toukyuu no mae ni, josou, toukyuufoomu, nerai, faururain o kakuninsuru.

Before a bowling delivery, I check my approach, form, target, and foul line.

Breakdown of toukyuu no mae ni, josou, toukyuufoomu, nerai, faururain o kakuninsuru.

• を: direct object particle
• の: possessive case particle
• に: time particle
• 前まえ: before

Questions & Answers about toukyuu no mae ni, josou, toukyuufoomu, nerai, faururain o kakuninsuru.

Why is it 投球の前に and not 投球前に?

の links the noun 投球 with 前, so 投球の前に literally means before the pitch / before throwing.

• 投球の前に = before the act of pitching
• 前に = before

In many cases, Japanese can also make compound nouns without の, but Aの前に is the very standard and clear pattern for before A.

So for a learner, it is best to think of this as:

• Noun + の前に = before the noun/action/event

Examples:

• 食事の前に = before a meal
• 試合の前に = before the game
• 投球の前に = before pitching

What exactly does 前に do here?

前に sets the timing: before ...

In this sentence, it tells you that the checking happens before pitching.

Pattern:

• Noun + の前に = before a noun/event
• Dictionary form verb + 前に = before doing a verb

For example:

• 寝る前に = before sleeping
• 出かける前に = before going out
• 投球の前に = before the pitch / before throwing

So the structure of the sentence is basically:

• Before pitching, check ...