Are you a beginner looking to improve your bowling game? If you want to hold a bowling ball, all you need to master is how to hold the bowling ball properly, technique and advanced swing. You also need time and patience! In the near future, your friends will be surprised by your great skills in bowling.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Mastering the Technique
Step 1. Draw a line on your bowling lane
Paths may vary depending on where you are bowling. However, let's focus on typical bowling alley conditions: most of the oil is on the center side, and the other 8-10 boards on the outside are relatively dry. This board can be your friend as well as your enemy. Depending on the amount of oil and how your bowling ball reacts in different lane conditions, you may need to put your foot slightly to the left of the lane. Once you get used to how to hold a bowling ball, you can adjust your position as needed.
Starting with your feet at the midpoint as walking is a good way to test how much the path is connected. It is important to keep your feet in close quarters to maintain a straight line
Step 2. Stand with your heels a few inches from the line of offense
Take a few steps back from the path to determine your starting position. If you need four steps forward, then four steps back, etc. You then want to aim your ball at one of the arrows on the path. The easiest way to direct the ball is to use the arrows or dots that come before the arrows on the path.
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For this guide, you should start aiming around the second arrow on the right, allow the ball to pass through this arrow, move just a few boards from the gutter, then hook in a dry spot of course (about 11 to 12 meters) leading to pockets 1-3.
For left-handers, this means the second arrow from the left, and the ball will hit the 1-2 pocket
Step 3. Swing hands
A 4-step walk is preferable, although you can take just 1 step or even 8 steps (though walking above 4 steps is just basically a timing step and your ball doesn't move). For a 4 step walk:
- Push the ball on your first step, step with your right foot first for right-handed bowlers
- Bring the ball at your ankle in step two, and bend your knees.
- The culmination of your back swing is in the third step.
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Bring the ball back forward and off at the end of your swing.
With five steps, the whole movement is basically the same, only that you start with your left foot, and the ball doesn't move on the first step
Step 4. Your arms should always be straight as you swing
Arms bent in behind you or away from your body will cause bad angles when you release the ball. It's easier to straighten your arms if you manage your thrusts.
- There are many styles of throwing the ball, such as bending your wrists (like Walter Ray Williams Jr. or Wes Malott) or opening your shoulders (like Tommy Jones or Chris Barnes) when you raise your arms for a back swing. However, sticking with the basics is a good thing if you're just starting out.
- Remember, you want your ball to hook when it reaches the dry area at the back of the lane, but before your ball gets there, it rolls in a straight line, at least varying a few boards. Everyone has a different style, and you can change this as long as you feel comfortable.
Step 5. Set the time you release the ball
As you begin to lower the ball from your back swing, make sure your palms are directly under the ball, facing forward. Now, as the ball begins to approach your ankle, you need to rotate the ball so that when you release your hand, your hand is on the "side" of the ball and "a little below it", as if you wanted to throw a rugby ball from under your hand. Then, do a follow-up swing as if you wanted to shake the bowling pin.
A good way to practice this technique is to throw a rugby ball from under your hand; the same physique is also included. You can also practice with a tennis ball. If you do it right, your ball rolls straight and takes a drastic turn
Step 6. Advanced swing
Continue swinging your arms after you release the ball is just as important as when you release the ball itself. After releasing the ball, it's important to make a follow-up swing towards the lane, not up. Your finger will lift the ball up without you having to lift the ball up.
An easy way to remember this is with an old ESPN ad: “Roll the ball, then answer the phone.” Although, hopefully you have better posture than the person in this ad. And remember, your hands need to be really flowing: don't do handshakes, pause, and do follow-up swings – this should all be done in one smooth motion. Continued swing is important to maintain consistency of ball speed and accuracy
Step 7. Make the necessary settings
When you're comfortable with the ball and can execute it consistently well, you can learn to adjust your footwork as you release the ball. In the bowling alley pattern, you need to move slightly towards your miss.
- For right-handed users, if your ball goes to the left of the front pin, then try moving your foot a few meters off the board to your left and keeping it on the line, the same as before.
- If your ball goes to the right from pin number 3, try moving your foot a few meters off the board to the right and keeping it on the same target. It's important that you're aiming for the line when you move your foot, otherwise your throw may go wide.
- As you get better at it and start playing in more challenging track conditions, the left and right movements become more complicated and sometimes you need to control your hand and your pace.
Part 2 of 2: Modifying Your Bowling Ball
Step 1. Find the right equipment
No matter what you do, if your bowling ball can't slide in the lane, then your ball won't hook. Usually, you'll need a ball made of reactive resin or another better material (eg particle fill or newer epoxy resins) for anything other than the driest trail. These are very easy to find and can be purchased for cheap, but resin is more expensive than urethane cover stock and can be an investment in your game. Check your entire bowling alley: how greasy are the boards?
