Expert: - 1/29/2009

Question
Hi Warren,
 I just wanted to start with a little background. I am new to bowling, only a couple of months with friends, but not to sports.  As an avid golfer I was told that good golfers make good bowlers and I am a very good golfer.
 I purchased a good reactive ball and it will be here tomorrow so up until now I have been using 15# house balls.  Last night I bowled a 235 and a 210; both with 2 open frames.
 I had success last night on my approach by walking towards my mark, the second arrow.  I know that I am supposed to walk straight ahead, parallel to the lane.  It seemed so much more natural to look at what I am walking towards and do not see any disadvantages in doing so.  I can still make the same adjustments in my start position and the miriad of other tweeks.
  I am, however, a perfectionist and believe in doing things the "correct" way as they pay off in the long run.  This is a big reason why I do so well in golf and I know that  these same principles must apply in bowling as well.
 Now down to the question:
 What are the reasons for walking straight ahead as opposed to walking towards my mark?  If I know the advantages / disadvantages to each approach I would not only be convinced to change my approach but would also better understand the game and improve faster.

Answer
David,
As you walk, any way but straight, your swing is being affected. If you walk towards your target, drifting right, you are stepping in front of your swing, forcing you to pull the ball back into line or pull it in front of you.

The typical house shot (THS) in bowling has oil in the middle of the lane and dry boards on the outside. To use a golf analogy, how hard would it be to hit a green if there were walls on both sides of you (the dry boards funnel the ball to the pocket) and the fare way was downhill (the oil delays ball reaction until the pin deck, near the pins).

Aligning your set-up, and walking straight helps control the ball path. Many bowlers develop bad habits that limits their potential. Building on solid fundamentals, like in golf, helps prepare you for future skill sets that allow you to adapt when the easy THS stops becoming easy.

Thanks for your question. It sounds like you're doing the right things to become a good bowler.