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Approach Video Check

Have a parent or coach record your approach from the side and look for timing.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

A parent or coach records 3 balls from the side, standing well off the approach.

Core: A light ball. Beat your own steadiest finish.

Ages
14 and up
Time
12 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Bowling ball, lane, phone held by a parent or coach
Level · skill
Advanced · Approach

The steps

How it works

  1. A parent or coach records 3 balls from the side, standing well off the approach.
  2. Watch where the ball is on each step.
  3. Pick one thing to change.
  4. Bowl 6 more and record again.

Coaching point

See it, then fix one thing.

Safety: Never step past the foul line; the lane is oily and slippery. Wait for the pinsetter to finish before you bowl, and never go down the lane. Film only on a parent's or coach's phone, with a parent's OK. Keep other bowlers out of the shot, only your own family or coach sees the video, and never post it.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Footwork dance: walk your approach to a rhythm your partner claps and freeze at the foul line with a balanced finish. Swap.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (no ball), Core (a light ball), More (your own ball at a relaxed pace). Beat your own steadiest finish.

Story

You are a dancer sliding to a perfect stop.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own steadiest finish. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free bowling week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.