NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 5 PIN BOWLERS' ASSOCIATION

SECTION 5: INTRODUCTION TO SPOT BOWLING

Now that the students are to the "point of delivery", they need a target to shoot at. Give them the fundamentals of SPOT BOWLING. Most top notch bowlers are SPOT bowlers, proving that the method must have much merit. S0 TEACH IT!

When you SPOT bowl you are aiming at a target only 15 feet away (Darts) instead of one 60 feet away. (Pins)

It is recommended, that during initial instruction, only the centre Dart be used as the target for all pins.

(a) RIFLE TECHNIQUE:

This is the easiest way to explain Spot Bowling to the new bowler. The spot where the student stands to begin the approach is the Rear Sight, the dot, at the foul line, over which the ball is delivered, is the Front Sight, the Dart over which the ball rolls is the Target. Let us emphasize; instead of trying to hit a pin that is sixty feet away, the bowler is now concentrating on a Spot (dart) which is only fifteen feet away.

The beginner will understand when it is explained that when lined up correctly, they deliver the ball correctly and it rolls over the Target Spot, the ball will hit the desired pin. When the pin is other than the Head Pin, adjustment is made on the Rear Sight only.

This is referred to as the Straight Line Approach.

(b) TIMING:

Now that we have the basics, start your serious instruction --- and develop the students along the road to competent, high-scoring bowlers. Timing is coordination, which is the movement of the arm with the movement of the feet.

Introduce the "explosion point"!

This is achieved when the ability to coordinate the forward motion of the body with the pendulum swing of the right arm is such that, on the last step (slide) the left foot, the body, and the right arm are all coming forward to the foul line simultaneously.

The secret of controlling the ball lies in timing - and when the above coordination has been achieved - when the students have achieved an "explosion point", they are on their way to good bowling.

Correct timing can only be attained by consistent and intelligent practice.

(c) AIMING:

This is the lining up of the front and rear sights, prior to the delivery, to ensure the ball travels over the Target Spot, and along the desired path, to the pin(s).

To scatter the pins best, the ball should strike in the pocket on either side of the headpin - ideally, one half of the ball with half of the headpin.

If a bowler begins picking headpins with consistency, don't change the point of aim - but - move them backward (FIG. 31) or forward (FIG. 32) from the normal starting point. (FIG. 30) This will change the point of impact just enough so they will no longer hit the headpin right on centre. If this fails, move them to the left or right which changes the angle, the ball will strike the headpin. Maximum adjustment should be not more than 2" from the original starting position.

If the student is delivering the ball consistently over the Target Dart

and is missing the headpin, make the following adjustment:

If the ball is missing on the Right Side have the Student

move slightly to the Right. (approximately 1" each delivery,

until the desired results are attained).

Reverse procedure for Left Side misses.

This adjustment affects only the Rear Sight.

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