No comments about I Can Bowl (Welcome Books).

5 comments about Bowling 200+.

1. The basic message was "trial and error" which, while it may be true, gives the reader no foundation upon which to build. Over and over, the authors related how professionals might approach a certain shot but that we needed to use trial and error to find how we should hit it, rather than to give some solid principle to begin to build our own process.



2. My son's scores have been movin' on up. He is having more 200 games and is even a USBC 11 strikes in a row winner. (279 game) Really something to be proud of. I think others will learn some tips too. I think you'll be happy to "spare" some dough for this book.



3. Book was close, it provided a little technical aide but mostly the author's personal style.



4. I have only read the first two chapters but already I have found 5 things that I know I am doing wrong. I couldnt understand why it was happening, but now I know.
   
   Cant wait to read the rest and see how I go on my next league night.
   
   It might be from 1989 and it might still talk about urethane balls, but the basics are still the same.
   
   Additional (Edited 7/3/2008)
   I wish i had finished the book earlier. On my first night i tried to change too much at once and it wasnt till the 4th game when i just changed one thing and things came good.
   
   The following week after finishing the book and reading that it says not to try to change everything at once, i added one new change to the existing change from the previous week and creamed my opposition.
   
   Am back to my best, Great book!



5. The objective of this book is to give the above average bowler (150 - 190 avg) general tips on how to improve their game. This isn't a book that's going to try to tell you where you should stand to make every shot. If you're average is in that range you already know the basics and probably have a pretty good idea on how to bowl - you're just making little mistakes and the objective of this book is to give examples of the most common mistakes good bowlers make and what you should try to do to rectify the situation.
   
   The authors do a very good job at achieving that goal. The other major pluses are that one of the authors is a lefty - so southpaws aren't ignored. In addition the authors do a good job at presenting opposing arguments when a particular tip is subjective to certain play styles (they explain that bowling is a game of consistency and that you shouldn't necessarily get hung up at doing some things the "right way" if the opposite is working well for you.
   
   They do however draw a line in the sand on a few fundamentals and explain well why you shouldn't deviate if you're serious about becoming a better bowler.
   
   After reading this I find myself to be a much more thoughtful bowler and a couple of the tips are really helping my play (In particular the very simple but effective tip that when you're uncertain about the lane conditions you're better off ditching the hook and throwing hard and straight when trying to pick up that tricky spare.)
   
   Enjoy.

5 comments about Focused for Bowling.

1. I've attended bowling camp, had lessons, watched videos, regularly read Bowling This Month, have read a dozen books on bowling and this by far is the best. If you're looking for advice on the physical fundamentals of the game this is NOT the book for you, read John Jowdy's Bowling Execution. However, if you have shown signs of having a relatively sound physical game then Focused for Bowling is for you. It emphasizes developing your mental game, which any seasoned bowler will tell you is the key to consistency and success.
   
   Why do some excel in the spotlight and others crack under pressure? Your mental game is the answer. There are many exercises and suggestions in this book that will help you develop a stronger mental game. There is even a section on dealing with slumps.
   
   Two years ago I was developing into a pretty good bowler. I loved the moment of needing a turkey in the tenth to win; and I often delivered. Then I went into a terrible slump. I tried everything, over thought the game, became negative about my ability, and lost my confidence as the anchor of my team. This year I started regaining my old form, but was still inconsistent and found myself thinking too much. The final straw: I missed a seven pin in the tenth that cost us a game. I picked up this book and have been lights-out since. I bowled a 299 and have average a consistent 205 for the past 8 weeks.
   
   Once you understand the physical aspects of the game, you must read Focused for Bowling!!!



2. Dean Hinitz provides some clear solutions to one of biggest challenges to Scoring Success.



3. This book also covers a lot of info that bowlers will need when they look to take their game to the next level.



4. This book deals with the mental game of bowling. It evaluates how you are right now and gives you tips on how to prepare for each shot. The book has charts that you can copy and evaluate your where you think you're currently at. After you use the tips it suggests, you can reevaluate yourself in the future to see where you have improved. This book is a must have for the bower that wants to improve their game. I have applied the tips to my game and still continue to improve my overall scores and averages. I find that reading this book will give me a tremendous edge on my opponents when I bowl tournaments.
   
