By Ron Hatfield, USBC certified Gold level coach
When building a USBC Sport Bowling ball arsenal, variety is the key. Incorporate different surfaces such as reactive resin, particle, urethane and plastic and different drilling layouts (axis, label, stacked, etc.). The key is to know what each ball does within your own style on different USBC Sport Bowling lane oil patterns. This simply takes a lot of practice on different conditions comparing ball reactions to each other and then listing this information on a ball chart that you can keep in your bag for quick reference. This helps to eliminate guesswork during a tournament.
[Editor's Note: Ron Hatfield is the head coach of the Westerville South (Ohio) High School bowling team and a former USBC Junior Team USA assistant coach. ]
By Bob Learn Jr., USBC Proprietor Relations specialist and USBC Level I certified coach
On the PBA Tour, creating strong entry angle is based on how much axis rotation a player can achieve. This is for two reasons. First, on the PBA Tour, we play the end of the pattern where league players create entry angle by taking advantage of friction to the right. High rev rates are needed on Tour so the ball can slow down soon enough to create the optimum entry angle. Secondly, the PBA exempt players' high rev rates create a lay down area much farther inside. Tommy Jones, Wes Malott and a few others can take advantage of playing further left because of their extremely high rev rates and axis rotation. Of course, the best players on Tour can adjust their speed, rev rate and axis rotation. Champions are crowned each week based not on who hits the pocket the most, but who can create the best entry angle. How does this relate to amateur players? When you can throw your most comfortable speed and play the friction to the right, you are usually able to create a strong entry angle. But if you encounter a condition which dictates moving deeper on the lane, keep in mind that you may have to increase your axis rotation and/or decrease your ball speed to maintain or create optimal entry angle. Find a USBC certified coach in your area who can help you improve those skills and make you a more versatile player.
[Editor's Note: Bob Learn Jr. has more than 20 years of experience on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, where he owns five career titles including the 1999 U.S. Open.]
By Cary Pon, manager of Coach Development and Certification for USBC Coaching
Entering the strike pocket at the desired 6 degree entry angle can be accomplished by adjusting the four forces imparted to the bowling ball in managing break point. These include ball speed, revolutions, axis rotation and axis tilt. The most important aspect of watching the ball roll down the lane is noting where the ball starts to slow down. To attain ball reaction (hook), friction must be present. Proper ball speed is attained when the ball slows down on the right part of the lane to achieve the proper entry angle.
[Editor's Note: Cary Pon, a USBC certified Silver level coach, was listed among the "Top 100 Coaches" for 2005 by Bowlers Journal International magazine.]
A common myth in bowling is that if the lanes are extremely oily, you should use the ball in your arsenal that hooks the most. Sometimes it is wiser to choose a ball that is less aggressive with a stable core (symmetrical weight block) that will produce an even arcing motion and not cover a lot of boards. This can keep the ball in play until the lanes finish transitioning and open up to some degree. Hitting the pocket and converting easier spares will keep you in the match or tournament more often than if you choose an aggressive ball that forces you to play a line that uses too much of the lane and creates more chance for error. [Editor's Note: Ron Hatfield is the head coach of the Westerville South (Ohio) High School bowling team and a former USBC Junior Team USA assistant coach.] Don't be negative: Refocus with positive thoughts By Michelle Mullen, USBC certified Gold level coach, author of Bowling Fundamentals and a former professional bowler. The ability to refocus when negative thoughts enter your mind is very important. We all have them, but we need to replace them with productive, performance-oriented thoughts so we can execute the next shot properly. From my experience on tour, I know that players who need a shot to win often think about the title or the prize money. Those thoughts naturally cross your mind. The bottom line is learning to refocus those thoughts into what it takes to make the next shot well. A good mental routine, though invisible, is very hard work. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Kim Adler were superb at developing their mental routines to master the art of shot-making. It takes a lot of discipline, but you can do it with practice and help from a USBC certified coach. Find one in your area by using the "Find a Coach" feature on the Coaching section of bowl.com. Variety of releases can lead to Sport Bowling success By Bill Spigner, USBC certified Gold level coach, USBC Hall of Famer and general manager and proprietor of Hawthorn Lanes in Vernon Hills, Ill. USBC Sport Bowling conditions require a variety of releases and changing at the right time. A good rule of thumb to follow is: on freshly-oiled Sport Bowling lane conditions, your release should be end over end, letting the ball go smoothly onto the lane to get the ball into an earlier roll. As the oil breaks down and a track develops, more loft and side roll can be applied to get the ball through the heads and down the lane.
