In A Slump

[hammerforlife]

Hey guys i know that we all have bad days and or games but when those days turn into weeks and everything you try(move up,move back move here, move there, slow ,fast etc) just doesnt work what do you guys do? I throw a med hook not a lot of revs and throw about 14 mph. Ive tried blamming the ball but my HAMMERS would never do that to me . Do you guys have any way to keep your timing the same all the time ive been told that could be my problem.

[purple_hammer]

oh wow.. somehow i feel the same too.. well.. one way is to concentrate on your every shot.. even though its practice.. you must not take any frame for granted.. another thing is to focus on your first ball.. keep saying to yourself that you will get a strike.. haha.. bring ur confidence back.. you've played well before and you cud do it again :)

[DamHammer]

When I'm struggling like that, I go back to basic bowling.

Take you time, relax, slow down (my biggest problem)

(now to sound like a bowling commercial):

Reach to your mark
Lift the ball
Follow thru

This usually takes about 1 game to get into my head, then things start working again

[BigDog]

When I'm struggling like that, I go back to basic bowling.

Take you time, relax, slow down (my biggest problem)

(now to sound like a bowling commercial):

Reach to your mark
Lift the ball
Follow thru

This usually takes about 1 game to get into my head, then things start working again

All sound advice. I need to keep as calm as I can. My problem is that if I can't find the pocket, I forget how to shoot my spares (and I know better), because i get flustered.

I'm in the middle of a slump myself, but I'm in a new house where there is very heavy oil (I bowled in a Med-Dry house). My Hawg (drilled for heavy oil) won't hit, My Doom and Vibe both hit (after moving my feet 15 board right, and my target 7 boards right), but have had a ton of 9-counts, and some splits that shouldn't have been (Pocket 7-10, Pocket 8-10). If I was in a no-tap league, I'd lead the world in average :)

I threw on the teen masters (short) shot during practice, and threw my Vibe just fine (180+) - my Doom was hooking too much, but I wasn't sure it was different shot until one of the association officials talked to me while I practiced.

I told me driller about my woes, and he told me to get a widow.

--BigDog

...soon to be a proud owner of a Black Widow...

[Paynefuldeath]

last night was the first night i bowled my black widow in the mens league. the lanes were decent, but my timing and everything was completely off. i tried to slow down and take my time but when my average is 180 and the first game is a 181 i was ok until i shot my 124 and then a 163 i was pissed. i know i let it get to my head but at the time i didnt care, but you have to keep your cool when that happens or you'll keep repeating it. and by the way the black widow is the way to go man. best ball ive owned. very aggressive.

[BlackWidow95]

I have seen many of my friends go through slumps where they were off for like 2 months, but they work themselves out of it.. In my opinion, if you are slumping its because its already set in your head that your in a slump and doing bad.. I think its like a mental thing..

You know, sometimes it seems when you get a new ball, you get a newfound confidence..

[Gryndryno]

I have seen many of my friends go through slumps where they were off for like 2 months, but they work themselves out of it.. In my opinion, if you are slumping its because its already set in your head that your in a slump and doing bad.. I think its like a mental thing..

You know, sometimes it seems when you get a new ball, you get a newfound confidence..

I think that is what separates the REALLY good bowlers from the good, is their ability to adjust and mentally work their way out of a funk quicker than guys like me...

[PASSIONATEBOWLER]

I agree with 'DAMHAMMER' - Try going back to the basics. I was in a slump for about five weeks - until I recently got the Black Widow. I'm still not where I want to be, however, I did finally pull my average last night during league.

I asked my husband to come with me, because I wanted him to see if he noticed me doing anything wrong. After bowling my first game, he informed me that I was rushing my shot, and advised me to slow down. I did so, and improved considerably.

Maybe you should ask a friend or family member to watch you. After all, it's difficult evaluating your own game.

If you can afford it, I also like the suggestion of buying a new ball. New balls automatically force you to change your game.

Anothing tip: Talk to the folks at your bowling center or Pro Shop about whether or not they've changed the oil patterns. I found out they changed the shot in my center, but am told the Black Widow is the right ball for the new condition.

Good Luck!

[hammerforlife]

Thank you very much guys!!!!!!!!!! I apprecate all the help and want to thank HAMMER for an awesome site.I try to stay calm but as we all know those darn 7 and 10 pins and pocket spilts get old after a while......lol.I got the Black Widow about a month ago and yes when I do everything right it does really help my game. I will have someone watch my game see if maybe i am rushing or something.Maybe it is all in my head, i just know it could never be my ball cuz all i throw is HAMMERs. I will also relate this to my son( who also throws HAMMERs) and see if this helps him ....thanks guys!

