Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Selecting Inventory
• Part 2 of 3: Choosing a Starting Position
• Part 3 of 3: Improving Accuracy
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Do you want to do the so-called graters at ease (three strikes in a row) and constantly knock out all the pins like a pro? Most people are quite capable of achieving this level of skill. All that is required is to find the right posture for the throw, master the correct take-off, swing and throw techniques, and practice. Even if you are in good shape and learn repetitive movements quickly, you will still need hard training. However, be careful - bowling is addictive.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Selecting Inventory

1. 1 Decide if you will play a standard club ball or buy your own. Most people start out using the club ball and club shoes as they are the cheapest option. As a rule, bowling clubs have a large selection of balls, for the use of which you do not need to pay extra. Shoes are provided for the entire game session for a small fee.
   • The second option is to purchase your own ball, perfect for your hand and playing style. The selection of the ball and the drilling of holes in it are carried out on site, in the bowling center, if the appropriate specialist is present there at the moment. He will advise you on the right ball weight and hole configuration based on your skill, finances, playing style and future plans.
   • You can also buy a bowling ball online or at a sporting goods store, but this can make it difficult for you to make the right choice, and then you still have to pay a technician to drill holes in the ball. It is not recommended to pick up a ball and drill holes in a warehouse or sporting goods store, unless they specialize in this and have professionals available to help you. When buying a ball from a specialist store, you will be assisted in selecting a ball and drilled holes in it.
2. 2 Determine which grip is right for you. When buying a ball, you have two main options:
   • Standard grip, in which the middle and ring fingers enter the holes of the ball along the second phalanx. When playing with the club ball, this is the only possible tackle. In this case, the holes in the ball are drilled taking into account the distance between these fingers and the radius of the ball itself. However, don't worry - the specialist will take all the necessary measurements and, if necessary, adjust the depth of the holes after you play a few games. As a rule, you do not need to pay extra for the final adjustment, but it is better to check with the seller.
   • Gripping with your fingertips, in which the middle and ring fingers are inserted into the holes of the ball only along the first phalanx. Such a grip provides more leverage when throwing, allowing you to spin the ball more, that is, give it a greater rotational motion. Typically, rubberized inserts are placed in the holes for gripping with your fingertips to help you grip the ball better. And in this case, the specialist will do everything necessary and, if necessary, correct the holes after several games.
3. 3 Pick up the ball and drill holes in it. When buying a ball, a professional will measure your palm. Show the specialist a few of the throws you usually use so that they can factor in your playing style when calculating. If you have not played bowling before, they will explain the grip technique to you, after which you will demonstrate your throw. At your request, the specialist will briefly tell you about the basics of bowling and help you develop the correct stance. In the meantime, after reading this article, you will learn how to throw the ball, which will help you in the future to make one strike after another.
   • The specialist will certainly offer you to purchase a bag for inventory and other useful accessories. You can purchase them immediately, or visit other stores and try on prices. There is a wide variety of bowling equipment, and you can choose both a bag for yourself and balls for the kids. At this stage, a simple one-ball sling bag will suffice.
4. 4 Pick up your shoes. When playing bowling, you must use special shoes. It is a fairly soft shoe with a rubber heel that allows you to smoothly but quickly stop at the throw line. The leather outsole is designed to glide softly on the plank floor before throwing. In bowling alleys, you can rent shoes by paying before the start of the game.
   • If you buy a bowling club pass, shoe rental is often included in the price. Ask about this when ordering a subscription. If your club does not include shoe rental in the total cost, you will end up saving money by getting your own bowling shoes right away. They can be purchased at a specialty store, your regular sporting goods store, or online.
   • Keep in mind that bowling shoes must not enter puddles and the soles should not get wet. They are made in such a way that you can slide smoothly until the moment you throw. If you step into water, for example, sliding will become difficult, which is quite dangerous and can lead to injuries.
5. 5 Choose a club ball. The balls have different weights, which are often indicated on the ball itself. Sometimes the color of the ball is indicative of its weight. In this case, a table of correspondence between weight and color is shown in a conspicuous place in the bowling club. If you have not found it, ask the employee of the club.
   • Determine a suitable starting weight. Choose a ball that seems fairly light to you. Take the ball with both hands, pressing it to your chest, and then extend your arms in front of you. If you are able to hold the ball in your outstretched arms for a couple of seconds without much effort, then this is the one for you. If your arms drop immediately after you straighten them, the ball is too heavy; in this case, try choosing a lighter one.If you can hold the ball for a longer time, it is too light and you should look for a heavier ball that you can better control. If the ball is lighter than necessary, you will not be able to avoid jerky movements and jerks when throwing, which will lead to great inconsistency in the results.
   • Choose a ball with suitable holes. Take the ball, supporting it from below with your non-main hand. Insert the thumb of your main hand into the widest hole, and the middle and ring fingers into the other two.
     • Look for a ball with holes that only protrude the second knuckles of the middle and ring fingers when gripping. If the holes are too far apart, you will not be able to sink the two phalanges of both fingers into them. On the other hand, if the distance between the holes is too small, your palm will not rest on the ball, and you will only be holding the ball with your fingers. This grip is unreliable and results in a weak and unsuccessful throw.
     • Take the time to find at least one ball with holes that fit your palm. If you find it difficult to pick up a ball of a certain weight with correctly placed holes, this may indicate that you have chosen the wrong weight, and the ball is either too heavy or too light for you. Generally, the heavier the ball, the greater the distance between the holes, so try a different ball weight. If you have difficulty choosing a ball, ask the club staff to help you. Employees will help you find a balance between ball weight and hole spacing.
   • Choose a ball with holes of suitable size. Once you've found a few balls with the right weight and hole spacing, choose the one with the most comfortable finger holes. Typically, the hole diameter is markedly greater than the thickness of the fingers. If you find that your fingers are difficult to squeeze through the holes, you have chosen a ball that is too light and perhaps even a baby ball with small holes. Your fingers should fit quite tightly into the holes, but at the same time and freely come out of them.

