Bowling with Leverage
by David A. Leverage
David A. Leverage is a Former exempt PBA Player, Silver level certified coach,
an ASU Bowling Alumni member, A 6 time PBA titleist, has (40) 300 games
and owns 2 Phoenix area Pro Shops.
4 or 5 steps…..That is the question!
How many steps do you take when you bowl? 3, 4, 5?
If you said 3 steps, you probably struggle to repeat shots on a consistent basis. If you said 4 steps, you are the same as about 10-15% of the exempt players on the PBA National Tour. And if you said 5 steps than you would be the same as about 80-85% of the professional bowlers out on tour. There are also a couple of pros who utilize 6or more steps in there approach. The question is which one is best and why?
In my professional opinion there is no doubt that a 5 step approach is the best way to get to the foul line. A 3 step bowler has to get the entire armswing completed in the time it takes to take only three steps. So a 3 step bowler has to rush and cram everything into a very short window of time. This causes extremely poor timing in most cases and much more inconsistent results because the 3 step timing is extremely difficult to recreate and repeat on a consistent basis. A typical 3 step bowler will be very erratic and have a lot of highs and lows and some very frustrating nights.
A 4 step bowler will have much better results than a 3 step bowler. In a 4 step approach the biggest problem people have is getting the push away at just the right time. If the push away is “sluggish” or “lazy” it will create late timing thus causing the bowler more often than not to pull the ball and miss left of the desired target. This is by far the number one error I see in myn more than 150 bowling students. The key to a 4 step approach is that the ball and the first step move at the very same time. For instance for a righthanded bowler the right foot should move forward at the exact same time as the ball is set into motion in the push away. This is what a lot of people have trouble repeating consistently with a four step approach. This is what causes the 4 step bowler to miss their target to the left (RH) or to the right for a left handed bowler.
Finally the most popular and by far the best option in my professional opinion is the 5 step approach. The 5 step approach is similar to the 4 step approach with the exception of the extra step with the left foot. The first step(left foot) is really a nothing step because the ball does absolutely nothing in the first step. Just as in a 4 step approach however the ball is set into motion as the right foot (2nd step) starts. The 5 step approach gives the bowler better rhythm and tempo because it offers a little window of error where the push away can occur and still give the bowler good timing. It also allows the bowler to get to the foul line in a more relaxed manner which is the exact opposite result which occurs in the 3 step approach which often looks like a fire drill because everything is so rushed.
Whether or not you utilize a 4 or a 5 step approach it is crucial to allow the ball to fall into a pendulum motion following the push away. Gravity travels at 9.8 meters per second and gravity is the same each an every time you swing a bowling ball. If you attempt to control the swing it will not be free in the pendulum and thus will not be the same every shot. So when you make your push away allow the ball to fall freely into your armswing and you will see better results and higher scores! And most important you will be a more consistent bowler instead of a consistently inconsistent bowler!
Remember…Its never too late to fix your late timing! Give me a call. I guarantee I can help you become a better bowler!
Also…Lessons with Leverage will be in Sun City West at RH Johnson Lanes on Saturday March 12th from 9-4. Spots are ;limited so call meat 602.550.5788 and reserve your spot today. Cost is $45 for a 1 on 1 hour session.
Thank you to all of the people who have been emailing in real questions and ideas for upcoming articles. We always appreciate any and all input as we are always aspiring to help and educate bowlers so they can knock down more pins. As always you may email me at: daveleverage@yahoo.com.
"TEXT the Coach" As a new feature if you are having a problem and need a quick answer to that problem, send me a text message during your next practice session, league session, or tournament and I will do my best to reply in a timely manner. Text to 6025505788.