Medium oil, also known as the “Wild West” of sport patterns, can be the biggest challenge a bowler faces when competing on flatter conditions. For many bowlers, warm-ups on medium-length patterns feel a lot like their local house shot, with... [Read More]
In this new recurring feature, I’ll be answering questions from Bowling This Month readers, or questions I’ve received from bowlers I work with, that might not require the depth of a full-length article, but that can definitely benefit more than... [Read More]
So far in this series, we’ve introduced oil pattern variables and discussed some of the nuances of house shots, and then taken a deep dive into short oil. This time around, we’ll be looking at longer oil patterns. With strategies... [Read More]
In the first article of this series, we discussed the various elements that make up a lane pattern and how each variable can affect ball motion. While length is not necessarily the most important factor, it’s what most people look... [Read More]
You’re bowling on a 38-foot pattern. You use the “Rule of 31” to establish that your ball should come out of the pattern on board 7, giving you a breakpoint around board 6. You take out your benchmark ball, but... [Read More]
The first two parts of my troubleshooting series focused on physical issues, such as missing your target and release and balance problems. It’s time to approach things in a different way with another troubleshooting article. Rather than focusing on specific... [Read More]
In the first part of this series, we discussed evaluating and tracking your mental game, the importance of routines, and the foundational skill of visualization. The final two tips related to the mental game in this series are developing resilience... [Read More]
While working on my Anger Management article, I was naturally thinking of other mental game concepts. Given that so much of the mental game is connected by foundational skills, and how much of it is applicable regardless of your level... [Read More]
When I was 18, I attended the Coca-Cola Youth Championships, the precursor to Junior Gold. On Saturday night, the guest speaker was Parker Bohn III, who regaled us with a story about his method of anger management. When feeling frustrated,... [Read More]
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]