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Bowling tips on how to throw a perfect shot

Every time a bowler bowls his first ball in a frame, there is ONE hope at the front of his mind: “Please make it a STRIKE!”

Knocking down all ten pins with a single pin is the best possible result and the goal to which all bowlers aspire. We all experience “beginner’s luck” at first, but then we seem to lose sight of what we did to make it happen.

We all admire the bowler who can get multiple strikes in one game. Fortunately, there are bowling tips and techniques you can learn to replicate that magical moment…and throw a strike over and over again!

Where do you start?

Right where you’re standing. Literally. The placement of your feet is absolutely critical to your success. Even if you do everything else correctly, if your feet aren’t where they need to be, the ball won’t go where it needs to go either!

Are you right or left handed? If you’re left-handed, point your right second toe toward pin 1. If you’re right-handed, point your left second toe toward pin 1. It may seem strange at first, but make no mistake…it works! Watch the foot placement of professional bowlers and you’ll see that they do too.

Keeping your right foot pointed at the head passer allows your shoulders to relax and stay in line with the foul line, making it more likely that the ball will go where you want it to go.

climb on the swing

Now you know where you stand. Let’s talk about where we’re going… to your first intentional attack. Cradle your ball and retract your arm. You are only four steps away from throwing your first strike ball! If you’re right-handed, step on your right foot, then your left foot. As you step forward with your left foot, the ball arcs downward. Take your third step with your right foot as the force of the ball lifts your arm up. Release the ball and use your left leg as a counterbalance for balance.

drop the ball

It is important to release the ball at the right time. If you release too soon, your ball will start rolling too soon and you won’t have enough energy to knock down the pins. If you get loose on the climb, you are likely to drift off the lane at worst, and at best slide into the ditch. The best time to release the ball is just when the centrifugal force begins to guide the ball upwards. You will feel it in your hand when gravity begins to pull on the weight of the ball. Make sure your wrist is straight and relaxed and you’re aiming for the strike zone (the little “x” in the lane between the arrows).

follow it through

When releasing the ball, remember NOT to look at it. Your eyes should remain fixed on your target and your arm should continue its upward arc until the ball has been released. It happens all too often when a beginner pulls their arm back quickly and looks at the ball, only to have it veer off course. Don’t let that happen to you! Where your eyes look is where your shoulders and feet tend to point. And we know that to throw a strike, everyone has to be facing forward!

By following these easy-to-learn techniques, you’ll be playing shot after shot. Your friends will be amazed and the competition disappointed. You can be proud to know that you have mastered the skills necessary to throw a strike over and over again!

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