This week's tip:  
Four Step Approach. The Second Step Examined
by: Bob Strickland

The second step is your BALL FALLING INTO THE SWING step. It begins with your SWINGSIDE HEEL down and ends with your SLIDING FOOT HEEL down. Your ball falls from the fully- extended pushaway destination to the lowest point in the DOWNSWING. You are holding the same body segments stable as you did in your setup and first step.

LET YOUR SWINGSIDE FOOT ROCK FORWARD FROM HEEL TO TOE. Your ball should begin to fall into the swing as your SWINGSIDE TOE is moving down toward the approach.

LET YOUR BOWLING ARM SWING FREE AT THE SHOULDER JOINT. It is possible to do three things to you ball as it is going down into your DOWNSWING. You can speed it up (accelerate) or slow it down (decelerate) by overuse of your muscles; or you can let it be pulled down only by gravity -- the PENDULUM SWING. The pendulum swing is desirable because it allows you consistent timing. Picture a weight freely swinging from a string. This is the impression one should get from observing a swinging bowling ball.

NOTE: If you cannot hold your ball during the downswing without gripping it tightly, it may not be fitted properly or it may be too heavy or both! See a skilled pro shop professional to correct the ball fit before the habit of "muscling the ball" becomes ingrained and ruins the timing and consistency of your pendulum swing.!

LET YOUR BALANCE ARM MOVE TO AN OUT, DOWN, AND BACK POSITION. Your balance arm is extremely important in establishing a stable PIVOT for your swing plane. This means that your shoulders will be square to your target line and level with the approach. Your TAKEAWAY begins from the elbows-locked, fully-extended pushaway. As your ball begins its desent into the downswing, your balance arm simply follows the ball's movement, but takes its own, final position out from your body, slightly down, and toward the back. Maintain this position until you "break" from your followthrough.
KEEP YOUR BACK UPRIGHT. Just as in your setup and first step, you should maintain an upright posture. Lead with your chest; keep your back arched to counteract the weight of your ball falling into the swing. Look at your visual target out of the bottoms of your eyes to help you keep your head and shoulders back.

KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS AND HIPS MOVING FORWARD AS A UNIT. Do not allow your shoulders to outrun your hips.

KEEP YOUR LEGS STRAIGHT. Walk slowly. Use a normal walking gait and do not yet bend your knees.
END YOUR SECOND STEP ON YOUR SLIDING HEEL. Just as your ball reaches the lowest point in your downswing, the heel of your sliding foot makes contact with the approach.

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