I am most definitely NOT doing the PBA Experience league over the summer, no matter how much Gregg and Tom and Steve Jaros all tell me I should. After this past Monday night I have determined that I am JUST! NOT! READY!
After my pitiful night I was drowning my sorrows in a Dos Equis at the bar, and struck up a conversation with Mike Nape, who carries the high average in the league. And he actually said something to me that made sense. "I think you just need to find an easy shot over the summer and get your confidence back." I could have hugged him. He is sooooo right. I do need to get my confidence back, and remind myself that I do know what I'm doing. Also the summer would be the prefect time to work on what I've learned so that I can come back fresh in the fall.
So, that's settled. I just don't think I really want to bowl with my dad anymore. I think I'd like to find a women's league. I've never really done an all-women's league before, just mixed. Actually what will probably wind up happening is that I'll be doing another Miller Triples league over the summer.... I tend to do pretty well in those.... and maybe one other league at Fox.
Hey if anyone out there has any suggestions for a good summer league in the Chicago area, send me a message!
OK, so I met up with a new coach today, a gentleman I know from my Monday night league who gives lessons in addition to being a really awesome bowler (I guess you need to be an awesome bowler to bowl pro, right?). Anyway, everyone was telling me I need to take lessons from him, so finally I caved. Damn, I wish I had done this sooner. It was enlightening to say the least.
My primary problem is control. It seemed like every time I threw the ball, it would go somewhere different. I was missing right, missing left, only occasionally hitting my mark right on. I'd drop my shoulder, or I'd pull the ball, or my release would be bad and the ball would spin more than hook. All these things were adding up to a very frustrating season on the tougher conditions of my Monday night league.
First of all, I was videotaped (do they still call it "videotaping" even though it's digital now?) and by looking at the video he pointed out to me that I was starting too far back on the approach and taking steps that were way too big (I use a 4-step approach). So basically what was happening was that by the time I reached the foul line I was more or less lunging forward, which was causing my aim to be off. He had me start about 8 inches or so ahead of where I normally start, forcing me to take smaller steps. When I tried this, I was amazed at what happened. I was hitting my mark more consistently, plus I was also getting a lot more power behind the ball, and also getting better movement too. One tiny little thing seemed to make a world of difference.
I was truly amazed that he was able to find the one thing that seemed to be holding me back. He's good. :-) The true test will be tomorrow night, though, on the harder shot.
Team took one game and series, so 3 points. One of my teammates had an 8-bagger and wound up with a 253 in the second game. I just could not find a line to save my life and I just kept leaving 3- and 4-pin spares all night. I need help. No, I just need to get a house shot. And a good coach. Phooey.
My team can't seem to win a game. We are dead last. Seems like even when we are all bowling well (which is rare), the other team still manages to blow us away. Plus now we're down a man for the rest of the season. Oy it does not look good.
We did manage to steal two points tonight, but man do we really have to scratch and claw to get a point these days. Even with all the handicap we have, we just can't get it together. And now my dad has turned into a big ol' sourpuss, thus sucking all the fun out of everything. I guess he'll be glad when the season's over. As for me, I'm actually thinking about coming back next year, because even if I'm not bowling completely up to snuff, I am learning a ton.
Though over the summer, however, I will probably find a nice house shot and kick some serious butt for a while.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 11:54 PM CST [General]
The shot changed, and now everything is hooking. Last night I was actually able to break 500 after what seems like ages. Not stellar, but a lot better than what I had been doing on the long oil, so I guess I'm not complaining (anymore). Dad's still kind of struggling, but he likes to give all sorts of excuses about it, like he's tired, his wrist hurts, his fingers/thumb don't fit right, etc. Blah... I don't make excuses when I bowl crappy, because let's face it, I'm just bowling crappy.
Sometimes I just lack focus. I let stupid little things happen, like dropping my shoulder, missing my mark, coming over the top of the ball on the release, stuff like that. *sigh* It's because of stuff like that that I'm just not as consistent as I'd like to be.
But breaking 500 again last night definitely helped me get some confidence back.
