Posted: 10/8/2008 5:11:41 AM EDT
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My co-workers roped my into being an alternate for the company bowling team. It's actually a drinking team that takes breaks to bowl. Anyway, I've done this for four weeks straight and my average is lofty 97. Last week I skipped the booze (my liver needed a rest) and I bowled a 96, 114, and a 160. I'm not sure if it was sobriety that did it. Anyway, who has some bowling tips for me? I'm not a big guy so using large balls (ha ha!) doesn't work as they're either to heavy or the hole spacing is too wide. I'm using an 11# alley ball and generally roll between 11 and 13 mph. I use typical, ugly, rented bowling shoes. I don't plan on getting too serious with this, so my own ball is out. Any tips are much appreciated. |
Thats how I bowled. Slight loft with Nolan Ryan speed. 
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16 pound balls are too big for my hand. For perspective, I generally wear a men's size "small" glove. Any other tips, folks? 
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-buy your own ball... one that fits your hand -have a pro decide what weight you need -practice! -watch the PBA tour on TV for pointers (if you can stay awake) -you can try to 'hook' the ball, but it takes a LOT of practice -practice! -if all else fails, drink and forget all about it 
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| Bowling is like hunting....shot/ball placement is everything. Speed doesn't mean shit. Get a ball that feel good to you. If you like bowling, go to the pro shop and buy a cheap ball and they will fit it to your hand. Line up say on the 3rd arrow. On you approach keep you elbow straight and follow thru (release) to that 3rd arrow. Watch where the ball hits the pocket. You want it to hit the 1 pin on the right side. If you need then move left or right. |
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After you shoot the first pin, switch immediately to the next pin on the right. Try to maintain an adequate sight picture during the transition. Shoot as soon as you have a sight picture. Try to aim just below the neck where the pin starts to widen. Do not watch the pin fall - as soon as you pull the trigger go to the next pin. This will shave valuable time off your score. 
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It depends upon how serious you want to be. Very lightly serious Continue using alley balls (but try to find one that fits and weighs more than 11 lbs) Work on a consistent system to line up your shots. Start with your feet at a certain spot and throw the ball over a specific spot (most folks pick the second arrow mark that's 15 feet up the lane as the target for their strike ball). Make slight adjustments to your starting position left or right depending upon which way you're missing your target but, for now, keep your target on the lane the same. Get a system for making spares that works the same way. If you need to hit the #10 pin, know where you're supposed to put your feet to start and what arrow marking you're trying to hit (hint: if the pin you're trying to hit is on the left side of the lane, move your feet right and vice versa). Fairly serious All of the above, plus: Get your own resin bowling ball drilled for fingertip. Practice. Get some bowling books at the library. Practice. Take a couple of lessons. Practice. |
Most alley balls are made of polyester and don't develop enough friction to curve much. Also, most alley balls aren't drilled for a fingertip grip, so you can't put much spin on them anyway. If you're going use an alley ball, you're better off working on throwing it straight and accurately. If you want to throw a hook ball, you really need your own ball. If you want to average more than about 150, you should look into getting your own ball and starting to hook the ball into the pocket. |
That's how I bowl. Use the markers to help show where to start. Put your right toe on the same spot each time. When you release the ball, try to roll it over the same arrow or same spot in relation to the arrows at the beginning of the lane each time. You'll use trial and error to find that spot. Don't look down at the pins until the ball is on the way. You don't aim the ball at the pins. You aim the ball at a spot on the lane using the arrows. If you do it the same way and do it correctly, you'll hit the sweet spot of the pins. |
While the weight of the 11# alley ball is nice, it's the most comfortable one I've found. At this point, I don't think the ball is what's holding me back, it's my lousy technique. Last week, I bowled the best I've bowled this season (week 4). As I said, maybe it was the lack of booze, maybe it was discussion about the rescue plan. Who knows. Here's what I'm currently doing: -I'm a righty. I start towards the back, on the left side. -My left foot, if I continued past the foul line, would end up in the gutter. -I'm taking maybe 6-9 steps up to the foul line, and releasing the ball. -I try to keep my wrist striaght. -The ball had a tendency to angle off slightly, from the second arrow to from the left, then (hopefully) into the 1 pin, then into the 3 pin. I was able to pick up some spares by carefully, and deliberately rolling the ball as straight as possible. This required a much slower approach to the foul line. Ball speeds were a bit lower too. I find that when I try for speed/power, my accuracy goes down the toilet. P.S. This is a rural, 8-lane alley. No pro shop. But they do have Guinness on tap! |
| Most right handers try to throw the ball in the 1-3 pocket (the right side) from the right side, so I'd line up to hit the second arrow from the right for your strike ball. Take a look at these tips for hints about how many steps to take and how to time them with the ball. LINK |
I haven't bowled in years but this was what was taught to me by my BIL when i was an alternate on their mixed league. Line up on the right side of the lane, hit the 2nd mark from the right and as my hand/ball approached the release point, I pulled my hand/fingers up the right side of the ball (bringing the finger holes with my hand [;). This will give you enough rotation for a minor/medium hook to shoot between the 1 and 3 pin and bash down that line. A freshly waxed lane and a alley ball will probably negate the hook. A dryer lane will work well doing this. |
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Ok, first. You're taking too many steps. 6-7?? you need to be close enough to be taking 4 relaxed steps. Don't hold the ball any harder than you HAVE to, to keep it from falling out of your hand. Try this. Start with the ball held slightly on your right side, up at armpit level.(both hands, off hand cupping under the ball to support it, strong hand holding the ball holes) Pick a dot on the lane to plan on the ball rolling over and FOCUS ON THAT On your first step, push the ball out. Second step, let your arm swing down naturally back behind you as you continue through the third step. Fourth step, let your arm naturally swing forward and release the ball when your hand is SLIGHTLY in front of your knee. DON'T muscle the ball. You won't get a powerful roll but you'll get a repeatable one. Once the ball is hitting repeatably, you can change where you stand and move the impact point. Think precision, not power. Don't worry about a hook, a 'house ball' won't hook worth a damn. A straight roll will easily get you into the 180's if you have the accuracy. Remember, power is showy, score is what decides the winner, so ACCURACY above all. |
This is what I do, keep the elbow straight and follow through, look at the arrows not the pins. Usually get at least 120 with this. When I spin the ball its alot different, but I get better scores, still aiming at the arrows. I've gotten in the 160's with this. |
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Well, I stayed sober, took fewer steps (four), aimed for the arrows (not the pins), and bowled terribly. 100, 106, and 87.  I consistently missed the 1 pin, almost as if my ball was repulsed by it. Every time I tried correcting, I'd end up taking out the 7 pin or the 10 pin. One of the guys on the opposing team is on the men's leader board with a 269 and had (prior to last night) 7 games out of 15 this season over 225. In the last game, he started with a six-bagger, 9-spare, turkey, then another spare. Impressive. |