Practice Makes.....Perfect??
Ok, so winter leagues are done, and you've got the summer to relax and just get in a little practice. But, practice what? And what will it make perfect? We use that expression, but history teaches us that practice doesn't really make perfect, it only makes HABIT! So let's look at the things that we want to become HABIT.
As coaches, the major things we see causing bowlers problems are
losing balance and
muscling the ball.
1. Losing balance.
Loss of balance causes poor accuracy and reduced power (ever try to load a case of beer into the trunk while falling off of one foot?). If you can't stay in your release position until the ball hits the pins, you've lost your balance.
2. Muscling the ball.
Lots of people think they have a relaxed armswing - most don't. Most bowlers either restrict the fall of the ball into the swing (not enough ball weight in the non-bowling hand) or pull the ball into the backswing (does it go higher than it was in your stance?). Either way, once the muscles get involved, it's pretty hard to relax them. A muscled swing causes...yep, poor accuracy and reduced power. A muscled swing is hard to repeat (accuracy) and tight muscles don't move as fast as relaxed ones (power).
So, how do we practice a relaxed armswing and a balanced approach and finish?
See a coach. A coach will show you what you are doing and how you can improve. A coach will show you techniques and drills to eliminate your worst HABITS and reinforce your best HABITS (sure, you've got some good ones). A coach will show you what to practice and how to practice, so your summer will not just be spent getting better at BAD HABITS.
