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For the coach and the student:
changes are only traumatic if we choose to view them that way. I
am a firm believer that what causes issues (in your bowling life,
too) is not the action, but the reaction. So, I thought I'd share
some experiences with you.
It doesn't matter how many or how few steps a bowler takes. It only
matters that the number gets the athlete to the line with the proper
timing to execute the best shot that bowler can make. Here are some
hints about helping an athlete get to the line in 'their own good
time'.
GOING FROM FOUR STEPS TO FIVE
As a coach, you may determine that your athlete needs to go from
four steps to five. This can be done for several reasons: to generate
more speed; to aid timing; to force smaller steps; or just because
she wants to do it. It could also be a weapon in the arsenal of
the person who is really versatile and wants to do both four and
five steps depending on what the lane wants. Many athletes have
a real fear of adding a step and much of your success in teaching
this will depend on how you sell it.
You've got to sell the mind first. Remember that comment every time
you teach something new - sell the mind first. You must believe
the change will help the bowler in order that she believes. You
have to earn her trust before she can learn and integrate any change.
If you feel your athlete needs more speed, tell her why she needs
it. Perhaps five steps would help her timing. Explain what it might
do for her and how it will work.
There is sometimes great fear about going to five steps. Keep in
mind that it really doesn't matter if the athlete takes 16 steps;
it's only the last four that count. We are not really going to take
five steps; it's more like 4.3. The first 'step' is with the left
foot and it is just a small shuffling move forward. The heel doesn't
even need to leave the floor. It's just a get started move. When
approached like this the fear is reduced. A small shuffling baby
step isn't a real step; it's just the ignition for a great start!
This get-started step is generally very short. Emphasize that the
whole body moves forward, not just the left foot. This is not a
move as if she is sticking her toe in the ocean for the first time.
The entire body is involved. It may turn into a real step but by
the time it does she will be used to it and can use it to her advantage.
In a five-step delivery, the left foot moves first. Usually the
weight in the stance of this type of delivery is on the right heel.
This allows the free movement of the left foot to initiate the start
and negates the need for any weight transfer since the weight is
already where it needs to be.
Another note here about the start and five steps: 'textbook' timing
says that the ball and foot move together. At the end of the second
step the ball is usually over the right calf or wherever it needs
to be to achieve good timing for that bowler. When teaching five
steps, 'textbook' would be that the ball doesn't move until the
right foot does.
I believe the goal is to get that 'perfect-for-her' timing position.
It doesn't matter if the ball moves with the first step or the second
of a five-step delivery as long as whatever she does promotes good
timing. In fact, sometimes it's easier to teach a five-step delivery
if you let her move the ball on the first step. That way she doesn't
have to think "Step, push. No, that isn't it. It's sttteeeeppppp,
push. No, that isn't it. It's steppush." If everything is supposed
to move at the same time, a much more smooth and fluid start can
be accomplished. The only caution is that if the ball is moved on
the first step it shouldn't be moved as far or as fast as it would
be if it were moved on the second step. Remember, it just needs
to help her achieve whatever timing is best for her.
GOING FROM FIVE TO FOUR
As a coach, you'll sometimes have a five-stepper who needs to go
to four steps. This might occur for several reasons. Let's say that
timing is adversely affected by five steps. For instance, your right-handed,
five-step athlete takes a huge first step which destroys her timing
and cadence and everything you've tried has failed. Well, let's
try eliminating it all together! Whether she's had five steps for
a long time or not, there could be fear. What if she can't do it?
What if it doesn't help and she can't go back? How will she do it?
The last time she tried it…. Sell it. Be calm and confident. That
confidence will rub off.
To make either of the changes discussed in this article, you might
have to get physical! By that I mean you'll have to become involved
in helping the athlete feel the cadence of rhythm of four-to-five
or five-to-four. Whether you are going from five-to-four or teaching
a four-step delivery to a newcomer, this method works quite well.
Move her up on the approach and go through the four steps many times
without the ball using this protocol: Start with just walking. Have
her put her hands on her hips and walk to foul line. Walk beside
her saying "Right, left, right, slide." Be content with the first
few attempts being tentative. After you get the distance from the
foul line worked out and the cadence feels comfortable to her, remind
her to bend her knees and slide. Because she is concentrating on
the new feel of these steps, she is likely to forget to slide. That's
okay for the first few times but not sliding will give her a different
feel and certainly is not something she will do for real when she
has the ball in her hand so she might as well start now to do it
right.
 Here
is my test for over-controllers. Ask your client if she alphabetizes
her canned goods. If she says no, explain that she is not an over-controller
so she won't have any problem letting you 'be' the ball. Ask her
permission to touch her and tell her you will be moving her arm
the way the ball does. She's got plenty to think about with her
feet so you are going to be the ball and all she has to do is 'right,
left, right, slide'.
If she says yes to the canned goods question, laugh heartily to
mask your abject fear at all of your teaching methods flying out
the door. Really, just be patient and understand she may have a
little trouble relaxing the arm and letting you be the ball. Actually,
if your student is an over-controller, you will probably have found
that out before now. You'll just have a little harder time getting
the buy in for what she needs to change, but it can be done. The
impossible just takes a little longer.
With your left arm, put her right arm wherever she normally holds
the ball in the stance, palm up and elbow wherever it normally is.
Be sure the left hand is also involved in this pretend game by helping
hold the imaginary ball. Put your left hand in the palm of her bowling
hand with your left forearm paralleling her right forearm. She very
likely will be quite uptight. You'll feel it in the tenseness of
her arm. She'll also probably be looking at your hand touching her.
Tell her to look at the target and just walk. She doesn't have to
do anything with the 'ball'. You'll be the ball and swing her arm
like the ball usually does (reinforcing constantly the relaxed swing
thing). This starting position is shown in Figure 1.
 If
you feel the slightest resistance or she tries to move her arm herself,
stop. Urge her to give up control and let you have it. It usually
only takes one time for this to happen. The next time there is no
resistance or so little you only need to stop the process one more
time before she understands walking to the foul line attached to
you is not only doable but is a smoother and free-flowing feeling
than what she has been doing. Move her arm with the steps as the
two of you walk together to the foul line. Be sure and bring her
arm all the way out simulating a great follow through. (Figure 2)
You might not get all the way to the foul line the first few times.
Do not be concerned. When she stops being tentative, she'll get
there just fine.
Do this as many times as necessary. You are trying to build FEEL
since that is what she fears - "How will this feel?" When she realizes
it not only doesn't feel too bad, it's pretty easy, you'll both
be very happy. Let her try it on her own without you. Caution her
to go slowly but not mechanically, as without the weight of the
ball she may pull herself off balance at the line. If she can't
do it, go back and reinforce the feel several more times until she
can do it. When she's ready to do it with the ball, let her. If
it doesn't work, go back to doing it without the ball until she
can.
Well there you have a simple method for teaching a four-step delivery
to an inexperienced bowler and a fear-reducing way to go from four-to-five
or five-to-four for the more experienced player. Have a great time
with it! |
