*Video* Looking for advise/tips

[Pauley]

I have been lurking around here for a couple months and have already learned a great deal from everyone on this forum. I figured posting a video of my form (or lack there of) is the best way to say hello. Nothing says hello like telling me how bad I am :D

A little background... I bowled a lot when I was in high school. No real form though, no thumb and just walk up and heave it down there. I didn't even use the same amount of steps just throw, watch it hook, and hope. Since then over the last 10 years I maybe bowled once or twice a year for fun until I made the decision to get serious about it 3 months ago. I lack the ability to go halfway with anything so I immediately bought shoes, 4 balls, bag, and anything else I thought I might need. I got the balls drilled for a finger tip grip (I have never used my thumb before) so for all intensive purpose I have pretty much started over as a brand new bowler.

I have already taken the most popular advise to video threads looking for help... GET A COACH! I have had one lesson where we cover basic timing and set up. I will be visiting him again after Thanksgiving, but I am always looking for added insight so please don't hold back. I am really working on my release to put more revs on the ball to get better angle into the pocket. I am not just obsessed with a bigger hook, but would like to be able to better play heavier oiled lanes (like the ones I am on in the video).

The things I know that need to be worked on:
1- Timing is off mostly because of my newly acquired slide (was planting hard with my foot angled almost straight right). Getting better though.
2- Weak release (having a hard time staying behind and under the ball, been doing some one step drills with the Robby's Resrictor but a long way to go)
3- Elbow bend at the top (having a hard time getting my arm straight)
4- Squeezing the ball (good driller came well recommended and coach confirmed proper fit so the fit is good, hopefully will become easier to relax thumb the more I get behind the ball)

In three months I have got my average up to 163 and am going to join a couple leagues in January so I will be practicing a lot. Any help is appreciated and I am glad I found this place.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jspvlv6cOTw

[Pauley]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUNUj13Rh0A

[striker12]

ok 1 thing i can see when you are throwing is your turning your wrist too soon witch.

also smooth out the arm swing and at the release point put your arm up witch will help create more revs and remember to use the fingers to rev the ball i see your using your thumb.

[Pauley]

Thanks for the tip. Its funny how what you feel rarely is whats actually happening. On these two shots I felt like my wrist/palm were facing the right gutter at the bottom of the swing, which clearly is not the case. One day...

[Aslan]

MIKE WHITE LOOK!!

I'm not the ONLY ONE that crosses my right leg over my left!!!

Standard Aslan Disclaimer: I'm a horrible bowler so any advice given is purely for entertainment purposes and you should actually do the opposite.

First off…I thought that second video was great. A little upright…but you finish and it looks really good.

Second…(above); I mention that because in the past couple weeks…both Mike White and Barry Asher…the FIRST thing they caught was that I was crossing my right foot over my left on my first step. Honestly, I've always done it and it's so second nature I don't even realize it…but the consensus was I should try and get rid of it.

[Pauley]

Honestly, I've always done it and it's so second nature I don't even realize it

Same here, no one ever told me to do it. I guess it just feels natural. What were the reasons behind not crossing over? I would assume to minimize drifting right?

[striker12]

my right leg also crosses over infront of my left leg but not just on the first step with my right leg but with the 2nd as well and i have been correction it abit and making me stride less left

[Aslan]

Same here, no one ever told me to do it. I guess it just feels natural. What were the reasons behind not crossing over? I would assume to minimize drifting right?

Honestly...I don't know. I would assume it's to limit drift and variability. Mike White mentioned it a week ago when he watched me bowl and that was the first time someone had noticed it. Then last Saturday Barry Asher noticed it. And Barry isn't the kinda guy where he tells you to not do something and you ask, "why"? You just do it because he's him and you're you...and he's forgotten more about bowling than I'll ever learn.

I have noticed some drift in my game on occasion. 4-6 boards. I don't think it's my crossover habit...I think it's that I tend to push the ball out towards where I'm aiming and just naturally drift towards that target on the approach. It's not a big deal on THS patterns because you have room for error...but it's certainly something I'd want to fix if I was bowling on harder patterns where your margin for error is less than a board's width.

But, short answer....I don't know for sure why it's "bad" but maybe Mike will pop in and tell us.

