American entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., once said, "You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear." While he certainly wasn't talking about what a bowler faces as they step onto the approach, it’s very applicable. More than almost anything... [Read More]
It’s the gold medal match of the doubles event at the 2017 World Games in Poland. I’m coaching two of Canada’s best players: 2014 world champion Dan MacLelland and rising PBA star Francois Lavoie. In the final match against Venezuela,... [Read More]
Developing a good “feel” for the lanes is not about feel at all. It’s about allowing your unconscious mind—your gut—to make decisions based on all of the sensory input you are receiving, primarily from what you are seeing. Before bowlers... [Read More]
In my coaching work at international competitions, my job many times came down to presenting options to players. As a coach, it’s rarely a good idea to make decisions for your players, so the goal is to help guide them... [Read More]
Every bowler wants to improve their decision-making on the lanes, from the beginning bowler just learning about oil patterns to the professional who is looking for those extra hits that make the difference between a check and a missed cut.... [Read More]
Over the years, many coaches have introduced different spare shooting systems claiming to have improved the accuracy or repeatability of the process. Recently, Coach Joe Hoenig did a thorough review of the most popular spare systems out there, and I... [Read More]
Probably some of the most common questions that coaches receive are about when to make a ball change and how to know which ball to use at any given time. Once you’ve expanded your bowling bag to more than two... [Read More]
Let’s talk about averaging 220. For many people, this benchmark represents where the elite league bowlers live. If you are a 160 average bowler, 220 can feel like a whole different planet, but for those bowlers in the 205 average... [Read More]
As a youth bowler, you could say that I developed slowly. I found myself stuck in the 160 to 170 average range for longer than other kids who were bigger and had more powerful strike balls than I did. Being... [Read More]
For my first article in this series, I want to discuss the 200 average. 30 years ago, a bowler with a 200 average was an elite league player. With changes to lane oil technology and bowling balls, this is no... [Read More]