This page is devoted to providing coaching tips for all Member Coaches. New Coach Tips will be added during the season...watch for them! Coaches who wish to write up or provide Coaching Tip Topics should Email them to Rob Ploof.

Coach Tip #20 - How to Practice Your Bowling Arm Swing - From BowlingBall.com (11-14-10)

The Swing is the Thing!! The key components of an effective bowling arm swing are speed control and accuracy to your target. Tempo and direction have always been keys of successful arm swing. Let's begin by examining how to practice your bowling arm swing at home. Practicing at home can help you develop muscle memory and to repeat good swings when you are at the lanes.

Good swing direction means that if extend your arm fully in front of your bowling shoulder with your hand in a "handshake position", then move your bowling fingers slightly further to the outside edge of your bowling shoulder, you will have created an angle between your shoulder line and your arm extended forward of about 100 degrees, slightly more than a right angle of 90 degrees. Visualize your shoulder line being parallel to the foul line on the lane and your hand extended forward with the bottom of your bowling elbow slightly above shoulder level and the bowling fingers pointed ahead and positioned to the outside edge of your bowling shoulder. This arm, hand, and shoulder positioning is the same relative positioning needed after you release your bowling ball on the lane and complete your follow through portion of your arm swing.

Next, if you wish to learn how to practice your bowling arm swing at home, move to a wall in your home with no obstructions nearby to prohibit you from taking repeated swings of your bowling arm. Face the wall so your shoulders are nearly parallel to the wall with perhaps your bowling shoulder being about one inch behind your opposite shoulder. Move your bowling arm into the position described earlier with your arm extended fully and your hand in a "handshake position" with your bowling fingers pointed to the outside edge of your bowling shoulder and with your elbow at least shoulder level. Stand close enough to the wall so your fingertips are about 1/2 inch or 1 inch from touching the wall.

Next, pick a spot on the wall where your fingers are pointed about the same level as your hand, and swing your arm loosely and smoothly back to a full back swing height behind you and swing forward and upward so your bowling fingers swing to the line you are sighting on the wall. Try and make a series of swings back and forth with your bowling fingertips passing directly up the line on the wall located at the outside edge of your bowling shoulder. Train your arm swing muscles to follow through to the same finishing follow-through position over and over again along the path of the line on the wall. It will surprise you how much practice is needed in swinging to a specific mark on the wall; it is not as easy as you might imagine.

The relationship of swinging your arm and bowling fingers toward the target line on the wall at home is the same concept as swinging your arm and delivering your bowling ball toward a target at the bowling arrows on the lane about 15 feet past the foul line and one located directly to the outside edge of your bowling shoulder when you arrive at the foul line to deliver the ball. Since when you are bowling at the lanes you must slide with your opposite leg from your bowling arm entering the foul line and with your trailing leg moving behind you and to the opposite side of your body for balance, it is helpful and useful to position your legs in much the same release position at home in front of the wall to practice your arm swing technique as you will do when you are in a good bowling posture and finish position delivering the ball at the lanes.

Learning to swing upward when standing so near the wall will encourage a proper upswing path of your bowling arm. It is important to not try and "reach out" but rather "reach upward!" Swing your arm fully extended in an upward path to the precise length of your arm and bowling fingers and not more. Reaching forward and allowing your bowling shoulder to extend in front of your non-bowling shoulder could cause you to pull deliveries to the inside of your target line. Also, if you reach too far forward while practicing your swing in front of the line on the wall, you will smash your fingers into the wall. That alone will help you pay attention to developing an upward swing and follow through motion and not a reaching motion.

Once you have gotten used to swinging your arm upward in front of the line on the wall at home, turn your body 90 degrees and position your bowling shoulder against the wall or about 1/2 inch from contacting the wall. Then assume the position of releasing the bowling ball on the approach at the lanes by flexing your knees slightly and place your trail leg behind your slide leg. Move your bowling arm to the same finish position with your arm fully extended and your fingertips pointed to the outside edge of your bowling shoulder as you did in the first practice drill. Your fingernails of your bowling hand should be very, very close to the wall but not touching the wall.

