Bowling One-On-One: 2023 Words of Encouragement
As I reflect on the vision I’ve had for this mission of capturing the love and passion for the game of bowling and sharing it with the world, I’d like to say ‘Thank You’ to all of my 2023 guests on Bowling One-On-One for sharing your journeys with me. It is you, the amateurs, pros, collegiate and all levels in between who make this sport so great.
I’d like to re-share all the words of encouragement from each interview of our Bowling One-On-One inaugural class of 2023. Their words are supportive and encouraging and I hope they will serve as added inspiration as you head into 2024 with the determination of achieving your personal goals.
I am excited to continue this mission and look forward to capturing and sharing many more of your inspiring journeys and sharing them with the world.
Thank you again, and Happy New Year!
Tim Powell
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“It is going to be hard at the beginning and seeing others around you hooking the ball a lot and striking. Practice a lot and find yourself a coach. Don’t get down on yourself when times are tough and you’re not scoring well. If I’m mathematically out of a match or an event, I try to look at it as a positive of knowing what to work on and just start to try other things. I would take notes on my phone so if I see this type of lane condition again in the future, then I’ll have something to fall back on. Everyone goes through it but the more you practice and put time into your craft the better you will be, and you will see the results.”
Garrett Richardson – Silent Assassin
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find somebody who shares the passion and get out there and do it. It’s important to practice with a purpose and not just for score. There are so many drills out there. Social media is a good tool, we have so much information at our fingertips these days, use it.”
Sunny McHugh – Renewed Obsession
“If you really want it, go for it, and never give up. Give yourself the time to learn, receive coaching and implement proper techniques. Never be afraid to ask questions, there’s so much good knowledge out there to learn from. For kids, bowling has so much to offer between Junior Programs, Scholarships, and Tournaments, as well as all the great people you will meet along the way.”
“Don’t worry about scoring, it will come. Build a foundation for a lifetime of bowling. Cherish the community, join a league, don’t worry if you’re good enough, you are. There’s a league for everyone. Practice and get your own equipment. Get a good, passionate coach. Have fun!!”
“You’ve got this! In this journey, expect more challenges than triumphs, but savor the rollercoaster ride. Embrace the lows as opportunities for growth, and don’t hesitate to bounce back. You’ll emerge stronger from those experiences. If you don’t have a coach, I strongly recommend finding a trusted mentor to assist you in refining your game. This sport is demanding, filled with uncertainties, but it’s precisely that unpredictability that makes it so captivating.”
Verity Crawley – Two Time PWBA Champion
“The best advice I can give anyone wanting to be better is find someone who knows more than you, learn everything you can from them, then find someone else who knows even more and learn from them. There’s always something to learn in this sport and there’s always something to learn from everyone who bowls regardless of their skill level.”
Hope Gramly – PWBA 2023 Rookie of the Year
“We are all different, you should approach the game the way you are comfortable approaching it. For me, it’s a lot of repetition and coaching. Work on your mental game, bowling is about math and keeping your head in the game and minimizing distractions. While saying that, have fun! The bowling community is an awesome one. I’ve met many great, interesting, intelligent, helpful people. Keep making goals and get some coaching if you need to. No one that bowls at a high level, learned everything alone. Coaching from someone can go a long way towards helping develop your game.”
“It’s fantastic to see bowling thriving all over the world. For all the aspiring bowlers, my advice is to embrace the journey of improvement. Remember that every frame, every game, every practice session is an opportunity to refine your skills and knowledge. Stay dedicated, practice regularly, and seek guidance from experienced bowlers or coaches. Patience is key; progress may be gradual, but each small step counts. Lastly, have fun! Bowling is not just about winning; it’s about the joy of the game and the friendships you build along the way.”
Chelsey Klingler – Embrace the Journey
“Practice, Practice, Practice. Work on techniques, work on spares and work on different lane conditions. When I was bowling competitively, I would practice at four to five centers a week and get use to as many conditions as possible. I had a game plan when I first started bowling tournaments. I would try to cash in as many events as possible. The next step was to make the finals and then learn ‘how to win’. I also had to learn ‘how to lose’ so to get better and hungrier.”
“My biggest advice would be to have a good spare system and learn how to consistently make your spares. It will help your game a lot. My other advice would be about being nicer to yourself on and off the lanes. There are plenty of people in this world, who already could be cruel to you. Be nice and grateful for your performance, recognize the good and the bad, learn from your mistakes and move forward.”
