7 Useful Bowling Tips

One of the wonderful aspects of bowling is that almost anyone can play, and it is never too late to work on your skills! In this simple game, there are many ways to tweak and improve on your gameplay, whether you’ve been playing your whole life or you are a beginner. Even if bowling is little more than a social outlet for you, it is still fun to try and better your score over time, competition or not. Bowling tips from experienced bowlers can come in handy when you want to improve your game.

While there are many places to go to learn additional bowling tips, we have provided seven good bowling tips here to make your score that much better!

1. The Ball and Grip 

The first basic step toward bettering your gameplay is to grip the ball properly.

Place your thumb in the thumb hole first, as deeply as it will go without your having to force it. It should feel comfortable. Rest your fingers naturally on the ball. As they cross the finger holes, the first joints of the middle and third fingers should extend about¼ inch past the edge of the holes. Now, without raising your thumb, place your fingers in the holes.

Your thumb should be relaxed, not gripping. The ball should have contact with the upper parts of your hand, and you should not be palming it. Keep your fingers spread out as far as you can for better control

It is important that the holes of the ball compliment your fingers. Too loose or too tight of a fit can and will affect your release, and as a result, your score. If you’re buying a ball, you can add finger grip inserts for both comfort and a snug fit.

An added bowling tip that can help some people is to is to crook your pinky finger. This acts as a cushion for the ball, relieving strain on the fingers. More important, it increases accuracy.

2. The Stance 

To have the best end result during your turn, you must have a good start.

The exact location of your stance can vary from person to person, so make sure to find your “sweet spot” and take note of exactly where that is. There should be arrows and dots on the ground that you can use as markers to replicate your stance. Or, you can line yourself up with the pins.

A good bowling tip about aim is that if you’re right handed, you are aiming for the “pocket” between the front pin and the pin directly behind and to the right. Lefties are going for the same thing on the other side. Knowing how you bowl is key to figuring out how to line up. By the end of the game, as the lanes dry up, you may need to adjust your line up a few boards over.

Your stance is important because you can mechanically bowl the same every turn with the same hand and arm motions, but if you start at different places each time, then you will get different results.

3. Develop Good Timing 

Every step in your approach should correlate with where your arm is relative to your swing, and where the ball is upon release. Take the same number of steps every time and focus on where the ball is in relation to those steps.

Consistency and repetition is important for this step. If you can get used to a routine, this will create a muscle memory. Every time you repeat it, you are reminding your body what you are about to do.

After doing this a number of times, you will surely start to get into the “swing” of things!

4. Hand and Wrist Action 

Throwing a straight ball is one of the first goals for any bowler. If you haven’t mastered at least this yet, this is a good place to start when it comes to game improvement. Keeping your wrist and arm straight through your whole motion helps with this, and will help to avoid violent hooking. A common mistake that beginners frequently make is allowing their elbows to swing side-to-side during their approach. This is good way to end up with a dreaded gutter ball!

Extra bowling tip: There are a few different types of throwers when it comes to bowling. They can be referred to as “crankers”, “tweeners”, and “strokers”. “Crankers” are hard power throwers, with a big hook. “Strokers” bowl slow and straight. “Tweeners” are somewhere in between, with a medium speed and a gradual hook. There is also a new trend in bowling, using two hands, where the ball spins like a top.

Figure out your style, and then line up accordingly!

5. The Release

Maintain a straight position with your arm and wrist and release the ball as it passes your foot. It’s a good idea to allow your throwing hand to finish at shoulder level or higher. Enough practice and you’ll be able to finish in a balanced position.

6. Spares/Leftover Pins

Usually a powerful throw is what you want because the harder the throw, the more pins will fall. When trying to clean up the lanes with a spare/leftover pins, power down your hook by adjusting your wrist position and follow through, for more accuracy. You are still going to throw hard, just differently. Adjust your positioning according to pin placement.

7. Practice Makes Perfect

As with many other things in life, you will find that bowling gets easier the more you do it. Inevitably, if you bowl enough times with the goal of improvement, you will improve! It can be easier to get consistent bowling practice if you join a league at your local bowling alley!  

Focus on using these bowling tips in addition to your regular gameplay. While your score may not improve dramatically overnight — you should begin to see improvement in time!

Achieve Your “A” Game at SpareZ  
If you live anywhere around Davie FL, SpareZ is the place for you! Click here to fill out our online form, or call 954-434-9663 to find out more information about our bowling options, joining a league, how to book events, or additional bowling tips! Enjoy yourself to the fullest and accelerate your game play at your best local bowling alley, SpareZ!

Whether you’re an expert bowler or it’s your first time knocking down pins, there are a few core elements of bowling that any player must consider. These things include the material and weight of your ball, your stance and how you actually throw the ball, and of course your bowling shoes!

Since most bowling alleys offer rental shoes, many bowlers don’t put much thought into their bowling footwear. But why are bowling shoes so important, and why do people need to wear different shoes to bowl, anyway?

