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Rick
Benoit's
Expert
Bowling
Tips:
-
Timing
In
the sport
of
bowling,
there are
few things
as
important
as timing.
Timing is
also one
of the
most
confusing
parts of
the game.
Picture
timing as
being the
synchronization
of gears.
There are
various
types of
timing and
the gears
will
operate
with
either,
but
imagine
the
inconsistency
of a
machine
that has
gears with
poor
synchronization.
The most
important
issue when
discussing
timing is
consistency.
You will
find that
instructors
tend to
favor a
specific
timing
based on
their
experiences.
In my
opinion
there are
two types
of timing:
approach
timing and
release
timing.
This can
become a
real
problem if
the
instructor
does not
have the
ability to
separate
approach
timing and
release
timing.
Once the
two have
been
separated
and
understood,
we need to
bring them
together
so there
is a
feeling of
leverage
and
freedom of
motion.
I
believe in
separating
them, so
it is
easier to
understand
the
purpose
and
importance
of each. I
prefer to
start at
the foul
line and
work
backwards.
How a
bowler
gets to
the foul
line has
proven to
be as
varied as
the type
of balls
being used
on the
lane. Once
the bowler
gets to
the foul
line you
start to
see a lot
of
similarities
among the
elite
bowlers. I
believe
that the
release
timing is
the key
factor
while
approach
timing
allows the
bowler to
get to
that
position
easier and
more
fluidly.
It is not
my
intention
to try and
change a
bowler's
timing but
understanding
each will
help you
make a
decision.
Let's
start with
release
timing.
Release
timing is
basically
the
position
of the
ball in
relation
to the
body
leverage
at the
foul line.
It all
starts
with body
leverage.
Imagine
the body
being in
the
perfect
leverage
position.
When the
body is in
perfect
leverage
position,
the force
of the
ball
weight and
motion
will
actually
pull the
body into
the floor
through
the slide
ankle.
This will
lock or
secure the
body and
allow all
the energy
being
applied
through
the swing
motion to
be
transferred
to the
ball at
release.
Any
variance
of this
body
leverage
is taking
away from
the energy
transfer.
If you do
not
understand
body
position
at the
foul line
refer back
to Tip
entitled
Preparing
the Mind
and Body
to Bowl.
Imagine a
machine of
any type
placed at
the foul
line.
Attach to
one side
of this
machine an
arm that
swings,
make sure
that there
is a
weight
attached
to this
arm equal
to that of
a bowling
ball. Now
pull the
arm back
as far as
you like
and let it
go. It is
quite
obvious
what will
happen.
Now
increase
the weight
of the
object and
increase
the height
of the
swing, and
just
because,
add a
little
extra push
to get the
ball
started
faster.
You will
find the
balance of
the
machine to
be
directly
related to
the weight
and the
swing
force. Now
picture
how far
away from
the base
of the
machine
the arm is
located
and the
direction
the arm is
swung. You
can
imagine
that the
further
away from
the base
the arm is
then the
more
unstable
the
machine
will be.
At the
same time
imagine
the
direction
this arm
is
swinging.
This
direction
has a
tremendous
effect on
the base
as well.
I
hope this
paints a
good
picture of
what is
going on
at the
foul line
with your
body. Your
ankle is
the base
and you
are
applying
the ball
weight and
swing
force.
Your
machine
will be as
stable as
your
leverage
and swing
force
permit.
The
greater
the swing
force, the
greater
the need
for proper
leverage.
The closer
the swing
force is
to the
base
(ankle)
the
greater
the
stability.
When the
stability
is
increased
the
greater
the
transfer
of energy
from the
machine
(body) to
the ball.
Now
since we
understand
body
leverage,
understand
the
purpose of
an
approach.
Ask
yourself
why we
have an
approach
in
bowling? I
promise
you it has
nothing to
do with
consistency
and
accuracy.
The reason
we have an
approach
is because
the pins
are 60
feet away.
We use the
approach
to create
the
momentum
we need to
provide
the
optimal
energy at
the pins.
I bring
this up
because it
is not a
constant.
Lets use
the
extreme
examples
here to
paint a
picture.
If we were
bowling on
dirt and
the pins
were 60
feet away
imagine
the type
of force
it would
take to
get a ball
to
skid-roll-hook.
That would
be humanly
impossible.
Now
imagine
bowling on
an ice
rink. The
pins are
still 60
feet away
try and
get that
ball to
skid-roll-hook.
These are
the
extremes
and we do
not see
that wide
a range in
a bowling
environment
but I
guarantee
you that
it can
seem that
extreme.
If the
surface
friction
was as low
as it is
in an ice
rink we
would not
need an
approach
at all. As
a matter
of fact we
would
benefit by
having
less build
up of
momentum.
And just
the
opposite
on dirt or
grass.
This
is how and
where most
bowlers
develop
release
styles and
timing
synchronizations.
If the
emphasis
is on
speed and
revs a
bowler
develops a
certain
style, If
the desire
is less
speed and
revs we
have
another
and if
revs are
not ideal
you will
see
another
style to
match the
speed. I
prefer to
look at
things as
not right
or wrong
but
relative
to what
you are
bowling
on. If you
are
competing
on a given
condition
it is
quite
often to
adapt your
game to
fit those
conditions
with no
concern
about
others. If
you are
going to
compete on
a wide
variety of
conditions
I think a
bowler
should
learn a
more
versatile
timing
synchronization
that
allows a
higher
degree of
tolerance.