By Michelle Mullen, USBC certified Gold level coach, author of Bowling Fundamentals and a former professional bowler.
The ability to refocus when negative thoughts enter your mind is very important. We all have them, but we need to replace them with productive, performance-oriented thoughts so we can execute the next shot properly. From my experience on tour, I know that players who need a shot to win often think about the title or the prize money. Those thoughts naturally cross your mind. The bottom line is learning to refocus those thoughts into what it takes to make the next shot well. A good mental routine, though invisible, is very hard work. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Kim Adler were superb at developing their mental routines to master the art of shot-making. It takes a lot of discipline, but you can do it with practice and help from a USBC certified coach. Find one in your area by using the "Find a Coach" feature on the Coaching section of bowl.com.
By Bill Spigner, USBC certified Gold level coach, USBC Hall of Famer and general manager and proprietor of Hawthorn Lanes in Vernon Hills, Ill.
USBC Sport Bowling conditions require a variety of releases and changing at the right time. A good rule of thumb to follow is: on freshly-oiled Sport Bowling lane conditions, your release should be end over end, letting the ball go smoothly onto the lane to get the ball into an earlier roll. As the oil breaks down and a track develops, more loft and side roll can be applied to get the ball through the heads and down the lane.
By Michelle Mullen, a USBC Gold certified coach and author of Bowling Fundamentals, is a former professional bowler.
In the stance, preset your wrist in a weaker position by breaking it back and placing your hand slightly on the side of the ball. The key is to maintain this position during the entire swing so that there is less hand action at the release. Whether breaking the wrist for hooking lanes or to shoot spares, many bowlers start in this weak position but don’t finish with it at the release point. Because bowlers are used to trying to “put more” on the ball, they end up strengthening the hand position as they get ready to release the ball. This defeats the purpose. Start in a weaker position, maintain it during the swing and expect to put less on the ball at release.
By Neil Stremmel, USBC Technical Director
With the start of the new Sport Bowling season, I am realizing that my skills have deteriorated and, for once, it matters. In past seasons after I returned to the lanes after a summer layoff, I seemed to start off right where I left off the previous year.
I knew I wasn’t as sharp, but the forgiveness of a standard house shot made it seem that I was as good as I was three or four months ago. This false sense of security robbed me of the confidence I gained as I improved during the first couple of months of the new season.
Now that I have started a Sport Bowling league, I can see that I have gotten rusty and need to improve my game once again. And the one thing that stands out to me the most is ball speed control.
Speed control is a key area on which to focus, and I believe it is an area that you can re-gain control of quickly. At the start of a new season, bowlers are out of practice and have inconsistent arm swings. Bowlers tend to force the ball down the lane, either to get the ball out toward their mark, or because the swing doesn’t feel natural anymore. Consistent speed control best comes from a natural, gravity-controlled, pendulum swing. Consistent ball speed will come if you let the ball fall and swing freely in a pendulum motion following the pushaway. Anytime you force the ball, you risk inconsistencies due to fatigue, especially early in the season before you return to “bowling-shape.” By allowing gravity to control the speed of your swing (and hence your ball), you can quickly gain consistency of your ball speed. Once you have this under control, you can pinpoint other areas that need more immediate attention. There are a few ways in which you can gauge your speed consistency. If you have access to the Computer Aided Tracking System from ABC/WIBC, you can easily track your ball speed at several spots down the lane. You can then use those numbers to track your consistency from shot to shot. However, never compare strike ball shots to spare shots. Second, many automatic scoring devices now measure and display ball speed (at the pins) on the overhead monitor. Though the measurement’s accuracy may not be perfect, you should be able to use it to gauge consistency from shot to shot. Finally, if you do not have access to either of the above, have a teammate time your shot from release until it hits the pins. Again, the accuracy may not be there, but it should help you determine if you’re being consistent. Also, remember that you can re-perform these measurements every month or so to determine if you are increasing your consistency.
