 Do
you know your grip? The
grip is an integral part of your bowling experience. It must be
custom fit to YOU, by a fitting professional. Why a custom grip? Why
a custom grip for any sport, really...bowling is no different. Less
effort to do more is really the key. I have a pretty high "rev" rate
for a woman... according to the Computer Aided Tracking System, or
C.A.T.S., and it is not because of my size. I am able to store
energy that I can impart on the ball because my hand is relaxed.
Does Tiger Woods impart just physical strength to hit a golf ball
300+ yards? No, he has great technique, coming from relaxation.
Relaxation in grip has not come
easy. I was not born with a relaxed grip. In fact, my swing still
looks "controlled", even though it is much looser than 12 years ago.
I thought 12 years ago my hand was relaxed, and most of you at this
point think yours are, too. The best analogy I have received came
from Kegel Training Center....hold the ball in your hand, all the
way through your swing, like you were holding a baby bird. I hadn't
been doing this. I thought I had. But, we swing and grip and do
many of the things we do based upon past habits, whether they be
good or bad. Fifteen years ago (has it been this long!) bowling was
a different game, I was a different bowler, and back then, I, as
well as many around the country, had a reverse and left thumb pitch.
I won titles with this pitch. I bowled 300's with this pitch, I
injured myself with this pitch. Well, it was more than this, but you
get the idea. Over time, my game and my body have changed (did you
know every 7 years, the cells in your body have totally
regenerated....making you, in essence, a different physical
person?!) I have demanded a new grip. I am also convinced that over
time, I will eventually leave these specifications above once again.
How do you find the right grip
for you? Have a clear head (keeping your mind open to
change...remember, your body will fight movement based on old
physical habits based on your grip of old,) find a good pro shop
person (this is a whole other topic for discussion in,) and
experiment. I did not "fall" into the perfect grip instantly. I
experimented. I experimented with different ball drillers. Then, I
used my head to decide what was right for me. Do not "pre-judge."Give
a grip some time, because you will not be as consistent with your
release for at least 200 games, because....it's something new. Even
a small change can need many games for the consistency to kick in.
But, there is a fine line of bowling all these games with the wrong
grip, trying to make it work, and working on a new experiment. This
is where a good coach comes in as well (again, another article!)
After the proper grip is found,
the size of the hole must be large enough to accommodate you at your
"puffiest." I can hear some saying now, "well, I don't need tape
because my hand doesn't change." This must be why you haven't
changed body shape or size since high school, right? This sentence
alone is my coaching red flag for the "death grip." You do it and
don't know it. You hold the ball tightly most of the time, and less
tightly when your hand swelled, and you do not know it. Point
here...everyone needs a bit of tape or filler, and everyone needs to
learn to use it properly. Tape doesn't mean bad fit. It is to
actually make it even more "custom" for that moment. Please change
that piece that has been in there for over a year. Oils and dirt
from your hand will make your grip feel different from when it was
fresh. Keep it fresh. Tape changes average between 2-6 games. That's
it. Then change that top one that your hand touches the most.
It amazes me how many talented
lady professional bowlers I have seen over the years with what I
call "hacked up" thumbs and injuries from poor form caused by bad
grips. I will not name names, but even some that could barely throw
a shot, bleeding from their thumb, making TV shows or cuts...it
amazes me how much untapped talent we have on tour. By "untapped," I
mean to question, "What would happen if they only had better grips,
when they are doing so well already?" The competitor in me will
leave them alone. The instructor in me shares this information with
you.
Learn your grip. Learn your
axis coordinates. It's like opening the hood of your car...how
do you know what is right and wrong if you are not in control of
your own knowledge? Are you going to be scammed by the next auto
repair guy? Knowledge is power.
More about Kim: Kim Adler was a top
professional bowler competing on the Ladies Pro Bowlers' Tour (LPBT)
and Professional Women's Bowling Association(PWBA) from 1991 until
the closing of the PWBA Tour in 2003.
Returning to college in 2004, she became a Registered Nurse and EMT-Paramedic.
She is currently an RN working in an Intensive Care Unit at a local
hospital in Florida. She continues her studies to receive her
Bachelor's degree in Nursing and her Masters in Nursing: AR-Nurse
Practitioner.
She continues to coach other bowlers and compete when time allows,
as well as make various appearances. These are her lifetime career
statistics as a professional:
*15 National PWBA Titles
*(23) 300 games
*High Series :824
*Five time All-American Team, including 2000 Team Captain
*Bowler of the Decade (1990's) Nominee
*2000 Metropolitan Bowling Writers Bowler of the Year
*1999 Southern Bowling Writers Bowler of the Year
*1993 PWBA Player of the Year runnerup
*1991 PWBA Rookie of the Year
*5th woman in bowling history to roll back-to-back 300 games
*1st 800 series by a woman on the newly-developed Sport Pattern by
USA Bowling, 2001
*ranked in the top 10 worldwide for ten seasons
*Career PWBA Average: 210.51
*Career PWBA TV Appearances: 57
*Career TV Average: 212.82
*Career Top 5 finishes:
1st (15)
2nd (11)
3rd (8)
4th (11)
5th (11)
USA-Silver certified Bowling Instructor with over 25 years coaching
experience. Has previously worked with Professional Bowling Camps,
Professional Bowling Instruction, SuperCamps, Kegel Training Center
as an instructor. Has worked with C.A.T.S., Brunswick Pro Trainer,
and Kegel Training System Instruction Software for on-lanes
analysis.
ESPN Commentator/PWBA Bowling
Feature Writer: Bowling Digest Magazine |
