BallReviews
General Category => Bowling Videos => Topic started by: lilpossum1 on February 01, 2016, 12:07:54 PM
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Had a friend take a video of me during league last night. I didn't realize I had so much drift in my last step. Or that my elbow is that bent. I always felt like my elbow was straight. Any tips? I will accept anything. I hope this video works...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mpmV4Hrwv1c&feature=em-upload_owner
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It looks like you have short/quick steps on steps 2-3-4. When you're on your 4th step you can see your momentum shift to the right as you're loaded up going into 5. At about the 6 second mark you can see it, so you're drift is towards the end. It looks like your swing is late/behind that drift may be compensating for it.
That's just what I'm seeing. Someone else may be able to articulate it in a different manner.
ADDED NOTE: If you really watch step 4 go into 5, you really get the slide leg going very far right into the slide. I could see that being an issue when you're moving way in (5th arrowish) and swinging the ball. I'm not sure how you work it when going more coast-to-coast.
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I don't feel like I am following you completely. Let me see if I have this right. You think my short quick steps are causing my swing to be a little too late, causing my balance to be off (momentum to the right.) this is causing my slide to drift so far to the right to try to balance myself, by my momentum is still causing me to fall off the shot? I may have added in some observations of my own after studying what you said
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That's just my impression, others (more qualified) should chime in. Basically, what it looks like you're asking is to identify where your drift is.
What stood out to me is that after your first step, 2-3-4 are very quick, that lead into a long step 5 (slide step). Watch the location of your left foot from step 3 to step 5. There's your drift. After the ball is released
Generally, you're not walking to the line in an effortless manner and in a straight manner. If you're repeating shots then I wouldn't change anything but I'm not sure how you move in and swing it. With a smallish step 1 and quick steps 2-3-4 it seems like the swing would naturally have to catch up. It has to create a timing issue.
Interesting ball return there too. :P
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That's the thing. I'm not repeating shots. Some nights I'm locked on. Some nights I am a train wreck. I didn't realize how bad my form was until I saw this video. If I can take care of some of these issues, I feel like my repeatability will go up
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You're a product of your environment. Above ground ball returns. You have body positions of a guy that wants to hook it in the first half of your approach and then don't clear your hips or trail leg because if you did you would kick the ball return. Thus the drift in your last step so you don't fall on your face and then falling off the shot.
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You are starting with the ball too far to the right, causing you to swing the ball behind your back too far. When you swing it forward you are swinging it inside out, causing the ball to pull you to the right or swinging the ball around your body. Your drifting is a result of the ball pulling your body to the right. When your timing is perfect, you have a good night. When your timing is poor, then you have a bad night. Move the ball closer to your middle. Don't worry about the bent elbow, unless you start leading with it or chicken winging it. It looks like all of your steps are too short, causing you to pull up a the line to keep you from fouling.
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Define clearing hips and trail leg please
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How far should I move the ball toward the middle of my body? I am guessing I should move back on the approach, but how far? To the back set of dots? I feel like I have too fast of feet when I do that, but that has just been messing around. Should I stay at the front set of dots and adopt a four step approach? The bent elbow feels like it is straight when I bowl. I never have an issue with it bending more or less. Like I said, I had no clue it was bent
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Getting your ass out of the way so you don't have to swing around it and can have some leverage.
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Got it! I have to say though, you are not the first guy to comment on my nice ass! Now if only I could find a lady to compliment it...
In all seriousness though, I may go Wednesday after I get out of class and work on this stuff. Keep it coming! I'll take another video at the end of the night if I can get someone to go with me
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lilpossum:
Some good suggestions being posted here. There are many reasons for "right drift".
After reviewing your video, what really stood out for me was the relationship between your starting position and your target out on the lane. Your left foot in your stance is positioned around the 24th board on the approach. Your lane target looks to be close to the 10th board. This represents a spread of 14 boards (between your left foot in the stance and your target: 24-10=14 boards). This represents quite a gap between your left (slide) foot and your target. So, as you go through your approach and you are closing in on the foul line, your target (10 board) starts to appear more farther to the right of your line of sight.
This gap is not as noticeable from the back of the approach in your stance but it becomes apparent as your body approaches the foul line. As you enter the final phase of your approach, your instincts tell you that you need to close this 14 board gap in a hurry, so, on the last step, you readjust by stepping to the right, thereby closing this big gap. You close it quite well I might add, as the ball ends up very close to your left ankle at release ( a good thing). Some folks do the opposite at release.
They step to the left. For power players, they instinctively do this in order for their
bowling arm and hand to clear their right hip and to allow them to project the ball from left-to -right. This is fine AS LONG AS their bowling hand "follows" their body
to the left and closes the gap between their sliding foot and their lane target at release. If their bowling arm fails to follow their body , they end up committing
the "sin" known as "stepping out of the shot". This will cause the dreaded chickenwing
as the bowler now tries to hit a target that is too distant from their sliding ankle.
You are doing precisely the opposite. You are "stepping in" to the shot on your last step. Many traditional strokers do this to varying degrees. Too much right drift will
force a bowler to realign their downswing to such an extent that it will often result
in the ball being "topped" with the fingers. This will cause a weak release. Your drift
is approximately 8-9 boards to the right--- somewhat excessive. One way to correct
it is to begin your stance farther to the right from where you are now. If your target is
the 10 board, you will want to place the inside edge of your left shoe on around the 17th board (you are on the 24th board currently). You will now want to concentrate on walking as straight as possible to the foul line. If you do, there will no longer be a need to suddenly fill that large gap on your last step. A normal slide foot-to target
spacing is approximately 6-7 boards.
