Master Your Pushaway Timing to Unlock More Power and Strikes
You can bowl strikes a thousand different ways—but if your timing is off, you're leaving power on the lane. The pushaway is one of the most critical moments in your approach, and small changes here can transform your backswing, your footwork, and ultimately your hit. We're going to show you exactly when to get the ball into the swing, and how to practice it right.
Why Timing Matters—and Why It's So Personal
Timing gets thrown around all the time in bowling circles, and for good reason: it's one of the most important parts of the game. But here's the thing—there's no single right way to do it. You'll see power players like Tommy Jones and Kyle getting the ball into the swing really early, while others like Chris Barnes have almost no pushaway and get into their swing by the third step. The point is, people have been successful with all different ranges of timing.
What we do know is that power is everything in the modern bowling game, and a similarity between a lot of power players is that they get the ball into the swing early. Here's why: when you get that ball into the swing early, it allows you to create a higher backswing, forces you to have faster footwork, and that naturally translates into more momentum—which means more power.
That said, timing is one of the hardest things to change once you've been bowling a certain way for a long time. Your brain gets locked into your rhythm, and switching up the whole timing of everything—where the ball is on your body, when it moves—feels weird. But it's absolutely worth the effort.
The Second Step: Where the Magic Happens
In a five-step approach, nothing moves on your first step. That's the foundation. On your second step, everything changes: that's when your ball should move simultaneously with your foot.
Think of it this way—imagine there's a string connecting your hand to your foot. That string can't break. As your foot moves forward on step two, your hand has to move forward at the same time. They move together, locked in sync.
Push Down to the Knee, Not Up
Here's a visualization that will save you from one of the most common mistakes: when you push away, feel like you're pushing that ball right in front of your right knee. Don't push up—that's going to delay your timing and work against everything you're trying to accomplish. Down and forward, in front of that knee. That's the path.
The Partner Drill: Build the Feel Before the Shot
If you've been bowling with late timing for years, jumping straight into full shots with early timing is going to feel awkward and wrong. That's where this drill comes in, and you'll need a partner to do it right.
Here's the setup: have your partner stand in front of you about where your pushaway would land. Now take just your first step—nothing moves. Then take your second step and push the ball into your partner's hands, right in front of your right knee. That's it. Just two steps, just the pushaway timing. Do this five times in a row.
What you're doing is building muscle memory and creating a feel for what early timing actually feels like before you try to execute it on a full approach. Once you've done this drill five times and you understand where that timing should be, then you can take it to a full shot on the lanes.
Put It All Together: From Drill to the Lanes
After you've done the partner drill and you've got that feel locked in, you're ready to execute it on a full shot. You now know what it feels like when your hand and foot move simultaneously on the second step. You know the motion. You know the knee. Now bring it to the pins.
Remember: getting that ball into the swing early is going to help you create a higher backswing, faster footwork, and more power overall. That's the whole point—more momentum, more strikes.
Key Takeaways
- Get the ball into the swing on your second step, not later—this is the timing pattern of most power players.
- Feel your hand and foot move simultaneously on step two, as if connected by a string that can't break.
- Push the ball down and in front of your right knee, never up—pushing up delays your timing.
- Use the partner drill to build the feel for early timing before you try it on a full shot.
- Expect the transition to feel weird at first; your brain has to relearn the timing, but it's worth it for the power gain.
The Bottom Line
Start with the partner drill to build the feel for early timing before you take it to the lanes. Getting the ball into the swing on your second step takes practice to reprogram, but it's the foundation for a higher backswing, faster footwork, and the power you need to throw more strikes in the modern game.
Watch the full video from Brad and Kyle
How To Bowl Strikes By Improving How You Push Away The Bowling Ball | Bowling Tips | Brad and Kyle
FAQ
Is there really only one correct timing?
No. There's no single right way to time your approach—people have been successful doing it all different ways. What we know is that early timing (getting the ball into the swing on your second step) is a pattern shared by many power players in the modern game, and it tends to create a higher backswing, faster footwork, and more overall momentum.
I've been bowling with late timing for years. How long will it take to switch?
Timing is one of the hardest things to change once your brain has married itself to a certain way of bowling. It can be a very difficult and long process. That's why we recommend the partner drill first—to build the feel before you try full shots. Don't expect it to feel natural right away.
What if I don't have a partner to do the drill?
The partner drill is really important if you have late timing, because it lets you feel the timing without throwing a full shot. If you can't find a partner, at minimum practice just your first two steps and your pushaway motion separately before bringing it into a full approach, so your body can start learning the new timing.
Should I push the ball up or down during the pushaway?
Push down and forward, right in front of your right knee. Pushing up delays your timing, which is the opposite of what you're trying to do. Think of it as pushing down toward the lane.
How do I know if I'm doing the timing right?
Your hand and foot should move simultaneously on your second step—like they're connected by a string that can't break. If you're doing the partner drill and your hand and foot are moving together as you reach the point where your partner catches the ball, you've got it right.