Here's a few shots during practice today. I was concentrating on timing and more importantly balance since that's a poor aspect of my game. Need to practice it enough to make it automatic. Maybe then I'll go to 5 or 6 steps especially since I'm speed challenged. I think my timing might still be a pinch early but it's a work in progress. Let me know what you guys think about those two things and anything else you see.

I always walk toward my target, so I can't say anything about your balance. In fact, if you figure it out, let me know how you do it.


The timing, maybe I can help. I was having trouble with my slide and also my release, and since they were right on top of each other, one or the other would always run free, so I wasn't improving. Then, I changed my timing so that the slide would come first (with a slick left shoe), then the release would come a full beat later, and I find I'm happier with every part of my setup.

If you changed your pad to a slicker surface, it wouldn't be much trouble for you to separate your slide and release a bit more--either push off with the ball further off the ground, or shorten the timing of your third step on the approach. Either of those adjustments would give you more ball speed as well.

I'm confused here. Are you saying you have poor balance due to walking toward your target?



Seems that you had early timing if I understand you correctly. That's been my problem. I've seemed to improve that in this practice but should probably be a tad later. When you say a full beat later I think of Doug Kent. I'd like to get to that point too, really stable. I figured my timing was good enough to get by in that practice because I was also balanced. I've always felt timing and balance are very connected.


I think changing my pad to a slicker surface will make the timing early again because my slide will be longer. I don't have interchangeable soles/heels anyway. However, I will take your point about pushing off on my third step a little quicker into consideration. If that worked out, it would give me a bit more speed to work with like you said, plus help fix the timing.

One thing about my speed, in my attempts to raise my ball in the stance I've felt extremely uncomfortable. I raise it to chest high which is about 3+ inches. The one time I tried it today, it opened up my shoulders a good amount due to the high swing and for some reason I ended up hitting my ankle on the down swing. Not a strong point in my game to say the least.

Amature, the way I see it, your swing is a touch late, and your feet are a bit too slow, and your push away goes off to the right sometimes, when it does it is like the first shot when it doesn't the swing is nice and tight like the second shot.

Your cadence is 1..2..3..slide it should be 1..2.3slide. You should start the ball with your right foot which is earlier than you are, now you start the foot first then the ball, the second step should be normal like you are doing now, the next to last step should be shorter and quicker to push yourself into the slide faster.

I know this is contrary to what I have said in the past. I had the fortunate opportunity to talk to Brian Voss who told me to try to match the foot work to the swing instead of trying to match the swing to the footwork. If you watch every pro bowler their speed builds up toward the slide, and start the ball with the right foot then speed up to catch up with the ball. If you do this your ball speed will improve.

Your set up is good, your head is over your right foot and the ball is under your head, you need to point your body toward your target and start the ball under your chin and let the ball swing back under your chin and follow through should be in line with your chin like the second shot. If you start the ball off to the right like the first shot, the ball swings back left of your head, and follow through is off to the right like the first shot.

No, it's just a different set of problems.

For instance--I don't understand why you're pointing your right toe out on your first and third steps, since you're not opening your shoulder, but I figure it has to have something to do with the ball going behind your back.


To me it looks like Kent plants and pulls a bit. I'm trying to be more like David Ozio, where I have a full slide and my kick is basically finished before the release.

I count five beats in my head now instead of four--1...2.3.4.(release).


Yeah, I'm not good with it either. For me, it messes with my bent armswing.

I was able to change my pushoff so I was pushing the ball up instead of letting it fall straight down, though, and that adjustment lengthened my swing slightly.

Should I slow it down, or can everyone see what is going on in the video?

Jim - So, if I speed up my feet(which I've tried and is hard to do in a progressive way for some reason) and start my ball earlier I should be in time and increase my ball speed as well? I guess if I get early timing again I could extend the pushaway more. I never knew I kinda swung the ball behind my back either. I'll see if I can make a habit of pushing out straighter. That tip about following through and having the ball under my chin is pretty good too. Any tips on how to cure my problem with raising the ball in my stance? Or would you actually like to see a video of me trying to do it?

