What foot do you use to mark your starting spot on the lane?

[Mike White]

It has nothing to do with a God Complex, Mike. It's simply a matter of setting a standard with the left foot so that right handed bowlers can tell if they have drifted during the approach.

You still need to know the offset between the center of the ball and your indicator foot for both the start of the approach, and the release.

You probably have thought using the slide foot was easier because USBC neglected to teach you that the offsets are different for almost everyone.

The approach is about swinging the ball in a vertical plane. Where the plane intersects with the lane/approach is a straight line.

Before the modern game and it's walled up conditions, keeping the ball on a straight line was important, because accuracy was important.

Now it's get it close, and the house shot will fix it.

To see the different offsets, place one ball on the floor, and put your slide foot next to it as if you were at the release point.

Then without moving your slide foot, pick up a second ball and position your non slide foot so you are in your starting position.

You will notice that where the ball starts at is not in the same vertical place as where the ball is released.

The path of the ball in your approach is what you need to be inline with your intended path of the ball on the lane.

Where your feet start at are secondary, and the method you use as reference is optional.

Dictating that it must be taught one way only is the God Complex.

[billf]

Mike,
Maybe you should go get certified before WRONGLY stating what the USBC is or isn't teaching. Sorry that the rest of the organized bowling world agreed to a standard that you don't like or agree with. See Mike, being that all those institutions came to an agreement and you stand alone calling all them wrong then you sir are the one with the God complex.
It's a shame too because you are smart just not always right like you seemingly think.

[bowl1820]

"the offset between the center of the ball and your indicator foot"

That's called the Lay Down Point and the USBC teaches that.

[vdubtx]

Again, which foot you use as reference is optional.

I have to agree with Mike. Which foot you line up with is optional, maybe not for the coaching population and the direction you want your students to go, but I think I do just fine lining up with my right foot.

[Mike White]

"the offset between the center of the ball and your indicator foot"

That's called the Lay Down Point and the USBC teaches that.

They teach you to know the offset at the release, but they don't at the start of the approach.

Once you've decided on a break point, and a target arrow, there is only one place at the foul line, and one place at the start of the approach where the ball needs to be located in order to be on the same vertical plane.

Based on the place at the foul line, you can determine where you need to slide at based on the release offset.

Same idea for the beginning of the approach, it just that the offset is different than the release offset.

USBC doesn't teach that offset, and you can be just as effective using the offset to the non slide foot as the slide foot.

[Mike White]

Mike,
Maybe you should go get certified before WRONGLY stating what the USBC is or isn't teaching. Sorry that the rest of the organized bowling world agreed to a standard that you don't like or agree with. See Mike, beinmg that all those institutions came to an agreement and you stand alone calling all them worn then you sir are the one with the God complex.
It's a shame too because you are smart just not always right like you seemingly think.

I'm not the one who says of two different equal methods, only one is acceptable.

I have plenty of people ask me for help with their bowling, and it's not because I am certified by USBC.

[billf]

I'm not the one who says of two different equal methods, only one is acceptable.

Several institutions agree to use one acceptable way. That is the very definition of a standard. I'm not saying your way is wrong or doens't work because it does. I am saying you seem to go against industry standards for reasons only known to you. Not sure if it's a God complex, issues with the USBC, WTBA or what. Sometimes it is infuriating, others just comical and at times enlightening.

[manke]

I think you can use either foot as long as you are consistant.

[RobLV1]

I think you can use either foot as long as you are consistant.

Regardless of how consistent you are, if you are right handed and line up with your right foot, how can you tell if you are drifting?

[Mike White]

Regardless of how consistent you are, if you are right handed and line up with your right foot, how can you tell if you are drifting?

The same way you tell if you're drifting when aligning with the slide foot.

Most likely you've been taught to determine if you are drifting incorrectly by assuming the ball is the same distance from your slide foot when you start, as when you release the ball.

While you may release the ball with the center of it 7 boards from your slide foot, it's unlikely in your starting position that the center of the ball is also 7 boards from your slide foot.

Combine that with if you are trying to release the ball in the left to right angle, you need to do a little math to be sure the BALL isn't drifting off of your intended path.