How Do I Keep My Balance At The Foul Line?

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 1/14/2015; Updated: 7/17/2022

Are you asking yourself how do I keep my balance at the foul line?

If so, then you are likely falling off of your shot when releasing your bowling ball.

Falling off of your shot occurs during your slide into the foul line.

This means you are stepping across your body with your balance leg, the step before your slide step, in an effort to prevent loss of balance just after delivering your ball.

Usually, falling off of your shot means you are not sliding into the foul line properly.

Make sure your step before your sliding step and your sliding step move toward the center of your body so you keep your feet under you during your delivery motion.

When you slide away from your body center toward your non-bowling shoulder, the majority of your body mass is not supported and you invite a loss of balance.

Also, if you slide with your bowling shoe ending up under your non-bowling shoulder, it is difficult to keep your forward swing close to your body and a separation of perhaps 6 inches or more of your bowling ball and your sliding ankle is very likely.

This separation frequently results in a loss of leverage and power and invites an early rotation of the ball causing ineffective roll and errant deliveries.

Walk with some knee flex (knee bend) so the big muscles in your legs help support your body weight when you slide into the foul line.



Walking upright (instead of with a slight forward body lean) coupled with no knee flex usually results in a sudden bending at the waist just before delivering your bowling ball. Any sudden weight shift can cause you to fall off of the shot.

Use an inch or two of knee flex in each step, slide directly under the center of your body, and smoothly sweep your balance leg to the opposite side of your body with your shoe remaining in contact with the floor to help stabilize your body during your sliding motion.

These tips will help you maintain good balance and improve your accuracy. With good balance, you stop asking yourself how do I keep my balance at the foul line?!