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1
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Just because your fingers are
comfortable in the finger holes of the ball, it
does not mean that the weight is correct. |
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2
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Most individuals bowl with a ball
too light because they feel that they cannot
roll a heavier ball. |
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3
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If your hands sweat, be sure to
carry a towel to wipe them on and then dust
your hands with a little rosin. |
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4
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When in your stance, grip the bowling ball from
underneath, with your thumb pointing upward. Make
sure your wrist is straight and firm. |
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5
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Walk straight on your approach. Do
not curve your walking. |
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6
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Follow all the way through with
your approach. Do not release the ball and
quit. Follow it through; this will help you
with release at the correct time. |
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7
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Do not throw or drop the ball. It
is not how hard to release the ball; it should
be a constant and flowing movement that rolls
the ball. |
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8
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Most avid bowlers have at least 2
bowling balls. |
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9
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Many advanced bowlers use the
fingertip grip, which allows them to put more
of a spin on the ball for a better hook.
Because the holes are wider apart and ball is
held using just the fingertips, this grip
requires more arm and wrist strength than the
other grip, but it allows the bowler much more
finesse and control over the rotation of the
ball as it is released. |
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10
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Harder balls are more commonly
used for picking up spares. |
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11
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Have a partner watch you bowl.
Sometimes you will not even realize what you
are doing incorrectly and what you could do to
improve your performance. |
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12
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You should learn the straight ball
even if you want to continue bowling and
eventually switch over to a hook ball. The
straight ball will not only help you get
comfortable with your approach and release, but
also allow you to have better scores easier and
quicker in the beginning level. This will
in turn increase your confidence, which is a
very crucial factor in bowling as well as any
other sport. |
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13
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In your stance, keep your body generally upright
without leaning forward. |
| 14 |
Develop your own routine that will
help you remain calm and focused. This routine
can be anything from wiping down your ball to
deep breathing to repeating a calming mantra to
yourself. |
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15
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On your first ball of the frame,
it's important to look at the target arrows
rather than the pins. All ten pins are already
lined up neatly. Choose one arrow and focus on
getting your ball to roll directly over that
chosen arrow. |
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16
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Your bowling performance is
greatly enhanced by your pre-bowling warm up
routine. By warming up before you bowl,
you’ll be more relaxed, better able to focus on
the job at and less likely to injure
yourself. |
| 17 |
Practice makes perfect. Do not get
discouraged, try, try and try again. |
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18
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A hybrid between the conventional
and fingertip grips is the semi-fingertip
grip. With this grip, the finger holes are
drilled to allow the fingers to be inserted
into the holes only up to the first
knuckle. This kind of grip allows some
sense of control over the ball, while also
providing an increased ability to hook the
shot. This type of grip is recommended for
intermediate bowlers who do not yet have the
confidence or skill to go with the fingertip
grip. |
| 19 |
If you see a bowler who seems to
be successful, watch them play and try to see
what they are doing that you can incorporate
some of their moves into your routine. |
| 20 |
When practicing a bowling game, it
is best to practice using the most suitable
ball. A ball that does not fit the
fingers, a ball that is too light or too heavy,
can affect a bowling game. So it's recommended
that players purchase a bowling ball and
practice with it on a regular basis. |
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21
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Make use of the force of gravity.
There is no need to force your ball or release
it hard to get more speed. |
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22
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If you want more speed on your
ball, you can speed up your approach to add
some speed to the ball. Another way is to
hold the ball higher (for faster due to a
longer swing) or lower (for slower) in your
stance before starting your first
step. |
| 23 |
Take care of your bowling
equipment and they will take care of your
game. |
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24
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Naturally, you thumb should come
out first when releasing the ball. Your
fingers will carry the ball across the foul
line. Then you must lift your fingers
quickly from the bottom to the top of the
ball. The faster your fingers move up the
ball, the more revolutions you will get. |
| 25 |
The starting point is not the same
for everyone. Much of it has to do with your
height and stride, which can play a major role
in your release of the ball. You can adjust
your position right or left after you have
bowled a couple of balls, depending on where
your ball ended up and what shot you want to
make (e.g. the hook ball). |
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26
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When in your stance, hold the ball to the right
side of your body (left side for left-handers)
between your waist and your chest high, in order to
have a good visual on the approach and
pins. |
| 27 |
Bowl regularly, it not only keeps
you in practice, but also helps you improve
quicker. |
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28
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It is most effective to use a ball
that is made specifically for picking up
spares; professionals call it a spare ball.
Spare balls are most commonly plastic, because
plastic balls have the tendency to go
straighter than regular bowling
balls. |
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29
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In your approach, make sure that
your upper body is not leaning forward.
