Season Funk

[jhays]

What does everyone do when they know their in a funk - besides the fact of not trying to think so much on the approach. I practice every week (atleast 3 times) and have leagues 2 to 3 times a week, 1 is every other week. My practice sessions go great - my league series have dropped off the planet-

Suggestions, comments, ideas....Much appreciated.

[BigDawg70]

Take a week off! Don't bowl or even think about bowling for a week. Sometimes thats all I have to do break a slump. You roll a lot of games a week and you might have burned yourself out a little. Try it and see, ya never know.

[TenPin]

Ya, Bigdawg is right, you're just tensing up during league and need to take a break from so much bowling. When your ready to come back, take a fresh new look at bowling.

Also, league lane conditions don't always match practice conditions. So I don't always practice my strike shot, but center on spare shooting. One double with a bunch of spares will get you a 200.

[jhays]

I understand - It's hard to take week off, 2 out of the 3 leagues, my team is in 1st place. The only one I care about is my Wednesday Exec - it's the payout of $2000 each half - We won the 1st half, now were going after sweep.

I'll take this week off (Except Wednesday) (after Tourney in Ky today at Laru lanes (never been there), I'll just get a good sub to fill in on Friday.

During practice, I don't go after strikes, I start at 15 board play a shot (5 frames), then move to 10 board, 5 frames and 5 board 5 frames, just to learn where to stand on each of those shots, and I do shoot a lot of spares doing that. If I feel ok after that those 2 games, I work my way back out with a different ball.

[jhays]

Well, I did take Monday off, not Wednesday, and I paid the price. Shot my lowest series since my return (5 years). I shot a 498. a bunch of splits, and I absolutely did not throw the ball correctly at all once the lights come on. I threw 7 in practice (all were pockets with carry) Thought I had a good line - lights come on and my brain powered up and started over analyzing everything I did wrong. INstead of concentrating and focusing on what I should do. I was laughing the last game, ppl kept telling me to move left, right, up and back.... Why move if you didn't throw your shot correct. lol Rookies.

I'm taking Friday and Saturday off to get away from it, I am picking up a No Mercy today that finally came in - but I will bag it until Monday.

Keep at it (as I will)......

[TenPin]

I totally feel you pain. I am also up and down and can't do anything right with my mechanics. I try to make my current first balls do what they already should do if I'd let or could trust them to do. I've so far been able to stay in the 700's in series fortunately (4 game series), but last night I rolled my lowest, 721. Seems to a combination of bad shots (my fault) and poor pin carry, which makes the mental part harder. I make bad shots because I try to thread the needle with the ball that doesn't kick the 10 one frame and sticks a solid 9 the next frame with what appears to be identical lines (same lane too).

I'm going to try a couple new balls, maybe new drilling pattern, and hand measurements. For some reason, I'm just not comfortable with way my current balls are performing, they seem to have lost their punch. They are the NoMercy and BlackWidow that I've had about 8 months (about 125-150 games each), they both seem to be duds now. I bought both balls about the same time and they seemed to have died at the same time, cleaning them just doesn't seem to work any more. I should be using the new ones in about 2 weeks, we'll see if my average stablizes .

[jhays]

Lol - I couldn't wait until Monday to test out the No Mercy, I went to a different house so no one I knew would see me . While throwing the ball, I learned something about my release points. 6 to 3 and the 45 angle. I was dropping my shoulder and pointing my plant foot towards the right, causing my release to vary from 3 to 12 and even sometimes 11. Talking about "POW". Once I realized what I was doing, I put my NO Mercy on the seat, and took out the Tropical Storm, it was doing fine and I felt real good about the release points. I threw a 208 with 4 10 pin wraps. 6 Pin was just dieing in the gutter. I then shot another game with the No Mercy - moved only 3 boards left and shot 10-12. With the release point being as close to 3 as I could, I shot 290 with it. First ball was alittle heavy, left 4 pin, so that's when I moved 3 left. Then everything else carried like there was no tomorrow. Missing outside gave this ball a forgiving breakpoint over the Tropical Storm. I was so amazed at the hitting power this ball had even over 15 MPH speed and a 14Lb ball.

In closing, instead of taking tonight off, I am cleaning up and heading to the league this evening. I'm sure if I keep my release point "focusing" on 3 o'clock - I should be back to my level.

I'll post how the evening goes afterwards. I will say one thing, we need more posters as it seems TenPin (Love the quote!) and Bigdawg are the only visible beings out here. I appreciate the comments you 2 have posted as I do check this site often for "real" world experiences. Hopefully, we'll all meet someday at a tournament. Maybe Nationals - lol!

