.

On occasions, bowlers who uncork high-revolving missiles have the ability to overcome conditions that are more favorable to power players than average strokers. Conditions that are conducive to wide-arcing trajectories rarely require precision. This "stand left and throw right" mentality is normally practiced on house conditions and is also affectionately referred to as "adult bumper bowling."

Many bowlers averaging well more than 200 fall short of their expectations. They flounder, wallow, and waver, and are totally bewildered when confronted with conditions they're not used to. For example, lane heads dry out oil is carried down, breakpoints change, lane dressing is excessive in their favorite areas, and various other factor come into play.

Failing when confronted with such routine developments on the lanes is due to a deficiency in the mental aspect of the game and is the principal disparity between amateur players and those who earn a living bowling in the professional ranks.

Perhaps the term "amateur is a misnomer. Pro bowlers are usually distinguished as card-carrying members of the PBA. Yet there are countless bowlers guised as amateurs who earn more money than players on the PBA tour.

For example, Tim Mack, perhaps America's most celebrated amateur bowler, earns in excess of $100,000 yearly. He is a dominating force in megabucks tournaments, and although he has yet to annex a title in either the high-roller or eliminator games, he is perhaps the leading money winner in sweepers and brackets year in and year out. In addition, Mack has established his reputation as the top performer on the international scene. Two others, Tore Torgerson of Norway and Tomas Leanderson of Sweden, also are amateurs who earn $100,000 to $200,000 per year The tremendous success enjoyed by these amateur stars can be attributed to experience acquired through competition on all lane conditions.

And how do great amateurs fare when pitted against the top stars on the PBA tour? To date, they have encountered difficulty against the likes of Norm Duke, Parker Bohn III, Brian Voss, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Amleto Monacelli, and other leading PBA stars. Foreign bowlers have had their opportunities against PBA stars during the past 10 years, particularly in the original Brunswick World Invitational, which included stars from across the globe. Rarely in the history of this tournament have foreign bowlers seriously asserted themselves, although a number of them subsequently cast their lots with the PBA.

The most prominent, Mats Karlsson of Sweden and Monacelli of Venezuela, became successful on the PBA tour, but only after an extended learning process. Once they acquired the necessary knowledge and experience to compete, their skills began to pay dividends.