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4 Phases of Coaching  While they are all teaching the same basic fundamentals, the way they go about passing on their knowledge sometimes differs by a lot; yet, they all manage to get their points across. But, isn't that what it's all about? A Bowling Muse  I would like to introduce a person who deserves a lot of credit for giving me ideas for my articles - my brother Myron, who lives in Mesa, and he is one of my bowling muses. He is the epitome of many a bowler who quit within the last twenty-five years and is now coming back to the sport. A Summer Sport Shot League  The league season is winding down and will be completely over within the next five to six weeks or so. If you are an avid bowler you may join one or two (or more) summer leagues because of your love for the sport. I suggest joining a "Sport Shot" league because it will improve your skills. A Thirst For Knowledge  In everything we do, the only way to get better is to keep that "thirst for knowledge" active and ongoing. There are no if's, and's, or but's about it. Adversity? - So What?  Reason To Succeed - you are able to change your perception of what is "tough." You accept that you are always going to face problems and you develop a strong will to accomplish your goal of bowling higher scores and you do well. Analyzing The Lane In Four Shots  So how can I ignore it when he asks me to write an article about lining up quickly before league starts. Well, Perry, here's the "Choc-List" for lining up during league practice: (This technique is from the USBC Bronze Coaching Certification Seminar.) Are You Whining or Bowling?  She said, "What is he whining about? You know, Choc, nobody ever lives long enough to cry and whine about a simple game." I could only nod my head and agree with her. Life is too short for us to spend it feeling frustrated and stressed out because we shot a low game or low series. Baloney Explosions & Bowling  In the sport of bowling, there are many variables that affect our score. These include such things as, but are not limited to, the weather, type of ball, weight of the ball, and oil patterns. Do I have to mention our individual attitudes, health, and frame of mind? Basic Bowling Equipment Specs  You may be a casual, once-in-a-while bowler or you may be the certified league bowler, but the USBC is responsible for the equipment you are allowed to use in bowling. Let's go over some of the basics of equipment specifications for the sport of bowling. Being In The Zone  Trying to recapture the time that you were in "The Zone" is a futile effort. You can't practice being in "The Zone." You can only hone your style of bowling so that those times occur more often than the next person. Bowling Deserves Respect  Bowling has arguably become the largest participation sport in the world. However, when people talk about sports, you're more likely to hear about football, baseball, basketball, hockey, or soccer. Bowling Equipment Has Changed a Lot  In reality, the sport of bowling has not changed at all. The basics and fundamentals of the game remain the same as 50 years (or more) ago and will continue far into the future. It is the equipment that has changed. Bowling Future and the Female Bowler  Bowling is growing in popularity after a 20 year decline in participation and is poised for even greater growth because of the female bowler. Bowling Newsletter and Forum  Today is May 7, 2007. I have just completed my graduation checklist and it is being reviewed by my trainers and mentors for completeness. Bowling Oddities  Odd things happen in bowling and I'm sure many of you have witnessed more of the same. Can You Be A Professional Bowler?  Can you become a professional bowler? Do you have what it takes to survive on the Professional Bowler's Tour (PBA)? Are you able to maintain the level of talent, skill, knowledge, and mindset necessary to be called, "winner," on the PBA. Choosing Your Team  What happened? They tried to spell the word as, "I-T-I-E-I-A-I-M-I." Too many individuals dominating and breaking up the team. It just doesn't work. This is one case where the "I's" don't have it. Coming Back To Bowling  In summary, he is stuck in the '70's and believes that his old knowledge and approach to the game will be enough to get him through. In summary, he is very wrong. Different Kinds Of Tournaments  They have become more of a social event for people to get together and compete in a comfortable atmosphere. It's a great way to meet new people and make friends. There are other events with different formats that will be just as much fun if they are offered at your favorite bowling place. Dry Lane Conditions  I overheard some of the higher average bowlers talking about the dry lane conditions the other night (talk? actually, they were complaining and whining). My reaction was, "hey, if you guys think of yourselves as such good bowlers, why can't you adjust?" Fun Leagues Are Challenging  I believe people should look at bowling in leagues not with self-serving thoughts; but, from the challenges that bowling in a fun league will give you. Let's face it many of them are there for the social aspects and are not as serious as you are. So what are some of the challenges, you ask? Games Within A Game  During league play, you will see many teams compete within themselves by playing a version of poker. For every strike or spare, cards are drawn from a central deck and at the end of the game, the best poker hand wins. Goal Setting  Okay, let's say that you're a 130 average bowler and want to raise your average by twenty or more pins to get at least to the 150's. Doing a self-analysis of your situation, you can see that if you make three to four more spares a game, you will achieve that objective. Hints For Adjusting To Conditions  "The only thing that doesn't change is change." Well, in the modern sport of bowling, you have to take that to heart because whenever you bowl, the lane conditions will change every time you throw the ball. I'ts All In Fun  One of the best lessons I've learned over the years is, "never take yourself too seriously." This is why I always try to joke and kid around when I'm bowling. Of course, there are some who will not loosen up; but, for the most part, I find that most people will respond positively. If Things Go Wrong When Bowling  One of the things I advise people to do is to imagine everything that could go wrong when they are bowling in competition and write them down on a list. Then, over the course of several practice sessions, pretend that each of those "things-that-could-go-wrong," actually did. Is Bowling A Sport?  