Fundamentals or Equipment?

[LaTonya Walker]

Recently I had a conversation with a bowler and I mentioned that I was working on getting less axis tilt and more rotation on my bowling ball. She stated that I need to just do want I do and get someone to drill my equipment that would "help" me. She believes that a lot of the success the some bowlers have has to do with their equipment. She also commented on how a lot bowlers today don't practice and that they dont have the fundamentals that the "older" players have. I understand her point to a certain extent and I know that the game has changed tremdously over the years but just like any other sport (basketball, baseball etc) I still believe that there are basic fundamental skills that you need in order to compete. I believe that in order to get better that you have to practice on different rolls, releases, hand positions, shots etc... Tell me.. Am I crazy? Am I to believe that I can buy success in a box? Give me your opinion.

[barry]

Chase, i've learned that if you really like a ball, get it soon after you purchase the first one so you can get some consistency. Like randy, i had many v2 sandeds, probably 6 or 7, all rolled different but good because that was a great ball. I had an intense inferno, and bought one 3 years later, not nearly as effective.

[barry]

Definitely FUNDAMENTALS. Look around, i'm sure you see some people with more balls than you and I together but the scores are not just appearing on the score sheet. Sure today, balls help people out, if you can create a little turn, some balls make that look like a lot. You still have to make good shots and repeat shots in order to bowl well consistently. Of course league shots let all kinds strike but once the shot gets a little tight and room for error is limited then the oil patterns make that person with "equipment" look very lost. I'd take a person with fundamentals and give them a ball from 1990 against a person that doesnt need practice, just buy it in a box, and i'm sure that fundamental will win majority of the time if not all the time except on the "GREAT WALLS OF ATLANTA" that we bowl on right now, the "box" may win once or twice out of ten.

[Sammy Justice]

I think fundamentals prevails over equipment when it comes to the upper level of bowlers and equipment for us in the lower tier. Reason being people are comparing Roto/Grip and Storm on the Pro level and seeing who wins with what make of ball. The Guys and Gals in the Pro ranks can bowl with ANY ball out there. Proof (A) being if bowler so and so is on TV bowling with a Storm product it's because Storm is willing to pay them more money than say Roto/Grip or Hammer. If that bowler wins he or she gets an additional bonus from the ball maker. And what happens Monday, everyone runs to their nearest pro shop and wants to buy that ball. Proof (B) Most of the guys and gals on tour come up like the Isom's, Greg's, and Randy's and where using what ever ball they liked at that time being. Meaning so and so bowled with a Brunswick or Ebonite and then when they got to the upper level became dependent on one ball maker because thats where the big bucks were. Proof (C) Earl Anthony when he first became a pro used the same ball for a whole season, he did not have the sponsership that the top bowlers have today where every 2 - 3 games they can change balls. Thus showing that he was winning on fundamentals and not equipment.

[Chase]

uuuhhh... I have actually heard one of the best bowlers in this state ...who was actually out on the PBA thing say that "He was NOT able to use ANY manufacturer's equipment" ...for his particular "A game". In fact, he said that he was willing to send all of his sponsored equipment back...just so he could use what he wanted to.

[Sammy Justice]

I'm not saying that they can bowl with ANY ball of their choice during a tournament. We all know most are tied down to one or two ball makers. I'm saying that if they had the choice they could bowl just as well with Ball A or Ball C or D because they have the fundamentals to do it. Ex. I could give Strike alot Mallot a Roto Grip ball or something else and he would be just as good.

[Chase]

Yes, I know what you meant. Don't get me wrong...I agree with the fundamental points everyone has made. But, I also was saying that I have been told by some really really good bowlers that they "can't bowl just as well with Ball A or Ball C or D..." and get the be$t results to win.

I do understand that having a Porsche......will not make you a fundamentally "sound" great driver. But, I also can see that a regular driver in a Corvette sometimes will kick some butt on a straightaway...

