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Any reference or strategy for
getting lined up would have to include what I consider the biggest
secret in bowling: body alignment. There are some who feel that
the armswing is the key to consistency. I'd have to agree that an
erratic armswing will cause erratic ball reaction. However, if you
have a sweet swing and poor body alignment, that great swing won't
matter much. If you have good body alignment, however, it will help
cover up some of the less-than-great execution we all contend with
from time to time. Here's how to build proper body alignment:
• The distance between the sternum (which is in line with the
inside of the sliding foot) and the shoulder (the ball) is a distance
you can estimate in boards. Let's say that for you this distance
is about seven boards. Choose the arbitrary target of the 2nd arrow.
 •
Place the inside edge of your left sole on the 17th board. If you
are a broader shouldered person than this, you can use the 18th
or even the 19th board. Line up with the inside edge of your sliding
foot since that's the part of your body the ball is beside at delivery.
If you line up with the center of your foot, you are giving up a
board or two of information (the distance from the middle to the
inside edge) - not a good idea. For the purposes of this chapter,
we'll assume you line up with the inside of your slide foot. This
inside edge will cover the starting board, in this case, 17. The
heel splits the board so that the foot is parallel with the boards.
• The placement of the left heel is important since the sole
of the foot is wider than the heel. If the heel covers the right
edge of the board, the body is now slightly closed and you'll probably
throw the ball to the left. If the inside edge of the heel is on
the left edge of the board (which would put the heel on 18), your
intention is to throw to the right. These subtle adjustments with
the heel are an advanced technique you can use later but which should
not be used for the purposes of this exercise. The graphic is a
foot position that indicates you intend to throw the ball down-the-boards
(in the same direction as the boards).
• Move the entire left foot so that the inside edge of the
sole is halfway between the 17th and 18th board. This is the 17
1/2 board. Very slightly move the entire foot back to the right
so that the foot is halfway between the 17 board and 17 1/2 board.
This is 17 1/4.
• This is how precise you must be in where you stand so that
you do not have to be so precise on the lane. You can never be sloppy
or indifferent about where you stand. This is not to encourage nor
promote the use of 1/4 board moves but merely to point out that
pretty close isn't good enough when it comes to a starting position.
You can never be sloppy or indifferent about how you line up.
• Once the starting position has been determined, always slide
your left foot into that position. This check of the sliding sole
is because you want to know now if you have stepped in anything
or if there is any impediment on the bottom of the shoe. Finding
out at the foul line is a very bad idea indeed. This also becomes
part of a calming pre-shot routine. Building these habits now will
really pay off in the future.
• Vanishing Point is a physical phenomenon.This means that
if, for example, you are looking at railroad tracks (two parallel
lines), they will appear to converge in the distance. In bowling,
this translates to the appearance that the lane is narrower at the
pin deck than it is at the foul line. This means that the farther
down the lane you look, the more inside your target appears to be.
Here's what I mean. Make sure your feet are on 17 in the same attitude
you would have them if you were really ready to bowl. Look at the
10th board at the arrows. Without moving your eyes, decide where
the 2nd arrow meets your upper body. (Not where you know it is;
where you feel it is.) It will most likely feel like it aligns with
your body about halfway between the sternum and the bowling shoulder.
Now look at the 2nd dot at the foul line (that same 10th board)
and feel where that intersects your body. It will be further toward
your shoulder. Now look straight down beside your right foot at
the 10th board. It's outside your shoulder. What a revelation! Most
people are quite shocked by this. When I show this to people on
the lanes, their jaw usually drops. They look back and forth from
the arrow to beside their foot, they follow the 10th board with
their eyes to be sure I'm not making it up. They felt like they
were standing on top of the target and cannot believe it is actually
outside their shoulder.
• There are many different perceptions and optical illusions
we sometimes have to deal with in bowling. Look how small the arrows
look from where you're standing; yet you know they are 6" long.
To really see this, go to the foul line. Put your sliding foot on
the 20th board and your trailing leg behind and about 45° left
of your body as in a good finish position. Be sure this placement
clears the hip out of the way of your bowling arm. This won't work
(and neither will your bowling) if your trailing leg is straight
behind you or tucked up underneath you. Look at the 2nd arrow, swinging
your arm back and forth several times. You'll find the arrow is
outside of your shoulder and you'll feel like in order to hit it,
you would have to throw the ball out to the right. If you assume
the same position on the 17th board, you'll feel the 2nd arrow is
right in line with your shoulder (the ball.) Now remember, if you
are broad-shouldered, 20 might work for you and in order to feel
the difference at the foul line that I am referencing here, you
would have to take a look from 23.
Even if you feel you're standing on top of your target in the stance,
you'll be perfectly lined up by the time you get to the foul line.
This means that you have to deny your perception in the stance and
accept the reality at the foul line. You'll get used to it and since
it is so critical to body alignment, you'll love your accuracy once
you do. |
