Fundamental Skills

Fundamental skills

Ball Height in the Stance

The height of the ball in the stance is used to match the arm swing to the tempo of your steps. You may have heard coaches use the phrases "slow down" or "speed up" your feet during the approach. USBC Coaching recommends that - except in extreme cases - the swing be adjusted to match a person's natural tempo.

If you have a fast tempo, you do not have the time for a long swing. Hold the ball low (between your thigh and waist) to shorten the time of the swing to match. If you have a slow tempo, hold the ball above waist high to lengthen the time the ball swings. Most people end up holding the ball about waist high.

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The line in your mind

In bowling, visualization and positive imagery are powerful mental game techniques. These concepts program the mind and set the tone for your next delivery. This technique is called the "line in your mind."

Imagine your ball path as a line drawn on the lane surface. In your stance, visualize a line beginning at the foul line (your release point) extending though your target on the lane and then into the pocket. Picture that line, relax and roll the ball down that path. To make this stand out in your mind, make that line your favorite color.

For more tips, check out all the tips from the tip index or see your local USBC certified coach.

USBC also recommends mybowlingcoach.com

Get more tips from USBC Coaching.

Imagine your ball path as a line drawn on the lane surface from the foul line over your lane target and into the pocket.

Getting lined up

Getting lined up and staying lined up are two different tasks. Getting lined up refers to finding the initial combination of starting position, target, release and ball selection to maximize your scoring potential. Staying lined up refers to adjustments you can make as lane conditions change during a session. See additional tips on making adjustments.

Getting lined up can be a challenging process. Each session, no matter how routine, must be approached with an open mind and a curiosity about the lane condition. Do not limit yourself by determining where you are going to stand and aim then use equipment to "fine tune." Sometimes the best option is to play a different part of the lane then you normally use.

Begin your practice by rolling your favorite ball on your favorite part of the lane. Watch the ball reaction carefully to see where it begins to curve and how much. Using this "benchmark" will help you determine what changes, if any, are needed. Also watch where other people are playing with success. Is it an inside or outside line? Especially watch people using a similar style to your own.

If the lanes are oily, plan to use a straighter line to the pocket. Trying to force the ball to curve more will lead to accuracy problems. If the lanes are hooking, you may need to use a softer release or less aggressive equipment. Sometimes moving to a different part of the lane will help you find the amount of oil that will be a better match to the ball selection and release you prefer. Generally the outside of the lane will be drier and the inside will have more oil.

The Golden Rule of bowling: Move in the direction of the miss

Making adjustments is part of bowling. Knowing this and being prepared to make changes often will give you an edge on the competition.

The bowlers Golden Rule is to move in the direction of the miss, while keeping the same target on the lane. The concept of this adjustment is based on the use of a pivot, with the pivot being the target on the lane. If the ball misses to the left of the intended pin(s), move left on the approach. If the ball misses to the right of the intended pin(s), move right on the approach.

Bowlers often will need to make this adjustment several times during a match. To do so, a bowler must be aware of his or her starting point on the approach and how the ball was released.

Find your starting position and target

It takes time to learn how your starting position on the approach and the location of your target on the lane affects how your ball will hit the pins. You may feel like you and your ball are all over the place, but once you determine the proper combination of foot placement and ball targets, your game will greatly improve.

First, determine where you should stand on the approach to begin your delivery (see Fig. 1). Place your heels on the foul line, facing away from the pins. If you have a four-step approach, take four-and-one-half brisk walking steps and turn around. This is your starting position. If you use a five-step approach, add one step to find your staring position.

Use the dots on the approach to help you position your feet in the correct place from right to left and the arrows on the lanes as targets at which to aim (see Fig. 2).

For most beginning bowlers, USBC Coaching recommends standing on board No. 20 in the middle of the approach. Right-handers should line up on that board using the inside of the left shoe and left-handers the inside edge of the right shoe.

Use the second arrow from the channel as your target. This arrow gives your ball a good angle into the pocket at the pins and provides some margin of error to the right and left of the channel.

Walk backward from the foul line four-and-one-half steps (the half-step allows for your slide) to establish your starting position on the approach. Five-step approach bowlers should add one step

Boards always are numbered starting from the side where the bowler holds the ball. The seven target arrows are located 15 to 17 feet from the foul line and are spaced every five boards. The locator dots on the approach and at the foul line are lined up with the arrows.

Keep the ball out of the channel

To keep your ball on the lanes and away from the channels, you need to know two things to make adjustments: 1) exactly where you stood on the approach and 2) your target on the lane.

USBC Coaching recommends the second arrow for most bowlers. Remember that the arrows are counted from the channel in (right-side channel if you are right-handed, left-side channel if you are left-handed). The arrow in the middle of the lane is the fourth arrow.

To avoid throwing into the channel, keep your shoulder straight during the stance, approach and delivery. Start your stance with the ball at a comfortable height in front of the ball-side shoulder and not in front of your body. A person standing directly behind your shoulder should see just a bit of the ball. Your forearm should point like an arrow to your target.

As you take your approach, keep your shoulder steady and be careful to not let it turn or move forward or backward. Imagine you are keeping your ball in a track during your swing.

Make a mental checklist for the approach

Its natural to get nervous while bowling especially during league and tournament competition. Unfortunately, being nervous can cause your muscles to tighten, making it difficult to bowl well. Your bowling will be better if both your muscles and mind are relaxed.

Try this trick to get a grip on nerves: As you settle into your stance on the approach, concentrate on a mental checklist of all the components of your approach and delivery. This will help you focus on what you need to do to get the scores rather than on the score itself.

