Slow Your Steps For Late Bowling Timing

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 2/3/2014; Updated: 12/14/2022

If you know your steps are far too fast to help you maintain balance and control, you may wish to look for an option to slow your steps enough to match your swing.
If you are rushing your steps, particularly the final two steps beyond a gradual increase in pace of steps, you might be adversely affecting your timing.
Bowlers who have been in the game for many years are sometimes found to use a late timing swing cycle without knowing about the pro’s and the con’s of this swing sequence.
Simply stated, timing is best described as the relationship between the footwork and arm swing.
Fast feet do not match well with late timing. Fast tempo footwork matches best with an early timing sequence.
If you have late timing, it is best to address this concept of late timing referencing a four step approach.
Using a four step approach as the model where a right handed bowler steps first with the right foot (opposite for left handed bowlers), then the beginning of the swing (known as the “pushaway”) for a late timing bowler begins after the 1st step begins.
Bowlers with late timing will typically begin walking before moving the bowling ball.
This type of timing motion gets the ball into the swing as the 2nd step is completed. Late timing requires steady and a slower pace of steps than does early timing.
If you have fast steps and late timing, you must rush your downswing and forward swing in order to get the bowling ball delivered before you lose balance at the foul line.
Try to slow your steps by visualizing ankle weights attached to your feet causing you to slow your pace of steps with a slight bit of hesitation between steps.
Slow steps with late timing help organize your swing in relation to your feet, but invites slow ball speed problems.

Late timing can be spotted when the bowler completes the 3rd step and the bowling ball is still moving up to the top of the backswing.
The key to success for the late timing sequence is to have the bowling ball moving into position to start the backswing as you complete the 1st step and not wait until the 2nd step starts.
Let’s face it, most coaches today teach the early timing sequence with a quick pace of steps, but some players just do not bowl with fast steps nor early timing. Making the changeover may not be in their best interest.
If you are one of these bowlers, focus instead on slowing the pace of your steps so you can bowl with balance and swing control.