Avoid Grabbing Your Bowling Leg

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 10/4/14; Updated: 4/9/21



Many thousands of bowlers today, including beginning bowlers, could use bowling lessons by an experienced instructor to help them improve their footwork on the lanes.

 One key to developing a pattern of making good shots is to avoid grabbing your bowling leg at the thigh area with your non-bowling hand while sliding into the foul line and delivering your bowling ball.

 When holding onto your sliding leg while releasing the ball you effectively reduce your leverage and ability to assume an athletic posture as you deliver your shot.


Learning the keys to good footwork for beginners will help develop a consistent approach and one which is synchronized with your arm swing.


Entering the foul line with good posture and with the freedom to use your non-bowling arm and hand to maintain good balance when making the shot you need to make gives you a great chance at making accurate deliveries.

 One way to avoid grabbing the non-sliding leg is to keep your bottom portion of your chin at shoulder height throughout your approach.


Another good key is to avoid excessive bending at the waist trying to force your delivery.
If you establish an athletic posture and tilt your upper body forward perhaps only 10 - 15 degrees in your stance position, all you need to focus on during your approach is to maintain that same posture during your slide and release.



 Good posture and using your non-bowling arm properly for balance will help you make accurate shots.

 It is surprising how many people grab their leg with their non-bowling hand as they release their bowling balls.


So paying attention to fundamentals with your steps and with your posture as you bowl will help any new bowler develop and become an accurate player.

 If you have any questions about your approach, don’t hesitate to take a lesson from an experienced bowling instructor and learn how to maximize your skills to make progress with your game.