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The First Step and Pushaway – Building Proper Bowling Technique And An Ideal Bowling Approach
How To Do The Pushaway And First Step In Bowling
The next installment of the approach we will discuss is the first step and push away. It really doesn’t matter how many steps you take. Essentially, all approaches are four steps, and I will say that 95 percent of bowlers take either four or five steps. If you take five steps, the only thing that should move initially is your foot. If you’re right-handed, this would be your left foot. Everything else should remain still. You do not move the ball on this step, and your posture should remain the same as your stance. If you have any questions about the stance, you can find my blog on “The Stance”
The next step, or first step if you use a four-step approach, is important because if you start properly, there is a good chance you will finish properly and in good balance.
When To Start Your Pushaway To Have Good Bowling Timing
The push away is the first movement of the bowling ball into the swing. This movement should be very simple, with minimal effort or tension, thereby making it easier to repeat. As you take this step, move the ball out and over the foot. If you’re right-handed, this would be your right foot. The arm and ball should extend out and then into a downward motion. But do not “lock” the elbow.
There should not be any lateral motion in the push away. If you push to the right of the foot, this almost certainly will make the ball go behind you in your backswing. If this happens, the downswing almost certainly will not be able to go towards the intended target. If you push to the left of the foot, the backswing then will have to bump to the right to avoid hitting your hip on the way back. As the backswing bumps to the right, the downswing will have to be redirected, causing a loop in the swing, which is difficult to do consistently.
One thing that might help with a straight push away is to use your non-throwing hand as a guide and to use this hand to support some of the ball weight as you push the ball away.
To recap:
– Bowling ball and ball-side foot move together.
– Bowling ball moves out and down without locking the elbow.
– Push away should be simple and free of tension.
– There should be a straight line over the top of the ball-side foot, with no lateral movement to left or right.
If you have any questions about this blog or have any topics you would like me to cover, please do not hesitate to contact me at jgaines@bowlersmart.com
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with 5 step approach does it matter if ball is waist high of up a near chest height for 5 step approach. I am very rusty lefthander and was 220 average bowler in mid to late 90′;s bowling in scratch leagues. last 20 years or so pretty much stopped and bowled in 2023 league and averaged 194 but being inconsistent but still ok timing. Now recently want to get back into bowling and timing way out of wack and lanes i am bowling on very dry. . so refer to question at top please.