How the hell do you get better????

[Isom]

I bowl in 5 leagues currently, in 5 different houses. It's likely I will average 230 in all 5 houses (maybe a little less at Cedar Creek, although it's a house shot, it's so over and under that it gives me trouble sometimes). Everywhere that you go, the lanes are easy and getting easier (as if they weren't easy enough).

With that said, how do you get better at this sport? Where do you go, to practice and challenge yourself? We complain that joe bowler can only play up 10 but when joe bowler walks in almost any alley thats where the shot is, up 10. So can we really blame him if that's all he really knows to do? Where can you practice where the conditions are challenging so that you can test yourself other than going to nationals etc or regionals... spending hundreds of dollars to bowl on shots that you have NEVER seen before only to get your head bashed in by people that have had much experience on similiar conditions?

[Akil Razzak]

Great discussion man! We have to push for centers to run special leages with tougher shot so we can get oportunities to play on different conditions. There are a few Sport pattern leages around but not enough close enough. When you work on playing on all kinds of patterns it makes you a better bowler and you can go all across the country and make money. I can't wait until they form some leages on which if you avarage 190-205 you are throwing it very well and making spares. These kinds of conditions will make you alot more mentally stronger.

[Isom]

Not just leagues..... see that's the problem. These conditions need to be around for people to simply practice on. Like right now, I kinda want to get out the house and go throw some balls, but where can I go, at 1:20pm to practice on something challenging? I shouldnt have to join a league and pay 20-25 bucks a week to bowl 3 games on something hard. I need and want to be able to go in and practice on something challenging for a buck or 2 a game at any given time of the day an alley is open and practice, try out different lines, with different balls, and not just when its time to compete in a league.

[Akil Razzak]

You are so right! It would be nice for a house to set a few lanes aside with different conditions every week.

[Dannial Cohen]

Hey guys i think it would be doable to have a center put it out there.Here at pinstrikes they were puttingout the pba patters a couple days a week.I have talking to the manger here to put usbc nationals pattern out once a week starting in feb. once they release it.Just have to ask the center to put it out on a pair of lanes maybe once a week.I understand not all centers will do this,but i know that there are some that will.Good luck with getting that done.If i can help to get something put out just let me know.

[Isom]

hey if you can pull some strings and get it done, ill be there to practice almost everyday....

[Akil Razzak]

Hey Dannial, what about asking them to put it out on the first 8 lanes or something? That's what they used to do in Greensboro. Those who wanted to bowl on the sports pattern could bowl on those lanes and leave the rest for the other bowlers.

[Isom]

This summer they were putting out different patterns at Cedar Creek on Sunday mornings, but when summer ended, so did the patterns. I don't know why it's so hard to get centers to just keep doing it indefinately. Is it really that much more expensive? Someone please explain it to me.

[Akil Razzak]

Well that goes back to practicing. I feel sometimes bowlers go practice to shoot scores instead of working on their weaknesses. I feel you shouldn't care about striking in practice but wait for competition. I had the learn that the hard way from Thomas Brown.

[Theo McNair]

Isom,
Bruce and I had been talking about doing this at Metro on Saturday afternoons. Where he would put a sport pattern down over about 8 lanes and have it to where guys can come out and practice on different patterns. So when you bowl in tournaments it will not be the only time you see it.
Maybe we can do the same pattern for a couple of weeks or maybe a month. You tell me what would be idea.
You be the lead and tell me what patterns you would like and he is willing to work with us and get it done.
Let's do it.

[Isom]

you know what, i dont care WHAT pattern is put out there, they all make you learn how to bowl. the fundamentals required to hit one of them applies to all of them. they are all basically flat with out of bounds and you have to hit what you are looking at....

[Isom]

well i take that back, any of them but the cheetah, lol. I heard the new cheetah wont let you play on the gutter, but if he puts out the old cheetah, even tho its way tougher than a house shot, it still makes or lets u play around the gutter. I think most of us need to work on playing OFF the gutter and any of the other 4 patters would force you inside a bit.

[Theo McNair]

I will get something in concrete and get back with you. It may not start until next week because I am out of town. But, I will get back with Bruce and let everyone know. He may put it out this Saturday, never know.