Author Topic: How To Cure Drifting? (Read 1049 times)

Sir Bowl-A-Lot · « **on:** January 25, 2005, 10:34:10 PM »

I am a righty and I usually start out the night standing on the last row of dots on the approach. I start at 30-25 and end up around 15 at the line. I have always drifted a bit, but lately I am getting worse and worse (drifting more and more). What causes this and how can I cure this drifting? I am thinking I am trying to walk to my target on the lane (I play between the dots and arrows). I find myself having a hard time keeping the ball in the 1-3 pocket because of this. The ball goes high 9 times out of 10 as a result of this I believe. Someone last night told me that taking a bunch of towels and lining them up along the approach beside you (during a practice session) can help with drifting as you will know when you do it because you'll lose your footing. Any other ideas?
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*Don't swing it if you can't bring it.*

Edited on 1/26/2005 7:33 AM

JPRLane1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2005, 06:39:49 AM »

For me it was as simple as putting bowlers tape where I needed my feet to go in practice and doing it until I got rid of most of my drift. I think Mr. Ron Clifton suggests putting a chair or something beside where your feet need to go, so your walking by it and if you drift you will of course be tripping on it. I don't know if that exact so don't quote me, check his website if you can find a link or PM him.
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I should just quit bowling, oh wait I already tried that.

Now that I am back and my Saws are sharp again, I am ready to cut some wood.

Sir Bowl-A-Lot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2005, 06:42:20 AM »

Can dropping your shoulder and/or being off-balance cause drift?
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*Don't swing it if you can't bring it.*

Scolai · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2005, 06:44:35 AM »

I have about a 5 board drift, which isn't a lot. Your 10 to 15 boards is, IMO, a bit much. Chances are you put your right foot directly in front of your left when you approach the foul line. In a 4- or 5-step approach, you're taking what would really be two steps away from your target. Posting a video would help identify the problem from a distance.

You should probably work with a coach to change your footwork a little to straighten you out a bit. The reason your ball is going high is because you're walking away from your target and your armswing has to do a lot of compensating to get you on target. Since you are trying to correct 10-15 boards worth of change, your arm can't make up the difference and you "pull" the ball high. I have a similar problem (to an obvious lesser degree), but I have my own methodologies for getting on target. In your case, you need to fix the footwork a little before you try changing much else.
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Nut

Proud owner of a 1046/4 series courtesy of Columbia 300.

None are more hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free....

Scolai · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2005, 06:48:29 AM »

BTW, no such thing as "dropping your shoulder", per Mr. Clifton, except in extreme cases where the shoulders actually end up 75*-90* perpendicular to the floor. If you were to keep your shoulders parallel to the floor, you wouldn't be able to bowl.

Your drift is a natural brain-body reaction to your perception of the lane as you approach it.

BTW, where do you start your approach? Dots farthest from the foul line, dots nearer the foul line, or somewhere altogether different?
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Nut

Proud owner of a 1046/4 series courtesy of Columbia 300.

None are more hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free....

Sir Bowl-A-Lot · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2005, 07:32:34 AM »

The dots farthest from the line.
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*Don't swing it if you can't bring it.*

Author Topic: How To Cure Drifting? (Read 1049 times)

Sir Bowl-A-Lot

How To Cure Drifting?

JPRLane1

Re: How To Cure Drifting?

Sir Bowl-A-Lot

Re: How To Cure Drifting?

Scolai

Re: How To Cure Drifting?

Scolai

Re: How To Cure Drifting?

Sir Bowl-A-Lot

Re: How To Cure Drifting?