| To begin bowling you must first pace off the | | | | would embrace their second step. |
| number of steps from the foul line that you | | | | |
| deem sufficient and take your stance. Rock | | | | Considering the others, however, the ball is |
| back and forth a few times to make sure | | | | pushed in slow motion away from your body on |
| you're comfortable. You should be holding the | | | | the first step, down and slightly to the |
| ball at a point where its weight is least | | | | right. This should definitely not be a jerky |
| noticeable. Now you are ready for the | | | | movement. If you make it jerkily, you will |
| delivery and pushaway. | | | | find that the weight of the ball will throw |
| | | | you off balance as your arm reaches its full |
| For all practical purposes, there are three | | | | length at the start of your pendulum |
| main ways of making your delivery or approach | | | | backswing. |
| to the foul line. Actually, we consider | | | | |
| delivery and approach as the same thing. | | | | You can easily understand that if there is |
| | | | coordination in your pushaway o the ball goes |
| The three main categories are bowlers who use | | | | into the pendulum swing smoothly, you'll |
| three steps, those who use four and those who | | | | hardly feel its weight and won't be tossed |
| use five. There are also bowlers who take one | | | | off balance. |
| or two steps, some who might even take six or | | | | |
| seven. However, in most cases steps over five | | | | While you've been taking that first step, |
| usually are a shuffle or very short steps. | | | | your left hand (everything works just the |
| | | | opposite for southpaws) has been helping to |
| In the taking of three steps, bowlers usually | | | | guide the ball. When in your stance, the |
| make them long ones with an unusually long | | | | weight of the ball was absorbed by the left |
| slide. | | | | hand, taking all weight off your right hand |
| | | | and fingers. But now that you're on the way |
| On the other hand, the five-step bowlers take | | | | to the foul line, the weight is shifted from |
| very short steps. They're more of a picture | | | | the left hand to the right. Once your |
| bowler in their approach with almost complete | | | | pushaway has been completed your left hand |
| accent on smoothness. Not that your five-step | | | | leaves the ball entirely. In other words, |
| bowlers aren't capable of high scores; some | | | | there is a gradual shift from one hand to the |
| of our top performers take either five or | | | | other. |
| four and one half steps. But even the | | | | |
| five-step professionals are the first to | | | | Actually, the left hand becomes mere |
| admit that for all practical purposes, the | | | | hindrance to backswing once the back-swing |
| four-step delivery carries the most | | | | has started. But the left hand and arm serve |
| advantages, especially to a beginner. | | | | to provide proper balance as you continue |
| | | | your delivery. There is no set pattern as to |
| Linking each of the deliveries with the | | | | where you hold your left arm. |
| pushaway, it should be pointed out that your | | | | |
| pushaway - the point of no return - comes | | | | Remember, your pushaway and first steps are |
| with the very first step. | | | | "the best of friends" and they happen at the |
| | | | same time. The pushaway should not go out any |
| Some five-or-more steppers who shuffle on | | | | further than your first step either. |
| their first step, however, don't start their | | | | |
| pushaway until their second step and do | | | | Master this aspect of your game and you will |
| nothing on the shuffle except "take off." | | | | be well on your way to good bowling |
| What is said of the pushaway, consequently, | | | | technique. |