Do you have trouble sliding closer to the foul line?

[Hammer]

I used to never give it much thought to where my slide stopped after my release. When I did I got a real surprise. I must have been about 3 feet from the foul line. When I tried to stop closer to the foul line it freaked me out. I had this fear that I might slide onto the oily alley and hit the dirt big time. I kept seeing the alley pop up in my peripheral vision which would screw up my shot. I just had to learn to trust it by doing it over and over. Now I don't have that problem.

I used to start my approach about two feet from the beginning of the approach. Now I start from where the ball return comes up out of the floor. It looks like a distance of onl 9 feet. My first two steps of my 5 step approach are slow and short. After that they speed up. To a lot of folks on my league night that distance I use must seem way too short. I lot of them start at the very beginning of the approach. The only thing is when they slide and stop they are too far from the foul line. One guy even starts his ball on the end of the approach before the foul line.

Starting out as close as I do to the foul line to make my approach doesn't bother me anymore. I just got used to it. I don't have that panic feeling anymore stopping so close to the foul line. Is this a problem for you?

[Mudpuppy]

overthinking

[J Anderson]

I don't have this problem. When I had a coaching session with Chris from the local pro shop, his first suggestion was to move the start of my approach closer to the foul line. On my first throw from that distance, 30+ years of habit took over and I slid to the point that my heel was on the foul line.

My own observation is that many older bowlers slowly change to using smaller and smaller steps without realizing it. My dad actually did realize what was going on and the last few seasons that he bowled started at half the distance to the foul line as he did in his prime.

[Aslan]

I don't slide. Not sure why. Never noticed it until it was pointed out on this site. I guess I "plant" by foot.

It must slide a "little" because if I try to use regular shoes I do fall forward. But yeah...I wish I had a better "slide".

[MICHAEL]

I don't slide. Not sure why. Never noticed it until it was pointed out on this site. I guess I "plant" by foot.

It must slide a "little" because if I try to use regular shoes I do fall forward. But yeah...I wish I had a better "slide".

ICEMAN does not believe in sliding either! Real Men don't slide,,,, they plant that left foot, and unleash Hell!! RULES are MADE to be Broken!
Sure its not a rule to slide, but who knows,,,, ,,, they might try to slide it in sometime in the near future..... too many rules.... Born to be FREE!

[Mike White]

ICEMAN does not believe in sliding either! Real Men don't slide,,,, they plant that left foot, and unleash Hell!! RULES are MADE to be Broken!
Sure its not a rule to slide, but who knows,,,, ,,, they might try to slide it in sometime in the near future..... too many rules.... Born to be FREE!

You mean breaking rules like where you pre/post bowl, and don't like the oil pattern, so you don't want to submit your scores?

[MICHAEL]

You mean breaking rules like where you pre/post bowl, and don't like the oil pattern, so you don't want to submit your scores?


Michael,,,, MICHAEL,,,, its ok..... I know it hurts to get beat twice by The Almighty Aslan!! But ,, did he beat you scratch this last time, on the same lanes you bowled on with all your knowledge, and experience... LOL....

Ouch.. that hurt mike,,, I do wish I lived MUCH CLOSER to you,,, it would be fun taking you on in a friendly game of bowling! LOL

Just to make it clear MIKE,,,,, I was not told when I was prebowling that it was a SPORTS Pattern, fresh and unused from that day! If I would have known, or even the NEW MANAGER at that time, I would not have pre bowled! Sports patterns are one thing, house another!

I welcome a challenge MIKE,,, damn ,,, I wish you didn't live 1800 mikes from my place.... lol Would be fun bowling you, and Aslan!!

[Mudpuppy]

I think what MWhite is saying is join the VBT and man up already. You missed 1 month but the mighty Iceman could miss 3/4 of the months and still be victorious. Get that KC crew on board let's go.

[MICHAEL]

I think what MWhite is saying is join the VBT and man up already. You missed 1 month but the mighty Iceman could miss 3/4 of the months and still be victorious. Get that KC crew on board let's go.