Swing your arm upward repeatedly with your bowling hand swinging back behind the bowling shoulder arm pit area and then forward and upward as to brush the wall slightly with the finger nails of the bowling hand and with the arm fully extended and your bowling elbow at least at should level or higher. Repeat this swing motion over and over until you can control your upswing and fingertips to brush the wall lightly time and again. You will notice that you will be training your arm swing muscles to follow the same path as a proper swing and follow through motion on the lanes must follow to develop and maintain bowling accuracy. This alignment and swing practice technique will help you develop a slightly inside to outside swing path which is desirable when rolling a hook ball delivery on the lanes.

These same practice techniques in front of the wall at home should be used when releasing your bowling ball and following through to your target on the lanes. The relationship between your shoulder line and your swing path must be maintained at all times on each and every swing. Practicing at home using a wall and some imagination will no doubt help you develop a proper bowling arm swing direction and improve your accuracy on the lanes.

Coach Tip #19(Added 1-26-10)

(1) Use a Plastic Ball
Using a plastic ball increases the margin of error since the ball will skid more and have less backend reaction when a release mistake is made (e.g.,
rotating around the ball)

(2) Hold the Ball Higher in the Stance
When you hold the ball higher in the stance it increases your ball speed leading to more skid and a straighter ball path.

(3) Break the Wrist
When you break your wrist, you reduce the amount of revolutions reducing the backend reaction and increasing the margin of error.

(4) Spread the Pinky Wide and Keep the Index-tight to the Middle Finger
By spreading the pinky wide, you will promote more end-over-end roll, increasing your ability to throw straight and reduce the backend reaction.

(5) Visualize a Dark Black Target Line and Roll The Ball Over the Line
When you visualize a dark thick line, from the pin to the target, you are setting your mind to throw straight on that line. Paint this line in your mind, from the arrows to the contact pin or pins. Be sure to look up and down the line multiple times before going. Be sure to “draw the line” by bringing your eyes back and forth to create the line in your mind. Now, throw to the line and roll the ball on this mental path.

(6) Set Your Body Perpendicular to the Target Line
Be sure that your body is perpendicular and your arm and shoes are parallel to the target line. When you visualize the thick, dark line it is easier to line-up your body. Walk parallel to the line and push toward the target. A top view of a bowler illustrates a cross-lane perpendicular (90 Degrees) body position

(7) Target Longer to Promote More Skid and Increase Accuracy
In addition, target longer down the lane on the target line. The longer you look down the lane, the straighter the ball will go to the target
.
(8) Lead with your Pinky or Elbow to the Target
I teach bowlers to lead with the tip of the pinky to the target in order to promote a straight end-over-end roll. This works for most. In the event bowlers still turn their hand, ask them to lead with the elbow to the target. This will reduce rotation of the wrist and lead to the desired end-over-end
throw. The idea is that the pinky or elbow will be project over the target. Literally, you want this to be what leads everything else through the target. Imagine the tip of the pinky throwing over the target or the elbow leading the follow-through. These tips will make you a better spare shooter by setting the stage mentally and physically allowing you to throw straighter.

"The 4-Step Delivery" (Added 9-14-09)

The FOUR-STEP DELIVERY is the SIMPLEST and the easiest to TROUBLESHOOT. The reason is that the ball is pushed out right along with the first step. The ball is neither carried for a step as in the five-step delivery, nor moved before the first step, as in the three-step delivery. During the four-step delivery, there is something for the upper body to do in coordination with each step taken.

SETUP - Take your setup with your feet three to four inches apart and neither foot leading. Point your feet in the direction of your target. Do not lean forward; be generally upright, with your legs straight, your knees not bent, but not locked either. To help you relax your bowling hand and arm, hold the major portion of your ball's weight in your BALANCE HAND -- the hand opposite your bowling hand.

FIRST STEP - Move your ball at the same instant as you pick up your foot on the same side as your bowling arm--i.e. your SWINGSIDE FOOT. Push your ball straight ahead -- never down! Think of it as placing your ball on an imaginary table the same height as the ball was held in the setup. As your ball reaches the limit of your reach with both arms, your SWINGSIDE HEEL should just be making contact with the approach.

SECOND STEP - Let your ball simply FALL from the arms-extended into a PENDULUM SWING. Continue to keep your body upright; do not allow your head to follow your ball down into the swing! To help keep your shoulders level and squared with your swing, let your BALANCE ARM move to a position out, down, and back -- approximately 90 degrees to the plane of the swing -- at the same speed as your downswing. Your SLIDING HEEL should make contact with the approach as your ball is at the lowest point in the backswing.

