The Approach

#1. Timing : Timing is probabley the most important aspect of the game. You need it to maintain consistancy in Leverage, Accuracy and Repeatability at the line. Determine what approach is best suited for your style. Strokers (those that play mainly down and in with minimal hook) usually like the 4 step. Tweaners and Crankers(those that hook the ball moderatly to massive hook respectivly) like the 5 step approach. (Some players even add additional steps for personalization and to give themselfs a variable to ajust for lane conditions.) But it is best if a beginer to intermediate bowler sticks to the 4 or 5 step.

The 4 step is as follows for a right hand bowler :

1. Stand erect knees slightly bent ball inline with bowling shoulder (NOT YOUR HEAD) Hold ball at least waist high.

2. Focus on the arrow (NOT THE DOTS AT THE FOUL LINE) that you would like your ball to roll over. Keep watching this Mark thruout the entire delivery(Ball halfway to rack)Do not move your head at all as it will upset your balance and targeting.

3. As you start to move your right leg(first step for a right hander using 4 step) push the ball straight out fully with very little or no bend of the elbow.

4. After the push is complete step with your left foot the ball will now be travelling downward into the backswing(Keep a natural pendulum motion do not lift the ball in the backswing let it raise to its natural height.

5. You will now be into your third step(right foot)ball will be at its apex of the backswing or on its way down this is called your pivot step it is very important not to force the ball on your pivot step( or on any step for that matter) as the ball nears the back of the right leg tuck the knee of the right leg towards the left leg and sit down slightly ,turn the wrist of the bowling hand (right hand) counter clockwise stopping when the thumb is pointing at 1:00 (towards the pins slightly offset to the right)

4. If you have done the above correctly you are into your fourth step already wich is not really a step at all but more of a slide while slightly sitting down on the shot with your right leg tucked into and behind the left leg with your shoulders squar at the foul line , head still frozen and eyes looking at your mark.

5. Finally as the thumb leaves the hole do not slow your release do the opposite and accelerate thru the ball towards target and follow thru with thumb pointing up. This is the explosion point in the bowling release. Same principle as in throwing a baseball except that the motion is reversed.

The 5 step approach is the same as above except you will start on your left foot with a baby step doing nothing on this step. This is called a momentum step.