I always emphasize to my students that they should "admire your shot." That is, they have to be able to hold their final step and position for at least three seconds after they deliver their ball on the lane. From this position, they will follow through completely, be able to look down at their sliding foot and see that they walked straight, and watch their ball roll over their mark. All this while maintaining their balance at the time of, and after, releasing their bowling ball. This is a key to improving their bowling game.

Other coaches and instructors have referred to this as, "posting the shot," "posting your position," and "trophy bowling." Whatever it may be called, they all point to being able to finish your bowling approach in a solid and balanced posture at the foul line. From this position, also, you will be able to have the proper and necessary leverage on your ball as you place it on the lane. Just being able to end up this way will add pins to your average.

Regardless of whether your shot is a pretty one or a pretty ugly one, by "admiring your shot," you will be able to definitively tell your teammates what kind of a ball you threw. Expanding on that, you will then be able to identify mistakes you might be making in your approach: drifting, maintaining your stance, and following through properly.

Go back over the previous three paragraphs and you should be able to tell me that all those points add up to maintaining and improving you balance, leverage, accuracy, and consistency. This week's "Choc-List," then coordinates to the "color" B-L-A-C:

1) Balance. If you can't keep your ending position for as long as it takes to admire your shot, you can't be releasing the ball as close to the same away every time as possible. When you fall of your shot at the point of release, you can't be releasing the ball to your target because your armswing may be inside or outside most of the time instead of in a free pendulum.

2) Leverage. Very simply, leverage occurs at the exact point of release and this is where you put poser into the ball. Being ahead, or behind, or your release point will affect how strongly your ball will be at the pins. If you are ahead, your ball will seem to hook quicker while being behind makes the ball appear to be sliding. Without proper leverage, your ball reaction on the lane will be lacking "something," and your ball will appear useless.

3) Accuracy. Where are your eyes looking if they're not admiring your shot? A large percentage of bowlers don't know. There have been a countless number of times when I challenge my students to tell me what mark they see their ball roll over and the only time they can honestly tell me is when they have truly admired their shot. At the times where they did not, they "thought" it rolled over their mark, yet they missed what pins they were aiming for.

4) Consistency. Once you get into the habit of admiring your shot, you start to become aware of your body's position. Not only at the foul line, but as you go through your entire approach. I believe it is akin to buying your dream car and then, suddenly, the same model and color are everywhere. Because your senses are attuned to holding your position at the foul line, you "just know" where every aspect of your approach should be. By this awareness, your consistency begins to get sharper and sharper and your average improves.

"Admire Your Shot" (AYS). Try it. Practice it. You will find your average improving as you see your Balance-Leverage-Accuracy-Consistency (BLAC) get better and better. The "AYS" have it.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)