Correcting drift takes time and patience. One popular method to utilize is the "tightrope" method. This is where you visualize that you are taking your entire approach as if you were literally walking on a tightrope.
Best of luck to you!
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So for the next month or so, should I practice and bowl league trying to play as up the boards as I can while trying to take this drift out of my game? Then gradually work my way left while trying to walk straight? It seems like this will help me adjust to walking straight. I can play up the 10 board easy enough. Or even further right
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I suggest having a cross over step. I think what they mean by move your ass out the way is the cross over step. First step is your timing then second step crosses over your first thus your kinda drifting left but when you finish you slide toward your target so I think your technically going straight .
Here a video that help me https://youtu.be/VpP9c36ogiQ
Take my advice if ya want I'm no pro haha just suggestions
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So my main takeaways here:
Either move back on the approach or switch to a 4 step,
Implement a crossover step,
Hold the ball a little closer to my midline,
Make sure to clear my hip and leg better.
Should I get a couple pieces of tape to stick to the approach and practice using those as slide markers so I know how far I am drifting to know if I make improvement?
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So my main takeaways here:
Either move back on the approach or switch to a 4 step,
Implement a crossover step,
Hold the ball a little closer to my midline,
Make sure to clear my hip and leg better.
Should I get a couple pieces of tape to stick to the approach and practice using those as slide markers so I know how far I am drifting to know if I make improvement?
When I practice wit my approach after I release I stick the landing and look at my slide foot see where I am finishing. I didn't use tape but when I added cross over I can clearly see my target at a different angle
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If you ask enough people on social media...one may be right but most likely all will be nothing less than opinion...
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Although some/all of the suggestions may be appropriate, making wholesale changes at one time is going to wreck you. If I worked on more than 1 thing at a time and ended up messed up, I had no idea which one worked for me and which one did not, or at the very least, which one I was able to incorporate successfully and which one I did not/could not. I would suggest making a singular change, working on incorporating it, and then re-taping your approach, see how it has affected you/your game, and if you still need work, incorporate another suggestion.
However, this is also why you should work with a qualified local coach. Someone in person who can provide instant feedback and constant feedback. As noted here, everyone hones in on one thing or another (because we are all a product of our game and our environment) and what works for me may not work at all for you. Your coach would know that. Instead of buying that next high performance ball, invest in your game and work with someone that is qualified.
Just my opinion
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^^^GOOD ANSWER^^^
I would try pushing the ball over your right foot and stay centered...otherwise your game does not look that bad...
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If I had a coach around here, I would use one... We didn't even have adults working with us when I was in youth league, let alone a certified coach. This is why I came to the Internet. Point taken on too many changes at once though. As for some advice being good and some being bad, if multiple people give the same advice, I would assume it would be relatively sound advice
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How far away does the closest certified coach live from you?
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Oh... An hour and 15 minutes... And between working 6 days a week, taking classes, and league 2 nights a week, I don't have the time to dedicate to driving that far for lessons
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Might be a long shot, but have you ever asked if he/she would drive to you?
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He might, but I also don't have the kind of open schedule to commit to lessons on a regular basis right now. Anatomy and Physiogy is kicking my tail. I am studying for that every chance I have
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Did the college thing for 13 years. Spent the last 3 years doing nothing but research for my dissertation, preparing for the Oral Defense, and completing requirement after requirement that seemed to pop up out of nowhere to complete my Doctorate degree, so I understand the college deal.
Knowing that, to change something you have been doing will require time spent on the lanes so you can master the change. If you do not have the time to commit right now, I completely understand and if you are serious about bowling, you may be better off waiting until you have the time to work on any changes to your game.
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Focus on staying in the finishing position so you can observe the ball rolling down to the pins and check which board you finish on with your slide foot. This is what I do when I bowl really well.
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I didn't get a chance to practice last night so I just implemented the changes tonight. At home I have been practicing a four step approach in hallways... But I started using the four step in league with the crossover step and held the ball more towards my midline. It was an immediate improvement! I was much more balanced at the foul line. The increase in balance countered the lack of practice and I bowled better than I usually do. And it felt great! Nothing felt forced. I'll get another video Sunday and post it
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Sounds good I almost stop replying on the thread cuz I felt attacked for giving my opinion on possibly helping a fellow bowler. But since that my idea about the cross over is all square I feel much better!! I mean its what some of us are here for, talk to some fellow bowlers bout bowling and possibly help each other out. I'm in the same position as you with work and college don't got time for coaches. Gotta rely on this social media business and fellow bowlers who like to experiment with trial and error.
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The help is very appreciated by me! I feel that the crossover strop was huge for me. I'll see when I get the video. I would hate to see what I would have shot if the lanes has room for error!
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Where to start.............set-up. You're much too close for a 5 step. hence the quick little steps b-cuz you are too close @ set-up. Screwing up your timing. It basically makes you a 2 step bowler. How tall are you?
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This topic is over a year old lol. I have moved back on the approach and still use a 5 step approach. My drift is now negligible. I am right at 6'
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Left step right stepover cross over left step is my advice.