[Ken Burwell]

Latonya, My 2 cents in this is that yes, one can improve their scores buy purchasing a better bowling ball, however, that same person will not be a better bowler with it. Meaning, true bowling is not the abililty to strike on, as Barry says, The great wall of Atlanta, bowling is the ability to score when the shot changes and there is no "bump". the ability to move 5 -15 boards from your comfort zone. As so many discussions have stated, todays bowling centers are in the business to make money. the average bowler does not want to work all day, come in and pay $20.00 to bowl 160's and 180's. They want to come in and bowl 200's and think they are doing something. The true bowler does, like I used to see you do, go out and put in 10 - 20 games of practice. Not working on what you do best, but working on things you need to improve.

[Chase]

You know…something interesting happened to me tonight.

After league, I decided I would practice a little...and I found myself in a situation where I simply could not “carry”…and didn’t have any clue on what to do. I really kept blaming things on the ball…and “whatever”. I thought I was rolling the ball in the “right” area to get strikes…but I didn’t see the ball doing what I wanted it to do.

Well, tonight I got a very valuable lesson. Dannial Cohen came over and told me to throw the exact same shot, but only move my feet “1” single board to the right. I then shot 248. I felt so stupid….lol. I really didn’t know…and actually told Dannial that I could have bowled 10 games…and would have never thought to move “right” with my feet 1 board. I would have been complaining about the ball, and it's not reacting right...or whatever …or the oil.

This simple thing has me now knowing how important it is to really LEARN how to bowl …and not just assume that a piece of equipment should dictate the outcome of my performance. Now I think I understand even more of what you all have been saying here.

Thanks everyone... maaaan do I feel dumb…lol (oh well…:)

[Jeff]

Chase, I had a similar "moment of clarity" not too long ago while bowling at Brunswick Zone in Lilburn, where my wife and I bowl a league on Sun. nights. I had not yet encountered a situation where I needed to move right, and certainly not by 5+ boards, but sometimes at this center its what I need to do to get the right shot....once I found that out, my games there were much more consistent. I'm also getting lessons and all my equipment through Dannial, and I must say I'm happy to have someone that's willing to talk and explain things as much as he is!

[Sammy Justice]

Same thing happened to me in a round about way. Last night I was bowling with Aaron Mercandel and I was getting ready to bowl the tenth frame of the second game. I have no idea what he said to me. But I said I guess I needed to focus to stike out the tenth frame to get our team closer to total pinfall, we had already lost the first and we about to lose the second game. Well I got on the approach focused on what I wanted to do and lo and behold stuck out the tenth for a 193 game. The 3 strikes were the best balls I had thrown all night at that time. I then got on myself for not focusing all evening. Well what did I do the 3rd game. I focused the entire game and shot a 279. DANG 10 pin in the 9th. This and Chase's blog also show's that sometimes we all might know how to bowl but we need a little assistance to get our head out of the gutter. (pun intended)

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

Its funny when as a kid I would hear people say I will never use this geometry and science, unless im a engineer or something. If you look at most all target sports, a great deal of it involves geometry. Angles are so important in bowling. Just as Dannial told you to move 1 board right, the angle changes to carry the strike. The game is so complex. That's why I love it so much, the challenge.

[Darwin Ratleff]

This conversation is needed by a lot of us bowlers who really want to excel in this game and not just be classified as a league or house bowler. Example. I have a close friend of mine who I know that could be a better bowler than he is, but he's falling back on his equipment he either owns or continues to buy to make him better. While practicing, he continuously shoots high scores(and brags) but in league nights, he struggles repeatedly. While every practice chance I have, I move my feet, slow my approach, open my shoulders, step up and back, try pointing, anything that would get me to the pocket with the same ball, just to see if I can adjust hand positions. Now I know from practicing those things, only certain balls would allow me to play certain angles and lines and even hand positions, but through it all, I've come to learn that.. well if there was a percentage, I would say fundamentals 90% balls 10%...