THIRD STEP - Let your ball move up to the top of your backswing by its own force. Get gravity to work for you; do not use the muscles of your upper arm and back to hoist it any higher. If you do hoist your ball, your body will twist, your bowling shoulder will be pulled back, and your ball will become late relative to your footwork. As your ball reaches the top of your backswing, Your SWINGSIDE HEEL should make contact with the approach.

FOURTH STEP - Take your last step very slowly on your SLIDING SOLE, bending your swingside knee. This will give you a long slide and ample time to achieve a superior body position for your release. Keep your upper body upright and your balance arm in the position it attained during your second step. You will enjoy better leverage, less fatigue, and more consistently placed shots.

Coaches are given a beautiful gift at the beginning of each season. It is the birth of a Team that will grow and shape its way into competition. The most important part of that gift is the memory of what each athlete has gained from that first ball during tryouts and the last one in competition. Coaches who give of their time and energy to the teams they build will leave them with many qualities for life. Athletes will have courage to face adversity, strength to endure failure, beauty of long-lasting friendships, pride of belonging to a team, and a gift of giving as they will pass these qualities (they have learned from their coaches) on to others. Coaches, you can be proud that you have helped foster the growth of such qualities in young men and women for our world.

    A family of young ladies, on the cusp of the 80’s, brought us a message in "We are family!" The lyrics, that wise (albeit older) coaches are aware of, gave us some good advice. Every team is a family, and that family can be so demanding of our time that it takes us away from our own family. Be careful of that, but also be aware that families who face tragedies need special attention. Coach Tip #7 spoke about handling a team loss. That can be construed as a tragedy. There is not enough space on this site to cover it fully, but only to make you cognizant. I am adding another article to help address Team losses in competition, as many will not go on after this Friday’s MHSAA Regional Event. It is called Rebounding From an Emotional Loss.
    However there is another kind of tragedy, or loss, that coaches need to be aware of. That is the loss of someone, either on the team or closely connected to the team in some way. Recently, The Bowl Swami has had to face two family tragedies and one bowling team tragedy in less than two weeks time, all of them resulting in death. That is what brings these thoughts to mind.
    I would hope our coaches have some expertise in dealing with personal tragedy as well as Team losses in competition. I have spoken of the emotional and psychological aspects of building a team. Understanding the feelings of ourselves is difficult, but knowing how others feel is even more complex and taxing. Coaches are often left in a quandary when confronted with a team’s personal tragedy. They, themselves, are not prepared. They do not know what to say to the person directly involved. They do not know what to say to the teammates. Fear creeps in as they think, “If I say the wrong words, I’ll make it worse.” So, then they say nothing. That same coach may think, “If I don’t say something, they’ll think I don’t care.” Coaches, don’t let you be a victim as well. Be prepared! The Bowl Swami will post more thoughts on this when he finds the time to research and present it properly. Now, have a great visit with the Regional Events and allow your athletes to bask in the glory of victory or cultivate fond memories if it is to be their last venture for the season. Have a trash can ready!

"Keep your heart in the game!" Many a coach has given those fine words of advice, but how many coaches go the extra mile and tell their athletes it refers to nutrition just as much as it does mentally. On this day, Valentine's Day, what better time to relate the Bowl Swami Heart Smart Tip for athletes...and coaches as well.

