Bowlers take time and practice.You will be on the way to your best game if you master these steps and make them habits.Many people don't know that bowling alleys need to help you hit any pin you want, and once you learn to spin the ball properly strikes will start pouring on the score sheet.Getting a good score is about smarts, technique, and picking up spare parts.
Step 1: Make sure you have a ball that feels good in your hands.
Bowlers are made at different rates.You want a ball that can be raised and lowered, but not so light that you can throw it around easily.If you want a better fit and better results, you should get a ball of your own.The average weight for adult men is 14lb and 13lb for women or smaller men.Children start at 12 lbs.Make sure you don't stick your fingers in the holes.You shouldn't use your fingers or thumb to hold the ball in your hand.There is a variety of "Flare Potential" and "RG Radius" ratings for balls.The ball is likely to curve back to the middle after a throw.The ball hooks more when the ratings are higher.Think about your throw and buy accordingly.
Step 2: Bowlers should get good bowling shoes.
It's always best to own your bowling shoes since they need to be taken care of.Good shoes have a regular sole and fit you well.If you want your feet to be comfortable while you bowl, get a half size bigger than your regular shoe size.
Step 3: Start bowling with an upright stance.
Where you hold the ball is the most important thing.Put your fingers in the holes and balance the ball on your palm, using the opposite hand to support the weight.The seam of your shirt should be aligned with the right side of the ball.Your knees are slightly bent, your shoulders are relaxed, and your left foot is on the big dot in the center of the lane.The ball looks like a natural extension of your arm if you keep your wrist strong.You don't want your wrist to move towards the floor.
Step 4: The lane has a mark on it.
The lane has seven arrows on it.It usually leads to a split if you aim for the middle.Aim for the arrow to the right of the center if you're right-handed.Aim for the arrow to the left if you are left handed.The best starting place for strikes is this mark.If it's easier, move your feet to the right or left before you start approaching the lane so that you're in line with the correct marker.The lanes are designed for almost all balls to hook.You want your ball to hit between the first and second pins.This is called a pocket.
Step 5: Time your approach so that your foot is in front of the lane.
The 4-step approach landing with the foot opposite your throwing arm is the classic move.Step forward with your right foot and walk forward so that your left foot lands in the lane.Your right foot will swing out of the way behind your left foot, allowing you to throw the ball.If you want to arrive at the line left foot down, you have to practice a few times without the ball.The approach to the lane has 2 lines of dots that are good starting points.Practice landing your left foot with 4 even steps before throwing.You can start at the foul line and walk four steps backwards to find the best spot for you.You are left-handed.The lane has a foot planted at it.If you are left handed, you will plant with your right foot.
Step 6: On the first step of your approach, push your arm forward.
Push the ball out in front of you so that your arm is extended as you take the first step of the approach.As you hold the ball in front of you, use your left hand to support it.There are some steps for a right-handed thrower.Don't put the ball in the middle of your body.
Step 7: Drop your arm and the ball will go back towards you.
The ball will drop if you take the first step with your left leg.Keep your grip on the ball.As the ball comes down, your elbow will be slightly bent, but gravity is doing most of the work.
Step 8: The ball should go behind you and up towards shoulder height.
As you plant your right foot, the ball will move behind your body and reach its apex as you step again.You will swing it back here.Don't let your wrist rotation around as you do this.The higher your arm goes back, the more powerful the throw will be.
Step 9: Plant your left foot by the line as you swing the ball down.
As you pass your leg, come down with the ball.If you want to get out of the way for your shot, your right leg should swing behind the left.You don't have to swing way out, like a pro bowler, just out of the way enough to not hit it with the ball.
Step 10: Release the ball by flicking your wrist and fingers.
If the ball leaves your fingers, snap them up as if you were closing your hands.In a children's game, someone is trying to take a quarter from you before you close your hand.As the ball passes your planted leg, you should release.When it's time to release, look at your mark.Don't look at the pins, the arrows are your target, and the ball will do the rest.You should aim for the first or second arrow to the right of the center arrow.
Step 11: Follow along.
If you want to protect your arm, keep it up on its arcs towards your head.Think of drinking from a soda can with your fingers up to head height.
Step 12: You should know where you want the ball to hit.
Strikes occur when the ball hits the pocket, the space between the front center pin and the next pin behind it.The ball should strike between the front pin and the second pin on the right for right handed bowlers.This scatters the front set of pins.The pins could be knocked over by more power.It's important to hit strikes with the ball.As you follow through, make sure to snap your fingers and wrist.Left-handed people want to hit between the front pin and the left pin in the second row.
Step 13: You should know how lane conditions affect your throw.