Your checklist can include the following:

Position your feet on the proper boards for the shot.
Visualize and then get into the correct stance.
Choose and focus on a lane target.
Take a deep breath, exhale and roll the ball through your target.

Get new shoes to slide

Slide soles on bowling shoes do not come ready to slide from the factory. They must be broken in either by use or other preparation.

Using a soft wire brush, lightly brush the shoe from the toes back the direction of the slide. Brushing side to side will make the sole rough and not smooth for sliding and brushing too firmly will destroy the slide sole altogether. If you do not have a wire brush, rub the sole against the edge of a door or wall.

If you use powder, use one that is specifically designed to make the sole slide. Powder hand conditioners or rosins can have the opposite effect. Use powder sparingly and knock off any loose powder before bowling as it can cause a hazard for other bowlers who may step in it. Powder on the approach is also technically illegal as it is considered defacing the approach.

Hit the mark with a straight arm swing

The most common cause of a poor shot is a poor arm swing. The bowler should have a straight swing that stays in line with the target on the lane throughout the delivery.

In the starting stance, position the ball to the side not in front of the body. Part of the ball should be visible to someone standing behind the bowlers shoulder.

On the forward swing, the forearm should point like an arrow to the target. As the ball is pushed out, the ball should be in a groove or track that is in line with the bowlers body and target. Pushing the ball away from or pulling it in toward the body can cause the ball to swing in the opposite direction and off the target.

All the tips on this page are from Bowl.com USBC Coaching. For more tips click here to go to Bowl.com

All the tip's on this page are from Bowl.com USBC Coaching. For more tips click here to go to Bowl.com

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Bowling Etiquette

Here is a good place to start for beginners in order to avoid embarrassment. Nothing looks more foolish than a person walking out on the lane and seeing their legs fly out from under them. Sure it’s funny but it can be dangerous. There is oil on those lanes! So remember to get an employee to go past the foul line if there is a need. Another point of etiquette for beginners...You should use the appropriate lane courtesy. This means having nobody on the approach shooting on either lane to the side of yours before you go. Each bowling league and tournament is different so ask about the lane courtesy before you start.

Learn to Relax

The ability to relax is probably the single most important factor for success in bowling and other sports, and without it you will not acheive your potential. Take this bowling tip to heart, because all the great ones have mastered the ability to relax in the heat of competition. They have a relaxed energetic demeanor. Relaxation increases your level of balance and ability to concentrate, so learn this bowling tip and breathe deep.

Play Your Own Game

We can all learn from each other and everyone is quick to give advice, but hearing dozens of bowling tips from all of your friends can be confusing. Everyone is unique and their bowling style should be unique too. Early timing and late timing, inside out swings and outside in swings, every bowler has to develop in their own way, style is always a matter of comfort. Granted, some styles are more effective than others but understand this bowling tip and you can avoid the imitation trap.

Timing is Everything

Just like the last bowling tip your timing is an individual thing. It is made up of rythum and pace. Rythum meaning how the parts of your game fit together and pace being the over all speed. You may push or drop the ball away on the first or second step or somewhere in between depending on the number of steps you take but it should be exactly the same shot to shot for your rhythm to be consistent. Your pace should also be consistent for the overall delivery, some people have fast feet and some slow, neither is right or wrong if the pace is consistent. Recording a video of yourself is an excellent way to see how your timing affects your shotmaking. Master your timing and you will increase your ability to repeat.

Work every Angle

There are four aspects to any sport. They are the physical, technical, tactical, and mental. This bowling tip encourages you to explore every aspect of your game. The physical in general means increasing strength and balance through exercise and eating right. The technical means practicing and working on basics such as timing. The tactical means exploring the effects of playing different lines on the lane and also learning about technical adjustments such as ball speed change, etc. Lastly and certainly not least in importance tactics means learning about equipment adjustments and their effects, whether it be adding a piece of tape to the thumb of your ball or changing balls all together. Working on the mental side of things is more elusive, but with a good attitude and hard work everything will come together faster and you will gain faith in your abilities and be more confident.

Use Good Equipment

It sounds obvious but we sometimes forget. The best equipment for the job will give the best results. A ball that is drilled for your hand is easier to control than one that doesn’t fit. Shoes that fit comfortably and slide properly will make things easier than shoes everyone has worn. Even pros struggle with this bowling tip and can’t seem to find the right ball for the job at times. They are constantly adjusting their equipment whether it’s the shoes sole to slide properly or simply grabbing a towel to wipe oil off the ball. Follow this bowling tip and you will know why you are only as good as the tools you use.

Don’t Cram for the Exam

Sports are always a test. Whether you are alone, in a league or bowling for big money the game is always the same. Your ability to excel is linked to your memory. You must remember what a good shot feels like to be able to produce it. The more you study the more you learn and remember. A little practice every day or two is more effective than bowling a lot right before an event. Use this bowling tip to put your game on autopilot.

The Swing is the Thing

Nothing differentiates a good bowler from a poor bowler more than the quality of their swing. All of a bowler’s efforts are wasted if their swing is inconsistent or tight. Start the swing as precisely as you can on your intended line and then just let the ball go. The free swing will allow the ball to stay on line so don’t worry about helping or forcing it to your target. This bowling tip takes practice, but when you follow through and let your good timing do it’s job there is no better feeling of effortless power.

The Moment of Truth

Everything in the approach leads to the release. The release needs to be clean and smooth. It should flow easily and feel effortless. No grabbing or squeezing. Beginners often underestimate the effect of a ball that doesn’t fit properly on this crucial moment. Pros will constantly adjust the tape in the thumb hole to get the feel just right. With good timing and a relaxed swing you are on your way to mastering this bowling tip. You will see the fruit of your efforts right at the moment of truth where you’ll know if your shot was good.

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