    What amazes me when I watch our fantastic high school bowlers in competition is how many athletes must actually fail in the eyes of so many...so many, except the eyes of The Bowl Swami! In a tournament, there can only be one winner...one champion. That is, unless a coach realizes that everyone involved can win something from that competition.
    Today and yesterday, as I witnessed tournament competition, I listened to coaches, athletes and parents of those who failed to qualify. Quite often, they would start in with a negative attitude about the experience. "I, He or She bowled bad!" "It was a bad day!" "This was wrong...that was wrong!" Many were the comments...almost always negative. There were a few exceptions when I heard coaches tell Tournament Directors, "Thank you for putting this on. It was a great experience for the kids." And, indeed, it was!
    In every "Negative" experience in life, there is always a "Positive" to be found. You just have to think "outside the box" sometimes to find it. One example occurred at the Eisenhower/Utica Doubles for a young man who failed to qualify. The coach felt like, "He just had a bad day." The parents looked glum, because they could not see anything positive coming from that day. When I spoke with the athlete, he did not feel very good. He did not look good. It was hard for him to look me in the eye. So, I asked him what was wrong, and then I listened. He told me the lanes were too oily. I said I knew they would be, because the Tournament Director was concerned about the number of games that might be bowled, and they would not have time to oil again before match play. Therefore, extra oil was laid down to compensate.
    The athlete did not know this in advance. I asked him what could he do about that. He said, "Next time, I will scuff the ball more." Then I asked him, how did your ball react during practice? He said, "It skidded a lot." When we reviewed it further, he realized he could have scuffed it after LEARNING about the oil and before competition. The "Positive" from his "Negative" experience was that he finally LEARNED something about the practice session. He did learn! His parents, then, also learned that there was something positive about the day they thought was wasted. No time is ever wasted if you look for a positive!
    I can never forget the old Bing Crosby (okay athletes...I know...who's that?...he's the guy in the movie, "White Christmas") tune, Ac-Centuate the Positive. Those lyrics, written in 1944, and the message contained within, still ring with truth today. Coaches, take every negative experience with your athletes...and HELP them find some positives! Eliminate that negative...and latch onto that affirmative!

Similar to Coach Tip #10, "Faith" is an element that drives some teams to the top while others falter toward the end. The "Positive" attitude carries on when each and every Team Member believes in holding the "Faith!" When I say "Faith," I am not talking religion. Rather, I am talking the belief that your team can WIN! When The Bowl Swami says, "Keep the Faith!" he means keep the "Positive Attitude" and you will eventually win!
Yes, of course, there are times when luck will prevail, and ye shall not win a match. But, remember this, if ye "Keep the Faith," ye shall eventually prevail!

    Why does one team, or one athlete, always seem to have that competitive edge that others wished they had? Is the edge because they have more skill or knowledge? No! It’s because they have that slight “Competitive Edge” that spurs them on every time they are in competition. What is that “Competitive Edge” you might ask?
    Well, it is simply an attitude they have learned to keep with them every day of their life. The Bowl Swami knows there are really only two attitudes in life. Those two attitudes are: positive or negative. The positive attitude gives athletes, and people of all walks of life, a “Competitive Edge” over others. The negative attitude takes away the “Competitive Edge.”
    The Bowl Swami is currently involved in a theatrical production. One of the members of the cast (there are about 30) had to be replaced. The newcomer was extremely negative during a rehearsal scene. The director immediately called a stop and demanded that the negative attitude stop, as he had built a happy and positive demeanor during his rehearsal process. “I will not have one person destroying the balance of our show, “ he said. Coaches who recognize athletes displaying negative feelings in their comments should also realize those comments can only take away a team’s balance in competition. Keep a positive attitude yourself, coach!
    At a recent tournament, I overheard a coach saying he really didn’t feel like being there! The drive was too long (weather was not good). A few of the players had backed out. This coach was all ready on a negative roll. It was obvious his team would probably be headed in the same direction...they finished near the bottom. Worse than that, though, would be the thought that the coach had not read Bowl Swami’s Coach Tip # 4, Looking in the Mirror!

Recently, I watched a tournament and witnessed an athlete miss a one pin spare. Upon missing the spare, he walked out of the bowling area to commiserate with a parent and eat a hot dog. The coach stared at the athlete but said not a word. If you have read my Tips (# 2 & 3), you are aware that the athlete was not focused nor eating nutritiously. The coach was also aware of these Tips.
While it is not easy to counsel or discipline, it is generally not those athletes who are disciplined that causes coaches misery. It's those athletes who are not counseled or disciplined. When an athlete does not consistently follow your guidelines appropriately, you cannot sit down and talk to him or her about his or her attitude and behavior (in a candid way) fast enough. You must give specific advice regarding appropriate behavior and do it quickly. Remember, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to change an athlete's behavior.

