Recent technique videos for noeymc

[vdubtx]

What particularly stood out was your "ready" stance right before you start your approach. You look like you're waiting in line for something. Look at some videos of some of the pros and notice their stance. Move your feet together, maybe bend your knees slightly, and put your ball in a position where you can start your swing effortlessly.

Another thing that stood out is, it looked like you were 'forcing" the form at the line, rather than just letting it happen, if that makes any sense. Having a good a proper approach, arm swing, and hand position leads to good form at the foul line when throwing the ball.

There is a lot more but it's difficult to get into without showing you. Perhaps you should think about getting lessons from someone else? A different person helping can't hurt. The biggest help you can have without getting lessons is watching approaches on youtube from the pro's and trying to mimic them.

Have to agree with analysis Jason mentioned here. Your feet are about shoulder width apart, put them together as mentioned. Also comment about forcing the form at the line. One shot the ball was half way down the lane already and then you raised your arm as if to follow through.

Echo again advice from Jason on watching the pro's(I always go back and watch Chris Barnes' 4 step and 5 step approach video when in a slump).

[Terrier]

Nice to see you committed to changing up the swing. IMO, don't get hung up on game scores for now. When changing mechanics, your scores will get worse before they get better. (Your timing will be off for awhile, for sure.) The long-term benefit is that you'll have a higher ceiling if you successfully grasp the changes.

So let's stick with adjusting your steps. JaMau24 pointed out your starting stance. Typically, right-handers start with the feet together and the left foot a couple inches in front of the right. This slightly opens the hips and gets them pointed over towards the target arrows. Norm Duke says the starting position is about getting the feet, the hips, and shoulders in agreement. Sounds kind of gimmicky, but I think it works.

An overlooked benefit of having the feet together has to do with spine tilt (how much you lean over to the right). The good news is that you are doing a nice job of keeping your spine tilted after your first step. However, it's easier to set your spine tilt when you are standing still than to do it while moving your feet and arms together. Bowling is all about repeatability, so on the approach keep the feet together, set the spine tilt, and then start your steps. You'll have a consistent spine tilt that way.

You have a good crossover step with the right foot, but I am not sure what rule of thumb you follow afterwards. I see both cases where your steps are like walking on a tightrope and the other where your left foot does not come back directly in front of the right foot on step #2. Many are coached to step a few boards to the left (w/ the left foot) in order to keep the ball from tucking behind their back on the backswing. Unless you need to do it to keep your swing straight, stick to the tightrope steps for now.

The last two steps of the release go hand in hand. Make the last right-footed step a little shorter than the others, and that will get you to actually slide on the last step with the left. Watch the Chris Barnes video again (link) and see how he does it. Note how far Chris's slide foot travels is in front of his body. He can do this because of the push off from his 3rd step. (I emphasize here that it's very important that your shoes match the condition of the approach. That's the reason for the interchangeable slide soles on high performance shoes. As an alternative, you can use a dusting of Ebonite Ultra Slide powder on the bottom of your shoe if you're sticking.) Currently, it looks like you are stepping into the shot during your release.

I know it looks like a lot to think about, but you have some good qualities to your footwork already. Just do a quick checklist:
- start with feet together, left a little in front
- set spine tilt
- step with feet in front of each other (unless you need to straighten out your swing)
- short 3rd step, then slide

[Aslan]

Echo again advice from Jason on watching the pro's(I always go back and watch Chris Barnes' 4 step and 5 step approach video when in a slump).

I tried that last night. I watched Earl Anthony (my fav) vs. Ernie Schlegel.

UNFORTUNATELY:
1) Ernie Schlegel is unwatchable when he wears red bell bottom pants and a sequin shirt. I mean, come on!!
2) Earl in his teaching video harps on using a 4-step approach...but in that match was using a 5-step approach. I don't know...Earl is my boy and all...but that dude is weird sometimes. I think he wrote a book about being a Black Panther or something...it was not well-reviewed...and reading the reviews made him sound sort of "crazy"?? Maybe I need to bump him down to "second fav" and bump WRW up to "fav".

I'll work on the approach. Hopefully I can get in some practice before Thursday leagues. The hardest thing about concentrating on my approach is while I'm doing it...if I concentrate too hard...I end up getting to the foul line and the ball is either already in front of me or way behind me...because I'm so focused on my feet. But...I'll keep trying. I know the scores won't be great in practice...but I can't be messing with my approach during league games. Don't wanna let Bunny and "The Micael Bowltonz" down.

[Aslan]

- set spine tilt

What is this again? Spine tilt?

- short 3rd step, then slide

Been working on that. Again, coaching inconsistencies. I used to have a much longer slide...I'd build up a lot of speed on my approach and my 4th step/slide would look almost "professional". But the coach didn't like the speed, giant steps, and long slide so he shortened everything up. Now I don't seem to have enough "speed" to generate a good slide. But I have been focusing a little on the idea of the short 3rd step to push into the slide...just haven't perfected it yet.

