In the past I had a longer slide and an incredible amount of ball speed. The past few weeks at the center where I work I have been bowling in athletic shoes instead of my normal SST6s. Between drilling balls, and getting the place ready for fall leagues I have not had time to really throw the ball and practice properly.

Last week I wanted to show a few people the roll and smooth reaction I get out of the Buzzsaw XXXL. I grabbed the ball and went through my approach but without a slide. It certainly slowed my ball speed, and I seemed much more accurate. I shot 15 in a row at one point, then a spare and then another 8 in a row.

Last night a buddy of mine as at the center and started out on a pair that was just fried. He wanted to be moved, so I moved him and oiled the pair where he went. His first game on the bad pair was 159----the next two he went 240 and 260s. He was getting a bit cocky, and I asked what he shot the first game just to bring him back to reality. He said "Better than you would have on that shot". I went in, grabbed my Track Magic and went out to beat his 159. I went on to shoot 278 in my sandles.

Tonight I figured I would let my dad (my coach in bowling and in life) see how the ball reacted for me throwing it that way. He said without a doubt I am not missing my mark much.

I normally am able to overcome dry lanes because my ball speed is around 20-21 mph on my first shot. The change to no slide has apparently lowered my ball speed to probably around 18. I will have to send the ball more than I am used to, but if that helps raise my strike percentage I am all for it. I put alot of revs on the ball, and have never considered myself a cranker because usually I am playing straighter than most on my pair.

One more thing that I considered is that going to no slide will make me the same no matter what kind approach I am on. I have a hard time at first whenever I bowl on synthetics because of the approaches usually being sticky.

Has anyone else made this change, and if so how did it work for you?

I already thought about my knees.....but it is not really a plant, it is more  me going from heel to toe the entire way through. I feel absolutely no strain in my knee at all.

Is this the same way that everyone plants? I want to know because it does not hurt right now, but if it detrimental to my knee in the long run I will certainly reconsider.

if u want to slide less just use a different heel and it will be a little easier on ur body. but i would still suggest just learning to bowl with a slide
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stanski

Um,

Have ya tried the studder step approach?I get spot teased about it,no biggie.

I cant even begin to describe how I even do it,to this day I have 4 variations as well as a drop up drop down almost drunk walk studder slide!!

I know this is an odd(aka unorthidox) way of knee and leg use combo.

Neither one gets zonked that bad(knee/legs),in fact it will help one
get a relaxed walk with the same or a little increase in rev
power.This is only an emergency approach if you need it.

I done this on and off for over 9125 days(aka over 15 years) and my knees are still ok!(crossing my fingers,no can see this but me,HHH!!!)

Some days when the lanes are sticky or some goofball spilled some soda.
My plant foot freezes,I chuck the ball and I look like a DOGGONE FLAMINGO with my plant foot glued down and the other leg bent up!!!Yeah,then MY KNEE HURTS!!

Its just a experimenmt suggestion,you can do whatever ya want
EXCALIBER.No skin off my teeth,we all have what we think is comfortable.

WE all know that too much pressure on that Ol' plant foot isn't too good.

Especially when you leave the bowling alley in a STICK SHIFT TRUCK OR CAR!!

If you're a lefty a GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL!!

I gotta go reply somewhere elze!

Psycho.B.T