How to Improve Your Bowling Scores
Bowling is slowly becoming a lost sport. However, it still continues to be discovered by a few individuals each year. They, along with long-term bowlers, all want to know how to improve their bowling scores. The good news is that it is possible to do just that. The bad news is that there is no quick and easy answer. As in any other sport, certain elements need to be in place in order for improvement to occur.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Purchase a bowling ball and have it fitted to your hand. Temporary balls found at bowling alleys rarely fit properly. That equates to lower scores because the grip is off, preventing you from throwing the ball effectively. When the ball doesn’t fit, you may be forced to resort to one of a much lighter weight, which certainly won’t help to improve your score. Balls that fit the hand properly allow for even weight distribution, so they can weigh slightly more.
-
2
Consider getting your own bowling shoes. Most shoes rented by bowling alleys are in even sizes and only go up to a certain size. Few humans find the shoes a perfect fit. It is hard to bowl properly when it hurts to move. Additionally, rented shoes are often in poor shape, which can affect your bowling approach and/or stance, thereby equating to lower scores.
-
-
3
Dress comfortably. Tight-fitting clothes prevent you from moving properly, thereby affecting both your approach and stance.
-
4
Use support equipment if needed. Bowlers with weak wrists and/or hands can sustain damage if they don't have support. Plus, the lack of proper support will affect how you throw the ball, thereby impacting on the final score. There are several products available to help a bowler deal with these issues.
-
5
Clean the bowling ball regularly. How regularly may depend upon the condition of the lanes. If the ball appears to slide when you first throw it, that's an indication that the lanes are too oily. Preventing that oil from building up on the ball will lead to better scores. Lanes can also be too dry, making it hard to move the ball as desired. Adding a bit of oil to the ball can help to combat the dryness. Some lanes are also just plain dirty, leading to debris buildup on the ball. It must be cleaned off in order for the ball to function properly.
-
6
Make certain your bowling shoes won't slip. Scuff the bottoms slightly, if needed, to make certain you have the right traction on the alley.
-
7
Find the proper approach for you. There is a standard bowling approach, but it simply doesn’t work for everyone. Some people need to take more steps; some need less. Find an approach that is comfortable. It will allow you to throw the ball exactly the way you want to.
-
8
Maintain good balance. Improper (or nonexistent) balance will cause you to throw the ball inaccurately. Your balance during the approach and ball delivery is just as important as your bowling stance.
-
9
Find your mark and focus on it. The alley provides marks (arrows) to help a bowler guide the ball into the right position to achieve the desired roll. It will take some time to discover which marks your ball needs to be placed over or between in order to get the right results. Once you do, as long as you continue to throw the ball the same way, your scores should continue to escalate.
-
10
Concentrate on making spares as well as strikes. Sure, everyone wants to make strikes, but that isn’t going to happen every time you throw the ball. Instead of giving up when a strike doesn’t occur, concentrate on picking up those leftover pins. Pro bowlers agree that spares, as well as strikes, make for a well-rounded and good bowler.
-
11
Take advantage of the tricks of the trade. Grip is everything when it comes to bowling. If your grip is off because the holes on the ball are too loose for some reason, fix the problem with bowler’s tape. Have your ball's thumb hole plugged with rubber to allow a firmer grip and higher lift. Use two bowling balls: one for strikes and one geared to help you pick up spares. There are dozens of tricks that pro bowlers use, and for good reason. You can use them, too.
-
12
Practice regularly. You can’t just bowl once a month (or two or thee times a year) and expect to improve. Like any sport, bowling takes practice. Each time you bowl, you will learn more about what you are doing right and wrong. You can incorporate that wisdom into your next game until you reach the level you desire. But if you wait too long between games, you will forget the information you have gathered and return to old, unsuccessful patterns.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Watch good bowlers. Take a look at their stance, their balance and their delivery. Analyze how it is different from (or the same) as yours.
Experiment with different approaches and stances and with different ways of throwing the ball until you find what works best for you.
Keep your stance parallel to the alley. Twisting the body will result in an improper ball delivery.
Keep your ball in a bowling bag when not in use. This will help to preserve its condition and keep all of your equipment together in one place.
Don’t bowl with a ball that is too heavy for you. You could sustain physical damage, as well as bowling poorly.
Don't bowl with someone else's ball unless it fits you.
Don't wear anything but bowling shoes onto the alley.