One thing that is coming "slow" is the swing timing. The idea of it going back (without muscling) on steps 2 and 3 and forward/release on step 4 (again, no muscling) is very difficult. Like in our discussion on "muscling"...with gravity and force being constant...without any type of muscling...if you don't start that ball out in the right spot...and get to the 4th step too early or late...the ball just isn't at the release point. Thats where consistency comes in. In order to time a pendulum swing to be "perfect" at your release point...applying NO musclling...means your steps must be precisely the same every time.

[noeymc]

go ahead and muscle for now just focus on the video and getting that down once that is down we will work more on timing we need a base to build off of

[Aslan]

Have been working on what you told me to. Last night, stuck with the shorter, slower approach. And my main thought process was "push ball with the first step, back, back, forward".

I also had to remind myself of my usual mantra..."balance arm, snap it! (wrist/release), follow through".

And I also tried to get lower...more of a knee bend, more exaggerated leg sweep.

The first game was frustrating. Scored a 116. Fortunately, the married couple on our team was killing it so I didn't cause us to lose the game. And I was frustrated because it felt like I had "too much going on in my head" on the approach. I like to only think about 3 things maximum when I'm going through the process. Any more than that...I screw up my timing as I'm trying to think rather than just throw.

But then...after 8-13 frames....the modified approach seemed to come more second nature...and that allowed me to focus more on just hitting my target. Still had to remind myself to get lower...but it was better and I rolled a 167 and that was key in a close game 2 victory.

Same thing in game 3; I didn't need to think about it quite as much...it just started to come naturally...scored a 141. I didn't feel like I bowled very well...but still ended up with a score 10 pins above my handicap in that league, primarily because of solid spare shooting.

The only thing I couldn't concentrate on (too much going on in my mind to add another thing) was my backswing. A few times I felt it get too high (above shoulder level). But I was staying focused on the 4 steps and trying to get a good release/follow-through...and was leaving my backswing alone for the time being.

So...working on it as instructed, just thought I'd give an update. Disappointed in the scoring thus far...I want those 15 pins I was promised!!! But....but...its early and I'm encouraged that tonight the approach seemed to become more second nature rather than feeling like I was "forcing it".

[noeymc]

like i did say your scores will drop before they go up and yes only work on 3 things at a time any more then that you will start to make bad habits! i am happy you are really trying this i promise that you will see improvement

[Aslan]

I think I got the approach down.

Worked on releasing the ball sooner, getting lower. Less muscling. Scores were up…I'd say 2 pins over average.

Had to remind myself to snap the wrist and follow through. Was doing better with spares. Even picked up a 3-7 split!

Still not seeing the 15 pins I was promised…BUT…I still have 13 weeks to go and have already seen a 2-pin improvement…so now 13 pins in 13 weeks!!!

Not sure if I'm gonna mess with the release/speed on wood lanes on Fridays. I modified my approach as instructed, but my release on those lanes is working well. It's synthetics where I need to see a big improvement. I have a 164 average on wood lanes. It's the 132 average on synthetics that needs the help. Especially when my wood lanes will be replaced with synthetics next May 2014.

Just thought I'd update.

[noeymc]

ok next work on a push away push the ball towards your mark and let it drop this will help your accuracy

[Aslan]

ok next work on a push away push the ball towards your mark and let it drop this will help your accuracy

Here's my question on that...because I was thinking about it yesterday evening.

If you're starting out left and throwing a ball that arcs back into the pocket...you're obviously aiming at a target slightly right of where you start (for a righty). So if you push the ball forward and follow it (your path)...will you not go diaganally toward the foul line (towards the target rather than straight forward)? Is that okay?

Because, especially when I pulled out the Frantic and stopped using the plastic ball...I started my approach left of center...but when I pushed the ball towards the target (approximately 10 board)...and followed that path...I was ending up more right of where I started. But it wouldn't make sense to push the ball towards the target then walk straight...or the ball pendulum/arc would be across your body (back).

My biggest problem with accuracy at this point is I'm too afraid of boards 1-9. I want the ball to go down the alley and hokk back into the pocket to get more strikes and increase my score. But if I'm hitting left of the headpin consistently...bowling logic says to move left...but then I get too far left and start throwing the ball in the right gutter. So then I gotta move my target. If I move it left and my feet a little left...back to hitting left of the headpin. But if I try to move the target (and my feet a little) to the right...I end up missing right of my target and back into the gutter it goes. That damn right gutter is my nemesis!!

It's less of an issue with my Columbia WD...because I'm approaching more right (2-4 boards right of center) and I'm aiming more at boards 12-13 because that ball is very straight.