The Object of the game
The object of the game is for
you to knock down as many of the pins as possible with either one or two
throws.
How to choose the right equipment
All bowling
balls are measured in pounds (2.2 lbs = 1 kg), and your bowling ball
should be at least 10% of your weight. All three holes for your fingers
should be snug; not tight enough to get stuck, and not loose enough to
fall off!
Shoe sizes are the same as any other sports shoe.
The correct stance and where to stand:
Your
elbows must be next to your body. Your hips and shoulders should be
squared to the pins. Keep your back straight and your knees slightly
bent.
Start at the foul line, facing away from the pins. Take four normal
walking steps and where you land up is where you should start from. Line
up your left foot with one of the dotes on the approach - preferably the
centre dot or one to the right thereof. Heels must be firmly on the
ground. Your left foot should be forward with both feet pointing
straight down the lane.
How to hold the ball:
Cradle the ball gently in
both hands, thumb and middle two fingers go into the holes.
How to take your steps and throw the ball:
The
Push Away Push the ball out and down. Then step out with your right foot at the same time as you push away. |
The
Swing As you take your second step, the ball must swing down and back. Your left foot extends out to the side for balance. |
The
Back Swing The ball should now be at the top of your backswing (remember not to bend your elbow). The ball should not be higher than your shoulder. |
The
Sliding Step As the ball passes your sliding foot, allow the ball to roll off your hand (don't "chuck" the ball). Then make sure that your arm follows through. |
The
Follow Through Don't stop your arm - let it swing up. Hips and shoulders must be squared towards the pins. Keep your left arm extended for balance. |
A complete game is 10 frames. You get two throws per frame when
you will try and knock down all the pins. If you get a strike (see
"terminology" below), you only get one throw in that frame except for
the 10th frame when a strike earns you A spare in the 10th frame earns
you one bonus throw.
Terminology:
| X | Strike: You knock down all the pins in the first throw in a frame. This counts 10 plus the total of your next two throws. |
| / | Spare: You knock down all the pins with two throws in a frame. This counts as 10 plus the total of your next throw. |
| - | Miss: When you fail to knock down all the pins. The number of pins you have knocked down in the frame is your score. |
| 7 | Split: When the pins left after your first throw are far apart. Watch the screen for a tip on how to get the rest! |
| f | Foul: When your feet go over the black line. The machine will clear the pins you have left, and you get only one more throw in that frame. |
Keep your arm swing loose:
The key to a loose arm swing is keeping your grip relaxed in the ball.
Don't squeeze fingers or thumb, keep them relaxed, especially the thumb.
To have a relaxed thumb in the ball, your ball has to be fitted and
drilled correctly. If your thumb hole feels loose it will cause you to
squeeze the ball and then muscle your swing. Inserts in the thumb
and finger holes can help give you a more secure fit. If you have a
large webbing at the base of your thumb, adding extra bevel around the
top of the thumb hole will give you a deeper more secure fit.
Use
your body leverage:
On the last step bend your knee to get down
lower to the lane and slide your foot straight towards the foul line
making sure it does not turn. Think of it as sliding into a deep knee
bend. Counter balance your body by moving your non-sliding leg sideways
to the opposite side of your bowling arm. Make sure you keep your upper
body fairly erect as you get down low to the lane.
Stay down at
the line!:
Some consider this more important than anything else you
do. The most common error bowlers make, is pulling up at the line when
the release the ball. The ball never hits the same place twice when you
pull up and you lose power as well.
The causes of pulling up at the line can come from muscling the arm swing, but usually more often come from trying to put lift on the release or even turn on the release, instead of just keeping your grip relaxed in the ball and just letting it naturally come off your hand as you follow through. Power and accuracy don't come from lift or turn but from staying down at the line as you release the ball and follow through. Use your non-bowling leg to help keep you down and think "stay down", and you won't pull up.
Following through the swing:
The follow through is just a
continuation of the arm swing after the release. If the ball is released
right your arm will unhinge at the elbow and your hand will come up to
side of your face or head. If you quit on the ball and don't follow
through it means your release is weak. A weak release is caused by bad
arm swing and timing during the approach.
Try the drop away method:
The drop away replaces the push away. In the drop away method hold
the ball high up in the stance at shoulder height and take a small first
step but don't move the ball (no push away). Instead just let the ball
drop down into the swing on the second step. If this feels awkward to
you try sliding your foot out on the first step until you get used to
it.
Bowling is a mental game:
Analyse your delivery and
think about what you are doing when you practice. Feel your good shots
as you make them and imprint it into your mind so you can repeat them.
Use visualization to practice off the lanes in your mind making perfect
shots.
Shoe sliding problems (sticking):
If you have trouble
sliding buy a Dexter red slide sole and some velcro self sticking
fastener. Cut red slide sole and velcro self sticking fastener the same
size as rubber heel on slide shoe. Paste velcro fastener on rubber heal
and fasten red slide sole.
Develop your own bowling style:
There
is no right way or wrong way to bowl and anything can work if you are
able to repeat it often enough. Do what works best for you and feels
comfortable.
Watch professional bowlers on TV:
Watch the
professional bowlers on TV and record them with your VCR. Play back the
tape and watch in slow motion. Study how they do the basics to improve
your own game. The women pros are great to watch because they rely on
finesse over power.
