Ok. I'll start off by apologizing this might be a bit lengthy, but please bare with me. I am basically a self taught bowler. Years ago I used to start my approach right on the back set of dots and timing seemed ok. Well my first year adult at the urging of teammates they got me to start at the very back of the approach. Said I would gain ball speed. Well all seemed well for awhile, but for about the last 2 seasons my timing has been atrocious. I can't get comfortable anywhere. When I try to start further back I feel like my first step has to be huge and everything just seems to go haywire from there. I actually feel better and more in rhythm starting further up. It's just a few people have made the comment why are you starting up so far with a five step approach and being so tall. I'm about 6'3 and everyone says I need to start further back to compensate for that. I feel the most comfortable starting about halfway between the dots. Feel like I can take my steps more in time and rhythm. Just what everyone says gets into my head and I get away from it after a couple bad shots cause I feel it's not right. I hope this makes sense. Just seems hard to put it into words. Please help me get out of my OWN WAY!

Your approach has to be at your comfort for now. As a taller player, you do want your approach to be a little farther back; however, that does not mean that you have to start at the back of the approach. The first thing you want to determine is how long your approach needs to be. To do that, you want to start with you back to the pins at the foul line. From there, take 5 comfortable steps. At that point on the approach is where you want to start.
Now dealing with the footwork, you want to heel-toe the first two steps and they should be the longest. The next two should be the shortest and setting up the slide. The fifth step (slide) should be smooth and balanced with a good knee bend to supporting the weight. That toe of the trail leg should touch the floor and should be behind and slightly away from you. The trail leg too far away cause you to lose balance (my opinion as a big man).
That is how the footwork should go. Timing will come with great footwork and you body will tell you when you're out of time. I hope this helps and if I'm off I welcome others to fix my errors. Full on coaching has been new to me but im just going off what I've learned.

Walking is walking and everyone is different. If you are comfortable being closer to the line then do it. Only you know how it feels and that is what matters. There are many coaches in the settee area and most of them do not know jack sh!t.

You have to do what works for YOU.  Listen to what others say, even try it in practice.  But in competition go with what works.  --  JohnP