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General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Kinalyx on June 20, 2008, 05:02:05 PM

Title: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Kinalyx on June 20, 2008, 05:02:05 PM
I pride myself on being fairly good.  Im a 210-215 average bowler, & im fairly accurate even on a THS(im upset if i miss my mark by more than a board or so)

anyway, i always end up about 3ft from the line, it drives me crazy.  I have no clue how to get closer, none, so i figured i would post here.

Now, i dont want to be right AT the line, but 6" to 1ft back would be nice, 3ft away is just unacceptable.

anyone have any tips??

Shawn
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Spartan on June 21, 2008, 01:07:08 AM
try to stand farther up on the approach, but take your normal step size. good luck.
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Angle and vector be damned, we're going to the moon!!!
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: se7en on June 21, 2008, 12:12:06 PM
I have the same problem. If I move up, I subconsciously sense the line and take smaller steps, ending up the same distance away.

Maybe try adding a step to the approach and re-tune the swings timing just to see what happens. Even if it's 5 to 6. I would try that, but I went from 5 to 4 with good results on my shot.
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There is nothing so easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply.
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Brickguy221 on June 21, 2008, 12:15:35 PM
quote:
I have the same problem. If I move up, I subconsciously sense the line and take smaller steps, ending up the same distance away.


Ditto for me. I end up 18-24 inches behind the line regardless of where I start or how many steps I take. Anxious to hear some corrective tips on this one.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick

Edited on 6/21/2008 12:16 PM
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: themagician on June 21, 2008, 12:16:26 PM
I always used to do this and just moved up on the approach.

I did before I moved up walked up to the foul line, heels on the line and walked back towards the starting spot. For me and my four step approach I took 4 normal walking steps and then added another half step or so to compensate for sliding.

Then I would just work on doing my approach from the new spot and adjusting from there.

Its best to work on it in practice and say you want to to get as close as possible and not worry about fouling, that way you lose the subconscious effect being too much. You will then end up closer, maybe too far, maybe still with room to go.
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Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: LuckyLefty on June 21, 2008, 12:49:35 PM
I would move up exactly 2 feet 6 inches on the approach!

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: BrianCRX90 on June 21, 2008, 12:57:05 PM
I used to have this problem for years. I didn't feel comfortable with 5 steps standing closer then I already was. When I did, my game suffered because I took smaller steps. I'm only 5'7" and like to stand exactly between the first and 2nd rows of the dots. What I started doing was taking a more demanding first step. That made every other step longer it seemed. I used to take a small, weak first step and that is why I ended up 3-4 feet from the foul line.
Some people can get away with ending up near the foul line far away like Mike Aulby but would not recommend it for most.
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Gazoo on June 21, 2008, 01:30:57 PM
As magicmike stated, put your heels against the foul line and make you normal approach. On the 4th or 5th step stop and then and 12 inches for sliding and this should be you starting point on the approach for your 4 of 5 steps. Make sure you do not lengthen or shorten your approach when practicing from the new spot. It is very is to do as as se7en an brick have said. The mind plays funny tricks on us when it comes to muscle memory. Takes repetition to over come this, sometimes the equivalence of 21 games to become new muscle memory. I switched from 5 steps to 4 which made the transition easier being further up on the approach.

Edited on 6/21/2008 4:46 PM
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Dan Belcher on June 21, 2008, 06:43:36 PM
A few weeks ago, Storm's Doene Moos practically picked me up and moved me to the front dots and made me stand up much straighter and taller.  Not only did this get me closer to the foul line when I finished, it gave me much more balance and comfort.  279 out of the box with this new approach (damn ringing 10).
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: scadreau on June 21, 2008, 07:36:35 PM
Kinalyx,

Just move closer.  To avoid your eyes tricking your feet into smaller steps, throw 20 or so frames with your eyes closed until you land on your sliding foot.  It will let your eyes and brain adjust to the fact that the scenery needs to change.

Scott
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: JohnP on June 22, 2008, 09:51:48 PM
To get the feel of being closer to the foul line, throw a few shots using a one step approach.  --  JohnP
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: J_Mac on June 22, 2008, 10:15:03 PM
I so the same thing and also take smaller steps when I move up on the approach.  I've had a couple coaches work with me and get me close, but I default back to 2'-3' away in a few sessions on my own.

