Any tips welcome!

[Gecko]

I've been bowling for a solid 5 weeks now and have met with a coach once for about 25 minutes. He stated I needed to keep my arm straight, which I can now see and that my slide is basically non-existent due to the shoes I'm using which is true. This is my first post after lurking in the shadows here since I started bowling. This was the only angle I could capture, but I could try to get another if needed next time I go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd_ZKfJTXTs

Thank you!

[SmilingBowler]

To start, I'm not a coach so I don't wish to discredit your coach, I am only offering my advice as I see it. If any of my tips contradict anything a coach has told you, ignore me. I can only speak about what works for me.

Your footwork seems relaxed and fluid, which is very good. Looks like you aim your shot well and cover your mark. You may not necessarily need a better pair of shoes. Your flaw there may be in how you are making that last step. You shouldn't be planting the left; rather, you should be planting the right and pushing off your right foot as you slide on the ball of your left, toward the foul line.

Give it a try by practicing without a ball. Take the last three steps of your approach. Walk it slowly, step off the left, plant the right foot and slide to the foul line. If you can slide on the ball of your foot, your shoe is fine. If it doesn't slide easily, try some "EZ Slide" from the Pro Shop - a pouch of that with one tap (trust me, you don't need much) on your slide foot will work wonders and save you big money over buying a new pair of shoes.

When it comes to your elbow, imagine your arm from shoulder to wrist as the string on a yo-yo and the ball as that yo-yo. Swing the pendulum. The more fluid that motion is, the less strain on your shoulder and elbow and you won't feel like you're pushing the ball across the foul line. It should just roll out of our hand on the follow-through, thumb first and fingertips last. From what I can see your release is good and when you landed your mark, the ball moved well for you into the pocket, often for a strike.

Overall, you look comfortable and confident out there and that, more than anything will help you focus your game. You're well on your way.

[scottymoney]

Just a couple things I noticed:

1. Arm needs to be straight which you already know.

2. Very late timing with getting the ball back in your backswing. Start your swing earlier which will allow you to get your arm back to at least parallel with the floor.

3. Good set up stance, you have a good base to work from!

[Greenday]

You remind me a lot of myself before I got coaching. You've got the basics down pat. It's just some fine tuning at this point.

Make sure when you push the ball out, don't push it up. That'll screw up your timing badly. Just push it out and let your arm swing free. If you don't muscle it at all, you will swing it the same way every time. You also need to push the ball out earlier. This will match your swing timing to your foot timing. You are getting to the line well before the ball. You want to throw the ball in stride with that last step. By throwing it while still moving forward, it'll add a lot more power to your shot.

[Gecko]

Sounds good guys. I'll see what I can do when I head back out. I'm also set to see my coach again in a few weeks possibly though he seemed in a hurry last we met which sort of put me off. I never thought to slap some EZ slide on the shoe though. I'll have to see how that feels as well.

Thanks again!

[noeymc]

u also have no back SWING =O=O=O=O

bend ur knees push out needs to be compact no muscle needed in the ball when u push ur ball out push it at your target with ur hand and elbow will help ur accuracy get lower you def should add a slide it will give u room to mess ur timing up a little

[GeoLes]

Let me preface this with the statement that "I am not a coach and I don't even portray one on TV".

What helps me keep the arm straight and the swing smooth and effortless is to imagine a low bar at the foul line. As i push off onto a staight arm, I let the pendulum drop straight down, back and forward again during the approach, as I slide i keep think long, lanky arm reaches under the bar at the foul line. If my wrist wants to control the release too much, I think of the wrist position and release naturally controls the spin on the ball with no direct effort on my part. No need to muscle the ball, "just let it go and turn the door nob".

[billf]

I am a coach and one day WILL portray one on TV sorry, couldn't help myself

Timing-you're late at the start and finish. As others have posted (Scotty?) you need to start the ball earlier. How early? Well, as your right foot moved forward, so should your push away. Keep the arm and foot the same speed and distance compared to each other.

Back swing-let the speed be natural, gravity controlling the height. Let it go where it wants. Like a rubber band, use no muscle (as little as possible anyway)

When done properly and in time, you should be on the down swing (parallel to the floor or higher) as your slide foot makes contact with the floor. Just as the slide concludes, the swing passes the ankle for the release.

Slide-read the earlier post and work on it. It can save your game and body over time.