Archive for the ‘Bowling’ Category

Every time a bowler throws their first ball in a frame, there is ONE hope in the forefront of his mind, “Please let it be a STRIKE!” 

Knocking all ten pins down with a single bowl is the best possible outcome and the goal to which all bowlers aspire in every frame. We all experience “beginners luck” at first, but then seem to lose sight of whatever we did to make it happen.

We all admire the bowler who can get multiple strikes in a game. Thankfully, there are bowling tips and techniques you can learn to replicate that magic moment…and start bowling strike over and over again!

Where do you start?

Right where you stand.  Literally. Your foot placement is absolutely fundamental to your success. Even if you do everything else correctly, if your feet are not where they need to be, the ball won’t go where it needs to either! 

Are you right or left handed? For left-handers, aim your right second toe at the 1-pin. For right-handers, aim your left second toe at the 1-pin. It may feel odd at first, but make no mistake…it works!  Watch the foot placement of pro bowlers and you’ll see they do it too. 

Keeping your proper foot aimed at the head pin allows your shoulders to relax and square up with the foul line, making the ball more likely to go where you want it.

Step up to the swing

You now know where to begin. Let’s talk about where we’re going…to your first intentional strike.  Cradle your ball and retract your arm.  You’re just four steps away from bowling your first strike ball!  If you are right handed, step with your right foot, then with your left foot.  As you step with the left foot your ball arcs downward. Take your third step with your right foot as the force of the ball lifts your arm upwards. Release the ball and use your left leg as a counterweight to maintain your balance.

Releasing the ball

It’s important to let go of the ball at the appropriate time. If you release too soon, your ball will probably begin to roll early and it won’t have sufficiency energy to knock the pins down. If you release on the upswing, you’re likely to divot the lane at worst, and roll into the gutter at best. The best time to release the ball is just as centrifugal force begins to guide the ball upward.  You’ll feel it in your hand as gravity begins to pull at the weight of the ball. Be sure your wrist is straight and relaxed and that you’re aiming for the strike zone (the little “x” on the lane in between the arrows).

Follow it through

As you release the ball, remember to NOT look at it. Your eyes should remain fixed on your target and your arm should continue its upward arc until after the ball has been released.  It happens all too often when a beginner bowler pulls his arm back quickly and watches the ball, only to have it roll off course. Don’t let that happen to you! Where your eyes are looking is where your shoulders and feet are usually pointing.  And we know that to bowl a strike, they all need to be facing forward!

By following these easy to learn techniques, you’ll know how to bowl strikes more consistenly.  You will amaze your friends and make the competition disappointed. You can stand proud knowing that you have mastered the techniques required to bowl a strike again and again!

Bowling is one of the best ways to improve fitness and coordination while having fun with your family and friends. It’s much more than merely throwing a heavy ball down a long bowling lane…it’s one of the most complicated and competitive sports around. By learning how to play bowling the proper way, you’ll gain confidence, have more fun, and beat the competition!

Without further ado, here are some proper techniques to boost your bowling performance:

1. Have perfect Posture
In bowling, posture counts! Keep your head up and look straight at your target. Your shoulders should stay square to the foul line, especially through the swing.

2. Grip the ball properly
If you use a house ball, make sure the thumbhole is loose fitting.  The thumb frequently swells a little during bowling and if you’re forcing your fingers into the holes before you bowl, they’re likely to get stuck!  If you have your own ball, have your finger holes custom drilled by your pro shop.  If your thumb routinely swells, it may help by wrapping it in bowler’s tape.  If your hands sweat, be sure to carry a towel to wipe them on and then dust your hands with a little rosin.  If you have a difficult time gripping the ball, your pro shop can insert grips into the finger holes.

3. Remember where you are
If you’re right handed, a good place to start is 2 arrows right of the center. If you’re left handed, start 2 arrows to the left of the center. Adjust your position right or left after you have bowled a couple of balls, depending on where your ball ended up.