[TenPin]

Well, thats great that you've got your mojo back. And I never thought about actually trying "practice" to figure out my problem instead of during league play. Sometimes I feel like such a boob, LOL. I might just have to try it tonight.

Not sure how you take care of your equipment, but for your NM, make sure you clean it with a good ball cleaner (not a polish) after you bowl with it. It will help it stay hard hitting longer. After a while though, you will notice it to slowly lose it's punch, after about 50-75 games for me. Then you may want to start considering resurfacing after about 75+. You'll want to get most of the oil out of the ball before you do this of course. I may try this route myself (with my BW and NM), I'm just not sure if I'll get another 75+ games out of them when I do that? I may just keep them around for thoughs "what do I have to lose" or "I'm not throwing my good stuff on these lanes" moments.

Alas, as for Nationals, unless things fall into place just right, it most likely won't happen this year (I still hold out for a flicker of hope) . I do plan on trying to make next years Nationals for sure .

EDIT: I've been seeing lots of 10's as of late, just they've been like Bugs to Elmer Fudd lately, LOL. A lot harder than they should be.

[BigDawg70]

Good luck with the No Mercy. I know a lot of guys who really love that ball. Unfortunately, Hammer equipment for me has been nothing but expensive paper weights or door stops. It rolls great for others but just doesn't match my game very well.
Isn't it funny how something so simple as dropping a shoulder or a flying elbow can give us fits? I guess thats why we keep coming back for more week after week.
As far as Nationals goes.. I'll be there to receive my punishment on June 20th and 21st. Last year was pretty brutal. I stunk up the joint in singles and doubles but we did manage to cash in team. I'm gonna try to lose the "grip it and rip it" strategy this year!

[tyazell]

I will be at Nationals March 18th and 19th. Anyone else going to be there then?
My BowlingTracker Stats
Friday Night Mixer: Tommy Yazell
GSA Mixer: Tommy Yazell

[jhays]

No Mercy - was just that Friday night - It was a very positive night. I couldn't play the down and in with forward roll shot i wanted to play - (We all know we don't get what we want 1/2 the time). I kept my oil track 1 - 2" from Fingertips and about an 1" or so from Thumb - so I know my release was pretty accurate for a change. The No Mercy pushed the 6 pin quite often into the 10 and took all from the deck. I missed outside a few times to see the result, and usually just mixed on the deck and/or leave a 7 pin from the 4 pin bouncing in the wrong direction. All and all I felt very good about the ball and the release, which was my main objective, I scored 689 in a 3 game set, then shot 245 and 259 on a pot set. It was a friendly game playing progressive hanging - paid for my night, so it was a not a losing night

Not sure on Nationals yet, I go to City and State (both inside the next 3 weeks) so I should know by then. I just started into tournaments end of last year, so I am almost to the point of just throwing my game and not worrying about the overall excitement of the competition. I'm sure I'm a few years off of placing to cash - getting experience is more important for me now even if it costs me a few thousand over a few years.

The house tourney our team shot in last Sunday placed 4th overall - it was a handicap tourney, but our total HDCP was 79, and we all bowled 700's - I threw my Storm, which after last 2 nights with No Mercy, I am bagging that ball for awhile. I still need to find something inbetween the Storm Tropical and No Mercy to use with Forward roll, but if I use my spin release with less forward roll (my old way) I know that the Tropical will go longer (sometimes too long) and the No Mercy (pinned ring finger) has no giveaway playing the same lines (Inside to break at 45').

I know it sounds like I am analyzing more than I should with my axis, roll and breakpoints, but before I started back bowling 3 years ago, I thought I was a very good bowler, until I ran into my current coach and great friend. He showed me I had potential but needed to learn what, why and how every night.

I am already signed up for a doubles Sports league this summer with my teammates from Wednesday evening, as the coach says, if you want to learn accuracy - go do that and hit your mark - play with your release (all the hand positions) and when you come back to the league shot, you should be able to play better each time.

[Chuckb]

Hey guys,

wanted to "throw" in my few cents worth on the funk issue - i call it the bowling god. as our game progresses through the seasons our focus changes. we forget the things which are basic and begin to pay attention to upgrades (at least in our minds) which have (have not) improved our (again in our minds) games. Each bowler has "core" bowling characteristics. These can come in many forms - physical, approach - release point - loft...mental, oil pattern read - preceived ball path - supersition...equipment, ball finishes - wrist positions - side/ push off soles.

