Walt Alexander Jr.: Bowl Strong!

Bowling One-On-One with Walt Alexander Jr.: Bowl Strong!

It’s not too often that bowlers just roll out of bed one day and suddenly just become good or great bowlers. It takes discipline, dedication and incredible perseverance as this game can and will knock you around and upside down more often than you would like. That’s why the successes are so sweet. There’s also something else very important that can be a huge part of improving your game, and that’s coaching. There’s a lot of different types of coaching out there you can seek: from friends, family, and of course from teammates which usually consists of three magical words ‘throw it better’. And then there is professional certified coaching where you can receive the type of insights and training tools you never knew possible.

I was very fortunate to catch up with one of the best in the business, Walt Alexander Jr., and I asked him about his bowling and coaching journey.

Welcome to Bowling One-On-One, Walt. I’d like to start off by asking about your first experience with bowling. How did your bowling journey get started?

“I began my bowling journey as a young airman, while stationed at Robins Air Force Base, in the late 70’s. My supervisor taught me a few of his techniques and I honed my skills during my off-duty time. Needless to say, I got pretty good at it and developed a passion for it. The intramural program on the base really helped me learn how to become competitive in the sport. In the early 1980s, while I was stationed in Japan, my wife was employed at the base lanes and that allowed me access to practice during closed hours. Another supervisor assisted me in even more development of my game. I knew then that I wanted to be good enough to make the Pacific Air Forces Command team and compete for the base, which I did.”

That’s amazing. I imagine there was not a lot of free time while in active duty back then but you gave it a try, stuck with it and your passion for the sport just grew. I understand you had some success as a bowler too. Share some of your most memorable personal accomplishments.

“I quickly realized that this was my sport. I’m not a big person in stature, so I had to learn a good method of delivery. I’ve never bowled a sanctioned 300 game or 800 series. I have rolled a few 300’s during practice or during pre-bowl/post-bowling. My highest sanctioned game was 290. I did win the Montana Men’s Championship, and several local and state tournaments.”

Fast forward to today and you are now a Certified USBC Silver Coach. What ultimately led you down the path of getting into coaching and dedicate to it at such a high level?

“Bowling for several years in the Pacific Northwest, while I was stationed in Montana, I wanted to learn as much as possible about the art and science of bowling. Being somewhat successful attending local tournaments, I knew that I wanted to coach. After completing the Bronze certification, I just couldn’t stop. Seems like that just wet my tongue so to speak. In my opinion, the Silver training really gives you in-depth knowledge and explains more of the science of the process. The Kegel Training Center has developed a Master Coaching program that is very precise, very intense, and packed with information about the science of the sport. Having attended three of the programs thus far, I feel that I’m very qualified to coach on a higher level.”

I understand through your intense training you’ve become an expert in at least these specific key elements of the game – Master of Direction and Speed/Release, and of the Art of Scoring. Your credentials, accomplishments and history in the sport of bowling is incredibly deep and admirable, to say the least. You’re a national championship coach and also an Inductee in the Middle GA USBC Association Hall of Fame. You’re also a coach and mentor at Robins AFB, Georgia and at Gold Cup Lanes, Warner Robins. You’re the current director of the Middle Georgia USBC Association and the Lead instructor at The Bowling Factory, Southern Lanes, Douglasville, GA. That’s to name just a few of the projects and associations you have been involved with and currently involved with.

You coach all ages across the states of Georgia, Alabama, North & South Carolina, and Florida. You have a successful track record with coaching youth bowlers, many of whom have gone on to have great success. Talk about what it means to you to work with youth bowlers and watching them take their game to new heights.

(Jordan Shipe)

“I dearly love coaching youth bowlers! It thrills my heart to see them succeed on the lanes and to see how they bubble over with joy when they bowl strikes and personal best games/series.  To win a tournament with them, speaks loudly of the bowlers themselves. I will challenge my students to do their absolute best in every shot. I don’t accept mediocre performance, and I will challenge them and push them to their limits. See, I learn from each student. I learn how they think, their passion, their goals, the way they respect others on the lane and so forth. That’s what makes me smile! Most of my students have been female bowlers. It’s amazing to watch them learn and give 110%. Ask Emily Rettig, Haley Swindle, or Leah Brazier. They have taught me as much as I’ve taught them. All of my previous students have gone on to college on scholarships and that was our goal from the beginning.”

You must have incredible patience to discover and understand what precise training that is needed per individual, and how to effectively communicate the knowledge to meet those needs. I imagine you have to be incredibly in tune with your students, their personalities and tendencies. Talk about some of the challenges you face as a coach as you try to help others reach their greatest potential.

