Expert: Chip Aki - 10/20/2008

Question
Chip:  You gave me some good advice before so maybe you can help me with this latest dilemma....  I raised the ball in my stance to improve my timing with my current 4-step approach.  (My gait is long so I my steps were ahead of the ball - make sense?)  Anyway, a good friend and a previous PBA bowler seems to think I need to use a 5-step approach instead.  I tried this today and could not seem to get any higher than a 125 when just yesterday I posted a 180 with a 4-step.  Should I leave well enough alone or start learning a 5-step?  Does it really matter?  All I'm trying to do in increase my average and become a more consistent bowler.  I hate to see my game go in reverse.

Thanks again...

Answer
No matter how many steps you take over 4, it still breaks down to a 4 step approach.  The difference is that most of the steps occur before the ball is started into the swing.  If you went to 5 steps, and still started the ball at the same point in the approach, your timing would not be any different.  If your steps were ahead of the ball, it means that you are not getting the ball into the swing soon enough.  Keep your 4 steps and just get the ball started in the downswing sooner than you do.

Good luck,
Chip