About Me:I enjoyed bowling so much that I decided to tryout for the bowling team at Howard University. What happened next may have shaped my bowling career more than any one thing... The bowling coach at the time was named Bobby Holmes. He was, at the time, a professional bowler and was considered to have one of the greatest bowling minds. Well, this great bowling mind would not allow me to even tryout for the bowling team at Howard University. His reason was that I never bowled in league. I personally feel that I should have been allowed to tryout and if he wanted to cut me because I was not good enough then so be it.
Anyway, 20+ years and 1 PBA membership later, I am still bowling... I consider myself an underdog because my bowling career began with the proverbial "deck" stacked against me. When you start at a disadvantage, it is very difficult to "turn the tide." The rest of my bowling career is dedicated to reversing the proverbial "tide" not only for myself but for all who share similar circumstances.
Saturday, January 12, 2008, 12:10 PM EST [General]
Hello Again!
(continued from previous post)
As grateful as I am for being able to bowl as well as I did, I STILL realize that I have a loooong way to go to reach the level that I know that I am capable of reaching. The reason that I know... because someone else has reached that level. If someone else can, I CAN!!! It is a simple as that.
What I have found in my years of bowling is there are (at least) 10 things that make a great bowler and they are:
1. Desire - MUST want to be great 2. Physical Ability - MUST be able to roll a ball down the lane 3. Bowling Knowledge - MUST know HOW to bowl 4. Bowling Skill - MUST be able to consistently hit the pocket AND convert spares 5. Bowling Equipment - MUST have at least, a bowling ball and bowling shoes 6. Knowledge of Bowling Equipment - MUST know the dynamics of a bowling ball as it relates to:
Coverstock
Weight Block
Radius of Gyration (RG)
Differential (Diff)
Pin
Center of Gravity (CG)
Mass Bias
Axis Point
7. Knowledge of Lane Conditions - MUST be familiar with the varying layouts of oil patterns on the lanes you will be competing on AND how they breakdown 8. Ability to Match Equipment to Lane Condition QUICKLY!!! - MUST be able make decisions faster than your opponent about WHICH bowling ball to use and WHERE to play on the lane that will give you the greatest advantage 9. STRONG Mental Game - MUST be able to have a "short memory" about GOOD and BAD shots while at the same time, understanding what needs to be done to give yourslf the best opportunity to WIN!!! 10. Belief that YOU CAN!!! - MUST believe you can. Otherwise, numbers 1 thru 9 does not matter
And to be truly honest, you only REALLY need numbers 1 and 10!!! If you have those, the rest will come...
Saturday, January 12, 2008, 11:39 AM EST [General]
Hello again!
(continued from previous post)
Well... Do you want to know what was sooooo "unexpected?"
I go from barely being able to get a three-bagger to shooting a 774!!! That's right 774!!! After taking a break from bowling for nearly 3 years and my body being upset with me for taking such a long break, I shoot 774!!! I remember it almost as if it were yesterday. It bears mentioning, I went 30 clean for the set.
The first game I was getting low count but making my spares. I make an adjustment in the 6th frame and punch out for a 228. The next game I started to strike and I did not stop until the 11th frame and then I get 9 on my fill ball (blasted 10 pin!!!) for 299. That's RIGHT! 299!!! I am saying to myself... "What in the world is going on???"
As is mostly always the case, I strike on my first ball of the next game (the strike that eluded me in the 10th frame of the previous game). Then, I get three more... I am saying to myself "who is this guy?" No sooner than I began to question what I was doing and who I was... having the nerve to shoot 299 while previously being unable to string three strikes together. That is not supposed to happen!!! Or is it??? Well... IT DID!!! I am sitting on a 4 bagger after shooting a 299 and rather than embracing the moment, I began to question the moment.
I shoot spare, spare and now I begin to refocus to have a chance to go off the sheet to be in the 260s... I get the next three and now have a shot in the 10th for 268. I get tapped, cover the spare and strike on my fill ball for 247 and a 774 set with, might I add, 30 CLEAN frames!!! That was exciting for me considering my return to bowling just a few weeks prior. As great as I feel about my performance, it is tempered by the fact that it was house conditions. Any bowler that desires to compete at the level that I aspire to SHOULD put up these type of numbers on house conditions!!!
Saturday, January 12, 2008, 10:47 AM EST [General]
Hello Again!
It has been a while since my last post. Between my frustration with my bowling, the holiday and just being plain busy, it has been a challenge to say the least. That is the reason that I need to write. My desire is to bowl full-time on the PBA Tour. When the sun, moon, stars AND my pocketbook all align, I will post more regularly.
This blog is my "bowling diary" of sorts. I really am typing for the purpose of getting my thoughts out. If someone else is able to benefit from these posts, I am thrilled.
As of late, I have not been able to practice as much as I would like. As a result, I have not been as sharp as I would like to be. In addition, when I practice, I practice playing the lanes from front to back while the typical houseshot requires me to play right to left. This means that I run the risk of reverting to how I was prior to starting my more consistent practice regimen.
Although I enjoy watching the PBA telecasts, nothing compares to competing at a high level in ANY sport. I look forward to the opportunity to compete.
Everytime I question myself as to what I should be doing in bowling, something happens to keep me coming back for more. Much like in golf with that "one good shot."
When I came out of hybernation at the end of the league season last April (2007), I could barely put three strikes together. That's right! I said it THREE strikes. My knees were hurting... My hand was hurting... My forearm was hurting... My quad was hurting... My feet were hurting... My fingers were hurting... My shoulder was hurting... My back was hurting... And worse than ALL of that... my EGO was hurting!!! Since I was in so much pain I was thinking that maybe I should not be bowling. I was hoping that I was "gaining" alot because I sure was "paining" alot. :) But then, something unexpected happened...
I wanted to tell you about this past Sunday... Well, I had a bowling coaching session with one of the most respected bowling minds the sport has ever seen. Just in case you were wondering who it is, it is none other than former Team USA Coach Fred Borden.
Fred Borden was partnered with another Gold Certified Bowling Coach, Ron Hatfield. They were both extremely personable and down to earth. It was truly a great experience. They watched me bowl and helped me by giving me some tips on how to loosen my armswing.
The thing that I will remember about this session is the 5 Keys To Success In Bowling:
As you may have read, I competed this weekend in the Eastern Region RPI Qualifier in Fort Meade, MD. On my most recent post, I was in the money sitting at 23rd spot with one squad to go. While I am bowling, I ALWAYS believe that I am good enough to make the finals or to cash.
However, after my bowling is done, I have no control over what others do... It is out of my hands. With the cut line at 32 and close to 50 bowlers yet to bowl, it was extremely ambitious to expect over 3/4 of the next squad to be behind me. It was a chance nonetheless...
I finished 44th... 35 pins out of the money!!!
What a coincidence!!! In Waverly, NY last month I finished 42nd and 35 pins out of the money.
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