(Emily Rettig, Scott Ferch)

“To me the most difficult challenge is proprietors. Finding a house that will work with me by putting out certain oil patterns or making lanes accessible. I can’t give enough thanks to Randy Hicks at Southern Lanes for giving me the opportunity to provide training at The Bowling Factory and for having the confidence in me to give his facility a great reputation. I have several returning customers from that local area and have had some travel from a few states away to come and train. The second most difficult challenge is trying to convince today’s youth that this game takes time to make good adjustments. We live in a society of convenience, point and click, if you will. So, many younger bowlers think they can “fix” their game in one session, or in an hour which we know that’s not reality. Third challenge is support! Some, not all, but some parents want their children to succeed but they don’t know how to help them. Some parents don’t bowl, so their knowledge is very limited. I try to communicate with them some areas to observe and let me know how the bowler does if I’m not there with them. I try my best to attend as many tournaments as I can with my students; just to be there and give them confidence in their abilities and occasionally provide input concerning lane play, ball motion, and line of play suggestions.”

For those who are not as familiar with some of the people you have worked with and trained over the years, if you can share some insight into some of those experiences and why they are so memorable to you. Also, talk about the personal satisfaction you must feel after seeing your knowledge transfer turn into success for your clients.

(Leah Brazier, Haley Swindle)

“Well, I have had the opportunity to work with so many up and coming athletes, either while I was training, while they were in college, or as youth bowlers. I had the honor of assisting Coach Doug O’Bryan several years ago with his daughter, Annalise. I know everybody in college bowling knows that name. Doug and I coached the Georgia Youth Allstars together for a couple of years and I got to work with Annalise on occasion. I did give my feedback to Doug and I hope it helped. Of course, I have trained Haley Swindle for about 5 years now. She won the Northern Colorado Regional Championship last fall. That was a great day for her! She also won an “Eagle” at the National Youth Open Championship in 2022, I believe. My dates might be incorrect. But nevertheless, these were great accomplishments by her and she is very capable of using the material that I’ve taught her to “UP” her game! Ms. Emily Rettig was a former student that succeeded on the lanes. As a youth, she bowled Junior Gold and Teen Master’s several times and has placed in the top 15 on many occasions. Graduating Louisiana Tech, Emily has bowled in several local, state, and PWBA events and has been very successful!”

When you have some free time outside of the sport of bowling, what are some of your personal hobbies and interests?

“I own a 1968 Piper Cherokee 180 airplane. When I’m not on the lanes (rare), I try my very best to get in the sky and enjoy the beauty and the serenity of peace. There’s nothing more calming to me that to be in the sky, seeing God’s creation from above, especially in the fall of the year. I had the special privilege of flying with my father, one time, before he passed. That was a very special moment in my life.”

As you know, the sport of bowling is as popular worldwide as it has ever been as bowlers from all ages and levels are soaking up the knowledge and working to improve their game. I generally ask this next question about tips and advice for bowlers from other bowlers. I haven’t had the opportunity yet to ask a coach on your level. I’m pretty confident you would highly recommend seeking out a certified coach as Tip #1. But please share a little bit about that process – of seeking out a coach. How does one find a coach? How does one know if that coach is right for them and their specific needs? And since I have you here, what additional brief tips or advice would you give to bowlers out there who are working to improve their game?

“Finding a coach can be challenging at times. The USBC has made the coaching staff page available again, but it needs more attention. Check with your local association management, local center and bowlers about coaches they may know of. Finding a coach that is a good match for you is just a matter of communication and preference. I would strongly recommend that you use a trained/certified coach. They have been given education to help teach the bowler good habits. If you’re an advanced bowler, I would recommend the great coaches at the Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Florida. Phenomenal coaches! All of my training has been conducted there and it’s a bowler’s heaven. They, Rick Wiltse, Del Warren, Ruben Ghiragossian, Alexander Gurkov, and the late Randy Stoughton, have believed in me and given me so much knowledge and support. I can’t thank them enough!!!”

“As for tips to bowlers, 1) practice with a purpose; make your time successful and use it wisely. 2) trust your process; don’t get so wrapped up in the results. If your process is what you feel it should be, then the result will be what you expect.”

Walt, it has been a pleasure talking with you and learning about your journey. It’s people like you who go far above and beyond not only to help yourself understand the game better but to help other bowlers become the best versions of themselves. You truly represent the heartbeat of why and how bowlers around the world are getting better and better at their craft. I wish I could take you down to the lanes right now and have you put me to work on my own game. Thank you again and all my best to you ahead on your great journey.

“I’ll leave you with this advice: don’t ever give up on your dreams, don’t make excuses, work hard, always give 110%, control what you can and let the other stuff go! BOWL STRONG!”