It's weird how much closer the pins appear when you finish inches from the foul line.  One big thing might be to get used to seeing things from that perspective with a one step approach like someone already suggested.
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"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice."  Bill Cosby
"Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: AngloBowler on June 23, 2008, 02:53:50 AM
I've never had the problem myself, but it might be worth getting someone to help you measure how long your strides are now, and then moving up on the approach. Then mark out the end of each stride using electrical tape, and just watch where you're walking, forget about the ball altogether. If you've been finishing a long way from the line for a while, this change won't happen overnight but if you keep doing it in every practice session, it'll become second nature, just like what you're doing now.
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Reporting from England
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: justdale on June 23, 2008, 04:02:01 AM
Move closer to the line. And practice, practice, practice, every part of bowling better comes from practice. So to think that you can jump right into it and have success

well your just fooling yourself.

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Dale Williams
Columbia 300 Utah Amateur Staff
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: dizzyfugu on June 23, 2008, 07:08:28 AM
I'd also suggest: measure how far you end up with your delivery on your normal shot and then move that amount, less say 4", towards the foul line. Then, do not think, execute! It will take some shots to build confidence, maybe a foul or two, but that's what training is for - and if you have a stable approach movement, you will be surprised how well you adjust your position on the approach with an adjustment of your starting position.
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Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Magic Carpet on June 23, 2008, 09:00:17 AM
Read the next issue of BTM it is covered in there how to get closer to the foul line.

Bowl great!
Ron Clifton
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: captzap on June 23, 2008, 09:05:04 AM
Ron,

Is it really necessary to get closer if you are consistent? I generally stop about 18 inches from the foul line. Thanks for the info about the article in BTM.

CaptZap
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: LuckyLefty on June 23, 2008, 09:22:33 AM
It is nice to start the ball in oil....most of that stuff is over the foul line.

REgards,

Luckylefty
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: livespive on June 23, 2008, 09:43:51 AM
quote:
Ron,

Is it really necessary to get closer if you are consistent? I generally stop about 18 inches from the foul line. Thanks for the info about the article in BTM.

CaptZap


No it's not,

I stop 6' (yes that's right 6') behind the line (right at the front edge of the ball return.  I used to stop at the line but stuck once and fell in the lane.  I have been bowling this far back from then on.  Pretty consistant Shot a 300, been close again a few times.  

The only inconsistancy that I have is from the injury to my leg because when I stuck I pulled my hamstring, and it never healed back right.
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Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: captzap on June 23, 2008, 10:13:01 AM
My ball does start in the oil. It lands softly about 1 foot beyond the foul line.

CaptZap
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Brickguy221 on June 23, 2008, 10:56:55 AM
quote:
It will take some shots to build confidence, maybe a foul or two, but that's what training is for


I don't worry about making a foul. It never enters my mind. I, like livespice took an extremely hard fall out onto the lanes 3 years ago and at my age of 68 at the time, it wasn't as easy getting up and return to bowling as it would have been had I been 20 or 30 or 40 years or so younger. Thus my sub-concious fear of the foul line....
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick
Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: Magic Carpet on June 24, 2008, 11:49:32 AM
captzap
Nothing works best for EVERYONE and on a house wall you can get away with anything. When bowlers slide too far from the foul line they are forced to ether “heave” the ball over the foul line or actually lay the ball down on the approach. Well the lane is already long enough and there is no oil on the approach, so that is all that needs to be said about that.

When a bowler heaves the ball over the foul line they are forced to stay in the ball too long missing the ideal release point in the swing. Missing the ideal release spot and heaving the ball over the line can affect accuracy, revs, and produce an under-over ball reaction (on sport shots). Staying in the ball too long can also force you to move your thumb pitch in the reverse direction forcing you to squeeze the ball unnecessarily and that is very detrimental to a good release.  

The fix is simple and easy but I don't want to reveal it until the next BTM comes out.

Bowl great!
Ron Clifton


Title: Re: Getting closer to the line?
Post by: livespive on June 24, 2008, 12:02:25 PM
quote:
captzap
Nothing works best for EVERYONE and on a house wall you can get away with anything. When bowlers slide too far from the foul line they are forced to ether “heave” the ball over the foul line or actually lay the ball down on the approach. Well the lane is already long enough and there is no oil on the approach, so that is all that needs to be said about that.

When a bowler heaves the ball over the foul line they are forced to stay in the ball too long missing the ideal release point in the swing. Missing the ideal release spot and heaving the ball over the line can affect accuracy, revs, and produce an under-over ball reaction (on sport shots). Staying in the ball too long can also force you to move your thumb pitch in the reverse direction forcing you to squeeze the ball unnecessarily and that is very detrimental to a good release.  

The fix is simple and easy but I don't want to reveal it until the next BTM comes out.

Bowl great!
Ron Clifton




Reveal please reveal lol
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