Do you have trouble sliding closer to the foul line?

[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

[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.