It doesn’t matter how many or how few steps a bowler takes. It only matters that the number gets the athlete to the line with the proper timing to execute the best shot that bowler can make. Here are some hints about helping an athlete get to the line in ‘their own good time’.

GOING FROM FOUR STEPS TO FIVE

This can be done for several reasons: to generate more speed; to aid timing; to force smaller steps; or just because the bowler wants to do it. It could also be a weapon in the arsenal of the person who is really versatile and wants to do both four and five steps depending on what the lane wants. Many athletes have a real fear of adding a step you’ve got to sell the mind first.

There is sometimes great fear about going to five steps. Keep in mind that it really doesn’t matter if the athlete takes 16 steps; it’s only the last four that count. We are not really going to take five steps; it’s more like 4.3. The first ’step’ is with the left foot and it is just a small shuffling move forward. The heel doesn’t even need to leave the floor. It’s just a get started move. When approached like this the fear is reduced. A small shuffling baby step isn’t a real step; it’s just the ignition for a great start!

This get-started step is generally very short. Emphasize that the whole body moves forward, not just the left foot. The entire body is involved. In a five-step delivery, the left foot moves first. Usually the weight in the stance of this type of delivery is on the right heel. This allows the free movement of the left foot to initiate the start and negates the need for any weight transfer since the weight is already where it needs to be.

Another note here about the start and five steps: ‘textbook’ timing says that the ball and foot move together. At the end of the second step the ball is usually over the right calf or wherever it needs to be to achieve good timing for that bowler. When teaching five steps, ‘textbook’ would be that the ball doesn’t move until the right foot does.

I believe the goal is to get that ‘perfect’ timing position. It doesn’t matter if the ball moves with the first step or the second of a five-step delivery as long as whatever promotes good timing. In fact, sometimes it’s easier to teach a five-step delivery if you move the ball on the first step. That way the bowler doesn’t have to think “Step, push. No, that isn’t it. It’s sttteeeeppppp, push. No, that isn’t it. It’s steppush.” If everything is supposed to move at the same time, a much more smooth and fluid start can be accomplished. The only caution is that if the ball is moved on the first step it shouldn’t be moved as far or as fast as it would be if it were moved on the second step. Remember, it just needs to help achieve whatever timing is best.

GOING FROM FIVE TO FOUR

This might occur for several reasons. Let’s say that timing is adversely affected by five steps. For instance, your right-handed, five-step athlete takes a huge first step which destroys timing and cadence and everything you’ve tried has failed. Well, let’s try eliminating it all together! There could be fear.

To make either of the changes discussed in this article, you might have to get physical! By that I mean you’ll have to become involved in helping the athlete feel the cadence of rhythm of four-to-five or five-to-four. Whether you are going from five-to-four or teaching a four-step delivery to a newcomer, this method works quite well.

Move up on the approach and go through the four steps many times without the ball using this protocol: Start with just walking. Have the bowlers hands on there hips and walk to foul line. Walk beside them saying “Right, left, right, slide.” Be content with the first few attempts being tentative. After you get the distance from the foul line worked out and the cadence feels comfortable,remind them to bend there knees and slide. Because the bowler is concentrating on the new feel of these steps, and is likely to forget to slide. That’s okay for the first few times but not sliding will give them a different feel and certainly is not something they will do for real when the ball in there hand so they might as well start now to do it right.

With your left arm, put the bowlers right arm wherever they normally hold the ball in the stance, palm up and elbow wherever it normally is. Be sure the left hand is also involved in this pretend game by helping hold the imaginary ball. Put your left hand in the palm of the bowling hand with your left forearm paralleling ther right forearm.

If you feel the slightest resistance or they try to move there arm them-self, stop. Urge them to give up control and let you have it. It usually only takes one time for this to happen. The next time there is no resistance or so little you only need to stop the process one more time before they understand walking to the foul line attached to you is not only doable but is a smoother and free-flowing feeling. Move there arm with the steps as the two of you walk together to the foul line. Be sure and bring there arm all the way out simulating a great follow through. You might not get all the way to the foul line the first few times. Do not be concerned.

Do this as many times as necessary. You are trying to build FEEL since that is what they fear - “How will this feel?” When they realizes it not only doesn’t feel too bad, it’s pretty easy, you’ll both be very happy.

Well there you have a simple method for teaching a four-step delivery to an inexperienced bowler and a fear-reducing way to go from four-to-five or five-to-four for the more experienced player. Have a great time with it!