You've reached the point when your bowling game is no longer embarrassing. Gutter balls are now rare, you get the occasional strike and regularly break the 100-mark in your scores. Even so, whether you're an amateur bowler looking to impress your friends or considering league play, you can make your score consistently better with a little examination of your techniques and habits. With a little work, you can be sure you'll never again be the one stuck with the tab after a "beer frame."
Choose a Ball
Using a ball comfortable both in fit and weight will boost your score. Generally, men use bowling balls close to the 16-lb. maximum weight limit, while women use balls in the range of 10 lbs. to 14 lbs. It's all dependent on your strength, however. If you're tiring out quickly and watching your score drop as the games progress, your ball is probably too heavy. If you're hurtling the ball down the alley at high speeds or lofting it -- tossing it so that it flies several feet before landing on the lane -- the ball is probably too light. Also, examine the span of the finger holes by stick your thumb in its hole and letting your middle and ring fingers lie across the other two holes. The second joint of your fingers should be just beyond the closest edge of the two holes. If you plan to bowl regularly, buy a ball from a pro shop specially fitted to your hands.
Prepare for the Shot
Before you take your shot, get ready mentally and physically. Stay focused on the game even when it isn't your turn. Use the air dryer on the ball return or a towel to dry off your hands before every shot. Wipe down your ball to remove grease and moisture. Wipe the bottom of your shoe occasionally, too. Stick with a pre-shot routine that helps you relax, such as a couple of deep breaths.
Pick an Approach
You'll get the best feel of how to properly aim your throws if you use a consistent approach. Most bowlers approach the foul line in four steps. You begin by standing toward the pins, holding the ball about waist-high. On the first step -- with your right foot, if you're right-handed, or your left foot if you're left-handed -- push the ball outward. On the second step, begin to swing the ball downward. By the third step, the ball should be at the end of the backward swing. Then let it swing forward on your final step at the foul line. Release the ball, but let your arm continue to swing in the arc for follow-through. Some bowlers prefer the motions in three or five steps, so experiment with what works best for you.
Change Your Grip
The standard bowling grip, your thumb and two fingers in the holes, works well for beginners, but once you're comfortable with bowling, you might boost your score by trying a different grip. In the fingertip grip, use the thumb hole, but let your other two fingers lie across their holes, giving you more leverage in your throw. If that's not comfortable for you, try the semi-fingertip grip in which you insert your thumb all the way and put your other fingers only partly into their holes. This provides a bit more leverage than the standard grip, but not quite as much as the fingertip grip.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The only way you'll consistently achieve higher bowling scores is to practice regularly. Practice both alone and with friends. When practicing alone, don't keep score. Instead, concentrate on perfecting your technique. When practicing with friends, try to include those who are better bowlers than you for increased competition. Consider hiring a bowling coach who can point out and undo any bad habits you might have. Practice in a variety of bowling alleys, because each one can be different in the way the ball travels on the alleys.
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