goguen@cheers.DEC (Don Goguen 381-2565) (01/07/86)
> 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. It's good to see some discussion on bowling... My opinion is that, unless the person is very athletic and has a tendency to pick up new sports fast, he/she should start out with basic equipment. The problem I've seen is that beginners tend to stay with basic stuff too long. As soon as they get some idea of what they're doing, they should try to advance to more sophisticated equipment (that is, if they do wish to improve). One thing I've seen that is a drastic improvement to the game is the advent of the Professional Bowling Camps. I attended one in Windsor Locks, Connecticut last August, and it was great. If your bowling hand and sliding leg can stand the over-use, you'll have a fantastic time. But be prepared for a shock of changing your game (unless you do everything properly now :-] )... This is not only for beginners. Out of 60+ campers, around 18 had averages of 180 or better. The major problem in bowling instruction nowadays is that someone will throw a ball, then turn around and ask a friend who has bowled for a few years, "Well, what did I do wrong?" The answer is inevitably, "You did this or that with your hand/arm..." And, inevitably, the instructee cannot correct this mistake consistently and gets frustrated. The problem, like other sports, is that the cause of the mistake is bad timing. Timing starts BEFORE you take your first step. The approach in bowling is like the swing in golf, or the preparation and stroke in tennis. In those sports (how many people go to tennis or golf camps to learn the game!), you're taught the entire package, not just the point of impact with the ball. How many of you can look at the 4 or 5 step approach of most pro bowlers and then look at one of an amateur, and tell which one has the most control over the arm swing? They look pretty smooth on the whole... most of us look like we're doing aerobics :-) Unless the ball is properly brought through the steps in proper time, many mistakes can and will occur. Correcting just the hand position or arm swing causes most bowlers to "perfect" a bad approach to some efficiency level. I know - I've been bowling for almost 20 years, and my timing was very poor. I did get my average up to the 180's after only 5 years, when I was 17 - but I've been there ever since! The PBC will screw up many a "game" temporarily. I haven't practiced as much as I should have, but I'm already back to 180, and just recently shot my highest game ever... Not too bad for changing my approach after 20 years of bad habits. I'd highly recommend the PBC for any bowler. They have sites throughout the country... Anyone else been to one? Any other opinions? -- Don Goguen Digital Equipment Corp. Nashua, NH p.s. Bowling magazines should be posting the average leaders soon. I'll check and post them if I see them...
bulko@ut-sally.UUCP (Bill Bulko) (01/10/86)
[The postman hits! --More--]
[You have new mail. ]
The idea of bowling camps sounds interesting -- I've heard of their existence
before, but never got a description. How much do they cost, and what do you
get for your money? It sounds like I could use that: I was in the AJBC just
about from its lower age limit to its upper age limit, and although it was a
great way to improve one's bowling, the lack of quality coaches during that
span (quite often the coaches were more "administrators" than coaches)
produced in me a bowler with a *horrible* loop in his backswing. As an ABC
bowler, I was able to get my average up to the 190s for a single season a few
years back before graduate school started eating away at my practice time,
and so now I no longer have the ability to keep the arm under control. I
recently decided to work on my game more seriously and to try to straighten
out the loop, but it's hard to correct it by myself. If I could find one of
these bowling camps, they'd have a willing student.
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
_______________________________________________________________________________jhr2@houem.UUCP (J.ROSENBLUTH) (01/10/86)
Whomever has information concerning camps, please post it for all to see. Thanks in advance. Josh Rosenbluth (...!houxm!houem!jhr2)