4. Focus on your target
Make up your mind where you’re going to aim.  If it’s your first ball, aim to bowl so that it will hit the right of the front (#1) pin first for right-handers, or to the left of it for left-handers.

5. Breathe
Take 3 slow, deep breaths to relax yourself. It’s common to feel anxious before bowling… but the more relax you are, the more control you will gain over your ball.

6. Smooth moves
The speed and power of your ball are determined by the way you carry yourself to bowl. Position yourself so you will take four consistently paced steps to throw the ball.

7. Slow down!
One of the most common traits new bowlers have in common is rushing. It’s important to have some speed to deliver the ball properly, but too much speed is the #1 reason for both gutter balls and 7-10 splits in beginner bowlers!

8. Maintaining your balance
Be certain to remain upright and focused on your target when approaching the foul line. Keep your shoulders square as you use your leg as a counterweight to keep your balance during the release.

9. Releasing the ball
Keeping your arm slightly bent at the elbow, retract your arm behind your body, cradling the ball in your hand.  Keep a smooth straight arc from back to front.  Be careful of arcing around your body and back…that’s a common habit in many novice bowlers! At the low point of your swing, release the ball.  A relaxed arm and wrist make for an effective shot!

10. Follow through
Keep your target in sight and your arm continuing its arc forward even after the ball has been released. Just “letting the ball go” and pulling your arm back will roll the ball off-course.

The most important thing to remember when learning to bowl is to have FUN! By learning how to bowl properly you will make the game much more enjoyable for yourself and for those who bowl with you.

While the average person would ask, “Just how difficult can it be to roll a bowlig ball down a straight alley and knock down ten pins?” a novice bowler knows it can be more difficult than you’d think! If a bowler fails to knock down all of the pins on the first try, he has a “spare” to pick up. If the leftover pins are far apart, he has a dreaded “split.” Thankfully, the creators of the sport decided to be merciful… bowlers get not one, but two tries to knock down all ten pins.

The Benefits of Picking Up Your Spares…

There is a beneficial reason to pick up your spares. When your spare or split is cleared, a bonus score gets added to the next frame, thus greatly increasing your score. Imagine what your average would be if you routinely cleaned up your act! Learning how to pick up spares or splits will always vary in difficulty, but with practice, patience and perseverance, you too will be clearing frames like the pros!

The Techniques to Knock ‘em ALL Down

If your spare is a cluster of pins or a single pin, you have an easy job. Simply aim your ball straight at the offending pins. Keep your arm swing smooth past your body and your wrist straight and vertical, like you’re going to shake someone’s hand.

However, if your remaining pin is near to the gutter, on the same side as your bowling hand, for example, on your left if you are left-handed, there is a simple way to hit the 7 or 10 pin, as the case may be. Move to the opposite side of the lane as your bowling hand and bowl across the lane at your pin. More experienced bowlers can use a hook ball to hit at a single-pin target when it’s on the opposite side of their bowling hand.

When two adjacent pins are left standing, your target is the forward pin. Simply clip it on the side opposite of the pin next to it, and your ball will knock them both down. Be careful of your technique if you try to knock the rear pin over…if you hit the pin too hard it will fly right past the other pin and leave it standing.

Hitting the Splits

The secret to picking up your splits depends on which pins are split.

The 2-7 or 3-10 Split: When you’re clearing the 2-7 or 3-10 split, hit the front pin on the side next to the other pin. Under normal conditions, the ball will go back and knock down the rear pin as well.

The 4-5 or 5-6 Split: In these splits, the distance between the two pins and the bowler are about the same and in order to knock the pins both down, you must aim directly between them, hitting each pin at the same time by going straight through the middle.

The 7-10 and Other Far Splits: These splits are too far apart to hit them both with the ball simultaneously. A different strategy, as well as a bit of luck is required. Hit one pin hard enough on the inside to cause it to ricochet off the side wall, back across the alley and into the remaining pin.

Knowing the secrets of bowling spares will result in much higher scores and an improved average. You can use the proper techniques to reach your spare bowling goals and impress your fellow bowlers. You will definitely look like the Pro by bowling clear frames!