While every human being has physiological needs, there are many secondary psychological human needs. They are "gregariousness, assertiveness, affiliation, inquisitiveness, achievement, power, autonomy, and status."* The need for status is present in all of us and coaches need to be more aware of how much a part "status" plays in student/athletes' lives. Belonging to a team gives each athlete a feeling of status within their school setting. Awareness of that need was the driving force behind The Bowl Swami's 30+ years of promoting high school bowling as a sport.
The need for status varies from one athlete to another, so coaches should be tuned in to athletes who may not be paying attention. Ask yourself when you last made that individual feel important on the team. General statements like, "Everyone is important on this team," does not necessarily do the job. You need to find the time to point out when that athlete made a spare (even when their score was low) which helped the team to a win. Make each athlete feel their importance by how their physical effort, or emotional effort (cheering the team on), has made them important to a team's success. Remember, an athlete who cannot gain status on a team will seek it elsewhere. When they feel status on a team, they become a better team player!
*from The MASTER Teacher, 1995.

A wise coach will keep an eye on his team and watch for emotional reactions that can harm team relations and/or future competitions. If your team was mentally prepared and focused, in all ways, but still loses a competition, often there are one or several players who will feel the brunt of that loss. Teams who win usually have a celebration and constant chatter after that win. Teams who lose seem to wander off in various directions with shades of despondency.
Wouldn't it be better to assemble all of the team after a loss and share emotions and understanding of why it happened? If you see that someone feels they were to blame (especially in a close match), have your players remind that person that it is a team and no one player can be the cause of a loss. A failure to make a spare or strike toward the end of a game is no different than those missed early on. The low score is not the loss factor if the high scores were not high enough! Coaches, think of holding a team gathering right after a loss to continue the bond that should exist within a team!

Back in November, I pointed out that the USBC has added Video Tips for coaches. They have one for Team Play as well as skills from how to hold or grip the ball to various types of deliveries. They show how to play lane conditions, versatility and spare shooting. Coaches, if your athletes won't listen to YOU...perhaps they might listen to some of the Team USA players or Pros.
Of course your athletes know about You Tube...do you? They also have some video tips. Ask them to type in Bowling Instruction under Search.

Coaches will build better relationships with their athletes if they follow these six rules: (1) Try to spend more than 50 percent of your time listening to athletes rather than talking. (2) Don't give an opinion until you've heard the athlete's opinions. (3) don't judge something by how it is said---just keep listening for the content and avoid becoming upset by words that irk you. (4) don't interrupt the athlete or change the subject. (5) Stay attentive---even if you're bored. (6) Ask questions to clarify and to let the athlete know you are listening. If you follow these rules, the vast majority of athletes will think you are a "great" coach.

    Coaches have often told their athletes to put on their Game Face when heading into competition. Of course, that means using the Game Plan Focus, wherein athletes shut out everything but the Spot Thoughts. It isn’t easy to shut out friends and family or the raucous crowd, but it can be done. However, the spot that is really difficult for an athlete to disregard is the mirror.
    Now, just where is that mirror, you ask? Coaches, it is right in front of you, but you cannot see it. You cannot see the mirror, because the mirror is YOU! Athletes feed off the expressions displayed by coaches. The Bowl Swami has seen many a coach grimace or growl when a spare is missed or that needed strike is not accomplished. If it is displayed, the athletes can also see it. Coaches, you are the mirror for your athletes.
    The mirror an athlete looks into should always be the same. It is not easy to contain emotions and stop the display of disappointment (or joy at times), but it must be done in order to help athletes retain their focus. Even when the good shots are made, if a coach smiles and reacts beyond measure, it will be compared to what an athlete sees in the mirror when a shot is missed.
    So, coaches, when you think about asking your team if they have their Game Face on, think about how your Game Face should be. Try not to mirror your emotions, but rather, find a way to utilize a stoic demeanor at all times. Show your emotions when the competition is over.

