Dick Ritger Coaching

[Smash49]

I've just got done with Dick Ritger Coaching Academy!

All I have to say is WOW!..... 3 days of non-stop bowling information and explanation. Hands on instruction and drills that make your head spin. If anyone gets a chance take these courses they are very good. Thanks to Dick and Annie for the education I received it was great.

Smash49

Short Short and Bowl!

[Sceptic]

Are they still teaching the 3-6-9 method for spare shooting? If so, they haaven't advanced much.

[stennis]

Yes they are and it works. I bowled afterward on a sport condition and used my reactive ball, throwing a hook at everything. Made'em if I hit the target and missed them if I didn't. Used the ten pin system also ... reactive ball, hook, and made the two that I shot. Granted, not enough data to really draw an indisputable conclusion, but good enough for me to stick with it. It's right for my game.

Hi Robert, see you in Vegas. Thanks for letting me borrow one of your slidesocks. Good stuff.

[Sceptic]

The 3-6-9 method works great on a sport shot or a flat condition, but on the bumper bowling house shots prevalent in most of the country, it won't get it done. With the piles of oil in the middle in most houses, 9 boards is not enough of a move to use the same spot and convert a corner pin. Ritger's courses don'tt seem to have adjusted for the modern conditions. Straight shooting is much better, just takes BIG commitment to start.

[Smash49]

They cover the 3-6-9 and some of the scissor method. The spare making drills are really a minor part of the weekend. Much of the information many modern style bowlers may have a problem with but in general almost all the information is still valid and useful.

Smash49

[stennis]

Fundamentals are fundamentals. Whether you're a stroker, tweener, or grip it n' rip it. Ritger is about fundamentals. Applicable to all.

Sceptic,

I tend to agree with your statement about the house shot. When I started bowling again this spring, I was having trouble converting my spares on a house shot. I wasn't, however, using the 3-6-9 system... using the Tennis system learned over the years prior to reactive. I ended up pulling out my circa late 80's, early 90's urethane ball for spares. I'm gonna give the 3-6-9 a whirl and see. I can change despite being an old fogey!

[KAJMK]

Steve, regarding the 3-6-9 system. One of the reasons that system has fallen out of favor a bit is the advent of walls and hi-tech aggressive bowling balls.

An alleged weakness is the disparate friction across the lane.

The 3 board progression is still valid and less prone to lane condition and oil when used with a straight ball devoid of side roll.

Jim King reprised his very fine 3 part article on spare shooting right on this forum.

Rolf taught me his straight ball attack using the 3 board geometry based on 1 target for the left and one for the right, while moving my feet.

Some pros still use variations on the 3-6-9. In fact Kim Adler listed her system and variations (in part on her website)

Just for fun, do you remember the 2-4-6 system?

That was detailed in the Ritger book series along with the 3-6-9.

I believe the Ritger system is very good to establish the Feelings of bowling. The importance of the brain knowing the feeling is paramount, in any athletic action.
I quote the great Yogi Berra "you can't think and hit at the same time".

There are many more positives in the Ritger system then any of the negatives perceived.

Any system or academia, normally provide a template for thinking.
The 3-6-9 geometry is a basis for attacking a lane.

The more variables you can eliminate the better.

I also believe that systems are guidelines and few never encounter exceptions that do not require twaeking the system.





John K in Glendale Az ...

[stennis]

Well said, John, and I agree wholeheartedly. The material provided some recommendations based on lane conditions. If memory serves me correctly, it was 4-8-12 and 2-4-6(?).

No system is perfect and needs tweaking, just like the laws of physics aren't "exactly" correct.

I personally prefer to move my feet and not the target.