I can't imagine how or why you'd try to regulate that.   Seems like it would have it's own 'built in' penalties, performance wise.

If someone is starting so far back that they're getting paced by adjacent lanes, I guess that would be a problem...but no rule is in place.

Well, John mazza used to put his hand in the ball behind the approach, walk up, set himself, then go.

I used to bowl with a guy that when he slid, he would jump right about 2 feet every shot. Of course, he always played first arrow. First time dude jumped in front of me while I was playing fourth arrow was a BLAST!!

His name was Skip too. I couldn't make that up.

I started back in 1970

Perhaps the OP's question was more rules-related. I've never seen a rule regarding this---USBC, PBA or tournament---so long as lane courtesy rules are followed.

I remember a loooooong time ago there was a pro (can't remember his name) who had a mental issue getting his feet started. He just couldn't take the first step. So he remedied it by starting way back off the lanes with ball in hand and just started casually walking until his footwork "kicked in."

Joe Slowinski uses that same method as a footwork exercise designed to get a good rhythm back when you are struggling with timing.