CANTON — Execution and repetition.
It’s the bowling creed that Canton right-hander Jim Austin lives by, and what he preaches to his son, left-hander Tim Austin.
But this no ordinary father-son relationship in the Tycor Roofing league at Eastbury Bowling Center.
Tim, a Greater Canton Bowling Association Hall of Famer who carries a 212 average, is a 65-year-old employee of Southway Fence Co. His father, who just recently shot 247 in the league and also added a 181 triplicate in the Ellsworth Auto Body Senior Traveling League, also at Eastbury, is 90 — and will turn 91 in February 2024.
“He just never quits. There’s always something for him to figure out,” Tim said of his father, also a GCBA Hall member. “He wants to now why someone is on or not.
“He always says he taught me nothing about bowling. But he taught me everything I know. He told me whenever you’re bowling good, remember that feeling. But you lose it, and it’s not going to happen all the time. It’s all about his attitude.”
Jim Austin is averaging 165 in the traveling league and 160 at Eastbury. He first began bowling during the 1951-52 season at the former Castamal Lanes in Canton. The Hall of Famer owns three career 800 series, with his high of 828 coming at the former Lincoln Way Lanes in Massillon. He also owns 10 career 300 games.
“There also was one I threw at a tournament down south that I don’t get credit for,” Jim said. “I only got one ring that year.”
Why does he still do it?
“I just like to bowl … that’s it,” said Jim, whose last 800 came at the former Imperial Lanes in Canton. “I bowled in three leagues when I was younger. I tried four once, but didn’t like it too much. I really haven’t changed anything over the years.
“It’s something to do. You can’t sit home all the time. You have to have something to keep you motivated to do things.”
Jim started as a “full-roller’ with his release in his early years, but has developed into what Tim calls “a three-quarter” roller as he has aged.
“I have to play deep inside because I just can’t generate the speed anymore,” said Jim, who throws 14-pound equipment and still buys new balls, including the two Storm balls he presently uses.
“I’ve just told him to stay behind the ball,” Tim said, “and he’s going to come around it by doing that.”
He began bowling in the traveling league in 1994 following his retirement from The Timken Co., where he worked in automation. Currently, there are four other travel league bowlers over age 80, including Perry Township right-hander Paul Hobson (85), North Canton left-hander Jerry “Chick” Willaman (84), Plain Township right-hander Nat Martinez (83) and Jackson Township right-hander Dean Ring (84). Martinez holds the current high average at 181.
Despite his age, Jim Austin still gets upset when he doesn’t score up to his standards.
“At my age, I just can’t throw the ball like I used to. You think about one thing and then it’s another thing,” Jim said. “It used to be automatic to me and you didn’t have to think about it.
“Now, when you start thinking about it, it’s not there any more and you don’t remember. Yeah, I still get upset.”
Jim Austin also has another philosophy: Pressure is the inability to execute.
“That’s something I tell (Tim) all the time,” Jim said.
“Execution, repetition … it’s all he ever tells me,” Tim added.
In addition to bowling, Jim Austin still plays golf to a 10-handicap in a senior league at Wilkshire Golf Course in Zoar. He got into that game through the coaxing of friend Paul Wackerly and still plays once a week.
But even in golf, he gets frustrated at times.
“There’s one hole, a par-5 with water on the back where I have to lay up. If I hit it too far it causes one problem and if I hit it too short, it makes it tough. I’ve got 7 or 8 sometimes before I’m even hitting into the hole.”
HIs bowling leagues are Monday and Thursday most weeks, but the traveling league does bowl occasional Tuesdays. How does he cope with it physically?
“There’s a long time until the next time I bowl so I’m fine,” Jim said.
But how much longer does he still want to be out there? Tim said it didn’t take much to get his dad to continue on Mondays.
“I think part of it is the camaraderie for him … being with the guys,” Tim said.
“I’m just a regular guy who likes to bowl,” Jim Austin said. “I’ll be out here until the Lord calls me I guess.”