Bowling is often seen as a sport that doesn't require a lot of athleticism, but professional and amateur bowlers must practice tirelessly to perfect their sport just like any other athlete. The game calls for precise timing and movements to have the consistency necessary for a 200 or better game, and bowlers put in countless hours of practice to make those moves second nature. Practice also helps a bowler read the pins better so he can throw the correct ball in a difficult situation, such as a split.
Ball Release
Perfecting your timing for ball release is one of the most important parts of getting the ball to move consistently down the lane. Keep the ball close to your body when you begin your approach by allowing it to swing backward naturally as you step rather than trying to pull it back with your arm. It may be useful to sing a line of a song or a poem in your head as you step so you have an indicator of when to release the ball. Optimally, the ball should come off your fingers at the moment that your last step is planted in front of the foul line.
Pick Up Your Spares
You throw the ball and it does not go quite the way you had planned. It happens to every bowler, but the difference between a good bowler and a great bowler is that the great bowler knows how to close his frames. When you are at practice, focusing on picking up spares should be one of your biggest concerns. Unlike throwing at a full frame, you may want to throw a heavy ball straight at many spares to create the most pin action. If you have a difficult split, such as the seven-10, aim for the side of one pin and hit it as hard as you can. It is useful to practice the same spare on back-to-back frames until you get the motion down.
Use a Wrist Aid
Perfecting a solid hook will help you pick up more strikes and greatly increase your average. When you practice, it is useful to use a wrist brace to keep your wrist stiff and help you get the feel of the hooking motion. Weak wrists result in an inconsistent release of the ball. Ask your local pro shop if you can try out a few different wrist braces until you find one that is comfortable for you. Keep the weight of the ball on your index finger with the brace on so you get used to holding the ball in the correct position for maximum finger rotation.
Keep Your Mind Calm
Practice is one of the most useful times to work on your mental focus because you are not under pressure to get a high score. When you are in your stance, work on relaxing all of the muscles in your body. Your approach needs to be one fluid motion, so relaxation is important. It is also advised that you bowl each frame on its own merit and avoid thinking about your overall score. Many bowlers lose their focus if they have a bad frame or several good frames consecutively. Training yourself to mentally separate each frame is a skill that can be carried over to your actual games to relieve pressure in tense situations.
Member Comments