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Author Topic: Tips for a Straight Backswing  (Read 12550 times)

MTbowler

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Tips for a Straight Backswing
« on: January 31, 2015, 01:48:16 PM »
Hi all,

One of Mark Bakers 10 hall of fame positions is that at the top of the backswing, the ball is covering the head, or directly above/below the head. My backswing tends to loop to the inside, i.e. at the top of the backswing the ball is on the left side of my head. Thus, I have a tendency to create to much angle through the front, causing my usual miss to be to the right. I have searched YouTube and other sources for a tip on creating a straight backswing. All the videos state the importance of the backswing, but never provide any good, detailed practice tips.

The only drills I can think of to achieve this is a "one step drill" where you take the approach out of play. My only problem with this drill is that it doesn't allow a full backswing and shoulder opening without muscle.

Anyways, anyone have any good drills or thoughts on this?

 

itsallaboutme

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2015, 04:43:26 PM »
Cause and effect.  Something is causing your swing to get that far behind your head.  That needs to be corrected.  If you do not correct that first any drills will cause more problems.

You can do one step and foul line drills without muscle, you just can't try to throw the ball at full speed.

j1kjvan

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2015, 05:27:15 PM »
The probable cause is you are not getting your body out of the way of your swing.  You need to use a crossover step which is the first step of a four step approach and would be the second step of a five step approach.  You need to start your ball in the crease of your bowling shoulder which is between your bowling arm and your upper body.  Think about a gymnast on a balance beam.  The crossover step goes in front of your second step which enables your body to get out of the way of your backswing.

You can go to the bowl.com website>bowlers>USBC bowling academy.  They have several free videos.  One of the videos shows how to get a straight backswing.

You may also pick up Mark Bakers book, The Game Changer which explains the crossover in detail.  It can possibly be the best $24.95 you ever spent for a lot of bowling information.

I hope this helps and good luck.

JustRico

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2015, 06:30:59 PM »
Or since not everyone can adapt to the 'modern' game and may be contemporary if you open your shoulders & hip allowing the ball to swing through instead of around...
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MTbowler

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2015, 06:54:41 PM »
I do not believe my crossover steps are the issue. My second and fourth steps are in front of the previous, or left foot. I have the book & video from Baker and am constantly working on my game to strive for more consistency.

JustRico, you make a valid point. I am not a flexible person, and it appears my right hip does not open, which could cause my swing to go around.

JustRico

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2015, 07:23:54 PM »
Start closer to your finished position ie your right shoulder & hip are open so start with your right foot open to the lane easing opening your hip; have shoulder mimic hip

It is not bad to want to emulate the stars of the game but reality is what you are capable of accomplishing...they are stars for a reason
Co-author of BowlTec's END GAMES ~ A Bowler's COMPLETE Guide to Bowling; Head Games ~ the MENTAL approach to bowling (and sports) & (r)eVolve
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MTbowler

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2015, 07:53:31 PM »
Start closer to your finished position ie your right shoulder & hip are open so start with your right foot open to the lane easing opening your hip; have shoulder mimic hip

It is not bad to want to emulate the stars of the game but reality is what you are capable of accomplishing...they are stars for a reason

Amen to that! The stars can teach us all something, but there is a reason why they are stars and we aren't. I will drop my right foot more which will open my hips and have my shoulder mimic at the start. Makes sense, that way ball can swing straight back and not need to "loop" in order to project to the right.

JustRico

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2015, 07:55:48 PM »
This will be covered in our next release on the approach and we will approach it targeting the average bowler...not the elite (:
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Ken De Beasto

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2015, 03:34:34 PM »
Need a video but imma guess try starting the ball in the center or more to the opposite side of your bowling position like exaggerate it. For me this gave me a straighter  arm swing.

JustRico

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2015, 03:41:33 PM »
If you do not properly set up, placing the ball inside your body merely creates more wrap around or to swing around your body instead your body working around your swing...that's why it's called timing
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Ken De Beasto

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2015, 12:10:31 AM »
well iono i was following norm dukes video of exaggerating the feel of the ball more in the center of the body. i use to push out to the right and my swing was kinda like like this shape / then ever since i started keepin my ball more in the center yea feels like a wrap around i suppose my arm swing is now like this | 

JustRico

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2015, 09:05:46 AM »
I'm not discounting what Norm may or may not have suggested...I'm discounting making a blanket suggestion not understanding the whole picture....if the set up is not correct, making an adjustment such as this can compound it
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tuckinfenpin

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2015, 09:21:53 AM »
For what it is worth, when I feel I have issues, I have a 15# kettle bell to use at the house.

The thing I believe it helps me more with is the way it should feel during the follow through. If you are pushing the ball, the feel of the handle in your hand will let you know. I believe it has helped me with my swing plane and not powering through the ball.

bergman

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2015, 11:11:44 AM »
I had that problem a long time ago (wrapping the ball behind my back). I was (and still) am, an old time stroker--- minimal forward and side tilts, square shoulders, no crossover step, pushaway directly in line with shoulder, posted release. In my case,
the cause was due to my rotating my bowling hand (right hand) counterclockwise on the backswing. This shifted the ball's weight slightly inward, causing my swing to
"tug" behind my head. Fortunately, on the downswing I would rotate my hand counterclockwise again, but this was causing way too much movement in the swing.
Stabilizing my hand from stance to just before release, eventually corrected the problem.

I agree with the suggestions from the various posters. The thing to remember is that
there can be many different reasons why your armswing is not straight. How you set up in your stance is critical, as JustRico pointed out. There is a lot of truth in the statement that, "if you do not start right, it's hard to finish right".  The direction of
your steps, as well as the position of your bowling shoulder from start to finish play
key roles in determining the path of your armswing.

Basically, I found that your ball alignment in the stance, and in your pushaway  should follow in the same direction as your key (pushaway) step. If you deploy a crossover step, then your pushaway should follow in the direction of that step. If you
do not cross over as I don't, then the ball should be aligned and pushed in the direction of your bowling shoulder. Classic strokers such as John Handegard and Mike Durbin are good examples of the latter.  Once your body is in motion, it is important that your bowling shoulder remains "silent" --that is, there should be no excessive
movement of the bowling shoulder . Pre-setting the shoulder in your stance and maintaining it throughout the approach will help your to maintain a more consistent
swing plane shot after shot.

Good luck!

avabob

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Re: Tips for a Straight Backswing
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2015, 01:01:32 PM »
This can be a tough one.  In the old days of pendulum arm swing strokers with no left drift, late timing, or super high back swings it was much simpler. 

As a member of that dwindling breed to some extent I have found that an arm swing perpendicular to my shoulders, or even very slightly to the inside is best, especially as I move inside.  I can best promote this type of backswing by setting up with the ball on the outside of my left hip.  This allows me to start a push away and ensuing  backswing that remain on the same vertical plane