Consistency

In bowling, it’s better to be consistent all the time than great some of the time. For example, if you make 3 great shots out of 10, and if you’re lined up to the pocket when you throw your great shots, where does the ball go the other 7 times? That’s our topic for this month – consistency.

The basic premise is that you have the ability to perform consistently at a certain level. When you’re bowling in competition, you want to find a level at which you can repeat shots, and work to keep yourself at that level. For example, if you constantly work to throw each shot great, you will have some shots that aren’t quite as good. Those shots that aren’t as good won’t roll the same or get to the same place at the pin deck. The result is that, at best, many shots won’t “carry” – that is, some will be light in the pocket, leaving a backrow pin, and some will drift high in the pocket. At worst, you will have shots that really go astray, leaving big splits.

Keys to Consistent Ball Motion

These are the things that make a shot – target, direction, speed, rev rate, axis tilt, axis rotation. Let’s look at how to make some of these consistent.  The first, hitting your target, is obvious. Less obvious is hitting your target line. Direction is more important than target. Roll the ball allowing your hand to follow the ball (not lead it) down your intended target path. At worst, you will miss parallel to your target, resulting in smaller mistakes than in hitting your target, but going in the wrong direction.

Many of us vary our speed – this causes changes in the amount of hook you get from shot to shot. Keeping your speed consistent will keep the hook and roll on the ball the same, and the ball will “read” the lane the same from shot to shot. If your car is rolling over ice, even studded snow tires won’t allow the car to turn if you go too fast, and those same tires will dig in too much if you go too slow.

Making a Shot that was”Too Good”

Sometimes you can make a shot that is “too good” – this is when you make that one to three in ten shots that you roll really well. Well, guess what – that shot will hook more because it rolled better! This is great, except that you weren’t lined up to make that great shot, and it goes through the nose! That’s why making 10 good shots that you are lined up to is better than making 7 good shots and 3 great ones! Personally, I’d rather shoot 240 with good shots than 195 with some great shots I wasn’t lined up to make.

Finally, axis rotation is something you can control and something that affects your consistency. If you get “around” the shot more, meaning more axis rotation sometimes referred to simply as side roll, but it’s more than that), the ball will go farther down the lane and hook more sharply into the pocket. In fact, as you move
to the left on the lane, more axis rotation is called for to make the ball carry well. Again the tire on ice will slide farther the harder the wheels are turned. On oil, those tires are very sensitive to how hard you turn the wheel (or get your hand around the ball).

Remember, consistency comes down to making the same quality and type of shot each time. If you need to adjust for lane conditions,