Untutored - I couldn't tell you way my foot points out like that, but I'd just guess that it because it points like that in my stance. I'm also trying to figure out if just opening my shoulders to swing the ball(even just the littlest swings) or to actually point everything towards the target is better for me. I've tried both with little success because somewhere along the way I think I square up again. As for your timing, David Ozio is just really smooth about it. To me that'd be the hardest part to do. For what it's worth your trail leg will still be in motion at the time of release. I've never seen you bowl but perhaps your can imply what Jim said about cadence to your approach to make it work for you.

Howie - I personally don't need it slowed down. Perhaps some people helping me might. Let's wait for them to respond on that.

It is hard to do because you are starting the swing a touch late, if you start the swing and your right foot at the same time, your swing will be slightly ahead of your feet (which is why I was saying to start the ball later before Brian Voss showed me otherwise). Having the ball slightly ahead of your feet on the first step in a 4 step approach will cause you to speed up your feet to catch up with the swing on the next to last step (power step) by taking a shorter and quicker step to push into the slide, this will then catch your feet up to your swing without you having to alter your swing in any way.



If you get early timing it is because your feet are too slow, do not extend your push away. Extending your push away will cause you to quicken your pace on the first step, then your feet will go back ahead of your swing and you will pull the ball through and make a horrible shot. Your swing is fine (as long as you start it at your target).



If you look at the first shot in the clip you posted earlier, you start the ball to the right of your shoulder and the ball swings to the left of your head then back to the right at the release. See how far the ball is from your ankle, this is a sure indication that your swing is off line. The second shot you made was a perfect swing, everything was in line and the ball was tight to your ankle at the delivery, so it is not a major adjustment since you are already doing it, just not every time, that is what you need to concentrate on.



I'm not sure what you are talking about as far as raising the ball in your stance, post another video from the side when you need more help with your timing, and a couple from the rear for the swing so I can see how you are progressing.

Howie: If he has better lighting and a closeup of his release, feel free to post a slow mo of it Thanks It's not worth it to shoot a shot from so far away and in the dark. Am, try the night vision setting on your camera if you have one.

Thanks Jim. So in the future, side view and straight behind view(I assume to see swing alignment)? I'll do my best. As for the slow mo video, there's a possibility it might be good for the side view for timing. I think the slow mo is best for a close up of my hand position and release. The camera does have night vision but it doesn't appear to make seeing any better, except maybe for the close up if that's what you had in mind.

I don't know if you read this but this is what I was talking about when I mentioned raising the ball in my stance



I really wish there was an easier way to increase my speed. I know fixing my feet will increase my normal speed but to throw about 18 MPH for the dry would be like a gift from above.

Actually, I began with what Jim is recommending for you--starting my swing with my first motion and then rushing my feet to catch up--and just switched to what you're doing now, pushing off on the footfall of my first step. Of course, I have the advantage of a couple of years of practice to establish my cadence, so my feet haven't slowed too much...also, I'm still rushing, this time to get in well ahead of my release. I've still gone from 16 mph down to about 14.5, though. (Temporarily, I hope.)


My toe points out too--on the third step only now that I've changed my pushoff--but there's a specific purpose to it. Opening my leg allows me to open my hip and shoulder so the ball can go around my body.

If you're trying to keep your swing straight, you should experiment with walking with your toe straight. With your body closed, you might cut out some of those mistakes where your shoulder flies out.


I'm no Ozio, obviously, but the slide sock makes a huge difference. I was forced to use one at first because I was rehabbing my leg--my first slide sock came out of the vending machine at the bowling alley, cost $7.00, and was held in place over my bowling shoe with a rubber band--but now that I'm used to it, I can't go back to leather soles.

(I have a teammate with a very fluid, quick approach; he uses a slick leather sole but also a slick leather heel. I tried that setup twice and wound up on my butt both times.)