http://forums.bowl.com/index.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:15 +0000 60 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=184
Get into a comfortable stance with your feet staggered so that your slide foot is forward and your ball-side foot is 16-18 inches behind it.

Firmly hold a 3-to-5-pound object in your bowling hand, and let your arm hang down by your side.

Move the weighted object in front of the body slightly above waist level.

Keeping a firm grip on the object, relax the arm from the wrist up to the shoulder, and allow gravity to swing the object backward and forward from the shoulder socket. Use your non-bowling arm to help maintain balance.

The shoulder and torso should not move backward and forward with the weight. Movement in the upper body or difficulty maintaining balance is an indication that the athlete is physically accelerating the motion of the weight.

This drill will show you how it feels when you allow gravity to guide your arm back and forth through the swing rather than you forcing it to do so. Once you gain the ability to let the ball swing freely, you'll be able to begin using the stored energy at release, which will give you the ability to deliver much stronger shots.

If you need further assistance, consult your local USBC-certified coach.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:50:32 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=184 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=183
Swing your ball-side arm freely from the shoulder with your open palm.

This should feel totally effortless.

Now, make the same swinging motion, but do so with your fist closed.

You are likely to feel tightness in your arm, shoulder and body as well as a general reduction in movement.

Lastly, swing your arm with your first closed again. While your arm is in the swinging motion, unclench your first. Repeat this process a few times.

You should notice the tension go away whenever you unclench your fist.

The goal is to get to the point where you can create and maintain the relaxed feeling even when you have a bowling ball in your hand. The ability to create this feeling will allow you to deliver accurate, powerful and consistent shots, which will eventually lead to higher scores and more fun.

If you need further assistance, consult your local USBC-certified coach.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:49:21 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=183 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=182
1. Get into a comfortable stance with your feet staggered so that your slide foot is forward and your ball-side foot is behind.

2. The ball should be placed in front of the ball-side shoulder, resting comfortably in the palm of the ball-side hand.

3. Use the non-ball-side hand for support

4. From this position, extend the ball slightly forward.

5. When the ball-side arm is extended out about 65 percent away from the body, the ball will fall into the down swing.

6. Use your non-bowling arm to assist in maintaining balance.

7. Allow the ball to swing freely to the top of the back swing and back downward. When the ball passes the non-ball-side ankle, release the shot onto the lane.

When done properly, you'll remain firmly balanced at the foul line all the way through the delivery. Repeating this process will allow you to get a feel for just how balanced you can and should be at the foul line. Over time, the goal is to be able to repeat this balanced position after taking your full approach.

If you need further assistance, consult your local USBC-certified coach.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:48:25 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=182 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=181
The Think Circle is the area off the approach near the ball return, the area you visit before picking up your ball and physically going through the motions to deliver a shot. It is within this circle that you should decide what ball you want to throw, what target you want to hit, what shape you want the shot to take, and so on and so forth. Once your decisions are made, visualize the desired shot. Once you can clearly picture that shot and the desired result, leave The Think Circle, and deliver the ball.

The Think Circle is for thinking; the approach is for bowling. Make your decisions in The Think Circle; once you're up on the approach, it's time for your body to take over.

If you need further assistance, consult your local USBC-certified coach.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:46:56 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=181 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=180
Additionally, this is a good time to get into the proper mindset regarding practice. When it comes to practice, quality is much more important than quantity. It does you no good to throw 50 games a week if you are doing so with poor technique. All you'll be doing is setting bad habits that you'll have to break later on. Instead, use practice time to learn the fundamentals of bowling. Ask a coach or trusted fellow bowler to help you. Remember, it's not how many games you bowl; it's how you bowl!

If you need further assistance, consult your local USBC-certified coach. Look Under "Find a..." Coach on www.BOWL.com]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:45:56 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=180 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=179
USBC Coaching Specialist Stephen Padilla knows how to build up the mind to promote successful bowling, a fact he demonstrated clearly while working with Brenda Edwards to win the Regular Doubles Division at the 2009 USBC Open Championships. This week, he shares some of his mental game moxy with you.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:43:53 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=179 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=129
Once data is input, the information is available to bowlers via the "Find A Coach" link in the navigation, or from your sub-domain public page within BowlSpot.com.

Once some kinks get worked out, this tool will be presented on the home page.

Find A Coach tool: http://www.bowlspot.com/page/findCoach

Thanks,
Brian Burkhardt
USBC Silver Coach
Webmaster]]> Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:38:53 +0000 http://forums.bowl.com/index.php?showtopic=129