bulko@ut-sally.UUCP (Bill Bulko) (01/03/86)
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Let's see if I can stimulate some discussion about bowling here. (Al
Schwartz, are you still out there?)
Recently a friend and I were having a discussion: in some sports, it's
advisable for beginners to start out with "training-level" equipment until
they've mastered the sport [at that level], at which time they move on to
better equipment; either (a) it's easier for them to learn that sport this
way, or (b) it's inadvisable to use higher-level equipment without experience.
An example of such a sport might be something like skiing or auto racing.
(I'm sure there are better examples, but none come to mind at the moment.)
In other sports, all players can use the same level of equipment, but it's
wasted on beginners since they can't use it effectively (much less tell the
difference). An example of the latter might be tennis (a racquet is a
racquet to a beginner) or golf (beginners don't need a whole set of clubs if
they can't use them correctly). For sports in the first group, a beginner
should never get the "best" equipment at the start, whereas in the second
group, it doesn't hurt. In which category does bowling fall?
It's always been my opinion that beginning bowlers should use a hard
rubber, conventionally drilled ball when they learn how to bowl since it's
the easiest to control and their scores will reflect how well they master the
basic delivery. However, I've seen some coaches in this area who believe
that [non-child] beginners should start immediately with a fingertip ball of
somewhat softer material so that they learn to develop a hook from day one;
the apparent strategy is to discourage the development of bad habits. Anyone
out there care to add to this discussion?
Incidentally, does anyone out there have a list of the PBA's top ten
average leaders for 1985? Our newspaper didn't include it in its year-end
report on the tour.
Bill
_______________________________________________________________________________
"In the knowledge lies the power." -- Edward A. Feigenbaum
"Knowledge is good." -- Emil Faber
Bill Bulko Department of Computer Sciences
The University of Texas {ihnp4,harvard,gatech,ctvax,seismo}!sally!bulko
_______________________________________________________________________________ibyf@ihlpa.UUCP (Scott) (01/08/86)
Bill Bulko writes: > Recently a friend and I were having a discussion: in some sports, it's > advisable for beginners to start out with "training-level" equipment until > they've mastered the sport [at that level], at which time they move on to > better equipment; either (a) it's easier for them to learn that sport this > way, or (b) it's inadvisable to use higher-level equipment without experience. (ok, I'll help keep it going) As a non-pro, I would think that a standard ball (found at the alley)(oops! I mean lanes) would be the best, from the standpoint that each coach/ teacher/parent/sponsor has his/her own style. As pointed out, let's get the basic delivery down first. The learner will develop his/her own style, from natural body rythms, strength, hight, weight, etc. Then, should the person decide to bowl, it is up to a competent pro to tell them what kind of ball (including weight, material, drilling, and balancing) will improve thier game and best complement thier style. Dave Scott ihnp4!ihlpa!ibyf Great! I'm about to get killed a million miles from no where with a gung-ho iguana telling me to relax!
goguen@cheers.DEC (Don Goguen 381-2565) (01/11/86)
> As a non-pro, I would think that a standard ball (found at the alley)(oops! > I mean lanes) would be the best, from the standpoint that each coach/ > teacher/parent/sponsor has his/her own style. As pointed out, let's > get the basic delivery down first. The learner will develop his/her own > style, from natural body rythms, strength, hight, weight, etc. Then, > should the person decide to bowl, it is up to a competent pro to tell > them what kind of ball (including weight, material, drilling, and > balancing) will improve their game and best complement their style. > > > Dave Scott I think this is the standard thinking about how to start bowling, but I disagree (basically only since attending a bowling camp). As I've mentioned before, the 4 or 5 step approach in bowling is the equivalent to the preparation and stroke in tennis and the golf swing. All aspects of those motions should be taught properly, or a beginner will pick up and practice bad habits. Letting someone develop a "natural" style is the equivalent of telling someone to grab a tennis racket or golf club, play for a few weeks, and then have someone show the proper technique. It's why I believe most beginner bowlers are so frustrated with the sport. Somehow, beginners at tennis and golf don't expect too much, since they somehow know it's difficult to master the basics. But bowling has always been too "easy" to learn, so people do their own thing, and when trying to get serious about it, try to have a better bowler help with stuff like hooking the ball more... By then, too many bad things are inherent in their approach. Basically, where the ball is on each step is the essential element for good timing. How many bowlers do you see with a 5-step approach, who don't even move the ball from its starting position until the 3rd or 4th step? Then they swing the ball quickly on the last step or two, and can't figure out why the shot went astray. For the basic 4-step approach, the ball should be in the following place as each step is taken (i.e. when the foot hits the floor): 1 - Ball should be in front slightly above waist level, arm fully extended. Biggest problem here is not moving ball at all, or pushing it down next to your leg. Arm should be almost parallel to floor. That allows a free swing, where the weight of the ball creates the pendulum swing (most bowlers "muscle" the ball through the swing). 2 - Ball should be slightly past vertical in the down swing. 3 - Ball should be at height of backswing, preferably not higher than shoulder level. 4 - At start of slide, when foot first touches, the ball should be just below waist level, still behind you. As the slide continues, the ball continues so that the release point and the end of the slide coincide... The 5-step approach is nothing more than a small starting step, followed by the above at steps 2, 3, 4, and 5. Usually, any major deviation from this will cause poor timing and inconsistent shot making. -- Don Goguen DEC / Nashua, NH