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Author Topic: 4 vs. 5 Step Approach  (Read 5666 times)

DerHornen

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4 vs. 5 Step Approach
« on: January 19, 2007, 01:02:50 AM »
I've always used a 5 step approach, but my recent inconsistencies in timing have made me wonder if changing to 4 step would help.

Are there really any pros/cons to either approach, or is it more of a "whatever works best for you" type thing?
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insidedrive

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Re: 4 vs. 5 Step Approach
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2007, 09:13:11 AM »
Depends on the timing issue you're having.  I bowl a 4 step approach because it forces me to get into the swing earlier which gives me better timing at the line and prevents too high of a backswing.

If you're having issues with your swing beginning too early, then it may not be the best approach.  If you're getting the ball to the line too late, then it's a great idea.  The other thing a 4 step approach will really help with is your speed to the line.  It makes me go much slower which has helped me with a smoother release.

But again, it comes down to your initial problem.  Just my opinion.

Magic Carpet

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Re: 4 vs. 5 Step Approach
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2007, 09:19:21 AM »
Changing  the number of steps you take can often solve timing problems. Bowl with 4 for a few days then go back to 5 and you may be fine.

Of course you could just fix what ever is wrong with the 5 step approach.

Timing is really not that complicated; I will give you a few things to check.

Start your push-away a half step later for 5 shots and see how that feels.
Start your push-away sooner for 5 shots and see how that feels.

Ask yourself if you are throwing the ball harder than you should. Lots of times we start throwing the ball harder by forcing it down too fast from the top of the backswing. This will cause the ball to out-run your feet by the time you get to the foul line.

Are you cutting off your backswing; meaning that you are not waiting for the ball to reach the full height of the swing and letting it fall back on its on. Make sure you wait on the ball for 5 shots and see how that feels. Not waiting on the ball will cause the ball to be early at the ling just like pulling it down too fast.

Has your first step grown larger than it should; growing first steps are a common timing problem.

I wrote a short article called “ A timing tune up” a while back, you can read through that and see if there is anything there that will help. Here is a link:
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip21.htm

Hope this helps and bowl great!
Ron Clifton



DerHornen

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Re: 4 vs. 5 Step Approach
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2007, 10:28:14 AM »
The issue I had been having was getting to the line before the ball.  It mainly came about from trying to add some speed to my shot.  I had managed to correct the timing for a while last night, but I was thinking that a change to a 4-step approach could be a good fix for the long run.

I'll try it out for a while during practice this weekend and see what happens.
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YeahHossNV

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Re: 4 vs. 5 Step Approach
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2007, 01:19:42 PM »
There is nothing wrong with getting to the line before the ball, UNLESS you try to manually correct it in downswing by grabbing it. If you watch the tour 95 percent of the bowlers get to the line before the ball. It allows them to create a larger flat spot and get around the ball cleaner.
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