Excercise and Bowling

[BigDog]

My wife and I are about to get our basement finished (no, we're not installing a pair of lanes - way too expensive :( ). Among the rooms we're going to have will be a exercise room. We're going to start with an elliptical (mostly for me) and a treadmill (mostly for her), and some sort of home gym (for us).

So my question is - What areas do I need to work on to be a better bowler? I once read the Chris Barnes did a lot of core work when he blew out his back. I can't always head to a bowling center to practice, but I can hit the exercise room multiple times a week

Thoughts, anyone?

Thanks.

[blistershurt]

Well...depending on how you throw...leg strength could be important (look at Ron Cliffton's articles on the pushing with your legs into your slide) but for sure wrist strength.

Then again leg strength is good all around, it could improve your knee bend.

[idlehourlegend]

Yea your going to want to work on your back, espiecially the lower back and your hips and thighs, also work on your wrists, elbows, and build up shoulder strength. If you do these right you will be able to bowl for a long time.

[Young300]

Work the core, shoulders, triceps and biceps for sure for the bowling. Also look at working the traps. The core will allow for a strong position at the line and better balance. I am really doing the same thing, only at college instead of at home.

[Rowdy]

I would think that any motion simular to a bowling swing but with resistance,would be the way to go.

[Young300]

You are going to need the strong core for the firm balance at the line. It is something that I have learned and something that I have noticed with the working out of my own.

[Stampy79]

Dont forget to put some 12 oz weights in there, you can always use that practice of lifting and doing the 12 oz curls

[can-ham]

You will need to work on balancing through out the body. Bowling is horrible for you as its an asymmetrical activity. Try doing some lunges with your non slide leg and some curls and triceps on your non throwing arm. Many have mentioned this and I agree with lots of core also.

http://www.onehandedreaders.com/images/1bigarm.jpg

[BigDog]

Thanks to all for the advice. I think we're going to start with an elliptical machine (mostly for me) and a treadmill (for my wife). We'll then get a home gym for more strength training.

[pba6285]

There is an excellent book by Dr Jeff Briggs called the Bowling specfic training manual. It is available Here http://webpages.charter.net/bowlfit/manual/ or here http://www.bowlingbookstore.com/catbkins2.html?mgiToken=469E761636C6AA3AA#Bowling% 20Specific%20Training%20Program

It is an excellent program. If you can dig up some old BTM magazines there was a time when Dr. Briggs was doing his research for his Doctorate and he wrote about his tests with specfic subjects in BTM I will have to see if I can find my copy. with all of the moves I have made in the last few years I will be lucky if I can find it.

You can find many of Dr. Briggs Articles here http://webpages.charter.net/bowlfit/btm/ look in the 1998 section for View from the researcher

Rick