Does anybody here videotape their practice?

[static93x]

I picked up a mini tripod so that I can start videotaping my approach and to see how the ball travels from different points of view.

I was wondering how many other people do this? What are your reasons? Do you not have a coach available, do you just want to see how you're doing, do you want to use it to improve or just to show off perhaps?



The center I bowl at doesn't have any coaches (Brunswick Bowl XL) doesn't have a pro shop even, my pro shop is about 2 blocks down the road and so I don't get a chance to have Bob (pro shop guy) watch me and advise me of what I'm doing anymore. When I used to bowl at Blainbrook (my house for 6 years of juniors), he'd always help me out. Now that I work full-time 50+ hours a week on second shift, my only available time to bowl is Sunday night which Blainbrook doesn't offer.

[BigDawg70]

I've recorded myself on few different occasions. I can tell you there is no better way to screw yourself up than to watch yourself on video. My thinking on it is your approach may look like a train wreck but if you can score then don't mess with it. You just have to be careful in identifying a problem vs something that just doesn't look right.
I have a very high back swing and until I broke out the video camera a few years ago, I had no idea that I turned my hand over at the top of my back swing similar to Rudy Kasimakis. I had a 200+ avg but once I saw that I decided that it needed to be fixed. A short time later I found myself down in the 180's wondering what in the world happened. Turns out that by correcting the "problem" threw my arm swing and timing way off.
Now when I use a video camera I set up the shot so that I see nothing from the knees or waist up. That way I can watch for hand position through the ball and issues with drifting at the line. Anything else can be seen by watching your balls path.

[TenPin]

I always wondered what would happen if you tried to watch yourself bowl and then correct something that may not have been broken. It would be something nice to know, what you do that is when you bowl, but it sounds like you should be careful what you correct. Have to admit it though, I'd like to see what I do just so I can get a good laugh at my whole idea how good I look when I bowl .

[BowlingTracker]

I video myself occasionally, just to make sure I'm still doing the fundimentals right.. I like to see things like if my slide stops before I releasee, if my backswing is straight (not pulling behind me).. any drift away from my target line, etc.. I feel like it helps me a lot to make sure I'm not getting completely out of whack with what I think i'm doing..

[jhays]

I just accomplished this over the past week-end. I threw 1 game first, then turned on camera and threw 2 more games. I sat down and watched it - I have this untimed 1 - 2 step, but then steps 345 is ok, then I end with a 5 - 8 board skip to the right "as it gets released". This showed me my arm swing was not timed with my 5 step approach - To make a long story short - I tried correcting the problem - changed to a 4 step approach - and started ball earlier in my approach - after 6 frames of this I had no CLUE what to do - I was all out of wack.

Great thing about this - my personal friend and instructor came in, saw what I was doing with the camera and came over quickly. He watched 5 minutes of it, laughed and said show me what you did after watching it. I showed him and he laughed even more. He said ok, ok - your on the right track - but out of the video - my only thing I should have even tweaked was the last thing I do - the skip with the ball in your hand - your losing strength and accuracy right there - remember the ATF - Accuracy, Timing, Follow Through - So - I ended making 1 major adjustment - bending my left knee at the line, planting the foot and everything with the 4 step approach corrected itself, I feel more in time and sync then I ever did with the 4 step now. I have lost even more hand in the ball (which I am very happy about)

I threw 4 more games like that, on a burnt up shot - standing 15L throwing 6-10R and shooting 1012 in 4 games. Best thing about the 4 game set - NO OPENS. I felt so confident, I shot my 7 and 10 pins like that - almost looked straight shots at them - I hit the pocket everyshot, some light and a few heavy, but still gave my self a chance at a strike.


Now that you saw my experience with the camera - I am all for Video taping - but sit down with someone that can help you evaluate your game before you do anything - I thought I knew enough about marks, areas, and playing the game that tweaking a thing or two would give me more of an advantage - but for that half a game or so, I was confused and losing confidence quickly.


Kudos to BIGDAWG - HE was right on it - Be careful - looking funny and over adjusting can be dangerous.
No matter what you do to improve, change or tweak - always stay positive and keep your confidence up. I am going to post my old approach (one with a strike ending) and my new approach (one with a strike ending) on my website - once it's there, I will post a link to let others see the difference - the great thing about the whole experience was well worth it - I have more confidence and know in my head I can make the shot easier now with less effort. Should help my stamina in those 12 game tourney quals!!!!

[thedistrict]

Is Anyone Familiar With The C.A.T.S System?

[static93x]

^ Are you referring to this?

http://www.kegel.net/products/products-cats.htm

[jhays]

Hey - speaking of Video Taping - I just purchased the MotionPro Advanced Coach Edition - I already have the laptop and DVR camera - so I am really looking forward to this - has anyone else had experience with this software? I have read it's not too hard to learn - but wondered if anyone has tried it.

[majicman]

I tape myself often I set mine up on a mini tripod down by the ball return you have to get down on your hands and knees to focus the camera. but I think it's a good level to film from.

[static93x]

I haven't videotaped myself yet, but I will this week sometime. Thanks for all the input. I probably won't try to change anything, but I want to see what I look like...get a laugh. Also, I'll be concentrating on where my ball is put down and where it ends up. I just want to see different reactions on different lanes for now.

[kinkaid7477]

i have in the past, but my game has evolved into a lot of feel over the last 5 or 6 years
also, i have open communication with my teammates, who know me well enough to tell me something i may not be doing right, i will actually tell them to look for certain things,
one is that if i'm not throwing well, i have a tendacy to not follow through due to being worried about where the ball might end up,
i used the tape to also see what i looked like when i threw a good shot so i could have the visual in my mind and try to repeat that motion time after time,
the main thing to remember is that hard work on the lanes will make you better.