Dasha Kovalova – Five-Time PWBA Champion
“I would say get as much information as you can, but don’t overload yourself. That sounds kind of funny doesn’t it. I think there are several great resources for improving your game today. From your pro shop to coaches to online video lessons to YouTube videos. However, I think that some people get confused by seeing/using too many of these opportunities. Find the person that works the best for you and be committed to them. Bowling is an awesome sport and there is no ‘perfect’ way to do it. All coaches see things differently and both may be correct, but their different views can confuse you. I see it often where people are changing things because so and so says so and then they change again shortly after because someone else says do it this way. Find what works best for you and learn to repeat it to the best of your ability!”
Tom Hess – Six-Time PBA/PBA50 Champion
“I think the best advice to give bowlers who want to bowl collegiately is to do research. I did not know that sport patterns were a thing until I was 14 years old. People that I bowled against at that time, had been exposed to those types of patterns when they were maybe 5 or 6. I found out so much more information about the bowling world by just talking with people to find tournaments in my home state or just in a specific area in general. Sometimes I ask myself where I would’ve been today if I would have been exposed to competitive bowling like this at a younger age.”
Chloe Day – Follow Your Dreams
“First, you have to put in the time and effort to improve. Practice as much as you can. Make sure your release, arm swing, footwork, and timing is solid. Once those things are solid, then the scores will come as you gain knowledge with oil patterns, oil break down, spare shooting, and bowling balls. Having a solid foundation is very important.”
“Second, enjoy the process. Improvement in bowling is a very slow process. A minor change will take weeks of practice to rewrite your muscle memory. You will be frustrated when things are not going well or when you start struggling with something. That is part of the process though. When that happens, you have to realize why you are doing what you are doing and realize you will be better once you get through the tough part. The process is going to have a lot of ups and downs. Enjoy the ride though. Remember it is a game and to have fun.”
“Thirdly, you need to have an A+ mental game if you want to compete competitively. If you are not mentally strong, then you will not go very far in this game. There are a lot of great bowlers out there, but they may not have the mental game to go with it. The mental game will get you through slumps, tough patterns, unlucky breaks, and whatever may come at you. You never know what will happen on the lanes, but a great mental game can get you through it. You may not have the best day, but you may be able to grind out a set or a tournament to place. Even if you have a horrible bowling day, then you will likely take something positive away that will help you improve and get better.”
Matthew Wong – Smooth Competitor
“My advice to others around the world in bowling is to definitely stay positive in your mental game. The mental game is such a big part of it. For example, if you throw a bad shot just regroup and focus on the next. One of my bowling coaches said to me the other day ‘every frame is a new game’. In my opinion, if you have a positive attitude, focus, and the willingness to put in the time, you will go far in this sport.”
Grant Migneron – Evolution in Motion
“On advice, I recommend bowling tournaments and reach out to as many coaches as you can. It will provide you an opportunity to see what your future may look like. Practice, Practice, Practice. It’ll only help you out. Get the work in on whatever you think needs fixing or improving and then shoot spares. Nothing wrong with getting some extra spare practice in.”
C.J. Petrin – Young Leader Seeks ITC Title
“My biggest advice for anyone aspiring to bowl collegiately would be to stay true to yourself and never lose your confidence. It is completely okay to have things in bowling to work on. No one is perfect; if we were, the game would no longer be fun (as my dad would say). The most important thing would be to find a program that will help you most as a player – one that has faith in you and is there to help you improve along the way. I would also give advice for young athletes to read up on mental sports books, as they can go a long way to help strengthen one’s mindset.”
Barbara Lunsford – Never Give Up
“Never give up on your dreams. Believe in yourself no matter what and never let them see you settle!!! Watch everyone that’s bowling great and figure out what makes them special. Hard work does pay off but heart trumps all, never quit!”
Troy Lint – 2023 PBA50 Player of the Year
“Use all the resources at your disposal. Watch videos on YouTube, learn about factory finishes on ball manufacturing websites and check out oil patterns before you bowl a tournament. However, when it comes to oil patterns, every house, every lane is different so let the lane tell you where to throw the ball and what ball to throw. Be competitive but stay friendly. Congratulate your opponent when they bowl good because they will motivate you to bowl even better.”
