How Do I Keep My Balance With No Bowling Slide?

By: bowlingball.com
Publish Date: 10/30/15

If you are a skilled player and have averaged more than 180 for a long time, but do not slide into the foul line, you may be asking yourself how do I keep my balance with no bowling slide?

Balance in bowling is important for good shot-making. Regardless if you use a long slide step or a short, no slide step (a plant step), you must retain good body balance during your release to maintain accuracy and ball speed control.

As a plant step player, the final step of your approach plants the heel of your bowling shoe into the approach floor followed by your toe planting into position resulting into literally no sliding into the foul line.

Make certain you do not rush your steps leading into your final plant step. Avoid a lunging motion with your upper body as you enter your plant step in an effort to thrust your delivery to gain necessary ball speed.

It is important to keep the body mass centered over your plant leg knee or slightly behind the knee and remain as still with your head and shoulders as possible during your release and follow-through motion.

It is also very important to use relaxed legs so you can flex your plant leg knee as you prepare to deliver the bowling ball.

If you plant your last step and lock your knee cap using no flex whatsoever, you risk, falling off balance during your release.

Use a fairly long plant step so you do not fall forward as you deliver your ball. In bowling, you will gain leverage and power through body torque and proper use of your legs.

Flexing your knee on your final step, plant step or sliding step, you bring the big muscles of your leg into use and add leverage to your release motion.

Be careful not to become a “Plant and Pull Player.”



If you plant the final step, raise your head up and pull back your upper body away from the foul line, and then force your swing through using the muscles of your arm to propel your ball down the lane, you risk pulling your shot off of your intended delivery path.

Instead, rely on the momentum built from an acceleration of your steps and balanced by a stable slide or plant step at the foul line.

Accuracy in bowling is tied directly to good body balance. Whether you are a plant bowler or a slide step player, work at keeping good balance throughout your approach and delivery motion.