   Go on and give it a try!
   
   PBA Member since 2007



5. This book is great if you have the technique down but are having problems with the mental parts of bowling. However, it's a good book all around but specializes in the mental part of bowling.

5 comments about Sport Psychology Library: Bowling.

1. I think this is one of the most up to date and detailed bowling books to date. It dives into the mental game aspect of the game and just helps you with the skills that most bowlers will need to take their game to the next level.



2. I purchased this book to help with my bowling, since as a novice bowler,
   I was dismayed by my embarrassing performance when bowling with friends.
   I would bowl a strike and then have a string of gutter balls.
   
   I found this book really helpful, not just for bowling, but for achieving excellence
   in other sports. I was able to apply the lessons to other challanging areas in my life.
   
   The book gives a comphrehensive overview of this incredibly popular sport. The writers have laid out a step by step mental
   plan of action that accounts for most contigencies and can used when someone has to psychologically prepare
   onself to perform at a high level.
   
   The use of acronyms such as RALLY ( react, accept, learn, lean, yes )and the examples
   of positive self talk particularly useful.



3. When ever you buy a book containing psychology, you think to say "I knew that!", but this book pinpoints the essens of bowling psychology. I've focused on several things that for sure will make me a better bowler.



4. I found the book easy to read and understand. I have applied some of the things I read in the book and found them useful and I feel over time the new approach to bowling will improve to my good.



5. I am still currently reading this book and it is very good! If you are a professional bowler or a league bowler this book is essential to build your mental game! It will get you through tough pressure situations and open your mind for things that you either have/have not experienced! I really recommend this book to anyone to kick their bowling up the extra notch!

5 comments about Bowler's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Bowling (Start-Up Sports series).

1. This book lived up to its promise. I am brand new to the 'real' way to bowl, and I found this book very helpful. The format is great. I think that the book would do any newcomer some good. There is a style to Werner's writing that can only be termed 'relaxed.' I am trying to develop what I have learned from this book. It is a great springboard into the sport.



2. This is what every non-fiction book should be. Brief, to-the-point, and effective. And this book is very brief. You may probably be able to read it in a half hour and then head straight to the alley and practice. This book is very clear and provides easy-to-follow pictures, too. I understand everything the author is trying to say. Lastly, this book is effective because I followed its exact instructions and I'm able to bowl with a nice hook, something I always wanted to know how to do. Although you won't be able to learn more advanced skills or more fancier hooks, this is not suppose to be a comprehensive guide to bowling.



3. I have always enjoyed bowling, but never had any training. I am joining a league, and want to bowl better. This book taught me a lot. I practiced the "shadow bowling" technique at home, and on my next outing to the lanes - I improved my average by 40! (from a 150 to a 194)



4. The author takes the effort to filter out the technical junks that might confuse new bowlers or people who are interested to take up the sports. All you need to know to get started is there. But it's a little pricey for a thin paperback.



5. This book is very good for someone just starting to bowl.It gives alot of
   good advice on how to bowl. What you will need and so on.

No comments about Bowler's Handbook: A Guide to (almost) Everything in Bowling.

No comments about Curious George Goes Bowling.

5 comments about Bowling: How to Master the Game.

1. This book was bought as a gift for my partner, who is quite an established bowler. It is apparently very informative (he reads it before every tournament) and is also beautifully laid out. Would make a great coffee table book as well as an instructional text for those serious about the sport.Bowling: How to Master the Game



2. The book by Parker Bohn III is a very good book to get for a new bowler, or someone looking to solidify their basics. He discusses all the basics in learning to bowl in a way that is easy to absorb and apply. The more established bowler, will take away less from this book, but it does serve as an excellent reminder. I loaned it to a friend that averages well over 200, and have not gotten it back after 3 weeks. He is using it to troubleshoot his game and to reestablish good habits. I find it very useful to keep my game solid and fundimentally strong.
   Overall Parker does a nice job bridging the gap between the beginner and the more advanced bowler. I have a deeper respect for his knowledge of the game, even if he is a lefty. This is solid instructional bowling book.



