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Author Topic: Someone please help evaluate my approach!  (Read 2646 times)

FastTracker33

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Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« on: March 13, 2009, 03:04:36 PM »
I really feel like I just completely suck sometimes. I average 212 and 209 in my center currently, but it's only on a house shot (which is a somewhat tough one anyways). I get pretty upset when I see others in the travel tournaments with such amazing forms to the line, and I have this. I need some good advice here, if possible. I've had a coach once, and I really don't think he was worth the money, honestly.

The video is currently being processed on YouTube. Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqSjZQhm6eI

Any help is HIGHLY appreciated.

Thank you!
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gtkpr31

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2009, 11:18:06 PM »
Overall, I've seen a lot worse approaches than yours, so that's a good thing.  A few things I would try to work on:

1.  I know you're trying to hook it and open up your shoulders during your backswing but the key is to be square to your target at the foul line.  Your right arm is trailing pretty badly.  I'm guessing you miss to the right a good bit, probably because of that little thing that  can make a big difference.

2.  Seems like you've got a case of the muscles.  It's been said time and time again but if you use more of a gravity swing and not muscle it you'll find yourself hitting your target a ton more.

3.  Finally, another thing that will make you more accurate and help you retain your balance more is the head.  Try to keep your head as steady as possible which will allow you to stay on top of the ball for more leverage and will also ensure you hit your target more.  If you're looking for a head movement (or lack thereof) watch patrick healey Jr.  He's the best at it, he and David Ozio.

Good luck!
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Locke

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2009, 01:03:23 PM »
You have a pretty good looking release. I think you should probably move to a 5 or even 6 step approach. This will allow you to have more time to swing so you don't need to rush you forward swing. I can see in your swing that you have are having to muscle your swing to get the ball to the line at the same time as your feet.
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FastTracker33

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2009, 08:18:33 PM »
gtkpr31, thank you for the detailed summary of what I must do.

As for everyone else, I am very willing to change my approach to 5 steps. After all, it is the summer pretty soon, so that means time to fix what's wrong, right?

Loochy, my foot is crooked, I see. I will try my best to square up better.

I'd love to square myself up better. I'm not doing anything on my approach intentionally, it's just all bad habit is all.

Please keep the comments coming. They are VERY appreciated!
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rockerbowler18

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2009, 08:28:40 PM »
quote:
gtkpr31, thank you for the detailed summary of what I must do.

As for everyone else, I am very willing to change my approach to 5 steps. After all, it is the summer pretty soon, so that means time to fix what's wrong, right?

Loochy, my foot is crooked, I see. I will try my best to square up better.

I'd love to square myself up better. I'm not doing anything on my approach intentionally, it's just all bad habit is all.

Please keep the comments coming. They are VERY appreciated!
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For MANY years, I had my pivot foot pointing straight at the wall going into the slide. By pointing that at my target, rather than sideways, I automatically squared my hips and shoulders. I kid you not, my average jumped 20 pins. Get that back foot pointed at your target.

Don't worry about going to a 5 step approach. A 4 step works just as well. I've never felt the need to change mine. I also still throw 14 lb stuff, and I'm 18 years old. Your timing is fine, it's not late...and if it is, it's only by a hair...once you get that back foot pointed at your target (it's important to note: at your target! not straight forward unless you're planning on the ball going straight forward perpendicular to the foul line!) your timing will realign.
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FastTracker33

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2009, 08:38:57 PM »
rocketbowler, so you're saying, that if I point my right foot towards my target, it might straighten me out if done correctly? If that's true, i'm definitely doing that next time I practice. Awesome, thanks for the help!
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rockerbowler18

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2009, 08:48:41 PM »
quote:
rocketbowler, so you're saying, that if I point my right foot towards my target, it might straighten me out if done correctly? If that's true, i'm definitely doing that next time I practice. Awesome, thanks for the help!
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Yes. I had that problem for years. Think about it. If your foot is sideways (parallel with the foul line) as you drive into your slide, that means 1. your hips are open, which opens your shoulders, which is tough to get closed before point of release, or 2. your knees rotate.

Assuming you are human, your knees do not rotate.

If this is how you are now:


..........Target









================Foul Line
----|[]|--------
----|[]|<Slide foot
----|[]|--------
----------------
----------------
______
[][][]<pivot/pushoff foot
______
----------------


This is how you should be:
..........Target









================Foul Line
----|[]|--------
----|[]|<Slide foot
----|[]|--------
----------------
----------------
--/[]/----------
-/[]/<pivot/pushoff foot
/[]/------------
----------------


Notice the back foot is parallel to the line the ball will travel on if you hit your target.
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FastTracker33

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2009, 09:02:53 PM »
rocketbowler, I am kind of confused by your drawing there. It's tough to type on ballreviews, when drawing something like that, but I thank you for taking the time to do it! I understand it somewhat, but then I get a little lost. If you can try to explain it one more time, that'd be great.

Thanks!
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rockerbowler18

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2009, 10:53:09 PM »
***sorry for the delay on reply, I'm out of town at a tournament and my aunt offered to take me to dinner! ***

Now, anyway, back to what I was saying.

Let's say you're slide foot is finishing on the 20 board, and you are targeting 12 at the arrows. When you push off into your slide with your back foot, the toe of that back foot should be pointed at the 12 board when you push into the slide, exactly where you want the ball to hit, rather than sideways, like, at the wall.

This will help to ensure that your body is open just the right amount, and never too far open so that you can't get it closed back to target line and make a consistent shot.
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FastTracker33

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2009, 06:36:43 AM »
It's no problem at all on the late reply. I'd rather a late one than nothing at all.

Anyways, so i'm getting what you're saying here. Once I get set on the approach with the ball and stand on whereever I want to stand, I point my right foot towards the target i'm shooting? So don't keep my feet dead in line together at all?

Then, since i'm pointing right all the time, wouldn't it still turn my foot too much right, or no?

Thanks!
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rockerbowler18

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Re: Someone please help evaluate my approach!
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2009, 07:40:27 PM »
Just got back from San Diego...

doesn't matter what way you point your foot when you start your approach. When you're pushing into your slide, as you're putting your slide foot down, your back foot should be pushing you into your slide. At this moment, rather than having your back foot point at the wall, point it at your target.
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