Archive for July, 2009
The Backwards Bowler, Jim Cripps
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s a special Friday for me as I have the day off. I wanted to share with you a controversial bowler that has gone viral as a result of sites like youtube.
Some love, while others hate, but you can’t deny that Jim Cripps has a unique bowling style that has garnered much attention over the past few years (and a youtube video with over 1.5 million views).
What do you think? Is Cripps just using this as a publicity stunt or can he be taken seriously? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
PS For those wondering, I actually have the day off today for the Utah holiday Pioneer Day. I’m not quite sure what one is supposed to do to celebrate, so if you have any ideas please let me know.
Quick Bowling Tips: Use a Foam Roller to Feel Better
Posted by: | CommentsI’m still amazed that relatively few people even know what a foam roller is, let alone use one week in, week out. Using a foam roller has become a staple of many elite athletes and there is no doubt that a bowler can benefit from their use as well. I use mine at least 3 to 4 times per week. It provides a few benefits that are essential for any bowler.
With all of the trainers in the know using them for their clients it seems like a no brainer. Take a look at some of the benefits:
Improves Posture. I spend a lot of my day sitting at a computer. Let’s just say I’m not the nicest guy to my back and my posture. I noticed the more and more thoracic extensions(see demo video below) I did with the foam roller the taller I could stand up. While I’m sure the training itself has some effect on posture I can’t overlook the benefits of that one single move. I can honestly say after only a few months of doing them I was a half inch taller (though I felt as though it was more like 5/8″). Hopefully most of you are beginning to catch my sarcasm. Hint, it was the statement in parenthesis.
Flexibility Benefits. Sometimes stretching just won’t do anything because the muscle tissue quality is piss poor. This is where getting the barnacles off those muscles by rolling them out comes into play. You’ll notice after a good foam rolling session everything feels loose. Flexibility is extremely important so you can get the proper motions in your bowling approach. This is especially important as we age.
Less Pain/Injury. I’ve seen many people train far less intense than me and end up with all kinds of injuries. Ignoring the fact that there are a lot of people doing stupid things in the gym to get themselves into trouble, I’m sure that foam rolling could have helped prevent at least some of those injuries.
Below is a great video of a foam rolling series commonly used at Cressey Performance. These guys train a lot of elite athletes so pay close attention to the motions and the hilarious commentary by Eric Cressey.
You’ll notice that there is use of a ball for those hard to reach areas. A good starting point is a tennis ball and you can work your way up to something as hard as a lacrosse ball (not for the faint hearted).
So what are you waiting for? Go out and pick up a foam roller. You can find the one I use by clicking here. Grab the 6″ by 36″ ROUND. Similarly to the ball, you can work up to a harder foam roller as well. Some of the hardcore even use a PVC pipe to get deep into those muscle tissues.
Learn to Exploit the Pre shot Routine like Mike Aulby
Posted by: | CommentsAs the years go by, more and more bowlers (as well as elite athletes in other sports) are understanding the mental game is a critical piece to overall performance. A key to having a strong mental game in bowling is the pre-shot routine. Basically it is the series of activities leading up to the delivery of the bowling ball.
If you are not sold on the idea of the pre-shot routine take a look at free throw shooting in basketball. The players that have the best conversion percentage of free throws have a set routine they do before they shoot the ball. The same holds true for bowling.
Aulby, Master of the Pre-shot Routine
A good example of a pro that mastered the pre-shot routine was Mike Aulby. Being a professional he was fortunate to be able to work with a sports psychologist to help develop his routine. His pre-shot routine looked something like this:
- Check the pins to ensure they are spotted properly and determine whether to use a re-rack
- Take a towel to the sole of the sliding shoe
- Pick the ball up off the rack and towel it off
- Put the fingers that are going into the bowling ball over the hand dryer until they are completely dry
- Check the slide shoe to ensure there is no sticking by running it back and forth on the bowling approach
- Lift the ball and blow into the thumb hole
- Line up the feet on the appropriate board
- Support the ball with the non ball hand and insert the fingers of the ball hand.
- Insert the thumb
- Lower the ball and tuck in the elbow
- Find the target with the eyes
- Take a deep breath and let it go slowly
For 2 more examples of pre-shot routines check out Team USA members Diandra Asbaty and Derek Eoff in the video below.
There are many different pre-shot routines being used successfully by all kinds of players. Some are long, while others are quick and easy. Either way, find something that fits in with your game. If you prefer a simpler game don’t be afraid to have a couple of cues to get yourself going. If you want to have more time in the “get ready” phase something more complex like Aulby’s might be appropriate. The best bet is to start with something as a template and then tweak it to fit your style.
An important thing to note is if something breaks your concentration during your preshot routine it’s important to drop the ball back on the rack and start over. If part of your routine is toweling off the ball, be sure you re-towel off the ball. I know it sounds silly, but it helps with consistency and ensures total focus and concentration.
Additionally your pre-shot routine should be used throughout practices, leagues, tournaments, etc. It is not just for when money is on the line. Remember to build the consistency into your shot and the pins will fall.
What does your pre-shot routine look like. Leave a comment below and let us know!