The secret to bowling is that every lane is different.The wood is oiled up so that the ball glides straight over it.The ball tends to hook more when it's in a less oiled area.The lane patterns will change throughout the game.If you want to bowl your best game, you need to read the lane and adjust your shots accordingly, not throwing the same shot 23 times.The most common pattern is wet in the front and middle, and dry on the outsides and back, like a big triangle of oil pointing into the center of the lane.A throw back to the middle is where a throw in the center will not curve until the last second.This is the reason you aim out to the side, instead of down the center, which will cause the ball to move out.As the day goes on, oil gets picked up by the balls, making the lane dry and causing shots to hook more.You have to change your shots in tournaments to get strikes.To find your strike mark, ask to see an oil pattern or warm-up with different angles and starting positions.
Step 14: Warming up, look for your strike mark.
If you want to learn strikes, starting in the center and throwing for the arrow just to the right of center is a good place to start.Don't throw the pins at the arrow.If you are still missing the pocket, you should move your starting position.Move the boards to the left if your ball is going too far left.This will give you more time to curve your throw back to the left.If your ball is moving too far to the right, it's time to move your feet.This will allow the ball to curve back to the center.If the ball is hooking a ton, move your mark to the right or left.The less the ball will hook, the closer to center your mark is.You should move your starting position first.
Step 15: As the lane dries up, move your starting stance closer to the center.
With a big group, you may notice that your normal shots are hooking more to the center and you're missing the pocket.If you notice that your shots are curving more to the center, you can move 1-2 boards left and throw at your normal mark.Focus on having the center of the ball hit this mark, not on the pins.If you're still missing pins after hitting your mark, move your feet to accommodate.The balls pick up oil throughout the game and cause it to dry out, which leads to an extra hook.There is a dry lane.
Step 16: Understand how you can plan your shots.
Knowing how bowling is scored helps you make better decisions.There are ten pins and each one is worth a point.The spare and strikes are worth more than 10 pins.Strikes are worth 10 points if you hit on the next two throws.If you hit on the next throw, the spares are worth 10 points.If you get a strike or spare, a single frame can be worth more than 10 points.Say you throw a strike in the first frame.In the second frame, you hit 2 pins on the first throw and 3 in the next throw for a total of 5 pins.Your first frame is worth 15 points for the strike, 2 for first throw and 3 for second throw.You score 5 points from the second frame.Your total score after two frames is 20 points.If you throw three strikes in a row, your first frame is worth 30 points, 10 for the strike, and 10 in the second frame and third frame.You can't score until you take another throw.Only spares are added to your next shot.If I throw a spare in one frame, then a gutter ball in the next, my spare is only worth 10 points, no matter what I do after that.A spare is worth 20 points.If you throw a strike or spare in the 10th frame, you get a free shot at the end, making the frame the only one with three potential rolls.You should always get the spare in the 10th frame.
Step 17: It's easier to pickup spare parts when they're fast.
There is less time for the ball to turn off line when the speed is higher.Many people who throw the same shot every time will beat you if you practice a straight, consistent spare shot.Everyone can hit.Not everyone gets it.
Step 18: Lower, or "weaken," your wrist on your shot to get less spin and a straighter throw.
The ball will hook less if it is less spin.If you want to weaken your wrist, start your shot with a curved wrist.Don't let your wrist and fingers get in the way of your follow through.Changing wrist positions is one of the most important skills for intermediate or advanced bowler.
Step 19: You can change your starting position based on your spare.
You can often throw right at your mark if you change your starting position.The boards on the lane are made to give you a measurement system for aiming.If you need to hit a pin left of the center, you should move the boards to the right and vice verse.You throw the same mark you aim at.The system is easy to learn and can be reversed for the opposite direction of throws.If you want to hit the first pin, move your start position to the right.If you want to hit the second pin, move 6 boards to the right.
Step 20: Try to hit the far right and left pins in the middle of the lane.
The most slippery lanes are in the middle.More oil means less hook, or a straighter, more accurate shot, as oil is applied to lanes in complex patterns that determine how much a ball hooks.Since a right-handed pitcher doesn't want the ball to curve to the middle, you should throw across center.This ensures a straighter flight, curving just a bit at the end to avoid the gutter and hitting all the pins.There is a solo pin on the far right side of the lane.The ball will want to spin to the center if the outside of the line is low on oil.Start your walk from the far left of the lane, throwing the ball across the middle to the right pins.
Step 21: During a split aim for the most pins.
Unless you are skilled enough to hit the outside edge of a lone pin, shooting it like a missile at the pack of three pins in the back corner, you should not take it.If you threw a strike the previous frame, any pins you hit now get counted twice, once for the strike and once in this frame.If you didn't get a strike in the previous frame, you might be more likely to take a risk now, trying to boost your score for later.