I do
not know
of a
single
bowler who
is has
perfect
timing
from shot
to shot.
It is not
uncommon
to see the
timing a
little
earlier or
a little
later than
perfect in
a series
of shots.
What I
believe in
is having
a timing
that does
not
require
too much
perfection.
We can see
this by
looking at
the shape
of the
swing at
the
release
point. If
you see
the swing
as a
perfect
arc, there
is no flat
spot at
the bottom
of the
swing. So
if the
timing is
not
consistent
from shot
to shot
your body
leverage
and
release
timing
will vary
accordingly.
If your
timing is
so called
"perfect"
your body
will be in
perfect
leverage
position
just as
the ball
passes the
ankle. If
your
timing is
so called
"early"
the ball
will pass
the ankle
before the
body is in
a good
leverage
position.
If your
timing is
so called
"late"
your body
will be in
perfect
leverage
position
before the
ball
reaches
the ankle.
To me
the
important
factor is
room for
mistake.
If you are
early
several
things can
happen and
most of
them are
related to
release
and ball
direction.
None of
which is
optimal,
so I do
not
believe
you should
try and
achieve
early
timing. If
you try
and
achieve
perfect
timing, I
have no
dissagreement
but I warn
you that
nobody has
perfect
timing
from shot
to shot.
If it is a
little
early you
can over
hit the
ball or
miss it
entirely,
If it is a
little
late you
will
certainly
have a
stronger
leverage
position
and
probably
see a
heavier
roll on
the ball.
My
objection
is not
with
perfect
timing but
with the
consequences
of the
inperfect
shots. If
you have
late
release
timing and
you are a
little
early, you
are still
late, if
you are
late you
are still
late, and
with that
in mind I
prefer to
see a
bowler opt
for a
little
later
release
timing
because
that means
the body
will
always be
in a good
leverage
postition
and the
energy
transfer
from the
body to
the ball
is
increased.
In simple
explaination
I prefer
to see the
body in
full
leverage
position
before the
ball
reaches
the ankle.
Now lets
discuss
how we get
to this
position.
This is
where the
approach
timing
comes into
play.
Approach
timing is
a fluid
one peace
motion and
becomes
very
confusing
when
trying to
think of
it as a 4
or 5 step
sequence.
When
disussing
the
optimal
approach
we see a
balanced
body and a
build up
of
momenteum.
The key
element is
getting to
the
optimal
release
timing
with the
most
consitent
and most
fluid
method
possible.
This is
where you
see a wide
varity of
differences.
I will
give you
my chose
of
approach
timing
sequence
and
explain it
as a
simple
one-two-go-and
wait
system.
Think
of your
timing in
a 4 step
approach.
The ball
and the
foot on
the same
side as
the ball
are the
synchronizing
gears that
should
mesh early
in the
approach.
The ball
should be
set in
time with
the foot
and it
should
follow the
foot back
behind the
body, this
allows the
ball to
clear the
hip on its
backward
motion.
This is
where many
bowlers
are
confused.
Many
bowlers do
not have
the ball
follow the
foot back
behind
them. They
will keep
the ball
in front
of the
body too
long and
as the
ball goes
back the
foot on
the same
side as
the ball
is already
in its
forward
motion.
Ok to
keep it
simple
here we
go: step
one the
ball is
meshed
with the
toe of the
foot on
the same
side as
the ball.
As the
foot goes
back
behind the
body the
ball stays
with it.
Now the
ball is
behind the
body with
ease and
little
redirection.
Step two
is when
you should
quit
thinking
about he
position
of the
ball in
relation
to the
foot.
Thiking
about it
at this
time is
only going
to create
very poor
timing and
inconsistency.
It is time
to let it
happen.
Go! Once
the ball
is behind
the hip it
is time to
let the
body gain
forward
momentum
while we
let the
ball
continue
to swing
back
wards. It
is not
beneficial
to think
of the
ball
position
relative
to the
feet at
this time.
The ball
has
already
been
meshed
with the
toe of the
foot. Now
it is time
to gain
momentum
and let
the ball
swing. The
next
object to
think
about is
to make
sure you
stay on
your push
off foot
long
enough. Do
not get
off it too
quick.
This is
the time
you should
be
thinking
about
waiting
with the
ball. Stay
on the
push off
foot and
wait on
the ball.
Set the
slide foot
under the
body to
achieve
the right
body
leverage
position
and let
the ball
fall.
Remember
wait wait
wait.
I
hope that
this tip
allows you
to achieve
a more
fluid one
piece
timing
sequence
that
provides a
balance of
leverage,
tolerance
and
release
consistency.
Good Luck
and don't
forget
one-two-go
and wait!
Rick
PS: I
think it
is wise to
add a
timing
step to
the four
step
approach
system
just
because it
helps get
the body
motion
started.
The step
should be
very short
and the
ball
should
remain
quiet
during
this step.
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