Frequently Asked Questions

When will you have Dick's VHS tapes available on DVD?  I would definitely buy them!

Call the office 800-535-0678 and order your set today!  They are $25 each plus shipping and handling.

May I use my SMART funds to pay for camp? 
 
Yes, USBC SMART funds will pay for your camp fees. You, the  student should contact USBC directly by calling 800-514-2695, press #6, then Press #3.  If you have an account set up, you may request your funds online; the site is http://apps.bowl.com/smart/adminMenu.aspx . 

I average 200+. Can you help me?

It is interesting to note that the higher average bowler tells us that often their sense of the mechanics of the sport is much improved after attending. We teach mathematical systems, reducing the trial and error time necessary to read, play, and adjust to different lane conditions. From a biomechanical sense, in sports, all high skill athletes have developed a blended, synchronized, fluidity of motion that results in the greatest efficiency with the least amount of effort. Through a series of drills, the Ritger system, which isolates the approach into six components, allows the bowler to experience the pure true feelings within each segment. They are then blended together to create the smooth athletic movement of the approach and delivery. With variables such as free swing, finger rotation, leverage, acceleration and speed control, the needs of the high skilled bowler are addressed.

Class make-up and size: Am I too old?

Classes are limited in size, with a 1 to 6 student to instructor ratio, providing for maximum individual attention. (Winter clinics are much smaller, and may be taught with one lead instructor and up to 12 students, then additional instructors added as the class grows). Student ages and skill levels extend over a complete range (Minimum age 12), and are about 50% adults and 50% ages 12-18. It's never too late to learn, according to 65 year old Andy Ackerman of New Jersey who came in '93 and has "bowled more 600 sets after camp than I bowled during the previous two years. After 1 great week of camp, I averaged 190 (up from 175). Many of our classes have seniors working to improve skills, immersing themselves in the sport, and just having fun.

I bowl in tournaments and can’t adjust well,
can you help me?

We teach a formula to play an angle. (This means boards or across boards.) With sound fundamentals, this formula lets the bowler hit the exact target on the first delivery and then the “How to adjust” information we provide, lets the bowler adjust. The process of understanding adjusting starts with length, then hitting the headpin, then finite adjustment to the pocket, and then pin carry. Winter clinics and summer camps teach this whole process and have the bowler work on it through practical application – bowling.

Are you going to change my game?

We don’t change. We provide pure true feelings in each part of the bowling approach. Then we ask the bowler to compare feelings and settle on those that are consistent, smooth, effortless and are easy to repeat (without wear and tear on the body.) Any change that might result is because it feels so much smoother, easier and consistent. Our key is to develop positive skill improvement, which the bowler is able to focus upon, understand, and be able to repeat and then be able to correct if inadvertently done improperly.

Can you help me with pressure?

Pressure comes about because the physical game is not as consistent or as sound as it should be. Under pressure, the body does other than what it has been trained to do, sometimes called “choking”. The process or order to begin to help with pressure:

1. Develop a very sound fundamental game. Acquire physical, positive and repeatable skills. Consider: Mike Aulby, Parker Bohn, &/or Walter Ray Williams.

2. Scientific system to play the lane and adjust. All great bowlers Mike Aulby, Parker Bohn, Walter Ray Williams, Don Carter, Dick Weber, Earl Anthony, etc.

3. Pressure understanding an then application. Our repeat program has 50 overheads that we use in different segments of the mental game. One of the main focuses is pressure:

What it is -

How it comes about -

How to recognize -

How to combat it

Then we provide practical application.

I throw a backup ball, will you change that?

We always start each person with a question. Did you come here to change? Do you want to try to change? We explain the limitations of a backup. We explain the effort or time that might be needed to change. We do two tests with the isolated release. These tests tell us if change can come easily, or will be difficult. If the student can do the two tests they already can see and feel that they are rolling a hook ball. I also tell them no matter how much they work on a hook, they will still be able to do a backup, so no fear. Finally if they wish to remain with a backup, not change to a hook, we make the backup release stronger, give them the backup formula to play a line or angle, a special spare system, and work to provide the physical game with very sound fundamentals

What is the difference between the 4-day clinic and the 5-day camp?

The materials taught are the same. The amount of work on the lanes is slightly less in the four-day clinic.

Four-day x 5 ½ hours per day = 22 hours on the lane.

Five-day x 5 ½ hours per day = 27 ½ hours.

The summer camps fifth day has no formal teaching as all teaching is done in the first four days. The four-day clinic is the same: all teaching done in the same order/progression as the summer camp. The extra day at the summer camp is used to work on areas of need: touch up, solidify skill areas, answer questions, etc.. Winter clinics have smaller numbers, anywhere from eight to thirty bowlers, while summer camps have 48-60 bowlers. Winter clinics do not provide evening activities and housing/food packages while summer camps do.

Who are the instructors and how are they trained?

They vary in age, location of where they live, background, bowling ~ teaching ability and personality. They don’t vary with training/teaching the Ritger material/system(s). Each has been through the camp at least once as a bowler, through the repeat program at least once, and through the Dick Ritger Coaches Clinic twice, thus a Level III Ritger Certified Coach/Instructor. We then select them based on screening our coaches clinics, determining if they are teaching in their own communities, what would be their availability to give us a full three week summer session (for continuities sake). Those we select are interned for two seasons along with a strong mentor program each week they work. Dick Ritger and Bob Rea also use them as coaches in our winter programs when needed. We develop and fine tune their teaching and communicative skills each year. They all teach and believe totally in the Ritger system. It has worked in their individual games. Most of our coaches have been teaching for at least 10 years and more.

Do you talk about equipment?

We first check to see that your equipment fits so that you can roll the ball 180 to 220 times a day. We spend time on equipment with a pro-shop seminar, (summer camp evening). Our summer camp pro-shop specialists will always take as much time as possible to explain and educate a student about equipment. Our philosophy is that skill development must be number one, lane science (reading/adjusting) second and equipment third. They all go hand in hand, but our order of development is skill, knowledge, equipment.

Is there a discount available?

Ritger Bowling Camp does not offer a discount, however, we do offer "field Representative Credits.  For each referral you will receive a $25 credit good towards tuition. If you have three referrals, you will receive a beautiful Ritger bowling shirt, five referrals a bowling ball and for seven, you will be invited to spend a weekend with Dick Ritger.  This includes private lessons and tips from Dick Ritger with all expenses paid, except for your travel.  Imagine what an experience it would be to have Dick's undivided attention!