Bowling Tips

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.