[big blue]

Well this is sure to make you feel better. I am in a season long slump so far this season. Entering average 193 (past three years), average as we stand here today 165. Everything is going bad, real bad. When I do throw the ball well I dont score well as in splits etc. All I can say is each shot starts with the first step, keep it slow and on pace and don't try to hook the ball. You will break out of it as will I and you just need to stay with it and do you best to help the team win games. We all know our averages and capabilities and you still have it in you and it will show when you just stop trying to do it.

[cooper]

1st you need to have confidence in yourself. 2nd well its a hammer ball let the ball do all the work!!!

[TenPinSniper]

Knee bent, follow through, clean release. Remember its not like you are trying to bowl bad. If you have access to a good coach, it might be time to ask for help. I'm ending another slump right now I believe, was not keeping my knee bent enough. Try doing the one step drill.

Video Tape yourself now and when you get it back, for future reference.

New ball sometimes will give you the added confidence needed, sometimes just makes it worse. I suffered through a 6-8 month slump, took the summer off. I bought three balls in 5 months, bowled every demo days I could find. Practice like crazy, bowled tournaments. Nothing. Watched my Video tape in last month of my leagues, my arm was at 135 degrees instead of my usual 90 degree. Could hit my mark to save my life.

[darnizy]

I recently bowled in a tournament shooting a huge score of 1010 over a six game spread. Embarresed about the situation i quickly practiced for a two solid hours the following day taking myself back to the basics. New balls are great but if you don't feel confident enough to throw your old ones, how do you think you will feel when that new ball becomes the old one. Is your ball not performing like it used to. Maybe it's time for some resurfacing or for you to bake your bowling balls. I actually put my road hawg in the sink about five times with some hot water to suck that oil out and now my monster is back. Only other thing I can tell you is that you are either gonna bowl well on league night or not. Once you get it in your head that you're not gonna bowl well that night, no matter what you do it's not gonna make a difference. Keep your head if you have to seperate yourself from everyone and focus on the task at hand.

[DamHammer]

Another items I have discovered over the years in using Hammers. IF you try to force a Hammer to work it will do anything but drive the pocket. Just put the ball out to it area and let it do the work. Hammers are fantastic finishers just let them do their job.

[hammerforlife]

Thanks guys I tried everything last night and finially had some consistancy, shot 171,210,215 with my high rev. Slowing down and going back to basics seemed to be the fix .Thanks to everyone that gave a response ...this is really a great site and i hope it stays that way. Oh by the way that series won my a turkey for thanksgiving( high series with handicap on each team got one) so thanks again!!

[Da Hamma]

Just hang in there, I am. I have been in a slump the past 3-4 weeks, reason I haven't been reporting my games. I too have tried verything in the book, going back to basic fundamentals and shooting relaxed shots etc. Bowling is a very psychological game & bad shots will get the best of you. This past Saturday nite league. I opened the first 4 frames in the 2nd game but my team mates were rooting for me to just hang in there because they know what I am capable of. I ended bowling a 139 but came back the 3rd game with a 210 for a 178/139/210 series

[Paynefuldeath]

aight guys im in a slump and have to ask the question. my bw is drilled with a strong layout, even though i told my proshop guy to drill the skid/flip and i talked to him and he will not pay for the redrill, so my question is should i keep it the way it is, or pay the 58 bucks to have it redrilled the way it was intended to. he said we had an aggrement which i dont recall but he does a good job on all my equipment except for this one. so what should i do. oh and i throw the ball bout 15-17 mph with hi revs 16lbs


Payne
____________
BLACK WIDOW
3-D HI-REV
SLING BLADE

[LordWalrus]

aight guys im in a slump and have to ask the question. my bw is drilled with a strong layout, even though i told my proshop guy to drill the skid/flip and i talked to him and he will not pay for the redrill, so my question is should i keep it the way it is, or pay the 58 bucks to have it redrilled the way it was intended to. he said we had an aggrement which i dont recall but he does a good job on all my equipment except for this one. so what should i do. oh and i throw the ball bout 15-17 mph with hi revs 16lbs


If he drilled your Widow differently than what you asked for, he should fix the mistake. If he wanted to keep my business, he'd drill up a brand new ball the way I asked. Anything short of that and I'd be looking for another pro shop.

As for the slump, that's a different matter altogether. When I struggle, I try to go back to the basics - make sure speed is right, release is correct, follow-through is good, and etc. If you're not getting those right, it doesn't make sense to try screwing around with re-drilling and other more extreme measures.

I struggled terribly at the beginning of this season until one of my teammates noted that I was falling off a bit to the right. That one simple comment allowed me to fix a problem I didn't realize I was having. Now I'm hittin em good again. Maybe get someone to watch what you're doing.