How to Bowl

If you’ve never bowled before, or if you’ve tried before and failed miserably, and you’d like to learn how to bowl or improve your game, you’re not alone. Fortunately, learning how to bowl is not that difficult if you can follow a few simple steps and tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Bowling ball
• Bowling shoes

Get Good Bowling Gear

1. Use a good quality bowling ball that’s not too heavy or too light for you, and is also the right size for your hand.
2. Buy your own ball to use all the time, rather than renting or borrowing, so you can get used to it.
3. Buy some bowling shoes for yourself. Make sure you take good care of them, and that you buy a pair that’s slightly bigger than your shoe size--generally about half a size.

Learn the Basic Staggered Stance

4. Take your position at the foul line, with your legs slightly apart. Move your foot on the “ball side” a good five to 10 inches back from the center dot on the line. Move your other foot (the opposite side of your “ball arm”) about two or three inches back, for balance.
5. Bend your knees just a little.
6. Tilt your back slightly forward.
7. Let your ball arm hang straight down by your side.
8. Keep your thumb on top of the ball at 10:00 position if you’re right-handed. Use 2:00 if you’re a lefty.

Deliver and Release the Ball

9. Find your mark using the arrows, not the pins. Aim a little to the left or right, depending on if you’re a righty or lefty (e.g., if you’re right-handed, aim for the arrow to the right of the middle arrow).
10. Swing your arm smoothly back and then forward again to release the ball. Make sure you release it only when you bring your arm all the way to the front.
11. Keep your eye on your target arrow as you release the ball.

Practicing and Studying

12. Watch other people bowl and how they stand, step, and release the ball.
13. Look at pictures of other bowling stances and positions online, such as stances that include four or five-step deliveries. Read any instructions you find.
14. Practice the different stances when you go bowling. Find out what feels comfortable and doable for you.
15. Take a beginner’s bowling course or workshop if one is being offered at a local bowling alley or community center, or join a beginner’s bowling league.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice almost makes perfect. The best way to learn how to bowl, practice your stance, and improve your skills is to actually go bowling.
• Remember to focus. While it’s great to have a fun night out goofing off with friends at a bowling alley, if you really want to learn how to bowl and improve your game, you need focus and concentration.