3. 20% of the book is about bowling history. Another large chunk, about one-fifth, is about bowling equipment. A lot of photos provide no instructional value at all, and seem to be there merely for their aesthetic attribute. Several diagrams do not have any merit as well - do you really need to show a 2-page 3D depiction of the oil pattern in lanes? You're literally halfway through the book and still waiting when that glorious tip on 'how to master the game' will come.
   
   The book's biggest flaw is that it lacks detail about how a bowler can improve his game - majority of the most relevant bowling topics were not really covered in depth. A huge chunk of what's supposed to be instructional material and meaningful diagrams is wasted on trivial topics and images. Also, while conveying his priciples, Bohn never fails to rub in how good he is - how much he scored in a game or so, who he defeated, how bowlers "at his level" play. Do we really have to hear those things?
   
   There's some light though. Towards the middle and the end, the book does give you eligible but far from detailed this-is-how-to-do-it type of advice. It gives a lot of attention on how to adjust to varying lane conditions and how to be flexible during tournament play. The chapter on knocking out spare and splits gives some useful principles and techniques.
   
   If you're buying your first bowling book, I can say Bowling Fundamentals (Sport Fundamental Series) is a better value buy, it only costs half as much while providing very detailed and solid no-nonsense advise.



4. 
   This book is mostly for beginners.
   
   I had to get to page 60 before there was any details
   for advanced bowlers.
   
   There are little actual pictures for improvement.
   
   Text descriptions are brief.
   
   If your an advanced bowler - there are better books.



5. Disappointing.
   
   I am not sure who the intended audience for this book was. I not sure the authors knew who the intended audience was, either.
   
   I bowled some as a young teenager. I'm in my 50s now and I have started to bowl some again. What I wanted and needed was a book of basic instruction on the proper techniques and strategy of bowling. Having read some of the reviews that is what I thought I was getting.
   
   If I had been able to pick this book up in a bookstore and flip through it I would never have purchased it.
   
   A big portion of the book is the history of bowling, bowling balls, pin boys, pin setting machines, and why there are 10 pins and not 9. It also devotes far too many pages to anecdotes of PBA pros. I wanted instruction.
   
   I work in a technical field and I am used to reading manuals and sometimes obtuse material. I found myself skimming through this book trying to pull out some useful information.
   
   Add to that endless page after page of spare diagrams with little explanation. Lane oil conditions may be where it is at on the pro bowling tour, but by the end of the book I was ready to sell my stock in Crisco.
   
   Bottom line, if you want a good instruction manual save your money. If you want a nice coffee table book buy it.

5 comments about Bowling Execution - 2nd Edition.

1. This book is a good addition to any bowling library. Although I'm always looking for that "magic bullet" on the release, which I did not find here, the book covers most aspects of sound bowling with much technical detail.



2. I have 2 complaints. 1 about the delivery , the other one is about the condition of the book.
   I understand that amazon has no influence about the delivery. I chose usps as my delivery carrier, somehow they delivered the packaga at the wrong address.It took 2 additional weeks to sort things out and they I has the book in my possesion.
   The condition of the book is ok, I think they do not sell this item often, so at the side of the book there were some dust spots, most were easily removed, there is still 1-2 spots left that I have to be more carefull with on the removal process.
   
   Minus the delivery issue I am satisfied with the whole process,
   
   Leopold



3. This book is a good read with more technical information than the other two that I purchased and a good addition to my growing collection. I definately recommend this book for anyone who wants to improve their average.



4. There is no doubt that this book does not beling on the bookshelves of every serious bowler. It belongs, dog eared, marked up, pages worn to the feel of silk, in a bowlers bag -- able to be referenced during down time to refresh the mind and concentration. Jowdy is recognized as one of the greatest coaches ever, and is a fantastic communicator of his ideas and teachings. His style appears to have been tempered by the editor though, who seems to be a tad fond of the 'copy and paste' function - where anytime 3 specific people are mentioned, by the middle of the book you know exactly what the next 5 sentences will say. But that's really my only disenchantment of the book
   
   The book is filled with pictures and examples that feature many of the current PBA tour's best bowlers. Jowdy also when he explains the various styles a bowler can adopt within a section of his/her game, he also provides names of PBA bowlers who also follow that style -- presumeably so that the serious student can go to youtube and type in the name and watch those bowlers in action.
   
