NOTE: These opinions stated by the Editor do not necessarily reflect those of The Foundation or those of The Kegel Company.

Bowlers are a funny group of people. I don't mean funny as in "Ha-Ha" or even funny as in strange or weird. I mean we do some 'funny' things.

I enjoy bowling and have only been bowling for about six years. Compared to a lot of people that I know, I haven't been bowling long at all. But, in comparison my understanding of the game is great compared to some who have been bowling a lot longer. Sometimes, my understanding is a bit too good; if you know what I mean.

I am a pretty smart person. I understand all the fundamentals of bowling: push-away, arm swing, slide, timing, release, etc. and I have pretty good form. I have a good push away, my timing is a little late but it works for me, I have good speed control, good balance at the line; my 'approach' has all the right pieces. So why is it that I can't seem to average more than 180? I know I am capable of better.

It all boils down to PRACTICE. I just don't practice. And not because I don't have time or the facility to do so, I just don't do it. I am literally down the hall from the most advanced training facility in the world (for bowling) and I can't find an hour a week to take advantage of it. For that, SHAME ON ME. But I digress on my point. Let me continue.

So here you have me, a 'talented' (OK-not talented but not talent-less; better than average) and I want to get better. I am now making a commitment to myself and to my 'talent' to improve so that I can better my average. What do I do?

It's all about practice. I can easily put in an hour a week. In my case, I could easily put in an hour a day. But what do I work on?

I personally would concentrate on ONE thing. And ONLY one thing: SPARES! Spares cost me more pins than they should. Two or three missed spares in a game cost me 30 or more pins. That means a decent 180 game with two additional spares would have been 200. Or that 160 game with three missed single pins could have been 190. Missed spares are the majority of my problem.

I recently bowled in a league where I subbed for an absent bowler. In this particular league, ladies bowl head-to-head in Peterson-Point format. Scores are scratch and there are three ladies per team. Points are awarded for each game and series for both the individual and the team.

Now, it's time to bowl. My first game, I really felt like I was throwing the ball well. I was making good shots, but I didn't carry that well. I made a couple of bad shots where I let the ball get a little too far right and it never really made it back to the pocket. Those shots cost me. I left the "bucket without the 8 pin" on one shot and only took two pins on the spare and I left the 3-6-10 on another shot and only took one on the spare. Those two missed spares alone cost me 20 pins. Couple that with the 4-7 I missed and my 185 game just jumped to 215.

During the second game, I made a little move to (hopefully) help me get the 10 pin out a little better. I left four solid 10 pins in the first game, which I spared, so I knew I was in the right place; I just needed a small adjustment. I threw the first four strikes in the game and then came in a little light to leave a flat seven pin. I made my spare and then threw three more strikes. In the ninth frame, I got the ball a little too far right. It came back but not enough and I left a flat 10 pin. I made my spare again. When I stepped up in the tenth, I had a clean game going. I threw the first strike and stepped up for shot number two. I made a really good shot but the 6 pin just wrapped around the 10 pin. That ended the clean game as I threw my spare ball in the gutter for 246.

The third game was a bit of a downward spiral for me. I was still physically throwing the ball well but I did not read the lane transition properly. Basically, I didn't move fast enough and make the appropriate adjustments. I once again missed the "bucket without the 8 pin" taking only two pins on the spare. Then I missed a 6-10 and a 10 pin. I got it back together with a spare in the ninth frame and three strikes in the tenth frame for a 173. I missed four spares in the last game. Those four spares would have pushed my 173 game to 213.

All those missed spares cost me. Not that my 604 series was bad but it could have been 670 or 680 with a few more spares.

Normally when I go practice I don't work on any one thing. I just kind of throw the ball and practice. Unfortunately, this method doesn't really work on anything. If anything, it's actually counter productive. If I went out and actually practiced spares, I could get better at MAKING spares. The 50 pins I lose a night in missed spares would improve my average a great deal.

But then again, bowlers are funny people. And this is why I think so. It never ceases to amaze me how many bowlers are just like me. They go 'practice' but don't actually practice anything. Or, they spend an hour practicing a strike shot but don't work on making the spares they leave. And then, we complain that we should have shot 700 instead of 640 (or in my case 670 instead of 600). See, we are funny people.

We are quick to complain about something yet do nothing to correct the problem or improve upon the problem. I have heard countless bowlers complain (just like me) that their average should be higher or their score should have been higher. Get out there. Do the "P" word. PRACTICE! If you think your average or scores should be higher, only you can get them there. And my friends, practice is a necessary key in the solution.

I have a practice plan in mind and I am going to stick to it. It isn't always easy. Days are long and I get tired. But I really WANT to improve and I won't get any better without practice. My current high game is 258 and my high set is 661. I want 700 and I want a 270 or better game. Heck, I may even want to add another title like National Amateur Champion or Kingpin Millionaire to that while I'm at it. Brandy Padilla, National Amateur Champion, Kingpin Millionaire. I definitely like the sound of that. Well, a girl can dream. But anything is possible if you put your mind to it and if you practice.