Bowling a straight shot requires keeping your palm up throughout the entire swing, rather than turning your hand slightly inward to throw a hook shot. If you are used to bowling hook shots or are not paying attention to your form, you might have trouble keeping your palm up when you attempt a straight shot. Using the correct ball and hand position also help you keep control over your wrist and palm.
Step 1
Use the proper ball for your hand size and strength level. The ball should not feel too loose, and your hand shouldn't feel strained when reaching for the holes. Place your thumb, middle and ring fingers in the holes with your index and little fingers on either side. Dummies.com says if the ball lightly touches your palm when you hold it, it is the correct size.
Step 2
Lift the ball to check the weight. Your hand and arm should feel comfortable. Doug Weidman, writing in his book "Bowling: Steps to Success," suggests holding the ball with your arm bent to 90 degrees--your upper arm should be vertical. Take your fingers out of the finger holes and let the ball sit on your palm. Move your hand out and up until your arm is straight, ensuring that your wrist remains straight as well. Move your arm back. The entire sequence should feel comfortable and not too light or heavy. Switch bowling balls, if needed.
Step 3
Place your fingers back in the finger holes. Changing your hand and arm position while throwing the shot can affect your wrist strength, and Weidman says the position of your fingers can guard the position of your wrist and hand. He suggests holding your arm straight at your side and checking how letting it hang is affecting how straight your wrist remains. Steady the ball with your little finger, and press gently against the ball with your index finger until your wrist comes back into a straight position. Weidman says that when you bowl, you should feel like your index finger is directing the shot down the lane.
Step 4
Put the ball down and get into your bowling stance. Pretend you are bowling and very slowly go through all the motions, keeping an eye on your palm as you pretend to release the shot. Do not turn your palm inward as you move your arm forward; keep it facing up as your arm swings through and back. Watch your palm during your follow-through. Ensuring it faces up after you've released the ball means you aren't twisting it while you release the ball.
Step 5
Work on your form for a straight shot, gradually speeding up to a normal pace, until you finish with your palm up without having to give it much thought. Dummies.com says to ensure your wrist is "strong throughout your entire shot."
Step 6
Practice bowling shots with the ball this time. Continue to watch your palm, ensuring it stays face up through the whole sequence.
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