|
In every sport, there is
a starting point, a ready
position. Without
a consistent ready position,
it is difficult to end up
with a consistent resultant.
In bowling, your starting
point is a reliable and
effective body stance.
The objective is to align
your lower and upper body,
and to set your body posture
in consistent alignment with
your intended target.
Feet Placement
When initially placing your
feet on the approach, you
line up with the foot that
you slide with since that is
the foot you end with.
That will best ensure that
you have the same reference
point from your starting
position to your ending
(ball release) position.
Place your feet anywhere
from 1 to 4 inches apart
with the tip of your
ball-side shoe even with the
sliding foot arch. That
places your initial feet
position in a stable
position.
Feet & Lower
Body Position
One of the least understood,
primary keys to good bowling
is the stance. When
discussing the placement of
your feet in your starting
position, it is advantageous
to match the placement of
your feet according to your
intent. Positioning
your feet positions your
hips, and therefore
naturally positions your
lower body.
Pointing your feet:
Your body position and
pointing of the feet are
different considerations.
A good starting position for
your feet is to space them
slightly apart much as you
would in a natural and
comfortable position.
Your sliding (non-ball
side) foot should point
directly down your
intended walk path., and
your feet placed solidly on
the approach. This
establishes a solid
foundation and positions
your lower body that most
closely matches the position
you want to finish in at the
foul line
Lower Body Position
The lower body position
should be aligned with your
intended path.
When you move your ball
side foot back, you open
your hips, pointing your
lower body toward the
outside of the lane.
When you move your ball
side foot forward, you will
close your hips,
pointing your lower body
toward the inside of the
lane.
A recommended starting
position slightly opens
the swing of the ball toward
the outside of the lane.
A ball released in this
manner moves outward as it
skids down the lane, and
then hooks back into the
pocket. This approach
uses a release and ball
designed to hook back into
the pocket.
To achieve this intended
ball motion, you want to
position your ball-side foot
4-6 inches back of your
sliding (non-ball side)
foot. This will open
the hips and lower body
about 5°-7°.
If the outward path of
the ball is too severe,
moving the ball side foot
forward lessens the outward
path of the ball by
closing the hips and lower
body alignment.
Placing the feet side by
side aligns the lower body
with the intended path of a
straight ball.
Consider not opening or
closing your body position
when targeting corner pins.
To optimize the potential
of hitting a corner pin,
move to the opposite side of
the lane. Square your
feet and hands, and point
your feet directly toward
the corner pin.
The hips and lower body
should be balanced with your
upper body position.
Hand and
Upper Body (shoulder)
Position
Hold the ball with the large
majority of the ball weight
in your non-bowling hand.
This lessens the muscle
tension in your bowling arm
and promotes a free arm
swing. More on this
later.
Hand positions relative to
one another establishes the
angle of your shoulders.
The shoulders can be open or
closed, and should result in
an upper body angled toward
your intended target.
It is important that you
position your upper body
toward your intended target.
Imagine a line that extends
from the ball-side shoulder,
through the ball to the
target. This line
establishes the intended
path of the ball swung
freely. An upper body
and shoulders positioned
toward your target helps to
achieve this intended line
of your ball swing.
Placing your non-ball side
hand forward or behind of
your ball-side hand
determines the angle of your
shoulders.
If the non-ball side hand is
placed forward of your ball
side hand, the shoulders
will naturally open as well.
If you move your non-ball
side hand back, you close
your shoulders, and
point your shoulders [upper
body] more away from bowling
side.
Shoulder Tilt
The shoulders should be
slightly tilted about 1” to
2” lower on the ball-side
due to the added weight of
the ball. This presets
the basic position expected
during the release of the
ball, and helps maintain
good balance resulting in a
natural, loose approach and
release. The old
concept of keeping the
shoulders square places
unnecessary stress on the
shoulders, and ignores
stresses placed on the
shoulders due to the weight
of the ball, and should be
avoided.
|
Knee Position
Stand in an upright,
natural manner without
locking your knees rigidly.
Instead, loosen your knees
into a bent forward and inch
or two in a comfortable
position. It is
not advisable to bend your
knees deeply. This can
cause difficulty as you
attempt to begin your
approach in a near-natural
walk.
The combined ball and
body weight distribution on
your knees should be equal,
maintaining a comfortable,
even position on your knees
to ensure consistency.
Standing on one foot or
uneven weight distribution
places undue stress and
imbalances that should be
avoided.
Posture and
Spine Position
When explaining posture in
the stance, presetting the
feet naturally presets the
angle of the lower body.
The position of the hands
should match the preset
feet, and align the upper
body. It is also
important to maintain a
balanced spine position in
your stance.
Position your body
comfortably to distribute
the weight of the ball and
body evenly without placing
stress on any individual
portion.
If the torso is straight,
the spine should be inclined
forward about 15° in the
position of the stance, and
the knees bent slightly
forward. This posture
promotes forward motion when
beginning the approach.
The torso should remain
straight, without leaning to
one side of the other with
little or no side angle.
An uneven body angle places
undue stress on the bowler
that requires adjustment
during the approach.
This imbalance should be
avoided in order to maximize
the possibility of a
consistent approach.
Body
Position:
We need to put these
components together in a
cohesive picture that
matches our intent.
So, summarize our stance key
points.
You control the whole body
position by positioning your
hands and feet. You
should match the hands and
feet toward your intended
target. You want to
always set your feet and
hand position to match your
intention.
If you open your feet and
close your hands, your body
is unbalanced, and confused
as to what is intended.
Always match both your hand
and feet positions toward
your intended target.
If you want to release
the ball more toward the
ball-side channel, you
would open both your feet
and hands toward your
intended target.
If you drop your bowling
side foot back, you should
match your hand position by
moving your non-bowling side
hand forward accordingly.
This keeps the whole body
aligned.
If you want to release
the ball further away from
the ball-side channel,
you would close both your
feet and hands toward your
intended target.
If you move your bowling
side foot forward, you
should match your hand
position by moving your
non-bowling side hand back
accordingly. This
keeps the whole body
aligned.
If your intention is to
throw the ball straighter,
you always match both the
feet and hand position in an
even position.
The shoulders should be
slightly tilted about 1” to
2” lower on the ball-side
due to the added weight of
the ball, and presets the
basic position expected
during the release of the
ball, maintaining good
balance. This results
in a natural, loose approach
and release.
The spine should be inclined
forward about 15° in the
position of the stance, and
the knees bent slightly
forward. This posture
promotes forward motion when
beginning the approach.
Summary
 Starting
on the approach
To find the length of your
approach, stand with your
heels at the foul line and
take the number of steps in
your approach back toward
the start of the approach
area. Then add about another
1/2 step to account for the
slide. This is the distance
from the foul line at which
you should start.
Ball Placement
Center the ball square to
the inside of the right
shoulder, or between the
shoulder and chin. Have your
forearm resting against your
side and support the ball
with your non-bowling hand.
Balance
Remember to slightly flex
your knees and have a slight
tilt forward with the upper
body. You should feel more
weight on the balls of your
feet rather than your heels.
|
|
Bowler
Ball
& Pins
Home
Lanes
Information
