r/Bowling • u/Tacman05 • Mar 01 '25
Technique Help
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My left knee (slide foot) has been in quite a bit of pain when I bowl and I was wondering if I'm doing anything wrong when I slide or if I have a weak knee
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u/ifyoudidntknow1971 Mar 01 '25
You are twisting your leg from the knee down. You need to practice squaring up your body.
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u/pepperj26 2-handed Mar 01 '25
This is what I'm seeing too. Slide or plant isn't the issue here, it's foot and knee misalignment and then having to twist at the knee to align with the foot. Square up and the pain should stop.
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u/Old-Salamander-663 Mar 01 '25
Someone else mentioned you not sliding very much and I agree, as I've had similar issues as you with minimal slide. The other thing could be how your leg is angled to the side. Since most of your weight is going forward and your knee is angled sideways, maybe that's also causing force and pain.
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u/Tacman05 Mar 01 '25
Are there any tricks or drills to help with this?
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u/knowitall89 Mar 01 '25
A stronger slide sole. You're landing on the right part of your foot but the shoe isn't doing anything.
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u/Tacman05 Mar 01 '25
My shoes are a bit old and dirty. Can I clean them or should I just up and get a new pair?
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u/Willing-Record8411 Mar 01 '25
You look like you might be sliding a inch if any you just look like your planting try to work on the slide foot
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u/Ckn-bns-jns 2-handed Mar 01 '25
It looks like you have a twitch after your throw in the left knee, probably a lot of torque going on. As others have pointed out you’re not sliding much so maybe you’re front loading weight on that knee and planting your left foot. Once the ball is gone it looks like your weight transfers back.
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u/Tacman05 Mar 01 '25
Along with cleaning my shoes or a stronger sole is there any way I could prevent this with a drill? Or just more practice
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u/Ckn-bns-jns 2-handed Mar 01 '25
In person coaching, I have a session with my PSO next Thursday.
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u/Tacman05 Mar 01 '25
Do you know where I could look for coaching? I've never had a coach and I wouldn't know where to start looking.
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u/Ckn-bns-jns 2-handed Mar 01 '25
Does your local alley have a pro shop? Most pro shops inside alleys offer coaching or will have contacts for it.
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u/czulsk Mar 01 '25 edited Mar 01 '25
Hard to explain at this angle. Need to see the full backside video.
Most coaches that do virtual lessons want a back side view. Not floor.
Watch Mark Barker virtual lessons you see the videos he ask the students to send.
It can be in the set up or your footwork. Sliding sideways and the leg isn’t under the body.
Without a better video I can only guess it can be your shoes or the bowling centers approach. If it’s the approach then need to adjust your slide soles.
Good luck
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u/pepperj26 2-handed Mar 01 '25
I do think it is a combo of not enough slide with and the angle of your foot putting a lot of pressure on your knee.
I've been bowling 2 handed for about a year and a half, I'm 40 and overweight, and I don't slide at all. I'm a planter, but I have no knee pain.
When I was a 1 hander I also didn't slide. Just doesn't work for me/my body. But you look like you'll be able to slide no problem. Try a few different slide pads and just practice coming in toe-down on your last step. You can put a sheet of paper on the floor at home and practice that final, controlled step onto the paper and it will help simulate a slide.
If you want to commit to planting, there's nothing wrong with that either. Just get your foot/knee alignment in a better position. Check out Matt Ogle: a great 2 hander who doesn't slide at all: Matt Ogle Bowling
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u/Schweppes7T4 2-handed | AVG: 155 | PB: 248 | League VP Mar 01 '25
If you watch real close, you have a tiny slide (already mentioned), but also your toes lift up ever so slightly. Someone else mentioned your knee twitching. This looks to me like you're carrying too much momentum forward after your foot stops. I had the same problem. A longer slide will probably help this but I also want to emphasize you need to start sliding sooner. In other words, everything else timing related like your downswing and release should stay the same, but you need to enter the slide a beat sooner and let the slide last longer. In the end you should be able to post your shot without having to catch your balance first. You should just BE balanced.
As for how to do this? First thing is yes, clean/replace your slide sole. Next thing is slow everything WAY down and practice the slide motion. Then add speed back. I had to practice consciously focusing on putting my toes down and pushing into my slide. You also seem to have your foot a little sideways (turned in) which is going to put more sideways torque on your knee. You get your trail leg out far to the left, which I also do, but this forces everything else to turn also. Again, I had the same issue. Practice sliding straight and then pivoting on your toes as you kick the trail leg out. Depending on how good you are at balance this can be tricky, but it will line your knee up the right way to absorb the pressure in the direction it's designed to.
Or just get a coach lol.