   On a personal note, there were finer concepts in my own game that I was struggling with -- couldn't quite wrap my head around them no matter how much I watched videos or read about them. Jowdy's book provided me with several "A-ha" moments that caused those concepts to click in my head -- and soon thereafter in my game as well. A solid book that is highly recommended.



5. From describing the basics of bowling (armswing, approach, release) to going into some of the more advanced techniques (hand position, equipment, lane play) Mr. Jowdy's book is one of the best out there on the subject IMO. Bowling has evolved a incredible amount since the days of rubber balls and lacquered lanes, and you must have a through knowledge of today's equipment and styles to be successful at a high level.
   
   Advanced bowlers perhaps might get the least out of this book, since if they are averaging 220+ they already have a fairly good grasp on bowling fundamentals, but I do think this book is a MUST have for those below that level. There simply are not many books out there regarding bowling that are as through as Mr. Jowdy's.
   
   I also throughly recommend the companion book, "Focused on Bowling". This book covers the mental game of bowling, which is what higher level average and competition bowling becomes and combining these books with coaching and practice will make you the most complete bowler you can be.

5 comments about Bowling Fundamentals (Sport Fundamental Series).

1. I haven't even read all of this book yet but have gotten so many helpful hints for bowling. It is excellent for beginners and great for brushing up on what you may be doing wrong as a beginner and intermediate bowler.
   
   I like the illustrations;I find they show how to correct mistakes and bowl the right way. It gives instructions of how to practice the ideas at home without a bowling ball.



2. Bowling Fundamentals (Sport Fundamental Series)
   I purchased this book (Bowling Fundamentals) and 2 DVD's ("The Right Approach To Bowling", and "Beyond The Bowling Basics"). This book has the most information and best breakdown of bowling technique compared to the DVD's. Ranking the 3 recourses above this book ("Bowing Fundamentals") is excellent, the DVD ("The Right Approach To Bowling") is also excellent, but not as good as the book, and the DVD (Beyond The Bowing Basics") is only good, but did contain some information that was not in the other resources.
   
   It had been over 40 years since I was in a bowling league, but I recently joined one. The equipment of the '50s & 60s no longer exist (hard rubber ball and dry lanes). I had to learn how to bowl in today world, learn the language, learn new techniques, learn the new equipment. This book and the DVD ("The Right Approach To Bowling") really broke down what I needed to know. Type of material bowling balls are made of, equipment bowlers use and of course how to bowl. The 4 step approach was new to me -- I had been using a random 6 to 7 step what-ever worked approach. Lining up using the arrows and counting boards to adjust to lane conditions was also new. I took what I could from this book and the DVD to completely revamp my bowling technique and get me into the modern era. It has taken awhile to put these new techniques in to "muscle memory". However, I find my league average moving up a pin or two every week. Currently I have an average around 160, but have recently bowled many non-league games over 200. I keep working the fundamentals, someday I won't have to think about them -- it will be natural to bowl correctly.
   
   Captain Crunch



3. A very straight forward and easy to apply approach to bowl well. Well written and easy to read.



4. Got this for my husband to work on his technique, as he is a semi new bowler. The pictures and descriptions in this book are very helpful. Easy to look at and read, not overwhelming. Would be great, too, if you have ever had your bowling technique video taped so you can compare what is ideal to what you are doing on the lane.



5. When I first bought this book I was a fairly new bowler who struggled to break 100, after reading Michelle's book I now regularly bowl between a 130-150 and have even broken 200 a few times! As a left-handed bowler with a reverse hook it was difficult to find instruction that actually worked for me, but she offered it. Her writing style can be a bit repeatitive at times, but she covers all the different techiniques available to both hands, any hook, and any approach you can think of. I think a bowler at any level could benefit from her advice.