Bowling Better with
Coach Brian
Be Aware and Factual to Improve Sooner Rather Than Later
By Brian Dodds
Let’s “suppose” for a couple of minutes that you are back in grade school with your classmates. And let’s suppose your teacher gives you the opportunity to work together on an assignment with whomever you choose for the next several weeks. Once everyone has agreed on what group they are going to belong to, the teacher then tells you that each group can complete work at its own pace but that project accomplishments must be turned in once a week. Your group’s completed weekly work will be judged along with all of the other groups’ reports and results will be posted outside her office at the end of each week.
After a few weeks, maybe only one or two, you and your friends note that in comparison to the other groups’ results, you are at or near the bottom of each week’s posting. And, you never show improvement in comparison to the rest of the class. You thought you were doing okay, making some progress, and realized maybe you could do better but here you are still behind almost everyone. But you do enjoy the groups’ encounters together and can live with your efforts.
Suddenly it’s the end of the semester and you realize you are right where you started. The teacher says “so long; see you soon for another semester.” You could have done better but how, what went wrong? And was it really so bad to have enjoyed the company of your friends working on a project together an entire semester?
This scenario sounds kind of, well…blah doesn’t it? Now imagine that your class work-group is your bowling team. Every week it’s show up, have some laughs together, talk about missing the 10-pin or 7-pin, and how you think Bill or Mary is getting better and then go home. The next week you look at the standing sheet and whoa! Same ‘ol same ‘ol. Still mired in umpteenth place.
Many of us who think we are improving hide the truth from ourselves. We want to fit in, we claim it’s all about having a good time, but are disappointed when we don’t see any results. Truth be known, we avoid keeping close track of actual results and we are not getting any better. We only remember the night when we had that big game or got hot for all three games or picked “most” of the 7 or 10-pins. And even the two teammates who go out once a week together and practice are not getting any better.
Why do we do this to ourselves when, in the end, we are going to be the team or one of the two or three teams that drop out of league play every two or three years? Studies by the industry show that one of the main reasons people quit our sport is they are not competitive and/or having fun.
Practice by itself is only going to help you up to a point. Why? Because you are only getting more consistent at what you already do incorrectly. Eventually, without improving your fundamentals, you will reach a plateau and probably go into a decline.
Don’t let yourself get to the point where you no longer enjoy our great sport. You have several choices to stay active in bowling and have a great time. There are “low impact” leagues that are more recreational than competitive. There are also social leagues that may only meet occasionally and place little or no emphasis on rankings. And most centers do offer leagues for the challenged bowler who wants to get better but would prefer to bowl with others who are also less-skilled.
If however, you want to get better, see your center manager for advice. He/she can help you either get into a league offering a different environment or to find a competent instructor who will help you work to achieve whatever your goals are in bowling. And whatever your goals, know that you cannot reach them if you do not take action. Einstein’s famous quote “the definition of insanity is repeating the same process but expecting a different result” will always hold true. One more thought; don’t judge yourself by whether you reach your goals or not. Your bowling score does not define who or what you are. Take stock of where you want to be and then plan to get there. There is a league for everyone.
“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