Why Do We Need Bowling Shoes? 

Though most have accepted it as “the norm” in bowling alleys, many often wonder why we need to wear special shoes when we play. The answer is simple: they keep you safe and prevent scuff marks and debris on the bowling floor and “approach area.” In addition to keeping things clean, bowling shoes help stave off wear and tear and keep the alley in good condition.

Another reason for wearing bowling shoes is that they help prevent falling and injuring your ankles, feet, knees, and back. When you wear regular shoes, there’s a chance that they will stick to the floor, or get caught when you go to bowl. When your shoes get stuck while you’re propelling your ball forward, there’s a chance you will trip over your feet and drop the bowling ball or stumble across the foul line. You can injure yourself and the people nearby if you lose control of the heavy bowling ball.

If everyone wore their street shoes onto the bowling lanes, instead of bowling shoes, they would track in all types of debris. The bowling lanes would get sticky, slippery, or overrun with minor tripping hazards. Some shoes can also create small chips and dents on the floor. While you can’t wear regular shoes when you to bowl, you can bring your pair of bowling shoes and wear those. All bowling alleys have rental shoes available if you don’t have your own.

What’s the Difference Between Bowling Shoes and Regular Shoes? 

Bowling shoes are completely flat on the bottom, with no heel. They are typically made of leather and rubber and have synthetic laces.

The leather is exceptionally durable, and the rubber soles are meant to recreate the slickness of the bowling lane. Unlike most other shoes, the under-pad has a slide sole that helps you bowl with a fluid gliding motion.

Bowling shoes actually enhance your performance by providing the perfect amount of slip for your game. The amount of traction on a regular shoe or sneaker– while perfect for walking or hiking up terrain that can steep or irregular– is undesirable when going to bowl. On the flat and sleek bowling lane, you want to have a smooth gait in a smooth shoe.

These special shoes allow you to follow through with your release rather than tripping or getting caught on the floor. The high slip creates a smoother overall motion, which helps you better control the direction of your ball, and propel your ball with the exact amount of control and power that you want.  

How to Choose the Right Bowling Shoe 

Finding a Correct Fit 

Like shopping for any shoe, making sure that your bowling shoes fit well is the most critical factor in choosing the right ones. A shoe that is too tight can lead to blisters, chafing, and pain, but a bowling shoe that is too loose can also cause chafing by sliding around too much on your foot. This will also negatively impact your balance and can throw you off your game.

Bowling shoes are available in multiple widths (narrow, wide, etc.) and it is important to find just the right shaped shoe for your foot.

Consider How Often You Bowl, or Plan to Bowl 

If you only bowl once or twice a year, you may not feel the need to buy bowling shoes. After all, renting is convenient and relatively affordable. However, if you play more frequently than that, even if you’re not a regular bowler, you may still want to buy an inexpensive pair of bowling shoes. Casual, sporadic play doesn’t require the highest quality shoes, and since you’re not putting a lot of wear and tear on them, even an entry-level bowling shoe will hold up for a long time. You’ll end up saving at least as much as you would have spent on rentals during that time.

Where Do You Bowl? 

If you rarely bowl and bowl in the same bowling alley, every time, a basic bowling shoe might be just fine. However, if you visit various bowling alleys, you may want to consider a performance bowling shoe. These higher-quality shoes typically allow for adjustments so you can respond to the unique conditions of whichever bowling alley you happen to be playing at.

How Serious/Competitive are You About Bowling?    

If you regularly bowl, whether socially or competitively, you should definitely buy your own bowling shoes! Not only will you save money on renting, but you’ll also appreciate the difference your own shoes can make in your game.

Regular use means that you should opt for a higher-quality shoe, even if you aren’t in a league. You’ll want a shoe that can stand up to regular use and the wear and tear that comes with it. For social bowling, an athletic style bowling shoe will meet your needs. These look like sneakers as opposed to the classic bowling shoe style.

However, if you bowl competitively, you’ll definitely want to opt for a performance bowling shoe.

Do you need interchangeable sole and heel pads?   

Competitive bowling requires a higher quality shoe, known as a competitive or performance bowling shoe. These shoes usually feature interchangeable sole and heel pads, allowing the bowler to adjust the slide vs. traction of their approach according to whatever surface they’re bowling on.

Come to SpareZ Bowling to Test Your Game! 
Want to test out your new shoes? Looking for the perfect bowling alley to have a night out with friends or co-workers? Want to find a place where you can join a league and work on your skills? Need a location for a little one’s birthday party? The answer for all of these questions is simple: come on down to SpareZ Bowling! Call us at 954-434-9663 or go online to plan your event today!

Source: Beginner Bowling Tips

Even though bowling scoring is almost always done automatically by an electronic system, it’s still necessary to learn the fundamentals of how it’s done. You should have a general understanding of all the numbers and symbols on the screen, and you should be able to calculate what is needed to reach a certain score or beat an opponent when you’re in the middle of a game. This article will teach you all about keeping a bowling score.

