Very good finish position.  Since you are a tweener, pretty good roll as I can see, why go through all of the contortions of a wind up?  It doesn't improve your roll any and it is unnecessary body movement that can only do more harm than good.

Tom Kouros in Par Bowling stresses cadence.  Take a look at successful bowlers and most of them will have a consistent cadence to the foul line.  If you think of your footwork in beats, it may help you to smooth out things a bit.  As of right now, your game is in 5/4 time.  It worked for Dave Brubeck but he was never a bowler.
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got revs?

Channel,

Don't listen to Bamaster, he has no room to talk about speed on the approach.  His not known as the PBA SW Region's Human Rain Delay for no reason!  I have references!!!  LOL!!

Actually, I kind of like your approach.  Yes, it is alot jammed into a small space, but your timing is good, and your finish position is excellent.

You may have problems generating ball speed when the lanes really hooking, but with that short approach, you will have no problem getting in front of the ball return on the right lane.

The real question is can you repeat it consistently?  I don't really like that side step in your first step, most coaches will try to get rid of that.  But, if your drift is consistent, you may have something that will give you an advantage in certain situations.  Playing 5th and 6th arrow is hard, but you may be able to get left and do it with ease.

The other problem might come with your age, in that, are you done growing?  If you get real tall, you might want to move back some.

I would work on walking heel/toe with your third step, this will keep your shoulders up, should give your more leverage.  It is very hard to bend at the waist while also walking heel/toe.  Shuffling your feet lets you drop your upper body down.  This causes you to lose leverage, ball speed, and power.

I would also work on targeting farther down the lane, and keeping your hand soft or quiet at release.  This will help you project the ball better when the lanes are hooking.  Don't change your release, just add a new wrinkle to your game for when you need it.  From above, when your shoulders are up, follow through from the bottom of your swing, not the top.  Think about having a loose/relaxed elbow.  This will keep your swing loose/free.  Not so much muscle.

Just a couple quickies...
Hope this helps ya...

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Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@sbcglobal.net
Storm Pro Shop Staff Member



Onward through the Storm!!!!

Check out our web site - www.BirdDogBowling.com

Hammer,

Not a fan of Moron 5 are we?

I'm working on what you said in the first one.

The second one is a real winner. After looking, I guess I am bowling with my back. Ill try keeping it more upright with more knee bend I suppose?

Thanks hammer!

EDIT: I meant Maroon 5.
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Edited on 7/5/2004 0:57 AM

CS,

Are you refering to your foot position at finish?  Pointed to the left is awesome, I wish I could to that.  Don't really think you can teach it.

If you are referring to your first step, well, just try to make sure it is consistent.  The first step in a five step approach is more for feel or timing than anything.  I take fives steps normally also.

Walking heel/toe is just like it sounds.  Like walking down the street.  Your heel is what contacts the floor in front of you first, instead of your toes, like when you shuffle your feet.  Upon further review, you don't shuffle much, but if you think heel/toe and emphasize that, it will help you keep your upper body up.  This is something I got from a coach a few years ago, and should work on more myself.

You might also not push the ball away quite so far out.  I know you want speed, but this may be pulling your body forward.  This is something that I also work on with my coach, Carol Norman.  Getting the ball into my swing "quietly" is what she says.  Don't push away so much, don't lock out the elbow.  "Your ball speed will come from your loose swing and good finish position, not through muscle."  I gotta work on that some more!!!

Yes, slow ball speed can be a disadvantage.  Your short approach will let you get far left NATURALLY.  I have to alter my approach when I get in front of the ball return.  Luckily, in the PBA, we ball on fresh patterns almost all the time, so if I am in front of the ball return, it is because that is where I have to play the pattern, and not because the lanes are scorching.  (Most of the time).

You are ahead of the learning curve for your age.  You may be onto something that gives you an advantage!!!?  Sometimes soft speed is an advantage!!  Learn to change hand positions and targeting to change your roll.  I like your game, keep up the hard work!!!
--------------------
Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@sbcglobal.net
Storm Pro Shop Staff Member



Onward through the Storm!!!!

Check out our web site - www.BirdDogBowling.com

I wrote down some notes on some things that were said, and i placed them in my bag so I remember to work on those things I wrote down.

Drev, I actually thought about restarting from scratch at one point. Never had the time on my hands because my hands were on your mom all the time.  
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www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.

Edited on 7/5/2004 2:02 AM

Hey CS,

I take 5 steps in about 6 ft of approach.  Don't worry about moving back yet as I teach the more distance you utilize, the more room there is for error as you can allow yourself to get "happy" feet.  The basis for the proper length in an approach to walk up to the foul line, turn around and WALK back the amount of steps you take in your approach plus 1/2 for slide.  The concept behind this is, what's easier to repeat, your walking steps or abnormal strides in length?  After you get the feel of being balanced at the line for proper leverage(which you look like you do), you can then basically move back and forth on the approach for speed adjustments.  One note, Your feet are a little quick in the video.

Your left foot is fine and is very hard to do if you didn't have very good balance and leverage at the line, I learned that a long time ago.

The drift to the left, nothing wrong so long as you can keep it consistent.  I have a very good friend and great bowler named Paul Brenner who drifts about 15 boards left on his step and has always done this.  He was 1985-86 All American, do you think he needed to correct anything?  It may not be a pretty site but so long as it's effective and consistent, it's fine.  I personally feel it is also a good method to learn to walk around ball returns as many taller and bigger bowlers are having to learn that now to play deep.

Your finishing position looks fine, squaring up is not important as being square to target which is the proper definition and so long as you are "square" to target, regardless of it being down and in or swing, you're fine.

Your release is clean and good, decent revs and good speed.

One question though, what kind of shoes are you using?  I can't see them but they look lower end, I may be wrong.  If they are, try a pair of higher end shoes with more support, it may prevent your left foot from sliding out as far in your 1st step.

Overall, if you can be consistent with your approach, don't worry about it.  Everthing else at the point of release looks strong and solid which is what's important in execution.  

Rick