There are as many opinions about whether bowling is a sport as there are people interested in it. There will be no end to the theorizing about whether it should be called the "sport of bowling." Jargon For Beginners  We bowlers toss around terms that have become second-nature to us; but, which may not register with beginners. It's like talking ERA's, RBI's, and Batting Averages to someone who is not into baseball. Keep It Simple  So your interest in the sport of bowling is now beyond the once-in-a-while, recreational past-time and you're ready to take your game to the next level. Laughter Relieves Pressure  Wherever you are with a group of people, there are characters who will do "crazy" things to break up the tense situations. You often end up laughing hysterically because the moment suddenly turns humorous. Les Casady - 99 Year Old Bowler  The highest average Les has ever carried was 195 and he threw his 300 game in Wichita, Kansas sometime in the 1970's. He doesn't remember his highest series because he, "doesn't keep track of those things." His ball was made of rubber and had two holes - a thumb hole and one for the middle finger Make Sure You Check The Approaches  Some sticking accident injuries I have personally seen are broken ankle, broken arm, broken rib, and numerous bruises on various parts of the body. When a bowler falls on the lane, there is no predicting what part will hit first. Mixed Weight Pins Cause Taps  Does my opponent have an advantage if his ball diameter is at the maximum while mine is at the minimum? Can four ounces, in fact, make a difference if the pins on the lane vary by that much? Will my chances for an 8-10 split increase if the pins are off-spot by one-sixteenth of an inch? More About Bowling Safety  Really, though, the best way to prevent injuries of any kind is to pay attention to what's going on around you. Attention to detail is the key for everyone; and if those around you won't, then you should. My Funny Quotes For Bowling  Well, they weren't corny enough for me so I had to make up some of my own so that I'd get the bowlers listening and groaning. More importantly, once they caught on that I was making some kind of a bad joke, they listened to the other general announcements that I was making. My Journey Back After 30 Years  I will give you some ideas of my own since you are always looking for things to write about in your bowling column. I will give you my take on my 5-year bowling journey to "get good ". Oil Patterns  Today's bowler must learn about bowling oil patterns if they want to increase their level of competitiveness. Old Rules Never Die  The greater majority of you will know that the foul line extends up the walls of the bowling center on both sides of the house, in line with the actual black line marked on the lanes. Therefore, it was a foul. Patience  We have developed into a society that believes that anything can be accomplished overnight and we don't have to wait for any solutions. Instant everything. I have come to realize that one of my tasks as a coach is to teach people patience. Personal Bowling Safety  When you start thinking about safety and list some of the areas and things that could cause us personal injury, you begin to realize just how vulnerable we are when we're bowling Play The Current Conditions  How many times have people come to you and said things like, "I practiced here last week and shot 250;" "During the practice, I was throwing nothing but strikes;" or "The last time I bowled here, I really scored well." Actually, how may times have you felt that way? Practice More, Average More  The more times you're able to get on the lanes for practice sessions, however, the higher your average will be and the more times you will be on the alley bowling strikes. Records Not To Shoot For  Unless you are on the way to shooting a score of zero, or are rolling nothing but gutter balls, you won't be close to setting any dubious record(s). Some Common Bowling Mistakes  "Rule #1 - Get a bowling coach, Rule #2 - After analyzing the common problem areas that bowlers have, refer to Rule #1." Here's some of the many tendencies I've seen over the years that prevent bowlers from getting better. Let's cover some common problem areas that are working against them
Team Lineups  One of the theories I learned back from my junior bowling days was how to set the most powerful lineup using the bowlers you have. Like any sports team, the head coach will study his pool of available talent and line them "just-so" in an attempt to optimize the scoring production. The Formula  There is no formula that will make you succeed in the sport of bowling. There is no formula that guarantees you will become a high average bowler. But, there is proof that if you concentrate on your "can-do" attitude, you will succeed in getting better. The Foul Line Correction  Here's the gist of it: as the ball is released, the bowler senses that something doesn't feel right and makes an unconscious, automatic correction of his/her release to set the ball on the lane in the proper strike line The Great Marion Ladewig  From 1941, when she won her first amateur tournament, until 1964, when she retired from active competition, she dominated the female bowling world. She was also a terrific ambassador for the sport of bowling as she traveled all around the world doing her promotional bowling exhibitions. The PBA Oil Patterns  This article will do a quick review of the five PBA oil patterns. Even if you never bowl on them, at least you'll know their names. The USBC Nationals  I did have a game plan but didn't execute well averaging 186 for the nine games. Like thousands of bowlers, if we get to bowl on those conditions often enough, we would average what we normally do at our home houses. Thoughts And Sayings About Bowling  A "Choc-List" of thoughts and sayings about our great sport of bowling. What Is Lane Oil?  I actually started to write an article about bowling lane oil many months ago; but, I was looking for a solid definition and description. Guess what? I didn't find one. Believe me when I say that I tried. No definitive answers, I'm afraid. Your Dominant Eye  Knowing your dominant eye may help you understand that in order to hit the 10 board, you, personally, have to actually aim for the 8 board. Do you know if your accuracy is being affected by this "dominant eye?"
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