A Simple Bowling Alignment Adjustment

Written By: bowlingball.com | Written On: Sunday, July 11, 2021

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 3/4/2013; Updated: 7/11/2021
A big step to getting a strike is hitting the pocket solidly. When you hit the pocket a lot, you leave easy spares to convert when you are not striking. This basic strategy certainly leads to increasing your bowling average.
 If you are a 160 average bowler or less, there are two things you must do to find the pocket and to adjust when lane conditions change.
 Getting aligned to the pocket initially is your first challenge. Most house conditions in bowling centers across the country create a shot on or near the 2nd arrow from both edges of the lane.
 It is a common practice to seek an initial alignment at or near the 2nd arrow on the lane as a sighting target. Correspondingly, your sliding bowling shoe usually will end up, after your slide, near the foul line, on or near the center board (20 board) on the approach. Next, adjustments in initial alignment will be needed when a ball is delivered accurately toward the 2nd arrow, but does not end up solidly impacting the pocket.
 If you miss the pocket left, move left. If you miss the pocket right, move right.
 These are rule-of-thumb adjustments for most house lane conditions.
 Move the number of boards with your feet positioning what you estimate you have missed the pocket by, and adjust your sighting target one half as many boards in the same direction.
 For example, for a right handed bowler adjustments made to the left will create a wider angle for your bowling ball delivery path down the lane to delay the hook, so your ball will no longer hit left of the 1-3 pocket.
 If you move right because your ball misses the pocket right, then you close your angle and use a straighter ball path down the lane.
 Remember to adjust your sighting target on the lane half as much as you adjust your feet positioning when lining up on the approach. There are always exceptions to any rule, but generally speaking, simple right and left adjustments with your feet and target will help you deliver your bowling ball into the pocket when lane conditions change.
 You may have to adjust several times before attaining proper alignment to the pocket, depending on how severe the heavy oil you encounter or how dry the lanes become. Do not fear making these multiple adjustments and targeting areas of the lane away from your original alignment positioning.
 Remember, your feet are not nailed to the floor. It is OK to move your feet positioning and your sighting target to help you regain good alignment to the pocket when the lane conditions change. Although there are other types of adjustments which you can learn to help you hit the pocket, such as bowling ball changes, ball speed changes, ball loft adjustments, and delivery technique changes.
By large, adjustments of your positioning on the approach and with your sighting target will be your foremost adjustments. Trust what you see and use common sense adjusting to the lane conditions to your advantage.