Expert: - 7/29/2009

Question
Hi,

I would just like to ask for some advice to help improve my game.  I just started about a year ago with no bowling experience what so ever.  I throw a Twisted Fury pearlized ball drilled to go long and with back end.  I'm a stroker who plays down and end using a 4 step arroach.  I normally play around 5 to 13 depending on the lanes, standing with my foot directly behind the arrows closest to the lanes.  I stand where my throwing arm lines right up with the 2nd arrow.  I can't seem to get into my shot like I want to.  I noticed I throw off my back foot alot.  It makes my me pull up alot on the ball when I throw off my back foot and I get no ball speed.  As I try to lean forward to get into my shot I tend to not slide and lean too much.  I can't seem to find that balance of how much to lean forward to get into my shot.  When I try to keep my body up. that's when I notice I throw off my back leg and get no ball speed.  I also have no slide.  I try to push off with my kick leg into my slide leg but it just doesn't seem to work for me.  I don't know if my timing is off or not.  I use a 4 step approach and I just seem like I get up to the line and my ball is still way behind me.  I tried to walk slower but it just doesn't seem to help.  When I do throw a good ball and stay beind the ball it just seems so effortless.  I just can't seem to repeat my good shots to save my life.  I'm not improving like I want to.  I know what I need to go to throw a decent shot but I jsut can't seem to do it consistantly.  I know it must be sometime with my timing and and sliding.  Any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't have many people around where I live to help me.  I just watch other people who play down and in and try to learn from that.

Answer
Knock,
With no bowling experience, why did your ball driller, drill you a high performance bowling ball?
kind of like giving a 15 year old a Maserati to learn to drive???

Get a basic ball. You are trying to control the performance ball you own, but are not consistent enough to roll the ball with the same speed, tilt, rotation, and revolutions. A basic plastic ball forces you to learn to control what you do, because the ball doesn't add to what you see on the lane. If you don't hook it, it won't hook (and it won't hook much whatever you do). I tell new bowlers that if you can hook a basic plastic ball you can hook anything.

It sounds a little like you may be to close to the foul line. Leaning forward weakens the leverage in your shot. It sounds like there are multiple things you need to work on. What kind of shoes do you own? I can guess more but you really need a coach or someone to get their eyes on what you're doing. Coaching before bowling equipment will help you build the skills necessary to be good at this sport. Check out USBC and IBPSIA websites for coaching help. Talk to your bowling center personnel and see if they have a coach or some good players that work in the center that might watch/help you.

Thanks for your questions. Sorry I can't be of more help. Too much going on without seeing you bowl, could lead to assessing a problem with an underlying cause unrelated to not sliding enough, loosing your balance, pulling the ball, etc. Some of what you described, could be a ball fit issue. Good luck, let me know what you do.