    An absolutely essential factor in mental preparation for the Big Dance is nutrition. Most coaches have touched on the importance of a correct diet for greater physical strength and endurance, but coaches also need to stress how important nutrition is to the mental aspect of competition. One match of a State competition can literally drain an athlete's gas tank! They need to be aware of proper Game Nutrition!
    On Game Day, in order to keep the Game Plan Focus, an athlete needs to steer clear of the delicious and "sweet taste" and make room for the "best taste" in foods. Proteins are necessary for rebuilding muscles and other cells, but that is time consuming. On or before game day, the body and mind needs fuel that can provide energy quickly and will not slow it down. Carbohydrates and fats are the types of food that provide high-energy levels on Game Day. Athletes who go for the "sweet taste" (Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, Gatorade) can be left with a "bad taste" when their mind is unable to focus all the way through a match.
    Instead of a burger, fries and a shake before game time, an athlete should consume fruit (banana, orange or apple). Fruits contain easily digestible carbohydrates. A combination of a bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter is another carb that can properly fuel the body. There's plenty of time for burgers or pizza after a victory.
    While millions of dollars are pumped into advertising some fluids for competition (again Gatorade), the really best fluids come from nature without any processing by money-hungry humans. Apples and oranges, combined with those water bottles, will provide the fluids needed. The processed fluids (the Non-aid "ades") contain too many dyes, sugars and preservatives that the body has to work on to get rid of. Since the body is 70 percent water, it needs just that, WATER to be replenished.
    If coaches can pump the above thoughts into the minds of their athletes, they will have a team which is better equipped to handle the mental aspects of the game. Their team will be nutritionally prepared on Game Day.

Coach Tip #2 - A Team's Game Plan Focus:
    As we approach the Regional and State Final events, Athletes need to be aware of how to maintain focus when in competition.
    The ability to focus mentally can easily be strained by distractions encountered when entering a different environment for competition. Practice sessions are easy and comfortable environments, but all other competition locations can offer problems. While most bowling centers are similar with standard size lanes, approaches and pins, there are a number of factors that can cause an athlete to stray from their Game Plan Focus which is absolutely necessary for the winning combination. The crowd, video gaming centers, counter announcements, etc. can overwhelm some athletes.
    Athletes need to be informed: There are only three locations (spots) during competition. They are (1) The Baggage Area (for bags and extra bowling balls), (2) The Restroom and (3) The Lanes on which they are bowling. Those are the only three spots that athletes need to consider during the time of competition. Thinking of more that these three spots can lower their power to focus.
    While seated, awaiting their turn, athletes need to look down at the floor, not up at the crowd. They need to remember they are there to compete, not to mentally fool around. Friends and family in the crowd should be informed by athletes that they will be involved in a Game Plan Focus. There will be plenty of time to smile and socialize after they have marched on to victory. When their teammates try to engage them in social chatter, they need to remind the teammates about the Game Plan Focus.
    Staying focused means that before the match and during the match, everything else in real life is put on hold. Everything! Nothing matters except the next frame or the next game. Nothing! Athletes have to be emotionally selfish before and during matches, and they are the only ones who can make sure they are in the right frame of mind.
    Before getting to the State Finals, coaches should constantly remind athletes of the spot thoughts during Regular Season competition. If athletes practice focusing on these spots during the Regular Season competition, they will be well equipped when they reach the Regional and State Final events. The more familiar they are with using their spots and minimizing distractions, the easier it will be to conquer the environment around them.

Coach Tip #1 - Improving Baker Scores:
    The season is well underway and many student/athletes, along with their coaches are turning thoughts toward the post season events (Regional and State Finals). While some coaches have found success in developing a team in rolling some fine Regular Game scores, they have found their team having difficulty with the Baker Games. Here are some pointers and viewpoints that might help make it more successful.
    Since Baker Games can be more stressful and create more pressure within an individual than Regular Games, coaches and athletes need to be aware of why. Baker Games are pure team games which means, when a spare is missed or a much needed strike is not made, it can be seen as a reflection on the whole team. When the same thing occurs during the Regular Game, an athlete can mentally "kick himself/herself," but not so during the Baker Game. Athletes need an opportunity to understand they have a total support from fellow team members to help alleviate that pressure.
    Hold a Team Meeting in which you allow every team member an opportunity to talk about how they feel when bowling Baker Games. Let them express themselves when asked, "How do you feel when you miss a spare in the Baker Game?" After they have answered that question, then ask each one, "How do you feel when someone else on the team misses a spare?" Once the round of those questions have been answered, inform them that a real team is very supportive and understanding when someone misses.
    With support in mind, then ask each one, "What can you say or do to help when your team member misses?" Taking the time to allow athletes to express their feelings can open the door for lower pressure of performance.