Ball Motion Gap Analysis

Identifying your assets and liabilities through a three-tiered evaluation process

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Ball Motion Gap Analysis

BTM Issue:

May is a transitional time for most bowlers in the world. League and international club seasons are coming to a close with national champions being crowned for the season, AMF World Cup representatives are chosen, and clubs are promoted or relegated in their domestic leagues. At the same time, manufacturers are preparing their new releases to coincide with Bowl Expo in June.

This transitional time provides an opportune time for self-reflection, evaluation, and planning to improve one’s future lane play abilities. Specifically, in an ongoing manner, a bowler and/or coach should review a bowler’s current game with a focus on identifying assets and liabilities related to pattern play and shape creation correlated with equipment and release characteristics. This creates a multi-level awareness of lane play influences, assets, and liabilities.

In this issue of Slowinski At Large, I present a multi-step deep analysis process designed to aid bowlers of all levels to more thoroughly identify lane play assets and liabilities. A deep analysis involves reviewing the strengths and weaknesses associated with a bowler’s release characteristics, current arsenal sequence and shape predispositions, and a review of the general needs for excellent pattern play, from fresh through all phases of transition for all major pattern types. This multi-tier process easily reveals gaps in one’s ability to be successful in all lane play scenarios.

The goal of this article is to facilitate an on-going formal reflection and evaluation process to ensure bowlers and coaches can fill arsenal gaps better, based on an analysis of a player’s release characteristics and current arsenal, in an effort to determine assets and liabilities associated with achieving required ball motion shapes to match-up on patterns and environments as best as possible. Whether you have a deep comprehension of layouts and ball motion or not, this three-tiered process can accommodate all bowlers and coaches, from beginner to elite. If you utilize this formal process, you will improve your ability to fill gaps for players.

A three step multi-level analysis

To determine your current gaps, based on the playing environment, your release, and your current arsenal, I am recommending a multi-tier analysis. Specifically, this consists of a three ...

Joe Slowinski

About Joe Slowinski

Joe Slowinski, a USBC Gold Coach, is a freelance bowling coach who works with bowlers around the globe. He is currently on assignment with the Philippines. Slowinski is the former Director of Bowling at Lincoln Memorial University, where he served as Program Administrator and Head USBC Collegiate Men’s and NCAA Women’s Coach. The Portland, Maine native has served as the Administrative and Men's Head Coach at Webber International University and served for four years as a Master Teaching Professional at the Kegel Training Center. Slowinski is also the former Director of Coaching and Coach Certification for the National Sports Council of Malaysia. He has coached international teams at the World Championships, Pan American Games, South American Games, and European Championships, helping Belgium win a Gold medal at the 2022 EBF Championship of Champions and coaching Brazil to Gold medals at the 2015 Pam American Games and the 2014 South American Games. He was the 2018 NTCA DII/III Coach of the Year and the 2010 NCBCA Men’s College Coach of the Year.