Hammer
03-23-2014, 12:31 AM
I hurt my lower back at work Wednesday lifting up a heavy bin that I do a lot of times on my job. This time something went wrong. I lifted with my legs and a straight back but I got half way up and felt a pain in my lower back. I couldn't lift anything after that. I have been resting it and doing some exercises that are designed for lower back pain. I didn't think I would be able to bowl on tonights league night. I took a hot shower and did a few different stretches. I also took 600 mgs of ibuprophin between 1PM and 6PM.
Off to league night I went. I started with my urethane Blue Hammer for the first 5 frames. It wasn't working just right for me so I switched to my Raw Hammer Anger ball and saw that the lanes were just right for the way I was throwing it. It was more controllable then it used to be because I had the surface changed from 2000 Abralon dull surface to 4000 Abralon with a slick polished surface. Tonight I stuck with the thought before I started my approach to lead the forward swing with the ring finger which kept my hand to the inside of the ball up to the start of the release area.
My first game was a 208. My second game was a 163. I missed 3 spares that I should have picked up. That robbed me of 30 pins I could have added to that 163. I shouldn't complain because I don't practice anymore and our league bowls every other Saturday. My last game was a 193. I needed that game because we won that game by 4 pins. I bowled a strike and a spare 9 in the 10th frame of the last game. So we ended up winning all three games and series also.
My back bothered me a little tonight but it wasn't bad enough to keep me from bowling. I don't know if I should have chanced it with the lower back problem. I will have to wait and see what it will feel like when I wake up Sunday morning. I am sticking with the lead with the ring finger thought when I make my approach instead of the stay behind the ball thought. The lead with the ring finger thought keeps my hand to the inside of the ball as it reaches the beginning of the release area. Doing that makes it easier to not turn early. If I do start to turn early my hand is so far to the inside of the ball that it gives me somewhat of a margin for error so it is not as bad as if I have the stay behind the ball thought.
So not practicing and bowling every other Saturday on our league I can't complain about my bowling scores. I have bowled on this league for 27 years so at least I have a fighting chance of doing decent. I know all there is to know about bowling balls as far as layout and surface changes and the correct setup and release. Also throw in making adjustments on the lanes to get pocket hits. I would like to practice at least twice a week but my lower body issues won't let me do that. So I will stick with just bowling league night.
I like the game too much and that is what keeps me going even though the lower body has issues. I have some pain afterwards but I take some meds before bed and just deal with it. I sooner or later will know when I should hang my bowling shoes and ball up but I am going to have to be in pretty bad shape before I do. I'll just keep fighting through the pain. You almost have to expect stuff like this at 67 years of age. I still can make a good knee bend and open my shoulders parallel to the alley with my balance arm in front of me and rotate my spine on the forward swing to throw the ball. So I will keep on until I can't keep on but I ain't going down without a fight. I LOVE BOWLING TOO MUCH.
Off to league night I went. I started with my urethane Blue Hammer for the first 5 frames. It wasn't working just right for me so I switched to my Raw Hammer Anger ball and saw that the lanes were just right for the way I was throwing it. It was more controllable then it used to be because I had the surface changed from 2000 Abralon dull surface to 4000 Abralon with a slick polished surface. Tonight I stuck with the thought before I started my approach to lead the forward swing with the ring finger which kept my hand to the inside of the ball up to the start of the release area.
My first game was a 208. My second game was a 163. I missed 3 spares that I should have picked up. That robbed me of 30 pins I could have added to that 163. I shouldn't complain because I don't practice anymore and our league bowls every other Saturday. My last game was a 193. I needed that game because we won that game by 4 pins. I bowled a strike and a spare 9 in the 10th frame of the last game. So we ended up winning all three games and series also.
My back bothered me a little tonight but it wasn't bad enough to keep me from bowling. I don't know if I should have chanced it with the lower back problem. I will have to wait and see what it will feel like when I wake up Sunday morning. I am sticking with the lead with the ring finger thought when I make my approach instead of the stay behind the ball thought. The lead with the ring finger thought keeps my hand to the inside of the ball as it reaches the beginning of the release area. Doing that makes it easier to not turn early. If I do start to turn early my hand is so far to the inside of the ball that it gives me somewhat of a margin for error so it is not as bad as if I have the stay behind the ball thought.
So not practicing and bowling every other Saturday on our league I can't complain about my bowling scores. I have bowled on this league for 27 years so at least I have a fighting chance of doing decent. I know all there is to know about bowling balls as far as layout and surface changes and the correct setup and release. Also throw in making adjustments on the lanes to get pocket hits. I would like to practice at least twice a week but my lower body issues won't let me do that. So I will stick with just bowling league night.
I like the game too much and that is what keeps me going even though the lower body has issues. I have some pain afterwards but I take some meds before bed and just deal with it. I sooner or later will know when I should hang my bowling shoes and ball up but I am going to have to be in pretty bad shape before I do. I'll just keep fighting through the pain. You almost have to expect stuff like this at 67 years of age. I still can make a good knee bend and open my shoulders parallel to the alley with my balance arm in front of me and rotate my spine on the forward swing to throw the ball. So I will keep on until I can't keep on but I ain't going down without a fight. I LOVE BOWLING TOO MUCH.