So I've created a little lane at home downstairs in an attempt to work on my fundamentals whenever I want. Here's a pic:

http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00049ec5.jpg

So anyways, here's a couple shots of me bowling on it. Sorry if the angle isn't good enough. I may be able to get more of the side and maybe behind(I'd have to open the door and put the camera out there) if necessary, but I thought this was a decent one as I've never had an angle from the front. Oh yeah and I'm not wearing my bowling shoes. Is there any truth to having better balance if you don't slide(although I think it's not so good for the knee)? That's what it seems like. Anyways, comments, thoughts, and suggestions are appreciated.

Are you throwing a good ball on that? I hope not..

If you slide at the lanes, but not on this approach, I think it will only serve to throw you off...

You can have good balance without sliding. I once caught a tournament form the late '90s on ESPN Classic where the guy wore Sketchers or some other type of shoe similar to that on both feet. He was as fluid and balanced as anyone I've ever seen and he could get low too. Now its another matter if hes has had any issues and still bowls like that. Wes Malott also does not like to slide.

I'll agree with CG though, if you are sliding on the lanes and not on this approach it will throw you off. It takes slightly different timing to do each. Also you might want to try to find a way to keep the "approach" from flapping.

Nope, it's an old ball that I never planned to use again. I was going to use my spare ball since it doesn't matter too much what it looks like since it's not a performance ball, but figured it wasn't such a good idea. There's some scrapes on that ball from 20+ throws that I don't think will come off.




Sliding at the lanes is somewhat inconsistent for me. Sometimes it's actually slippery-feeling, but most of the time I can't feel the difference between not sliding and very little sliding. At some centers, I don't feel like I'm sliding, but I may be. At my home center I slide a small amount in general. The one thing I'm not used to is lots of slide(which I don't experience often), I'll be unstable if not fall off the shot on just about each shot(some of that could be due to universal shoes).

I will say my legs are a bit sore today from that "bowling", my left one more than my right obviously. Should I be worried about my left leg from not sliding, or is that only if my knee starts bugging me? I don't have a problem with sliding but I think there's a point where it's too much such as those really slick approaches. As for the flapping approach, I'll try thinkng of a way to prevent that but it's not a bother if that's what you're thinking.

Yeah the universal shoes definitely aren't helping. If you are inconsistent with sliding and each center is a bit different you might want to look into getting interchangeable shoes, or maybe a slide sock which will make it a little more difficult on the slippery approaches but usually something you can adjust to.

Yeah I was looking into both right handed shoes and a slide sock. The slide sock is a cheaper alternative but it seems like it wouldn't prevent different sliding patterns at different centers, but it would prevent sticking more often. And like you said the slippery approaches could be a problem especially with the slide sock, in which case taking it off is probably the better option. Although, I don't think it's so much the soles, but usually on synthetic approaches I think it's more about the heel not sliding. Is that easy to fix with interchangeable heels?

Other than that what do you think about my delivery?

I actually bought my interchangeable shoes due to the heel of my previous shoe at one particular center. I had a pair of right hand Etonics that even with a slide sock would slide at this center. Just like the soles will have more or less slide, the different heels have more or less break depending on which one you change too. Almost every center in my area has synthetics and I normally use the heel with the most grab other than the one center. I also normally use the sole closest to the sole of a universal shoe.

Ah okay. I'm gonna talk to my Pro Shop about shoes next time I'm there, and see about sliding on a more consistent basis with the interchangeable soles and heels. I'm personally thinking of SST 7s or SST 6s.

I don't recommend the SST7s, at least not the normal ones. After my push off shoe started coming apart I found out this was a common issue. You might also want to look into the 3G brand too.

I don't know what you mean by normal ones by I was looking at the SE ones. I was talking to my Pro Shop today and was told the heels control how fast you stop sliding more than the soles, so I'd likely use the same soles just about everywhere but change the heels.

I don't have enough money to buy shoes any time very soon so this is just getting ideas for when I can afford them.

I have the SST7s, the SEs came out afterward and I believe are better made.