Speed control is a key area on which to focus, and I believe it is an area that you can re-gain control of quickly. At the start of a new season, bowlers are out of practice and have inconsistent arm swings. Bowlers tend to force the ball down the lane, either to get the ball out toward their mark, or because the swing doesn’t feel natural anymore.
Consistent speed control best comes from a natural, gravity-controlled, pendulum swing. Consistent ball speed will come if you let the ball fall and swing freely in a pendulum motion following the pushaway. Anytime you force the ball, you risk inconsistencies due to fatigue, especially early in the season before you return to “bowling-shape.” By allowing gravity to control the speed of your swing (and hence your ball), you can quickly gain consistency of your ball speed. Once you have this under control, you can pinpoint other areas that need more immediate attention.
There are a few ways in which you can gauge your speed consistency. If you have access to the Computer Aided Tracking System from ABC/WIBC, you can easily track your ball speed at several spots down the lane. You can then use those numbers to track your consistency from shot to shot. However, never compare strike ball shots to spare shots.
Second, many automatic scoring devices now measure and display ball speed (at the pins) on the overhead monitor. Though the measurement’s accuracy may not be perfect, you should be able to use it to gauge consistency from shot to shot.
Finally, if you do not have access to either of the above, have a teammate time your shot from release until it hits the pins. Again, the accuracy may not be there, but it should help you determine if you’re being consistent. Also, remember that you can re-perform these measurements every month or so to determine if you are increasing your consistency.
By Brent Sims, USBC Silver certified coach and Kegel Training Center coordinator
Sport Bowling lane conditions present a challenge that most bowlers have never faced. This article focuses on obtaining a better understanding of Sport Bowling that will hopefully result in improved performance on the lanes. Understanding the differences between a Sport pattern and a regular house shot is essential. Remember that most bowlers have become accustomed to higher scoring that has become the norm today. It is difficult for most people to understand why they don’t score as well on Sport conditions as house conditions. Education can help reduce the bruise to the ego that most players experience when they see their scores go down. Bowlers must learn to recognize that Sport Bowling conditions will not give them anything they do not earn. Bowlers now have to make quality shots to earn quality scores. Be patient and practice, practice, practice. Lane Play Aspects Important in Sport Bowling Another important part of education is understanding that certain lane play principles are effective in the Sport Bowling environment. Three lane play rules are critical: Ball speed. Control and consistency. Matching equipment to rev rate and rotation to help play the lane straighter. Improving those principles lead to the ability to repeat shots. The best scores on Sport conditions are usually attained using control, not dynamic ball reactions. Having a better understanding of what it takes to better control Sport shot situations helps you become a better bowler. For example, players that have high rev rates and usually rely on dynamic reactions to maximize their scores find that layouts with the mass bias toward the vertical axis line helps them create a reaction that is stronger in the mid-lane and have less back-end finish, giving greater control. Control is one of the primary objectives we strive for in ball reaction on a Sport Bowling pattern. When you choose a layout and a cover that helps the ball start to use its energy before it hits the heavy friction in the back of the lane, it tames the ball’s motion at the break point. This smoother, tamer reaction makes it easier to control. This control makes your misses result in easier spare leaves. Lane play can be trickier on a Sport pattern compared to a house condition because there is no obvious friction area into which you want to feed the ball. One of the main areas of focus is understanding the mid-lane. There are many bowlers who have learned how to bowl on house shots and who rely so much on fresh, strong back-end reaction and reading their break point that they never learned how to understand ball reaction in the mid-lane. That is not to say that the break point is not important because it is still the dominant factor in how to play the lane. However, recognizing the transition the ball goes through in the mid-lane helps you score better. Another part of lane play is understanding what to strive for. Remember that on a challenging lane conditions you might not need to have a strike every time to win. Sometimes just eight and nine counts and making spares are good enough to win. You can bowl much more consistently with nine spares across the sheet along with the occasional strike than you can with strike, washout, big four split, etc. By using the mid-lane effectively, you might not strike every time but it helps you to leave spares that are much easier to convert. One final, important key in every situation is spare shooting technique. You will convert more spares when lane conditions have a minimal effect on your shots. The straighter you can throw at a spare - either throwing the ball faster or using polyester balls (the more preferred method) - the better your conversion rate will be. Playing the lanes is tough enough on the first ball — expecting you to know how each part of the lane plays for spares is almost impossible. If you don’t have a polyester ball that you can use, throw the ball harder with more forward roll and with less rotation to convert spares. This combination makes the ball not change direction as much in its path down the lane. Use these keys to help you better understand Sport Bowling lane conditions. This knowledge ultimately helps you compete at a higher level in more situations. Effectiveness obtained through education will bring your game to the next level.
