Approaching Changi Airport
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Saw an interesting article on walking at the approach. Let's say u are standing at 20 aiming at 10 (2nd arrow). Do you:
1) Walk straight towards headpin throwing your ball out to 10?
2) Walk left, maybe ending at 22-26 (example only) throwing ball out at 10?
3) Walk right, facing target arrow, throwing out at 10?
4) Walk back, to the cafe, get a chicken wing?
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chey..tot someone coming near my house when i saw the heading...
anyway, it doesnt matter how to approach the arrow does it? as long as the body faces the arrow at the last step or finish.
for me, i play... erm..35 boards, drift left 10 boards, aim 20 boards(centre arrow) my 1s 2 strps drift left for like 15 boards, then last 2 steps (ie the planting and sliding) i drift back 5 to get the body facing towards the target.so final position i look as if i was walking right towards my taget... -
I choose option (3).
Walking toward the target is always the best way to go. Often, it is not possible to walk toward the target throughout the approach, such as in Ian's case. In cases such as this, and indeed in most cases, the teaching is that bowlers should walk straight on, and only changing direction to angle inward/outward toward the target at the final 2 steps.
This way, the first few steps avoid the inconsistency of drift and take up a small area, while from the 2nd last step onward, the bowler's momentum is positioned to thrust toward the target, hence relieving the arm of a lot of stress and tension, which is necessary for a clean release.
Make no mistake about this.
I only sounds easy - even the pros find this a very advanced technique to master. And this is also the reason why a lot of amatuers (like us) cannot play the deep inside line properly. Most people simply stand deep in, and try to "swing" the ball outwards. This, as they have found out, is next to impossible to execute while at the same time keeping the same amount of power and push as their regular, tighter release. 
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I choose option 4!!! And i get some mee siam and pratas too... heehee... anyone want a teh tarik?! or Bandung?!
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Uncle, 1 cup of bandung
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To Jordan's question, I'm a "number 2" sort of bowler.
I always drift left about 5-7 boards to clear my ample hips out of the way, and then because now my target is further to the right, I will have a lovely tendency to wrap the ball towards the target.
Ahhh and resulting in an unintentional lengthy semi spinning hook release. -
from an article in bowling digest, coutesy of rhino:
Straight is GREAT, left is right, right is wrong. The author says that there is a tendency to "trap" the ball at the backswing if u r moving right. Ball at downswing might hit the bowler's body or leg or etc.
Hamy, think u "drift" right with your shoulders facing the target the right (ie target arrow), not walk straight to the right, hence blocking the downswing of the ball rite? Moi also thought I walk to the right, until clarified by rhino. -
but, there is no "correct" way to bowl; there is only a way the suits the indvidual.
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airgrinder
walk straight to the right, hence blocking the downswing of the ball
If you're trying to swing the ball to the right, the swingplane for your arm should be angled inward-out anyway, so the lower body does not get in the way. If you drift, it's even worse because there is more area of the lower body exposed. AND you lose power because to avoid the sliding ankle, many people swing so far out, their elbow is not next to the body, and ball is too far away from the ankle. All this loses power.
Actually, the theory is that one does walk to the right in the final 1½ step. In the final step, pushing into the slide, the sliding foot should be pointing straight (not to the pindeck, but to the right) and not pointing at the pindeck, but sliding to the right. It looks confusing as I type it... oh dear.
But I hope someone understands, if no one does, it's ok.
This technique is very tough to get right. I have not succeeded.