Bowling Approach
From the start of the bowling lane to the foul line, bowlers do something called a bowling approach. Now bowling approaches can vary for every person between the normal four or five step approaches which will be explained later.
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/8/8/41887331/9994885.jpg?107)
Stance
A stance is what starts off your bowling approach. To start off a proper stance, you need to be on your staring mark for your feet. To have a mark that you constantly stand on, then you have better consistency than just standing in random places. Next, which ever foot will start your approach, should be slightly offset than the other; this makes taking your first step easier. Another is having your knees slightly bent. This gives comfort and feels like your walking normally instead of forcing yourself to walk. Besides your feet having a constant mark, so should where you start your ball; this, just like where you stand, helps with consistency. Finally you should be standing straight and staring out at the arrows on the lane not the pins. Now the position of where you stand and where you start the ball can change depending on lane conditions. If the lane is drier, then you might try starting your ball higher to allow more speed, or moving where you stand to the left.
A stance is what starts off your bowling approach. To start off a proper stance, you need to be on your staring mark for your feet. To have a mark that you constantly stand on, then you have better consistency than just standing in random places. Next, which ever foot will start your approach, should be slightly offset than the other; this makes taking your first step easier. Another is having your knees slightly bent. This gives comfort and feels like your walking normally instead of forcing yourself to walk. Besides your feet having a constant mark, so should where you start your ball; this, just like where you stand, helps with consistency. Finally you should be standing straight and staring out at the arrows on the lane not the pins. Now the position of where you stand and where you start the ball can change depending on lane conditions. If the lane is drier, then you might try starting your ball higher to allow more speed, or moving where you stand to the left.
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/8/8/41887331/778868.jpg?154)
First step
The first step is one of the most important steps of a bowling approach. Now this is considered the first step for a four-step approach, but this is the second step for a five-step approach. Your first step should be right in front of your opposite foot; almost like you are walking on a tight rope. Besides walking on a tightrope, your bowling arm should be fully extended at the same time you take your first step. Look at the picture on the right, notice how his arm is fully extended? One thing that might be hard to see, after you push out the ball to full extension, you drop your other hand not holding the bowling ball.
The first step is one of the most important steps of a bowling approach. Now this is considered the first step for a four-step approach, but this is the second step for a five-step approach. Your first step should be right in front of your opposite foot; almost like you are walking on a tight rope. Besides walking on a tightrope, your bowling arm should be fully extended at the same time you take your first step. Look at the picture on the right, notice how his arm is fully extended? One thing that might be hard to see, after you push out the ball to full extension, you drop your other hand not holding the bowling ball.
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/8/8/41887331/9594260.jpg?180)
Second Step
The second step of your bowling approach is the start of the back swing. The back swing is when you are bringing the ball back to collect power for your release. With the back swing, your hand should stay perfectly flat, or under the ball as your bring it back. Also, mentioned in the first step, your hand not holding the ball should be extended out to the side. Notice, in the picture on the right how the arm and hand is extended, the thumb is pointing down. This technique, along with the extended arm, help keep your center of gravity so you remain balanced.
The second step of your bowling approach is the start of the back swing. The back swing is when you are bringing the ball back to collect power for your release. With the back swing, your hand should stay perfectly flat, or under the ball as your bring it back. Also, mentioned in the first step, your hand not holding the ball should be extended out to the side. Notice, in the picture on the right how the arm and hand is extended, the thumb is pointing down. This technique, along with the extended arm, help keep your center of gravity so you remain balanced.
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/8/8/41887331/1142088.jpg?138)
Third Step
The third step is similar to the second step of the bowling approach. The third step is the height of the back swing, or when the ball reaches approximately level with your shoulder. There are some situations with bowlers that they bring the ball, in their back swing, above their head but that can cause problems on leaving your shoulder open when you finish your follow through and you miss your mark.
The third step is similar to the second step of the bowling approach. The third step is the height of the back swing, or when the ball reaches approximately level with your shoulder. There are some situations with bowlers that they bring the ball, in their back swing, above their head but that can cause problems on leaving your shoulder open when you finish your follow through and you miss your mark.
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/8/8/41887331/4155128.jpg?187)
Fourth Step
The fourth step is one of the most important steps, because this leads into the follow through. The fourth step is when you start to release the ball, and how you release depends on the kind of bowler you are. With this step, your shoulders should be square to the lane, and your hand should be behind the ball at your thigh. Some bowlers choose to slide their last step, or when they drag their foot along the ground then place their foot down for their follow through.
The fourth step is one of the most important steps, because this leads into the follow through. The fourth step is when you start to release the ball, and how you release depends on the kind of bowler you are. With this step, your shoulders should be square to the lane, and your hand should be behind the ball at your thigh. Some bowlers choose to slide their last step, or when they drag their foot along the ground then place their foot down for their follow through.
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/8/8/41887331/3459159.jpg?203)
Follow Through
The follow through is all that matters in a bowling approach. It is what every step within the bowling approach leads to. The follow through is how you finish the bowling approach, and when you release the ball. You should have, like the fourth step, your shoulders square to the foul line on the lane. Also, your arm and hand should finish over your shoulder on the same side. This means, in you are right handed, your right hand would finish over your right shoulder. Finally, you should be balanced at the end by having your head and knee in line with each other, and your foot can be either behind you at 7 o'clock on the ground or in the air.
The follow through is all that matters in a bowling approach. It is what every step within the bowling approach leads to. The follow through is how you finish the bowling approach, and when you release the ball. You should have, like the fourth step, your shoulders square to the foul line on the lane. Also, your arm and hand should finish over your shoulder on the same side. This means, in you are right handed, your right hand would finish over your right shoulder. Finally, you should be balanced at the end by having your head and knee in line with each other, and your foot can be either behind you at 7 o'clock on the ground or in the air.