To a lot of bowlers, getting bogged down by details equates to paralysis by analysis. In reality, it’s simply a matter of focusing on the right details. There are a multitude of little things bowlers need to pay attention to in order to improve their game.
Last year, in the first part of my “Starting from the Ground Up” series, I focused on footwork. That is the focus again, but rather than focus on the crossover step or discuss rhythm and timing, I want to bring awareness to some finer details that often get ignored in pursuit of the perfect approach.
Pick a board and put your foot on it
This one seems obvious. Bowlers who want consistency need to place their feet consistently in their set up position. Unfortunately, many bowlers are either inconsistent with their placement or they shift the placement during the set up.
There are multiple ways to get your feet set at the start of your approach, but the goal, like everything in bowling, is consistency. Always look at your slide foot when getting lined up. That is the foot from which you will be throwing the ball, so it helps to place that foot correctly first. The other foot should find its natural position but if it’s off by an inch it really won’t have an adverse effect.
If you start by placing your non-bowling foot and allow your slide foot to be off by a board or two, you are changing your start position. I strongly discourage lining up with your non-bowling foot, although there are always some bowlers who find success as exceptions ...
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