LOL,,, I am glad you guys are have a blast bowing this virtual thing! I like bowling face to Face,,,, not long distance! I might some time head out to different parts of the country to meet up with some of you to do some bowling together. Might just jump on my bike and load up the trailer!
I will talk to Jason, The Dude, Mr 231 on our Thursday night league, that bowls tonight for 1st! If he is interested in doing this, then I have no problem, but we bowl so many leages, at least I do,,,, Monday two leagues, Wendsday 1 league, and Friday one league... for a total of 4 leagues a week.... so my balls are kept busy!! LOL

I do enjoy reading the results,,, and watching the videos!!

[Mike White]

Michael,,,, MICHAEL,,,, its ok..... I know it hurts to get beat twice by The Almighty Aslan!! But ,, did he beat you scratch this last time, on the same lanes you bowled on with all your knowledge, and experience... LOL....

Ouch.. that hurt mike,,, I do wish I lived MUCH CLOSER to you,,, it would be fun taking you on in a friendly game of bowling! LOL

Just to make it clear MIKE,,,,, I was not told when I was prebowling that it was a SPORTS Pattern, fresh and unused from that day! If I would have known, or even the NEW MANAGER at that time, I would not have pre bowled! Sports patterns are one thing, house another!

I welcome a challenge MIKE,,, damn ,,, I wish you didn't live 1800 mikes from my place.... lol Would be fun bowling you, and Aslan!!

Yeah he beat me scratch, but I'm pretty sure he would have beat all 4 of your "dream team" as well. Maybe the "old" guy could have competed.
Remember he has probably 500+ games there in the last year, and his game (as limited as it appears) is approximately what those lanes call for.
When they have converted over to synthetics, he'll have to unlearn everything, and start from zero.

Try to play golf in the middle of a forest. All the knowledge and experience on regular courses won't help much.

When we went to Temecula, I wasn't told that the pattern was a polish wall, but my scores had to count.

When we went to Chaparral300, I wasn't told we would be bowling on the remnants of moonlight bowling, but my scores had to count.

When we went to Concourse, I wasn't told the lanes were a forest of potholes, but my scores had to count.

Big picture, I think you're glad I live 1800 miles away.

[Mike White]

I think what MWhite is saying is join the VBT and man up already. You missed 1 month but the mighty Iceman could miss 3/4 of the months and still be victorious. Get that KC crew on board let's go.

I wouldn't want to infringe on your membership drive efforts.

[Aslan]

Ooooooo....theres some old skool trash talking goin on in THIS hizzou!! Woohoo!!

No hair pullin girls.

[Hammer]

I think we got off topic here guys. The topic was having trouble sliding close to the foul line.

[Aslan]

I think we got off topic here guys. The topic was having trouble sliding close to the foul line.

I tried going shoeless (socks) with my left foot (sliding foot). I thought that would help me slide...and it did. But it was very uncontrollable. Sometimes when sliding you get a little "too close" to the foul line and need to lean backa tad to keep from sliding over. Without a shoe on, I lose that ability.

[zdawg]

I think we got off topic here guys. The topic was having trouble sliding close to the foul line.

I used to have issues stopping a foot or more before the foul line, but then I was instructed to move BACK, and naturally my pace sped up, my stride got longer (it was too short before), and I suddenly found myself sliding close to, or in some cases "almost" over the line - typically I have one of these a night where I realized my slide foot is too close and I have to turn it during the slide almost parallel to the foul line to keep from going over.

But for me, the biggest adjustment was learning how far back to start in order to end my slide as close as possible to the foul line.

On another note, I've noticed in some houses I can't seem to slide at all, or its much much more difficult - in talking with Mark Baker he mentioned that the approach surfaces differ from alley to alley in "slidability" (my word not his) and that I should really look into getting shoes with removable slide surfaces so I can adjust. I've worked on developing a good amount of knee continuation like in the famous video and my slide has increased considerably, and sometimes I'll go to a new house and find that my foot sticks, which causes me to almost fall and experience am awful almost tearing like sensation so I've learned to do some practice walkthroughs in every alley before attempting to throw a shot. In alleys where I can't slide I have to slow down, as I said I generate a lot of my power with my legs and if I try to do it full force and plant my foot, eventually I will cause severe damage to my knee.

