Bowling Better with
Coach Brian
Emulate a Standout - for the Right Reasons
By Brian Dodds
We’ve all had that unusual style of bowling catch our eye haven’t we? You know the one I mean, the “articulated giraffe” or the bowler who is bent over as if picking up pennies in the parking lot or the person who flies to the line and then delivers the ball as if dropping a hot potato. But they only stand out in our mind because of the uncoordinated form that they have. But what reaction do we have when we witness someone with exceptionally good, even great form?
Recently I had the pleasure of watching a bowler perform in a manner seldom seen. It was on a local house shot in a competitive event, another day of bowling in any city in our country. I didn’t pick up on the bowler’s form immediately because he was so habitual in repeating his process every time. Over a few frames the reality of his form suddenly hit me; a “pro-like” sequence preceded his well-timed approach and consistent release. Yes, he possessed a sound fundamental game and had good speed and a powerful ball but it was much more than that.
What this person owns is a presence that I’ve only seen once in a young bowler. He was not cocky, but he did comport himself in a confident way. His pre-shot routine was consistent, unhurried, and reflected great focus. Assuming his stance he was careful in his setup and never hurried. Each approach start was exactly as the previous start, steady, slowly paced and in perfect time.
Having a great physical game is a common trait to many a bowler who is neither consistent nor great. We look at those bowlers and say “if only he/she relaxed through the release, or waited on their arm-swing”, or whatever one flaw we see. Some bowlers with sound physical games psych themselves out in a tight match or cannot seem to conquer the mental game of staying in focus throughout a contest. Not so the bowler I am telling you about.
At the end of the contest, the bowler had thrown only one poor shot and averaged almost 250. Almost too common in today’s game but the difference was his deportment, his focus, and being able to focus totally on one shot at a time and finish every shot just as he had started it; relaxed, confident, in good timing and maintaining his balance.
You will see many bowlers every day capable of throwing huge scores but for most it’s like the stock market; they’ll have lots of ups and downs. What the bowler I saw, and I hope you will see him or another like some day soon, had thee whole package at a very young age. We will not see this type of bowler very often and I hope that when you do you are aware of what it is you see in the persona; potential greatness because of the ability to focus, repeat the entire process from the “think circle” through the completion of each and every shot and a confidence that their process is solid. Make mental notes and compare your process to a truly standout form and then emulate persona. You will be a better bowler and roll better scores – more consistently.
“If you like bowling, pass it on!”
Bowlers Journal 100 Top Coaches, USBC Master Bronze Instructor & USBC Silver Coach
e-mail Coach Brian@:: bdodds@computer-connection.net
Ó December 2006