Purdue Staff and Students Bowling League

A Simple Bowling Strategy

 

A timeless and a simple bowling strategy is to “make one good shot at a time.”

The notion of concentrating on one important thing when you bowl like what you must do in order to make a good shot is as effective today as it has been over many decades of time.

Resisting the temptation to over think about all the little elements of your approach while you are walking to the line trying to deliver the ball in a competitive situation plagues us all.

It is so easy to think about far too many things instead of placing emphasis on one or two keys to your game which you have practiced and tested many times that you can actually produce poor results instead of making effectively good deliveries. 

 

Here are a few simple focal points to while you bowl to help you reduce the clutter from your mind and emphasize the points of your game which can help the most:

1. Focus your eyes on your target throughout the approach and delivery with full commitment.

2. Maintain an athletic posture and good balance during your approach. 

3. Maintain consistent pace or tempo of footsteps.

4. Do not force your forward swing and your release action.

5. Hold your form at the foul line until your ball passes your target.

 

Use any of the above quick tips to help you focus on what it takes for you to make a good shot in competitive situations.

Avoid thinking about ten things at once and just confusing yourself into making a poor delivery.

When you are well practiced and trust your abilities in competition, you give yourself the best chances for success.

Keep it simple. Make one good shot at a time.

 

How Can I Bowl More Accurately?

 

If you are in the 150 - 175 average range and are asking how can I bowl more accurately, then work on these tips to help you become an improved shotmaker.

Here are a few tips on improving your bowling accuracy:

 

Regulate your ball speed - Try to deliver each shot at the same ball speed. If you can control the skid length, your ball will react consistently.

Release your ball along the right delivery path - Good alignment allows you to deliver your bowling ball at the correct angle down the lane to your sighting target on the lane.

Your sighting target should be along the path your ball follows to the pocket based on making a good shot.

Develop a sound alignment and adjustment system - Work with a professional bowling instructor to help you build an alignment system based on the lane oil conditions for initial alignment purposes. Your coach will also help you learn tricks in adjusting your alignment to the pocket as the lane conditions change during your competitive sessions.

Accuracy is developed not only through sound physical game fundamentals but with proper alignment to the pocket as well.

Focus on your sighting target - It will surprise you to learn that many bowlers lose focus of their spot on the lane while during their approaches to the foul line because they think too much about how they are going to deliver the bowling ball.

Commit to a specific target on the lane - Watch your ball carefully as it travels down the lane.

Your eyes send the signal to your brain where the target is positioned and your brain signals your hand the speed and the direction to release the ball.

Avoid hurrying your final two steps - Give your swing and release a fair chance at delivering your ball to your target accurately by not rushing your final two steps and forcing your shot.

Eliminate excessive muscle tension in your swing - Maintain a consistent tempo with your entire swing cycle each shot you make so you can regulate ball speed.

Follow through - Complete your swing to a full follow through position. In doing so, you will avoid a deceleration of your forward swing.

Hold your form at the foul line - Stay in balance and freeze your finish position until your ball passes your sighting target.

Good balance is vital in helping you improve your bowling accuracy. Keeping your head and shoulders very steady without excessive motion will help you maintain good balance.

These tips will lead you to good shotmaking. If you ask how can I bowl more accurately, you can answer your own question by practicing these tips and consulting with your bowling instructor.

 

 

Sue Your Bowling Ball

 

If you are losing the favorable ball reaction you have grown accustomed to enjoying, then sue your bowling ball. Go ahead, sue your bowling ball.

As ridiculous of a notion this is, your bowling ball will lose its reactivity after perhaps 20-40 games and is a common occurrence so don’t get mad at your bowling ball, get busy instead with periodic surface maintenance.

It is your responsibility to maintain the surfaces of your bowling balls if you expect a good ball reaction. 

Modern high technology bowling balls require routine surface maintenance, it is that simple.

Here is what you should expect to do regarding maintenance of your bowling ball equipment:

First, clean the ball surface thoroughly using a towel and ball cleaner.

Hand texture the ball surface using a desired grit of pad to end up with the texture you need to change the ball skid distance to best match to your local lane conditions based upon your delivery technique.

If you purchase a series of grit pads and keep them in your accessory bag along with ball cleaner and polish, you can alter the texture to the surface of your bowling ball(s) by either extending the skid distance or shortening the skid distance, depending on lane conditions.

By carrying grit pads in your bowling bag, you can refresh the ball surface to any desired texture upon completion of bowling.

Seldom is the ball surface out-of-the-box when you drill a new ball a perfect match with the lane conditions. You must expect to alter the surface routinely to maintain the ball reaction you seek.

Experimentation is the real key. Invest in grit pads with varying texture capabilities so you can smooth the ball surface (using a high grit rating pad) to add skid distance on dry lanes after breakdown occurs or use a rougher (lower) grit pad to shorten the skid distance on heavy oil conditions. 

If you cannot get to the pro shop to maintain your bowling ball surfaces as often as needed, then rely on your own abilities to alter your bowling ball reaction by acquiring the right tools to get the job done.

If your ball begins to lose its reaction, don’t sue your bowling ball, make an effort to restore reactivity by owning and using the proper surface maintenance tools.