The goal is to keep your body’s center of
gravity low. If you are bending forward,
you will actually upset your overall
balance. |
| 30 |
Your thumb needs to be relaxed and
straight as you release the ball in order to
prevent it from snagging on the ball and
skewing its trajectory. If your thumb routinely
swells or wants to bend, try wrapping it in
bowler's tape. |
| 31 |
Clear your mind, take a few slow
deep breaths and roll your shoulders back and
down. Undue anxiety can cause you to
release the ball at the wrong time or make
other unnecessary mistakes. It’s common to feel
anxious before bowling, but the calmer you are,
the more control you will have over your
ball. |
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32
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Make sure that your wrist remains
straight and firm during release and the
follow-through. Moving your hand or palm
over the top of the ball won’t spin it. Do
not turn your wrist or arm to the left or
right, or it will likely turn out to be a curve
ball. The firmer your wrist is, the better
the hook will be. |
| 33 |
Bring a friend, if you encourage
someone else to play and get them involved, you
are more likely to bowl more frequently. |
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34
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Try not to open your hand as the
ball leaves your grasp; instead keep your
fingers gripped in the correct
position. This will keep you in good
practice and maintain a good grip without an
early release, which usually ends up a dead
ball. |
| 35 |
Always stretch and loosen up
before your game, do not start cold. |
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36
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If you’re just starting with
straight bowling, you can practice hitting the
head pin first. When you reach the stage of
hitting the head pin consistently, you can move
your feet slightly to the right (left for
left-handers). This will bring your ball a
little closer to the pocket and thus improve
your chances of getting a strike. |
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37
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If you are not sliding in the way
that you think you should be, you can scuff the
soles of your shoes with a wire
brush. This will help with the traction
and ability to slide. |
| 38 |
Feel fortunate: Bowling is great!
Always think on the positive side, you will
feel much better which in turn makes you bowl
better. |
| 39 |
The ball you buy should always be
heavier than the community ball you usually go
for at the bowling alley by at least a pound or
two. Because the bowling ball you buy will be
custom fit/drill to your fingers, it will feel
lighter than the balls at the bowling
alley. |
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40
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In your stance, your shoulders
should be square to your target. |
| 41 |
Do not be afraid to waste a ball
or two in trying to find out how far the oil
pattern reaches. Novices wrongly believe that
the oil pattern will reach all the way to the
pins, whereas in reality it may only go as far
back as 35 feet. This is the reason that
practice play is so important before you decide
to keep score! |
| 42 |
Keep your confidence up. Don't let a "wonky"
shot throw your whole game – steel yourself for
the highs and lows to make your game more
consistent.
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| 43 |
You should be relaxed and try to
loosen your muscles in your stance. The most
important factor in bowling is to make sure
that you are comfortable and confident. |
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44
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In your stance, keep your legs
straight, and your knees neither bent nor
locked (or in other words relaxed). |
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45
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When picking up spares, you should
aim for the pin that is the closet to you. If
you're right-handed, shoot the left side spares
from the right side of the lane, and the right
side spares from the left side of the lane.
(Opposite for left-handers) |
| 46 |
Make sure that you keep your eye
on your target as you approach. Don't watch the
ball movement. |
| 47 |
If you have trouble keeping your
wrist straight, you can use a wrist support,
which helps improve your grip and increase your
playing ability. |
| 48 |
Don't rush to the foul line. A
hard-and-fast delivery does not guarantee a
strike. If you hit the pins too hard down the
middle you'll probably end up with the dreaded
7-10 split. |
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49
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It's important to keep your arm
and hand relaxed during delivery. If your hand
is gripping the ball with all its might, your
arm will be stiff. Take a moment to relax your
hand before the swing. |
| 50 |
Do not fall into a rut and only
use one shot. If you only roll straight balls,
it will be very difficult to have a good
score. |
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51
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For the power bowler who puts too
much spin on the ball when using the fingertip
grip, the Sarge-Easter grip may be in order.
With this method, the middle finger hole is
drilled to the fingertip level, while the ring
finger hole is drilled to the depth of a
conventional grip. The thumb hole remains
the same as with the other types of grip. |
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52
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When in your stance, instead
of having one foot slightly ahead of the other one,
your feet should actually be even. |
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53
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When trying to pick up a spare, it
is best to straighten the wrist as much as
possible, and to the roll the ball at the pin
square and as straight as possible.