Sport Bowling lane conditions present a challenge that most bowlers have never faced. This article focuses on obtaining a better understanding of Sport Bowling that will hopefully result in improved performance on the lanes.
Understanding the differences between a Sport pattern and a regular house shot is essential. Remember that most bowlers have become accustomed to higher scoring that has become the norm today. It is difficult for most people to understand why they don’t score as well on Sport conditions as house conditions.
Education can help reduce the bruise to the ego that most players experience when they see their scores go down. Bowlers must learn to recognize that Sport Bowling conditions will not give them anything they do not earn. Bowlers now have to make quality shots to earn quality scores. Be patient and practice, practice, practice.
Lane Play Aspects Important in Sport Bowling
Another important part of education is understanding that certain lane play principles are effective in the Sport Bowling environment. Three lane play rules are critical:
Improving those principles lead to the ability to repeat shots. The best scores on Sport conditions are usually attained using control, not dynamic ball reactions. Having a better understanding of what it takes to better control Sport shot situations helps you become a better bowler.
For example, players that have high rev rates and usually rely on dynamic reactions to maximize their scores find that layouts with the mass bias toward the vertical axis line helps them create a reaction that is stronger in the mid-lane and have less back-end finish, giving greater control.
Control is one of the primary objectives we strive for in ball reaction on a Sport Bowling pattern. When you choose a layout and a cover that helps the ball start to use its energy before it hits the heavy friction in the back of the lane, it tames the ball’s motion at the break point. This smoother, tamer reaction makes it easier to control. This control makes your misses result in easier spare leaves.
Lane play can be trickier on a Sport pattern compared to a house condition because there is no obvious friction area into which you want to feed the ball. One of the main areas of focus is understanding the mid-lane. There are many bowlers who have learned how to bowl on house shots and who rely so much on fresh, strong back-end reaction and reading their break point that they never learned how to understand ball reaction in the mid-lane.
That is not to say that the break point is not important because it is still the dominant factor in how to play the lane. However, recognizing the transition the ball goes through in the mid-lane helps you score better.
Another part of lane play is understanding what to strive for. Remember that on a challenging lane conditions you might not need to have a strike every time to win. Sometimes just eight and nine counts and making spares are good enough to win. You can bowl much more consistently with nine spares across the sheet along with the occasional strike than you can with strike, washout, big four split, etc. By using the mid-lane effectively, you might not strike every time but it helps you to leave spares that are much easier to convert.
One final, important key in every situation is spare shooting technique. You will convert more spares when lane conditions have a minimal effect on your shots. The straighter you can throw at a spare - either throwing the ball faster or using polyester balls (the more preferred method) - the better your conversion rate will be.
Playing the lanes is tough enough on the first ball — expecting you to know how each part of the lane plays for spares is almost impossible. If you don’t have a polyester ball that you can use, throw the ball harder with more forward roll and with less rotation to convert spares. This combination makes the ball not change direction as much in its path down the lane.
Use these keys to help you better understand Sport Bowling lane conditions. This knowledge ultimately helps you compete at a higher level in more situations. Effectiveness obtained through education will bring your game to the next level.