Part 2 of 3: Choosing a Starting Position

1. 1 Select the starting distance to the reference line. Stand with your heels on the reference line with your back to the pins. Take four and a half normal steps and mark where the toes of your sneakers are. It is usually located between the five circular marks and the start of the take-off run.
   • If, after taking four and a half steps, you find yourself outside the bowling alley, you will have to start the throw with your heels slightly protruding from the raised take-off zone and shorten the first steps, adjusting to the distance remaining to the reference line as you get closer to it. This will avoid overshadowing the reference line across the bowling alley and connecting the boundary grooves at their beginning.
   • If you step over the reference line or touch any part of your body to the track behind this line, your result will not count and the pins will be reset. In this case, you will lose one throw (maximum two per frame, but in a game of ten frames, you can also lose three throws).
2. 2 Place the toe of your unsupported foot in the center point. Before you start throwing in each frame, you should choose the best starting position. The unsupported leg will be the opposite of the hand in which you are holding the ball. If the ball is in the right hand, the unsupported foot will be the left. In this case, put your left foot forward so that its toe touches the center point.
   • As the game progresses, you can adjust the starting position in one direction or another, but at the start it is better to start from the center.
3. 3 Aim for the second arrow from the chute on the side of your ball hand. About 4.5 meters from the reference line, arrows are marked on the track to help aim.
   • As a rule, the center of the track is the most oily part of it. Therefore, by throwing the ball a little to the side, you will increase its grip on the track.
4. 4 Take a few practice throws to see where the ball is rolling. Throw the ball without straining, placing your shoulders parallel to the reference line and trying to bend the throwing arm at the elbow as little as possible. At the moment of the throw, the arm must form a straight line with the direction of the throw. Extend your straight arm as if you are about to shake someone's hand. Pay close attention to where the ball lands.
   • A "pocket" refers to the area on one side or the other of the first pin. To regularly knock out strikes, you need to get into this place. Did you end up in your pocket? If so, you have found the correct starting position for the throw. Thus, you should continue to place your unsupported foot in front of the center point.
5. 5 Move to the side of the miss. If the ball went to the right of the target, on the next throw, move one point to the right of the center, and if it went to the left, to a point to the left. At first glance, this may seem counterintuitive, but if the ball is deflected to the side, it means that it is spinning too early or too late. Moving towards the miss will bring the ball closer to the center.
   • A few test throws will allow you to determine the optimal starting position. By shooting from this point, you will be able to finally adjust your movements in such a way as to knock out a strike every time.

Part 3 of 3: Improving Accuracy

1. 1 Train the twist. Professional bowling players, when throwing a ball, twist it a little. Since the pocket you are aiming at is slightly to the side, the best way to get into it is to roll the ball from the edge of the lane towards it. That is why you should mark the arrow on the side of the center.
   • The best way to get the ball spinning is to map out and get into the correct position immediately after the throw. After you release the ball, your hand should move upward as if you are about to "shake the hand" of the pin you are aiming at.
2. 2 Choose a suitable ball. Using a ball that is too heavy or too light can greatly affect the accuracy of your throw. Experiment with balls that are slightly heavier than what you think is normal and balls that are slightly lighter than what you normally use. Did your throws become more accurate?
3. 3 Find the right speed. At first it may seem like it is best to throw the ball as hard as possible, but this is not necessarily the most accurate method of throwing. If thrown too hard, some of the pins can resist, while the ball will knock them down after a softer, more accurate throw. As a general rule, you should throw the ball as hard as you can to throw it accurately.
   • Some modern bowling lanes measure the speed of a ball. If knocked pins fly out of the lane, try to gradually reduce the power of the throw. If the ball is not rolling too fast, if you hit it accurately in the pocket, the fallen pins remain on the track, rolling and knocking down the still standing pins, which increases your chances of a strike.
4. 4 Adjust the grip on the ball. If you hold the ball too tightly, especially with your thumb, it can twist in the wrong direction. Insert your fingers into the ball first. If you choose a ball with the right holes, your fingers will enter the second phalanx. When approaching the lane, hold the ball with your other hand before throwing.
   • You will want to let go of the ball with your thumb a split second earlier than your other fingers. Make sure your toenails are trimmed or they can cling to the holes in the balls, reducing the accuracy and repeatability of your throws.

Tips

• Choose a ball that is convenient for you. Do not start with the heaviest ball number 16 (7.3 kg) if you find it difficult to use. Instead, start with an average weight, such as ball number 12 (5.4 kg).
• If you usually have 5 pins behind the center pin, then you should throw the ball harder into the pocket or direct it a little closer to the center pin.Note that lighter balls deflect more easily to the side when hitting pins.
• If you often have pins on your sides, the ball is hitting the first pin too hard.
• Make sure to use the heaviest ball you are comfortable with.

Warnings

• Do not cross the reference line. The track is oiled and very slippery - stepping over the line, you risk stretching out on the track.

What do you need

• Bowling ball
• Bowling shoes
• A bag of powder or ointment for better ball retention (optional)
• Towel
• Baby powder
• Wrist strap (optional)