How many times have you embarrassed yourself in the cool, dark lanes of the bowling alley, wondering how to bowl well? No matter how often your ball goes off course, there’s always someone who has done it worse than you.
Even though it seems intimidating, learning how to throw a bowling ball correctly is surprisingly quite easy. More than your strength, it’s about the technique you use to throw the ball. Here’s how you can get a full score and put everyone else to shame the next time you hold a ball:
Choosing the Right Ball
The Weight
Choosing the right weight is integral in learning how to bowl. There’s no need to feel confused with all the colors and sizes of balls you see in the rack. A bowling ball that’s ideal for you should be ten percent of your body weight.
Ten pounds for a hundred pounds person, twenty pounds for a two hundred pounds person, and so on. If you have a limb or heart condition, it’s okay to pick an even lighter ball.
The Grip
Making sure your fingers fit easily into the three holes of the ball is important for learning how to throw a bowling ball correctly. Your hand should be stretched just wide enough to pass a pencil between your palm and the ball’s surface. Otherwise, having too much strain is going to throw the ball off course.
The Material
Plastic coverstock:
- Good for beginners and low budget investors.
- Doesn’t absorb oil from the lane.
Urethane coverstock:
- Powerful hook.
- Nonabsorbent surface.
- More friction than plastic balls.
Reactive Resin coverstock:
- Great for serious players
- Resin absorbs oil from the lane, helps to keep the ball on track.
Prepping the Shot
This part consists of three components:
Your Position
When learning how to throw a bowling ball correctly, it’s vital to note each of your steps. From where do you start to approach the lane? How many steps do you take? Where exactly do you stop? It’s time to do the math with all your x, y, and z coordinates. Try to match your initial position with each throw that follows in a single game. This will help you attain precision and, consequently, will improve your strikes.
Your Speed
Another question people ask when learning how to bowl is about the speed. The ideal bowling speed for an expert player is around 16 mph. This provides enough force to keep the ball moving straight ahead and knock down the entire frame with sufficient power. However, you might want to make your adjustments, especially if you’re just a beginner at the game.
Your Timing
Match the timings of each of your throws, along with your hand, wrist, and leg coordination. Just like your angling and position, your timing also plays a part in improving your bowling skills.
Throwing the Ball
There are five simple steps to throw the perfect aim:
First: Straighten your hand and wrist.
Second: Hold your bowling arm out at a distance while you’re bowling.
Third: Keeping your arm straight, swing it towards your ankle.
Fourth: Rotate the wrist, hand, and arm away from your body as you bring the ball near your ankle.
Fifth: Release the ball from your hand without exerting any extra force on the ball.
Where to Play
Now that you know how to bowl, or at least have some tips in the right direction of how to throw a bowling ball correctly, you need a place to practice. And if you’re looking for a place to practice your new skills, look no further than Stars and Strikes! At Stars and Strikes we offer bowling, arcade games, laser tag, and more. Check out our website or give us a call at 678-965-5707.