footwork

[spiders2283]

Hi!  I am 2 months back into bowling after a 4 year absence and I am making quick progress picking up where I left off.  I changed my approach somewhat from when I used to bowl.  When I was younger I used to start well beyond the 16 ft dots because I used to have a fast long stepped approach.  I remember stopping right at the foul line.  However, after I got back into it I find myself starting at the 12 ft dots and taking smaller steps.  One thing I find is that if I try and take longer steps (I use the 5 step approach btw always have) I mess up my timing.  Lastly, I find myself drifting a couple of boards on the last step.  I'll start at 10, but drift to 13-14.  Anyone have any advice on walking straighter and also adjusting my release to longer steps so I am not so far away from the foul line?  I think one of the problems may lie in my sole, I might need a litter bit more slide.  I forget which pad it is, but it's the one that came with the SST4s.  They didn't have the 5s in my size which I regret because the came with the whole set, soles and heels.  Thanks for the advice!  I forgot how much fun it was bowling, but unfortunately I couldn't take all my bowling stuff to Germany on the plane lol.

[dizzyfugu]

One thing you should IMHO check is your knee bend. A bent knee promotes a good slide and keeps your body's CG "under" your body, which also helps with balance and a straight approach towards the foul line.

 

Another thing I suggest (from personal experience - I also use a 5 step approach) is to keep your initial steps small. I used to hurry much too much during the initial 3 steps, which totally killed timing with the pendulum. I was much too early at the foul line, had to wait for the ball, and had almost no slide at all. I got much better when I learned to start really slowly, with just half an initail "trigger step", and just gradually speeding my steps up once the ball was on its way. I also start from the last row of dots, but actually only make a larger "power step" (when the ball comes forward again, adding the pendulum momentum to the footwork forward) and have a relatively long slide. Far from perfect, though, but it helped me a lot with timing, leverage and overall balance and control.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
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