The Basics of Bowling Scoring

A game of bowling consists of 10 frames, each with two opportunities to knock down the pins (except for the final frame). The best possible score you can get is 300, which is known as a perfect game.

If you topple all 10 pins on the first try; this is known as a strike, and your turn is over. If you take two throws to knock down all 10 pins, it is called a spare.

On a scoresheet, you will see 10 big boxes on a horizontal line next to your name. These represent the 10 frames. You will also see a smaller box in the right-hand corner of each large one.

The number of pins knocked down on the first throw is written in the space to the left of this small box, while the number knocked down on the second throw goes in the box. The diagram on the right is an example where a bowler knocked down 6 pins on the first throw and 3 on the second, for a total of 9 pins for the frame, which is found in the middle of the large box.

How to Score Strikes and Spares

On the scoresheet, a strike is marked with an X and a spare is denoted by a / symbol. The reason these are especially valuable for high scores is that you get to add on pins from the next frame to the 10 that you just knocked down. Let me explain how this works.

A spare counts as 10 pins plus the number of pins knocked down on your next throw. (In other words, your score isn’t actually recorded until you have moved on to the next frame.) So if you get a spare and then a 6 on the first ball of the next frame, your spare will be counted as 16.

For a strike, it’s even better, as you add the value of the next two rolls to the 10 pins. For example, if you get a strike and then bowl a 6 and a 3 on the next frame, it will count as 19. The absolute best score you can get in a frame is 30, which would require you to bowl two more strikes on your subsequent rolls. Because of this, bowling a few strikes in a row will have a huge impact on your score.

Check out the example below of the first 4 frames of a game of bowling and see if you can follow along.

The 10th and final frame is the only one where you’ll see something different, as there are three small boxes. If you bowl a strike or a spare, you get the benefit of a bonus shot. If you bowl a strike on your first shot of the 10th, you get two additional shots, and if you bowl a spare, you get one.

Other Symbols Used in Bowling Scoring

There are a couple of other symbols you’ll encounter on a bowling scoresheet.

If you leave a split, which is a setup of multiple pins with a gap in between them, it will be marked on the scoresheet with a circle surrounding the number of pins you knocked down (see right).

Any throw that does not knock down any pins will be denoted by a dash (see right).

Finally, a foul line infraction (stepping over the line when making your throw) will be marked with an F and any pins knocked down will not be counted.

Does this answer all your questions about bowling scoring? If not, be sure to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you right away.

 

Source: Beginner Bowling Tips  

When you’re just starting to bowl, it’s unlikely that you will have your own ball and you’re most likely relying on the ones provided by the alley. These are known as “house balls” and you’ll plenty of them find them sitting on racks near the lanes.

It’s very important to take some time to carefully select your ball. A bad fit can be disastrous to your scores, but a proper match can greatly improve your results on the lanes.

What to Look For in a House Ball

The two main things to look for in a house ball are weight and finger holes. In addition to these factors, you should carefully inspect the outside cover of the ball to see if there are any major dents or chunks that would affect its roll down the lane.

Proper Ball Weight

Most house balls will say their weight right on their cover, and some alleys may use a color-coded system for different weights. If there’s any doubt, don’t hesitate to ask the alley staff.

Female adult bowlers should start out with an 11 or 12 pound ball while most adult men should feel comfortable with a 14 or 15 pounder.

Understand that these are just general guidelines and your ideal weight will vary depending on your body type and strength. You should try these weights but be sure to adjust if it does not feel right.

There is also a simple test that you can try out to see if your ball is too heavy. Hold the ball in the palm of your bowling hand and extend your arm. Place your non-bowling hand below for additional support, and see if you can comfortably hold the ball for about 5 seconds. If you can’t, the ball is too heavy for you and you should move down to a lighter one.

The Right Finger Holes

First, you want the thumb hole to be snug, but big enough so that your thumb can come out easily without too much resistance or a loud pop. If the hole is too big, you will put too much stress on your thumb joint, which can lead to poor shots and even injury.

You want the finger holes to be large enough so that you can insert your fingers fully up to the second knuckle. (This is known as a conventional grip, the only one which should be used with a house ball.) Your middle and ring fingers should be stretched naturally and comfortably.

Even Better – Invest in Your Own Ball

Although their popular for beginners, house balls have some significant disadvantages. First, no matter how long you look, it’s unlikely you will find a ball with an just the right fit for your fingers. You’ll usually have to settle for a pretty good fit, and if the thumb hole fits, the finger holes might seem a little too loose, or vice versa.

Since house balls are drilled to be used by both left and right handers, the two finger holes are the same size. Your middle finger is larger than your ring finger, however, so this also contributes to a less than optimal fit.

It’s very tough to find any sort of consistency when you’re using different equipment each time, and house balls vary greatly in the size and placement of the finger holes. While you can often settle for a decent fit, it’s much better to make the investment in a ball that is drilled specifically for your hand.