- Although most bowling alleys offer balls that they provide for general use, these balls are usually made of plastic (polyester) and do not have good latching ability, although they are good enough for spare throws as they roll very straight.
- Have your own plastic ball for spare throws (spare ball). Resin balls for strike throws and some spare balls are a great combination for bowlers of any skill level. This is because the bowling ball provided at the bowling alley usually doesn't fit your hand perfectly and doesn't hit the pins well.
Step 2. Use the correct grip position
When you modify the ball yourself for your grip position, match it with your hand. You need to know how you hold the ball, your pivot point, and how you hold the ball. Grasp the ball with the middle and ring fingers of your dominant hand (the hand you're writing with), and place your thumb into the thumb hole. There are two main ways to hold the ball:
- “Conventional” grip: middle and ring finger into the ball hole up to the joint of the second finger (this is commonly seen on balls provided in public bowling alleys)
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"fingertip" grip: the same finger goes into the hole but only at the joint of the first finger (a single finger grip will give you more twist than a conventional grip and is easier to hook)
A new grip position emerging today in the bowling community is the "Vacu" grip. This grip will expand and compress the width of your fingers, which is helpful if you will be bowling a lot. You'll see many professional bowlers use fingertip grips because you can stick your thumb out first, letting you "lift" with your finger and make a spin on the ball
Step 3. Your ball must be drilled properly
This is an important part that is personal depending on how and where you bowl, so you should talk to the clerk at your bowling shop for advice. Drilling the ball is important, if not very important, so make sure your ball is drilled properly for your bowling conditions and your physical limits. Of course, it's important that the ball fits snugly in your hand, but if you buy a ball, the shop clerk will do this as part of the price of the drill.
Talk to the clerk at your bowling alley about what you want, as he or she may be able to suggest something you didn't realize you needed. Maybe fingertip grip? Higher or lower differential RP (lower differential latch on pearl "coverstock" or "matte", higher on resin)? Or he could even suggest a different ball or a completely different weight
Tips
- Bowling takes practice and setup, so don't give up if you don't get it right right away.
- The ball should be close to your ankle when released. Hooking on the ball is a matter of producing effect. The closer the ball is to your ankle when it's released, the more your fingers can get under the ball. As your hand spins around the ball, your finger “catches” the hole and provides upward force, creating a spin.
- Watch more experienced bowlers in action and learn from them. This will be able to help you with a lot. Watch the professional players in the Professional Bowling Association, or maybe some of the more experienced bowlers you see at your bowling alley. Often, they will be willing to offer friendly advice if you are interested in their abilities.
- When you swing the ball, it's important that you don't force the swing. Your swing should be like a pendulum, letting gravity dictate your swing. If you need the ball at a faster or slower pace, hold the ball higher or lower before you let go (higher for faster, lower for slower). Trust your ball; no need to force it on track.
- If your ball is too fast, it will be more difficult for the ball to catch on dry parts of the track, as this will result in less or no hook. If your ball doesn't have enough speed, it won't be able to hook quickly and it will miss.
- When a large hook produces more strength, it's important to know that, the bigger the hook, the harder it is for beginners to control. Find a place where you feel comfortable and don't affect your balance. Then you can adjust your pitch by adding hooks or trimming them, depending on lane conditions.
- In addition, there is also a so-called "Sarge Easter" grip position. This grip is rarely used but is a newer type of grip. This grip is designed to help players throw firmly, in order to control their throw by raising the tilt axis which helps delay the hook on the ball. Also, inserting your little finger and changing the position of your index and little fingers is a more advanced technique that changes the pitch of the ball slightly. However, this grip is not suitable for beginners.
- You should consider having a coach to help you, and see what type of grip works best for you.
- Try not to twist your wrist when you release the ball. This will make the ball miss, resulting in only 5 pins dropping or a tricky split. Keep your hand under the ball and lift it with your fingertips.
Warning
- These throws can easily cause injury if done incorrectly, so be careful and don't try to throw too hard. Just like in golf, the less movement you make, the better the results. Throwing a bowling ball is more of a mechanical swing than "raw" force. If you "twist" too far, you run the risk of serious wrist, elbow, or shoulder injury.
- Path conditions can determine how much potential hook you have. If you miss too far, it may be due to a condition on the track. So don't try to roll the ball too far on your first pitch, while you still need to learn to get used to the path. This is the most important thing in bowling!
- Just like any other sport, having a coach is better than just reading the instructions.
- Be careful when you first try this. If possible, use a lighter ball than the ball you first used, to get used to releasing the ball. It is even better if you are monitored by a more experienced bowler or a coach.
