Speaking the Same Language

I’d like to thank all of you who send me emails. It is through them that I have a better understanding of what type of information interests the readers of BTM. The emails have also taught me there are many bowlers looking for the same information even when the questions are stated differently. Another thing I have learned from the emails is that there seems to be a lot of confusion with more than a few aspects of the sport and game of bowling.

Even though most of the articles I write include photographs to help you understand the information I’m trying to convey, this article will take a completely different approach (pun intended): no photographs or images of any kind. My goal is to get you to think and absorb the information and to really question some of the information you may hear from other players or read in your internet research. The first subject I would like to discuss is timing or what I refer to as rhythm.

Timing

One of the latest trends seems to be the notion that you can use “late timing” to create a more powerful release in addition to creating increased ball speed. The first thing I would like to say is that, truly, timing is everything. It’s also one of the first things a player will say is not working within their own physical game if scores are sinking or the player is inconsistent.

Allow me to give you my multi-sentence definition of timing: timing is everything firing at once, working within a sequence without interruption. This creates the most power and leverage possible by using the large muscles of the body and keeps the small muscles from interrupting, creating a series of manipulations that are very difficult to re-create from one shot to another.

Here are a few examples to help you create your own definition of timing. Let’s say you are going to walk through a revolving door, your timing is a bit off and you are caught between the frame and the revolving door. What will happen is that ...