How To Become A Better Bowler
If you are a beginner bowler or a newcomer to our game and wish to learn
how to become a better bowler, then it helps to practice fundamental components of a good bowling approach and to also learn to align yourself with an appropriate down lane target. Since professional bowlers fight to maintain a high standard of performance and thereby practice their craft with great frequency and with detail and purpose, then you should expect to increase your time on the lanes to learn
how to become a better bowler.
It helps to develop a simple outline of the key components of the physical approach to the foul line and then divide your practice sessions into 10 minute increments and focus solely on about six key elements of your game during those intervals so your practice time of one hour covers the fundamentals needed to sharpen your bowling skills.
bowlingball.com recommends you consult a certified coach or instructor to help you identify and develop your outline for success pertaining to the key fundamentals of bowling.
1. For 10 minutes, work on balance and maintaining an athletic posture during your approach from the set-up position to the completion of the approach. Avoid any head movement during the approach and particularly during the release of the bowling ball. Keep your head steady at all times and reduce the amount of upper body movement while you walk to the line and during the release of the bowling ball. Visualize the high-wire acrobat at the circus walking the wire with a very steady head and in a straight line as to maintain good balance and to successfully traverse the wire. Remember, less moving parts, less chance for error!
2. For the next 10 minutes, focus on a consistent pace or tempo of footsteps. Try and avoid accelerating your steps excessively as to allow sufficient time for your arm-swing to match in tempo. Count cadence silently allowing about one second on each step until you release the ball. The final two steps of your approach are the most critical and should not be hurried. Try and strive for a consistent pace of steps each and every delivery so your arm-swing can rely on the same amount of elapsed time each delivery.
3. During the next 10 minutes, begin your arm-swing toward your target slightly before beginning the first step of a four-step approach and do not rush the process. Allow the downswing to begin in a shaped motion as opposed to a push out-pull back motion. Shaping the beginning of the swing as to allow a freely flowing swinging of your bowling ball to the top of the back swing in one uninterrupted motion, then allow the ball to swing freely and without arm control downward until the ball reaches the "release zone" is a desired method. Try to maintain a consistent tempo on the backswing and forward swing on each delivery so your bowling hand has a consistent amount of time to complete a good release of the bowling ball and regulate ball speed.
4. For the next 10 minutes, practice "letting your hand follow the ball to your target!" If your hand follows through in the same direction of your target on the lane with your bowling elbow maintaining alignment directly behind your bowling hand, then the ball will likely follow in the same direction toward your sighted target down the lane, provided you have selected an appropriate target. Keep your the cleft area of your chin pointed to the same target and your eyes focused with "laser-like precision" on your target down the lane.
5. For the final 10 minutes of a one hour practice session, hold your form at the foul line. Pose until your ball passes your target. It takes only about 2.1 seconds to 2.5 seconds for your bowling ball to travel down the lanes and impact the pins and only about 1 second or less to reach the targeting arrows so holding your form and follow through position and maintaining good balance for that split second during and after the critical release of the ball is vital to accuracy and to achieving good results.
Avoid moving your head until the ball leaves your hand and passes your target and maintain eye contact on your target until your ball passes the target so you know in an instant if you were successful hitting the target or which direction and by how much did you miss. Discipline and patience will help you become a better bowler and improve your technique. Practice as often as possible if you expect good results!
