As some of you have read in the last few weeks in an earlier post I created "Push-a-way..... Not so much". Well after a couple weeks of working with the hinge form and a few modifications I came to a very comfortable approach that is 95% effortless and very repeatable shot to shot.

Teusday I got in another 7 games of practice. At 1st when I went for my 1st couple of shots I tried to recreate what I was doing the week before in my wednesday night league which was a 5 step approach. Not quite sure how I was able to do it as I had trouble with the shot 1st thing Tuesday. So I changed up my approach from 5 step to 4 step. I basically take 1 step with my right foot, as I start my 2nd step the hinge goes into motion then the rest is automatic.

Last week I had lots of pulled shots from a number of issues, Tuesday with the modified approach all my issues from the previous week were gone. I'm now feeling the best I've ever felt in my game. The scores yesterday are what I believe just the beginning of whats yet the best to come.

I've been having issues with a slump, all it took was a major game overhaul to rebound. I've shot more 210+ games in the last 2 days then I have in the last 3 months!

Teusday: 215, 211, 288, 215, 220, 210. I was still making little changes with the form. I didn't care about the scores but practice was making sure I can repeat shots easily so naturally I was competitively practice.

Wednesday night I shot: 202, 237, 216 for 655. I wasn't comfortable the 1st game and the 3rd game I need to make a ball change much sooner.

I feel this new form has not yet shown what it can and hopefully will do for me in the future.

Video is posted in the videos section.

That's good man. I recently went from hinge to a push-away and my results have gotten better. I like the push-away because I start the pendulum where I need to depending on the speed needed.

Different strokes for different folks.

LGD: I agree with that statement wholeheartedly, but if you've been in a slump, beit mental or physical, the scores build confidence. The keys you mention are absolutely more important, but if you're doing all that correctly you'll enjoy your scores as well.

I think the hinge is supposed to start in the first step in a 4 step and complete reaching it's final point of this move just as the first step finishes.

Regards,

Luckierlefty

I think it drops on the second step in a four step.  Since you are not 'pushing' the ball, you do not need to get it in motion on the first step.  It would start to drop somewhere at the very end of the first step or during the second step so that the ball is at the bottom of the swing at the end of the second step.  At least, that's how it feels to me while I am bowling.

I think it drops on the second step in a four step.  Since you are not 'pushing' the ball, you do not need to get it in motion on the first step.  It would start to drop somewhere at the very end of the first step or during the second step so that the ball is at the bottom of the swing at the end of the second step.  At least, that's how it feels to me while I am bowling.

MI 2 AZ, you're correct, at least if you subscribe to Joe Slowinski's approach to the Hinge. Joe says to think "drop-left", meaning that as the bottom of the hand drops, take the left step. We know the left step is the second step of a four step approach. To your point, it's makes sense since you're not pushing the ball out.


I've never tried this, but I'm going to give it an attempt the next time I practice. 

Absolutely incorrect information.  If you don't utilize the hinge, how do you feel you're qualified to speak about it.

When Slowinski writes "drop left" that is part of a three and a half step drill designed to get you used to dropping the ball into the hinge without pushing up or out and also to get you used to your feet moving faster.

Again, read the article written by the author.  How simple is that to do instead of passing along incorrect information and/or overcomplicating this delivery start.  Let's not forget the basics of good timing.  The hinge is simply a different way of getting the ball in motion.  It still must be started at the right time. Drop ball on first step of four step delivery, second step of five step delivery.

Need proof?  Watch five steppers Chris Barnes and Pete Weber.  Ball is hinged on second step of their delivery.  Watch four stepper Bill O'neill as he hinges on first step.       

Quote from: MI 2 AZ on February 01, 2013, 10:22:07 PM

I think it drops on the second step in a four step.  Since you are not 'pushing' the ball, you do not need to get it in motion on the first step.  It would start to drop somewhere at the very end of the first step or during the second step so that the ball is at the bottom of the swing at the end of the second step.  At least, that's how it feels to me while I am bowling.

MI 2 AZ, you're correct, at least if you subscribe to Joe Slowinski's approach to the Hinge. Joe says to think "drop-left", meaning that as the bottom of the hand drops, take the left step. We know the left step is the second step of a four step approach. To your point, it's makes sense since you're not pushing the ball out.


I've never tried this, but I'm going to give it an attempt the next time I practice.

LGD,

I have been using a drop or hinge, since about 1980, long before I ever heard anyone have a name for it.  I was not taught it by anyone, I just figured it out to simplify my game because of a pushaway issue.   And, as I said, it 'feels' like I am starting the drop at the very end of the first step or in the second step.  I will have someone watch me to verify.  As we all know, what we think we 'feel' and what is actually happening can be two very different things.
Especially with me, as old as I am. 


I looked for the Slowinski article that you mentioned and found it here:
http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinskifeb09.pdf

After reading about the 3 step drill, I have to wonder why he is only using 3 steps?  Is it to promote the feeling of dropping it on the second step of four because he wants the bowler to drop it on the left step, which in four will be the second step.  If he wants us to start the drop on the first step of four, it would have to be associated with the right foot moving, no?  Why have a drill that emphasizes learning how to drop the ball on the wrong step?  Well, it's late and I am tired so I will re-read this tomorrow.

I do not have fast feet so I will try to work on that drill in my next practice session.

Thank you for posting up the link.

When I used the 5 step approach with the hinge I had okay results but felt way out of time and not very natural. The next practice session I worked with a couple different things and finally got comfortable with a 4 step with the ball dropping between the 1st and 2nd step. I've always been a 4 stepper used to be a 5 stepper a few years ago. Then I noticed pin carry, accuracy, and repeating shots got better and easier.