John Jowdy was a bowler, author, instructor, and speaker for over 60 years. He was coach to some of the most successful bowlers on tour. John is a member of the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame, the ABC Hall of Fame, and the PBA Hall of Fame. He also won the the International Bowling Coach of the Year award. He was a contributing writer for Bowling This Month for 13 years. John Jowdy passed away in 2013 at age 93.
A bowler’s mental game is made of awareness and intelligence. Equally important is the ability to read lanes and conform to what the lane dictates. In a previous issue, the main topic featured “Paths to Success”; that is, the changing... [Read More]
One of the most important aspects of sound fundamental bowling is a good release, which depends on placing the ball well back into the hand. At the release point, the thumb exits quickly, the weight of the ball is transferred... [Read More]
Bowling isn’t ballet, but alignment, step cadence, knee bend, and balance are critical physical factors that determine a player’s performance on the lanes. The bowling approach can be compared to the movements of a ballet dancer: smooth, effortless, graceful, and,... [Read More]
A free armswing is one of the greatest assets for a solid fundamental game. Free armswings are the trademarks of bowling stars like Chris Barnes, Parker Bohn, Norm Duke, Pete Weber, and Walter Ray Williams…to name a few. During the... [Read More]
One of the most important aspects of proper execution in any sport is rhythm and timing. In baseball, hitters, as well as pitchers, rely on timing to perform at higher levels. In football, despite the advantages of players being bigger... [Read More]
In a previous issue, I stressed the importance of avoiding the lift and loft method of execution. Although this was popular and perhaps a necessity in the rubber ball era, it became a detriment with the advent of urethane bowling... [Read More]
In the last issue, I stressed the importance of a low and long follow through, propelled by a ball-weighted swing. Unfortunately, many bowlers lack the confidence to perform in this manner and muscle the downswing, an error which usually results... [Read More]
One of the more popular slogans on the back of bowling t-shirts is, “Grip it and rip it.” This has become the mindset of pseudo-macho bowlers as well as the thrill of many aspiring youngsters who are enamored by wide... [Read More]
Chris Barnes, Parker Bohn III, Norm Duke, Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams, and the retired Mike Aulby, over the years have placed themselves on a higher plateau in professional bowling. What do they have in common? Although they perform in... [Read More]
According to Webster’s Dictionary, transition is described as passage from one place, state, stage of development, type, etc. to another. The advent of Sport Bowling has brought transition into sharper focus than ever. Because Sport Bowling always starts with a... [Read More]