Relaxing the wrist during the release is most
effective, and is a key part of picking up
spares. |
| 54 |
If your thumb keeps falling out of
the ball before release, you can use bowler's
tape to secure grip. |
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55
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Don't stand with the middle of
your body facing the middle of the lane and
throw the ball directly towards the middle of
the head pin. This is a common mistakes
made by many beginners. |
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56
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In practice, the ideal first step
should be repeated exactly the same each time
it is performed. The best approach in
bowling is one that begins with a good first
step. A consistent first step usually
equals a consistent approach in bowling. |
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57
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The bowling ball should be rolled
not thrown. A ball that is thrown down the lane
will slide, whereas a ball that is rolled will
only roll down the lane. |
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58
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Inserts are placed in the finger
holes of the bowling ball to improve the grip
and ability to hold the ball. The inserts can
also provide comfort and a similar feel when
you are using a different ball. Inserts are not
for everyone, some bowlers complain that they
feel like their fingers sometimes hang. If this
happens you can try a different style of insert
or not use them at all. |
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59
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Keep your first step small in your
approach. |
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60
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If you are not certain about your
footwork, ask someone to videotape your
approach to the pins. The odds are good
that you will notice that while your right foot
is aiming at the head pin, your shoulders are
trying to make up for this stand by twisting –
which may account for some shoulder or back
pain! |
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61
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A common error is not releasing
the ball close to the floor. Your release
of the ball should occur just as your sliding
foot comes to a stop. |
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62
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If you are confident and have a
positive attitude, you will likely succeed.
When you miss a pin or do not make a strike, do
not tell yourself how stupid you are.
Otherwise, you will eventually believe what you
are telling yourself. |
| 63 |
It is beneficial to any bowler to perform
hand-strengthening exercises. By strengthening
your hands and wrist, you reduce the risk of
injury, and also improve the consistency of
your game.
Hooked Finger Pull
- With your
elbows pointing in different
directions, interlock your
fingers.
- Pull outward with your strength and
hold for approximately 20 seconds.
- Repeat several times.
- The more you do this, the better your
strength.
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| 64 |
Here are some exercises to improve your
grip:
- With your hands straight in front of
you, bend your elbows at a 45 degree
angle.
- Open and close both hands at a fast
pace between 40-50 times.
- You should also repeat with your palms
face up.
- You can also purchase and use a
strengthening ball to help build a good
grip.
|
| 65 |
If you have trouble keeping your
wrist straight, you can use a wrist
support. There are many types available,
from simple elastic to plastic-and-metal
contraptions that hold your entire lower arm
immobile. |
| 66 |
As you release the ball, your
forearm needs to face straight
ahead. Don’t let your arm rotate inward,
or your hand will go around the ball and make
for a very weak delivery. |
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67
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Understand that not every stance
or particular is right for everyone. There are
bowlers who prefer to bend their knees slightly
in their stance, some have their left foot
placed slightly in front, and some bend their
upper body slightly forward. Practice and
you will develop your own stance and system
that works best for you. |
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68
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Join a bowling association for
good information and contacts. |
|
69
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After years of bowling, some
bowlers complain about weakness in the wrist
and find relief in wrist supports or bowling
gloves. Others feel that their grip is improved
and that it increases their playing
ability. |
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70
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Visualize. Imagine yourself
bowling a strike, with the details of how the
ball rolls down the lane to the pins.
Visualizing your success helps create your
success. All top athletes use visualization
techniques (repeatedly on and off the lane) to
improve their game. |
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71
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Wherever your starting position,
make sure your last step ends within a foot of
the foul line but not so close that you risk
crossing it. |
| 72 |
Change your game when necessary.
As individuals get older, it may be necessary
to change their bowling game to better suit
their needs. As people age they tend to lose
strength throughout their bodies. It may become
necessary for them to bowl with a lighter ball
or a different type of ball. |
| 73 |
Many seniors have another hole
drilled into the bowling ball for their index
finger. This gives a better grip on the ball
and takes some of the pressure off, allowing
for better releases. |
|
74
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Players should practice pick up
spares. It is especially important to practice
picking up the #7 or #10 corner pin. The best
way to practice this is to stand on the side of
the approach opposite that of the corner pin
and roll the ball diagonally down the lane at
the pin. |
|
75
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One of the best ways to practice
bowling is to engage in league bowling.
League bowling will help improve bowling
skills, as well as improve a player overall
game. |
|
76
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The conditions of the lane will
determine whether you will want to speed up
your release or slow it down. If the lane is
heavily oiled, it may be beneficial to slow the
release and allow the ball to react earlier on
the lane. |
|
77
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During practice, players should
analyze their delivery, as well as fine tune
any bowling techniques. The good shots can
be felt by the practicing players, and should
be practiced as much as possible. Players
should write down their best shots, or work on
memorizing them, so that the best shots can be
repeated at a later date. |
