Traditional Style vs. Uniquely you

[Chase]

In an effort to improve my bowling, I have spent the majority of the summer season trying a “new” technique that was shown to me by someone that I highly respect as a bowling coach. After he showed me what to do, the very next day I shot an effortless 300 game. I might also add – that was the whole point; to get a more effortless “traditional” style approach to my “swing”…and release technique.

Well, as many of my friends and teammates will tell you; my bowling has gone completely downhill this summer. I am barely averaging 200 on easy “house-shots”, and totally awful on the PBA patterns.

I say all of this because I got so frustrated tonight during the PBA league (153, 156, 172, 180) that after league, I decided to get a pair of lanes that I had not bowled on, and decided to see what my bowling would be like if I just went BACK to the way I use to bowl. I then shot games 217, 223, 205, and 197...and it felt “good” again. Now, I know the pattern had been “broken-down”, but the thing that was most noticeable was my swing and the ball release (using the way I normally bowl)…”FREE”…as my friend Monte told me.

Now my question is, “Should I just go back to what I know works?” I mean, I have watched local great bowlers like Tim Sprattling, Isom Hawes, Curtis Wilson, Steve Vance (2-hands), Matt Burden, and Ike Reese…and there is NOTHING “traditional” about the way they swing and release a bowling ball… yet it works for THEM.

Even when watching PBA Bowlers Jason Belmonte, Rhino Page, and even The King of Bowling – Wes Mallott… they have a style and way of bowling that (to my eyes) seems uniquely them…not the academic-textbook approach to bowling.

BTW – my average has went from 160 to 214 in only 3 years…but now I am struggling to shoot above 195 on house shots with the new technique attempt.

I look forward to any help and opinions about this….

Thanks,

Chase

[Wayne Gibson]

Short answer is that 99% (guesstimate) of bowlers are not book bowlers. Nor were they back in the so-called glory days. A good coach can work with what the bowler brings to the table. A bad coach will try and "cookie cutter" every bowler they coach.

[jonah white]

Wayne is right, you can try every shot technique that coaches or better bowlers give you but if you don't add it too what you already do you will not be successful. There has to be comfort in what you do.

[B'yon P. Hairston]

As my college bowling coach once told me stop thinking so much when you get on the lanes, Do want the man above gave you the talent to do & do what you will work for you go back to where you are comfortable at doing. I have been struggling a couple of week now to and I just went back to the basic. You will be fine.

[VCarlton]

To b truthfully honest, it doesn't hurt to try new things, and its not going to feel comfortable doing it. To me the summer isn't long enough to try new things when it comes to bowling. I use to tell people, that i love the game of bowling when i was dumb, but now; its a whole different playing field. The things i have learned over the past 3-5 yrs. from certain people has help me alot. Now don't get me wrong, I pick and choose what to pratice on that fits my game once they have showed me pointers, or given me little tips. And not to be funny, how are u going try a new techinque out on a PBA patter, and u haven't practice long enough on house shots (with the new techinque). And when u are learning new things, u can't be concerned with scores. So my advice to u, is keep trying it. If you feel the person thats giving u the advice is good for u, knows how u bowl and is willing to work with u on the techinque (cause learning new things and not knowing if u r doing it right or wrong can create bad habbits that u may or may not have had) I dont c anything wrong with it.

[LaTonya Walker]

I agree with Nina. I believe you should continue to work on the new techinque in practice! Keep what you do but know that when you are learning something different it will be uncomfortable. Obviously it must have worked a litttle because you went out and bowled 300 the next week. It takes time to learn a different "feel." You will not get this "new technique" right away. Just remember that when you are learning something new, your scores will go down but if you are the type of person that would rather see scores then improvement then maybe learning something different is not for you. You are correct in saying that a lot of bowlers are not "by the book" but there are some basic skills that they all have in common as far as their release. All of those people you mentained may not get the to the line the most traditional way but what they do when they get there is what counts.

[Chase]

Hey, I want to thank everyone who gave an opinion on this subject. I have lately been still working on the "new" technique.... but I am also "doin' my regular" too. Honestly, so far I find that using the new way of swinging increases my accuracy....but I end up not striking as much (so far). And when I go back to the old way... I get a lot of strikes...but I also seem to miss more easy spares. I guess I just have to keep practicing and find a good balance.

Thanks again. :)