[Mike White]

MIKE WHITE LOOK!!

I'm not the ONLY ONE that crosses my right leg over my left!!!

Standard Aslan Disclaimer: I'm a horrible bowler so any advice given is purely for entertainment purposes and you should actually do the opposite.

First off…I thought that second video was great. A little upright…but you finish and it looks really good.

Second…(above); I mention that because in the past couple weeks…both Mike White and Barry Asher…the FIRST thing they caught was that I was crossing my right foot over my left on my first step. Honestly, I've always done it and it's so second nature I don't even realize it…but the consensus was I should try and get rid of it.

Aslan, you can't compare what you do to Pauly and consider them the same.

Actually what Pauly does with the first step is correct. Place the step parallel to and in front of the left foot.

You however, have your heel further left than your toe, and your toe ends up further left than your left foot.

It's a very exaggerated, twisted, mutant looking, crossover step.

And to make things worse, you only put the ball of the foot down causing the "twinkle toe" effect.

[Mike White]

Honestly...I don't know. I would assume it's to limit drift and variability. Mike White mentioned it a week ago when he watched me bowl and that was the first time someone had noticed it. Then last Saturday Barry Asher noticed it. And Barry isn't the kinda guy where he tells you to not do something and you ask, "why"? You just do it because he's him and you're you...and he's forgotten more about bowling than I'll ever learn.

I have noticed some drift in my game on occasion. 4-6 boards. I don't think it's my crossover habit...I think it's that I tend to push the ball out towards where I'm aiming and just naturally drift towards that target on the approach. It's not a big deal on THS patterns because you have room for error...but it's certainly something I'd want to fix if I was bowling on harder patterns where your margin for error is less than a board's width.

But, short answer....I don't know for sure why it's "bad" but maybe Mike will pop in and tell us.

While you are moving your right foot, your body is centered over your left foot.

By placing your right foot in line with the left, your body doesn't have to shift position left or right.

This both gets your right leg out of the swing path of the ball, and keeps the swing path from having to move off your intended line.


Aslan, your crossover step is far enough left that your body shifts left, and the swing path ends up pointed to the right.

Combine that with the hop, and it's no wonder the ball is in the gutter before the arrows.

[dnhoffman]

Pauly, it's tough to tell you a lot from two shots of behind the butt footage, but here it goes:

As has been said already: loosen up. Your arm swing, while very focused, looks extremely tense. I'm a big proponent of a relaxed swing and release. "Wrist turn" would be difficult to really discern from the angle in these videos, but it does seem a but forced.

The things you listed as working on all seem to be pretty spot on, I'd say you're in the right track. Your mechanics need work but for your experience level I'd say you're doing great!

[Pauley]

I appreciate the advise. I look forward to more lessons with my coach and hope to continue improving. I am going to join my first league in Jan and my goal is to get to a 180 average by the end. Practice, practice, practice...

[noeymc]

the cross over step is fine but its preferred by most coaches to stop right in front of u left foot

[Pauley]

The best advice is advice that works! I went bowling tonight with a friend and after warming up focusing on relaxing my arm swing I noticed I was hitting my mark more consistently, and getting more revs. Its not perfect by any means, but it is better.

What followed was my first 600+ series even with 2 open 10 frames :mad:

Again thanks for the advice and more practice to come...

[Pauley]

Not sure why the picture isn't showing, I'm doing this from my tablet. In case you can't view, it is a screenshot of my PinPal app showing a 622 series.

[dnhoffman]

Well done and nice bowling!

(That'll be $50...)

Seriously though, glad you saw some improvement and congrats on the 600 series. Don't get frustrated when you start league bowling if your scores go down a bit. The different pace and carry down oil from having other bowlers there will sometimes cause you to dip a bit, but the upside is still there.

[Pauley]

Im going to have to stop reading your posts. Between this $50 and the $120 your going to save me on the ball oven, I just cant afford your advise. Lol. The check is in the mail, but you know now unreliable the post office can be...

[dnhoffman]

See, this is exactly why I still have to live in Mom's basem...I mean, such a small penthouse.

[Aslan]

See, this is exactly why I still have to live in Mom's basem...I mean, such a small penthouse.

$10 says a trailer…double wide.

[dnhoffman]

You've got me pegged.