So here goes my take - NO MATTER what, when the great bowling god says you suck - DA - you suck. Don't over analize it - go back to the things which are strong for your game. Get with your buddies or coach talk clearly WHOM KNOW YOUR GAME and ask what they see. NOT FOR specifics but tendencies. Now get out of your familiar alley bowl and bowl somewhere else for practice - it will help you identify different basic things, but the most influential are the things ARE THE REAL CORE VALUES TO YOUR GAME.

Next and most importantly!!!!! - watch / RECORD left 1st ball pins!!!! This is invaluable when you get physical, mental and equipment under control / understanding. THIS NEXT step is really easy - make adjustments ON WHAT YOU leave. Keep track of - I can send you basic excel program to do this, but really easy to make your own - it's basically statistics - make adjustments on left pins.

But the absolute best advise i can offer is from someone whom has helped my game to 220+ PBA pattern average, 240+ house average - Teressa Ross Manteca California - my coach. "breath deap, watch the ball path THRU the pocket and then just roll the damn ball".

Thank-you Ms. T

AND MOST IMPORANTANLY I HOPE THIS SMALL BIT OF OFFERACE WILL ALLOW YOUR GAMES TO IMPROVE. REMEMBER NO MATTER 132 AVERAGE OR 242 IT'S A GAME AND YOU SHOULD HAVE FUN FIRST score second.

Best regards,

Chuck B

[jhays]

Well - the update on the season funk. After a few months of tweaking things, focusing on little things 1 step at a time. I've thrown 29 games in the past 2 weeks.

The lowest game shot was 204, highest was 279, (8 pin leave - I have to say, I am finally comfortable with the forward roll - doesn't get me in trouble. Out of those game (mostly 3 game sets) a few 4 games too - I can honestly say I've had 2 splits, 8 - 10 and the 4 - 10, I made the 4 - 10. I have hit the pocket 94% of the time out of those games, as I do keep track - i consider pocket shots, 1/3 hit with single pin spares. Even the 7 and 8 counts I've left were 1/3 hits but too heavy or light. So I didn't count those.

Last night in league - I filled in and finally went clean the entire night, only 1 8-count and 10 9-counts and 25 strikes. I didn't feel in the zone nor did I think. I didn catch myself wondering how in the hell the 6 pin was in the gutter and tapping the 10 pin a lot. I think I recall 5 times it did it.

This just goes to show and I learned a lot from this - no matter how bad I throw the ball, how much I think about it, and what I try to improve - how my average suffers through it - the bottom line is I am getting better and building my confidence back. I finally feel like I can go play the game and not force myself to do certain things. I think about it before I get on the approach, line up - take a deep breath and roll the ball to my target. Talk about Accuracy, Timing and Follow through, when I rolled the ball last night, I realized I haven't thrown the ball this well ever before. I had 1 bad shot which I got soft on, but I dropped my should at the line as I was already coming around the ball in the down swing and tried to compensate the speed.

Mistakes are going to happen, but I can tell when I do them, I'm not jumping to blame the lanes as soon as I throw it or grab my thumb or hand pretending like I hurt something or it stuck. ( i know we've all done that, lol).

My colleagues at the lanes are noticing - they are asking what I've changed and how long I've worked on it. BUt then there's the ones that ask why you not ripping the coverstock off the ball anymore? Or Why you not putting fingers in the ball ? I simply responded to all the questions, Why do I need too? Ain't I still knocking down more pins then you are? lol

Thanks for the advice on the forums and all the questions. This site has been a great tool to assist me in every aspect of the game.

[Rotogrippro]

yea that definatly works...my league two saturdays ago was cancelled cuz of the snow and the next week i go back im holding a 200 average now...went from 170 to 200+ take the time off

[Chuckb]

OK funk officially sucks, embarassing, frustrating, humiliating and on and on........damn the great bowling gods.

Here it is my wife and i bowl wednesday (today) day and night scratch league. Sr. league bowl at 10AM and 7PM same lanes three games each - 3 bowlers. Bunch of fun preceeded by breakfast and dinner and all the usual great folks - some pretty darn good bowlers. Morning session mama 760 - i bowled 816. Evening mama 502 - i - 637. What the hell happened? The folks we bowled against had the BEST pinfall ever - i mean ever - 2597 for 3 bowlers 3 games for this league. I mean i watched an 8 in a row streak where the head pin didn't get hit - holly crap....i shot 4 pocket hard shots and left hard 8 - 10 splits and i hate 1 pins. Bowling god at work?

i spoke earlier about getting back to your core game - sometimes it JUST DON'T WORK. It's really baffling - sometimes the game is effortless, frustrating, cerebrial, instinctive and always fun or just plain painful.

Imagine what the real atheletes go thru....glad my mortgage isn't riding on this

good bowling