[Hampe]

I suddenly found myself sliding close to, or in some cases "almost" over the line - typically I have one of these a night where I realized my slide foot is too close and I have to turn it during the slide almost parallel to the foul line to keep from going over.That's the same problem I've got....I'll end up to close to the line and my slide foot turns in automatically to keep from going over the line. For me, I've just got to remember to take smaller steps.....One thing I've noticed watching video of myself is that even when I think I'm taking really small steps is that they are actually a lot longer than I think.


On another note, I've noticed in some houses I can't seem to slide at all, or its much much more difficult - in talking with Mark Baker he mentioned that the approach surfaces differ from alley to alley in "slidability" (my word not his) and that I should really look into getting shoes with removable slide surfaces so I can adjust. I've worked on developing a good amount of knee continuation like in the famous video and my slide has increased considerably, and sometimes I'll go to a new house and find that my foot sticks, which causes me to almost fall and experience am awful almost tearing like sensation so I've learned to do some practice walkthroughs in every alley before attempting to throw a shot. In alleys where I can't slide I have to slow down, as I said I generate a lot of my power with my legs and if I try to do it full force and plant my foot, eventually I will cause severe damage to my knee.I'd second this. If you're going to bowl seriously in tournaments away from home, you're going to want the switchable soles. They are pretty expensive which is why I put off getting them for so long. I got some used ones off a buddy (he bought some Storm ones after his old SSTs wore out and didn't like them), and they are great. I haven't even had to switch the soles yet, but it seems like the soles are also a tiny bit wider than my old dexter shoes, which makes it feel like I've got better balance.

But I've played in tournaments in different cities, and a few times I had trouble with the approaches, either getting stuck at the line or slipping on my second step. I really recommend getting some.....no use having a ball for every lane condition if you don't have the shoes for every approach condition :).

[zdawg]

But I've played in tournaments in different cities, and a few times I had trouble with the approaches, either getting stuck at the line or slipping on my second step. I really recommend getting some.....no use having a ball for every lane condition if you don't have the shoes for every approach condition :).

Yep, new shoes and a plastic spare ball are at the top of my list just as soon as I can get my employment and living situation settled :cool:

[dnhoffman]

ICEMAN does not believe in sliding either! Real Men don't slide,,,, they plant that left foot, and unleash Hell!! RULES are MADE to be Broken!
Sure its not a rule to slide, but who knows,,,, ,,, they might try to slide it in sometime in the near future..... too many rules.... Born to be FREE!

Follow this advice and bowl often if you'd like to have hip, knee and joint problems.

[mrbean]

it helped me to slide by not raising my feet off the ground on the last step. and of course staying balanced during the release is another problem.

[got_a_300]

I used to slide within about a quarter of an inch from the foul line
but take over 12 years off from bowling and things do change a lot.

I stop about a foot or more back from the foul line now days when
you take 12 years off from bowling because of a back injury and then
try to make a come back after getting osteoarthritis in both knees my
old body just doesn't work the same anymore.

I've been working on trying to get some slide going again but it is really
hard to do with the bad knees and all but maybe I'll get it again.

[rv driver]

I used to slide within about a quarter of an inch from the foul line
but take over 12 years off from bowling and things do change a lot.

I stop about a foot or more back from the foul line now days when
you take 12 years off from bowling because of a back injury and then
try to make a come back after getting osteoarthritis in both knees my
old body just doesn't work the same anymore.

I've been working on trying to get some slide going again but it is really
hard to do with the bad knees and all but maybe I'll get it again.
Ain't age a beeatch?!

[got_a_300]

Ain't age a beeatch?!

Yes, yes it is. lol!!!