Heads Up The finish position will give you all the informa- tion you need in order to analyze what you did right, and wrong, leading up to your release and follow- through.
square and level, but that’s not the norm any longer. After all, you are swinging a heavy ob- ject, so it’s natural the bowling shoulder is go- ing to be slightly lower. THE SLIDE FOOT:
Make sure the direction of your slide foot and slide knee are pointing toward the target. You don’t want your slide foot pointing one way and your bowling ball and armswing going the other way. That will affect your balance, which is one of the key elements to a strong finish. THE HIPS: Proper
That includes the fol-
low-through and exten- sion, but you need to be aware of what the shot felt like going through the release, as well as what it looks like after the shot is completed. As a United States
Bowling Congress coaching specialist, I like to use multiple views to assess a bowl- er’s finish. The best views are from behind and from the side.
Those perspectives offer a good snapshot of the athlete’s finish. Video- taping is another great way to assess a bowler’s finish. Most USBC league
bowlers don’t have personal coaches, and fewer have video equip- ment they can use to capture their mechan- ics. Still, there are vari- ous pieces of the finish an athlete can be aware of whether someone
else is there to watch or videotape.
THE FINISH, PIECE BY PIECE Hold your position at the finish and make mental note of the fol- lowing positions: THE SHOULDERS:
The bowling shoul- der should be lower than the non-bowling shoulder. Coaches used to urge athletes to keep their shoulders
hip movement is critical to maintaining proper balance. They’re the foundation for consis- tency and for properly posting your shot. Your slide-foot position is a reference point for the hips. The ball passes your hip on the down- swing, and as long as your hips are open and in the direction of the target, you’ll have enough room for the swing to come through.
13 USBOWLER MAY 2011
Assessing Your Finish
So, just how can Joe Bowler assess his finish position without hiring a coach or having video equipment set up laneside? There is plenty of technology right at your fingertips. Have a friend videotape you using your phone. Or, record yourself by setting your phone on a table and angling it toward the lane. Remember, you’re not trying to dissect the smallest detail; you’re just looking for general feedback. Is your shoulder down? Is your trail leg leading with the heel and then rolling to the toes? And if technology doesn’t allow you to tape your finish, get another set of eyes to view it. Call a friend or teammate over, explain what you are trying to accomplish, and let that person observe.
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