Bowling Update

In my never-ending quest to be find the "right" way for me to bowl, I've recently had a little success with some minor changes. Previous changes I've blogged about worked some, then didn't work, even failing miserably a couple times.

The last two times out I've bowled sets of 707 and 656. I'm highly encouraged (again...surprise!), because the scores could have been even better, and hopefully will be better.

I went away from "less turn," as mentioned in a previous post, to simply not starting with my hand position so far inside. Since I am keeping my follow-through hand position the same, this amounts to "less turn" of the hand during the shot, without having to think about it.

I have also changed my push-off so that it is an actual push-away, and right on line with the target.  I met with a pro last year who suggested a certain starting position, which I still use, but from there he suggested that I simply let the hand start dropping. Before that, when I wasn't playing with the Del Ballard starting position, I was holding it a higher to start (think Mike Aulby), but not pushing off, or at least very little.

I prefer the feel of the push-off, and my current hypothesis is that if I do it on-line to the target, it helps with accuracy and consistency.  This is why I'm encouraged and feel my recent scores could have been better, and should be if I stick to this. I was more consistent with my direction, release, and speed on both nights.  All that wasn't working was carry, and spare-shooting.

Before the trip to Reno this year, I'll be working on the spare-shooting.  In particular, ten pins on the right-hand lane.  I have my thoughts as to what I need to do, but this is largely a mental issue, so I'm going to want to seek an expert. If I can't throw at a ten pin with confidence at my age, what makes me think I'm going to figure it out on my own anytime soon?

Nothing. So yeah, I'll be seeing a pro about that, and I'll have him look a little at my newer strike form, too.