The Athletic Pose

[bowl1820]

The athletic pose places the bowler in a balanced starting position which enhances the bowlers approach.

1. Using the approach locator dots, place the non-ball-side foot in the desired area. Place the ball-side foot back positioning the toes even with the instep or arch of the non-ball-side foot. Note: “Desired area” refers to the lateral position in relationship to the foul line.

2. The feet should be positioned comfortably apart from side to side.

3. Knees are bent, approximately 15 degrees.

4. The spine is tilted slightly forward, approximately 15 degrees.

5. The fingers are inserted into the ball first followed by the thumb and positioned under the ball with a firm wrist.

6. Ball should rest comfortably in the hand with minimal finger and thumb pressure.

7. The non-ball-side hand is slightly underneath the ball helping support the weight.

8. The ball is positioned between the chin and ball-side shoulder. The upper arm is next to the torso. The forearm is at a 90 degree angle to the upper arm and parallel to the floor.

9. The hips and shoulders are open slightly to match the feet. The ball-side shoulder will be slightly lower than the non-ball-side shoulder.

[Beagle]

a balanced starting position.....just out of curiosity, why is bowling the only sport that u start with feet together rather than apart for balance? a hitter in the batters box, player at the foul line, golfer at the tee, QB in the pocket, etc all start with feet spaced apart. Except for maybe a golfer putting, it seems that when holding a weight or object balance is easier when feet r apart. do a barbell curl or lift something, which is easier....just random thoughts

[Mike White]

a balanced starting position.....just out of curiosity, why is bowling the only sport that u start with feet together rather than apart for balance? a hitter in the batters box, player at the foul line, golfer at the tee, QB in the pocket, etc all start with feet spaced apart. Except for maybe a golfer putting, it seems that when holding a weight or object balance is easier when feet r apart. do a barbell curl or lift something, which is easier....just random thoughts

I don't think bowling is the only sport, but it does differ from baseball, and golf in terms of walking.

It differs from being the QB is that the QB doesn't need to walk in a fairly straight line.

You want your feet together so your center of gravity doesn't cause you side to side motion as you lift your foot beginning the first step.

In baseball, you want that side to side motion, because you've turned sideways to the pitcher, and that motion is towards the pitcher.

[Shaneshu87]

a balanced starting position.....just out of curiosity, why is bowling the only sport that u start with feet together rather than apart for balance? a hitter in the batters box, player at the foul line, golfer at the tee, QB in the pocket, etc all start with feet spaced apart. Except for maybe a golfer putting, it seems that when holding a weight or object balance is easier when feet r apart. do a barbell curl or lift something, which is easier....just random thoughts

why don't skyscrapers have two legs? basically it is a balance thing, but it is because in bowling we start a forward approach that must be straight, so therefore you must maintain that balance through the approach, you don't walk a tight rope with your feet spread out wide, you walk it one foot in front of the other. hope that answered your question

[rv driver]

The athletic pose places the bowler in a balanced starting position which enhances the bowlers approach.

1. Using the approach locator dots, place the non-ball-side foot in the desired area. Place the ball-side foot back positioning the toes even with the instep or arch of the non-ball-side foot. Note: “Desired area” refers to the lateral position in relationship to the foul line.

2. The feet should be positioned comfortably apart from side to side.

3. Knees are bent, approximately 15 degrees.

4. The spine is tilted slightly forward, approximately 15 degrees.

5. The fingers are inserted into the ball first followed by the thumb and positioned under the ball with a firm wrist.

6. Ball should rest comfortably in the hand with minimal finger and thumb pressure.

7. The non-ball-side hand is slightly underneath the ball helping support the weight.

8. The ball is positioned between the chin and ball-side shoulder. The upper arm is next to the torso. The forearm is at a 90 degree angle to the upper arm and parallel to the floor.

9. The hips and shoulders are open slightly to match the feet. The ball-side shoulder will be slightly lower than the non-ball-side shoulder.
I've been doing something right all these years, with one exception: I was taught to not bend the spine, but to "stack the vertebrae straight over the pelvis." But I can see the advantage to the tilt. When I stand straight like that, it puts the weight pressure on the heels, which immediately throws you off balance when you begin the walk. Leaning forward, your weight pressure is on the balls of your feet, where it needs to be.