When you’ve got your best bowling shoes on and the bowling balls are ready, there’s nothing like seeing all ten pins disappear from the lane. With a little practice you can master your bowling technique and increase your strike rate. Here are 10 tips to help you bowl a strike every time.
1. Be Flexible
Since the oil patterns and amount of oil on the lanes vary, every lane you bowl on is not the same. The oil variation can cause your ball to break differently. Be prepared to adjust your approach accordingly.
2. Aim for the Pocket
There is a pocket to aim for that will result in consistent strikes when you angle the ball correctly. The pocket for a right-handed bowler is between the one-pin and three-pin. For left-handers, it’s between the one-pin and two-pin.
3. Ball Weight
To bowl a strike, you need the pins to hit each other. Heavy bowling balls result in pins flying in the air while lighter bowling balls make the pins hit each other. For a strike, pick the lighter ball.
4. Focus on the Arrows
Although the pins are your target, you don’t want to aim for them. Instead, you want to focus on having the ball roll over one of the arrows in the middle of the lane. If you are right-handed, aim for the second arrow from the right. If you are left-handed, aim for the second arrow from the left. Since most lane oil is in the middle, throwing the ball towards the outside will give it more traction.
5. Line Up Your Approach
There are three rows of dots before the foul line. You will use one of the two rows towards the back to line your approach depending on how many steps you take before releasing the ball. If you are right-handed, your left foot should be placed slightly to the right of the middle dot. If you are left-handed, your right foot should be slightly to the left of the center dot.
If you hit the pocket consistently from your position, keep approaching from that point. If you are missing left, move slightly to your left. If you are missing right, move right on the approach. Moving towards the direction that you are missing and targeting the same arrow will force the ball further down the lane at the correct angle before hitting the pins.
6. The Approach
The four-step approach is commonly used to lead up to the line. Whichever approach you prefer, ensure you are walking in a straight line and keep your eyes on your target arrow.
7. Keep Your Arm Straight
Bring your hand up to shoulder level. On the backswing make sure to keep your arm straight and close to your body.
8. The Power Step
The second-to-last step in your approach gives you more momentum. This adds to the leverage of your swing and a stronger release. If you are left-handed, your power step will be with your left foot. If you are right-handed, it will be with your right foot. Your power-step leg should bend, helping you slide onto the other foot where you’ll release the ball on the downward swing. If you release too early you can lose velocity, whereas releasing too late will cause the ball to bounce.
9. Curve It
To hit the pocket, you need to curve your throw. Generally, if you are right-handed, rotate your thumb to a 10 o’clock position while releasing the ball. It takes practice but will give your ball a slight spin as it moves towards the pins. Left-handed players should rotate their thumb to a 2 o’clock position.
10. Follow-Through
Following through after releasing the ball is also important. Failing to follow through will decrease accuracy due to reduced rotation on the ball. Once you release the ball, keep your arm going until your hand is above your head.
Maintain a slow approach and don’t rush. Once this process becomes second nature, you'll be bowling strikes each and every time!
