have maybe two balls in their arsenal,” says Ross. “On Team USA, we spend a lot time adjusting ball surfaces with an Avalon pad to see how they play on different lane surfaces and conditions. If you never change the surface of your ball, you’re maybe only using one-tenth of the ball’s ability. Don’t be afraid to change your ball’s surface to see what it does for ball reaction. Balls are expensive, but it’s worth it and will open up a clutch of new options for your game.” Just as much time as is spent on lane
play is also spent on spare shooting if you’re a Team USA member. Team USA clocks hours and hours of spare shooting practice. And it’s necessary, says Ross. “You can’t practice spares enough,”
Working It
says Ross. “At the ITRC, we have GS-X pinsetters and can order up any spare combination we want. We can put up washouts, sleepers or buckets all up
HIT THE GYM
One component of the ITRC that’s sometimes overlooked because of all the cool high-tech gadgetry is the full service gym. Team USA members train not only to improve their skill level and game awareness, but also to improve their whole body physically so they are in top form for competition. “We do a lot of strength training,” said Ross. “And we write up individual
training programs for each bowler to follow for when after they leave here.” Injury prevention is a major focus of the training programs so a lot time
is spent working on flexibility and balance. “There’s obviously a lot of weight to one side for bowlers,” said Ross,
referring to the additional heft of the bowling ball. “So we utilize balance techniques for the whole body to help alleviate and prevent any shoulder or knee problems, which can be common in our sport.” League bowlers should consult with their own physicians to develop a
workout program that matches individual goals. It can be as simple as walk- ing several times a week, according to Ross.
and down the house and go at them over and over again. We do multiple angles for every type of spare, too. That way, they’re prepared to go at any spare from anywhere on the lane. If there’s a bad spot or they’re sticking, they can take a new angle anytime,” Of course, most league bowlers are
unable to set up their own spare combi- nation when they’re practicing. Luckily Ross has a solution, something he used as a coach before the advent of much of today’s technology. “For league bowlers practicing spare
shooting, just throw your first ball trying to only hit the 10-pin and then pick up whatever is left on the second ball. Then
32 USBOWLER SUMMER 2010
move on to the 7-pin, the 2 the 3 and so on picking up whatever’s left on the fill. Keep doing that in a circuit over and over again and alter- nate circuits so that the first go round you cross center to hit the pin, but the second circuit you don’t. “Not only will you see just about every
possible spare combination, but you’re learning to go at them from two different angles.” Ball speed is another important factor
Team USA practices. Elite players have four or five speeds they can call upon de- pending on the situation. Most seasoned league bowlers have two — slow and fast. Bt you can add in a medium speed as well
The ITRC features 14 dedicated training lanes. Above, Team USA’s Rhino Page tries one.
as fine-tune all your speeds through prac- tice, practice and more practice. That’s exactly what Team USA does. “It will definitely help you become
more versatile,” says Ross. “Most bowlers will just change out balls, but learning to change your speed is better. Think of it like changing your gears while driving a car. It’s like driving in rain or snowy con- ditions, which are like the lane conditions in bowling. Learning to navigate every condition is what match-up is all about. “There’s a combination to the lanes
and it’s any bowler’s job to find the right combination within lane play, ball speed, hand release and equipment choice. The
one thing you cannot change is the lane, but you can be prepared for any condition by doing your homework.” It takes a lot of work to train like Team
USA, but if you’re dedicated to improving your game and are willing to put in the reps and practice necessary, it’s attain- able. “A lot of bowlers just say, ‘I didn’t
match up’ when they have a bad night,” said Ross, “and what they really mean is it’s not their fault. It was the lanes or the ball or whatever. When Team USA says they didn’t match up, they mean they have more work to do.”
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