There are fundamental precepts of bowling contained in common phrases often quoted in bowling circles. Deciphering a few of these terms or phrases may help you to better understand the relevant bowling ideas they contain, which may in turn help you to improve your game.
1. Bowling is rolling (not throwing) the ball. A bowling ball skids, rolls, and hooks on its way to recording a perfect strike. A correctly delivered ball on a normal lane will skid (or actually hydroplane on the lane conditioning) up to 20 feet or more. It will slow down due to friction developing from its cover contact with the lane surface. As friction increases, the ball will begin to “roll” in the pines or middle part of the lane, and then it will hook or turn toward the strike pocket in the last 20 feet of the lane.
Instead of rolling the ball, throwing or tossing the ball onto the lane (due to bad timing, late release, or sheer power) will destroy the basic and natural pattern of skid, roll, and hook. Thus, throwing the ball forces it to skid down the lane and prevents it from rolling or hooking at the appropriate locations for consistent shots.
Also, muscling the ball past your release point will result in a later release and possible hitting up on the ball, a major cause of the dreaded splits. If muscling is your problem, don’t force the shot. If you must extend your pushaway for more natural speed, let the ball come through the forward swing under its own natural momentum. Release the ball onto the lane as low and smoothly as possible, similar to an airplane making a landing.
Practicing releasing the ball with a one-step delivery at the foul line will help you to control the release and forestall forcing the forward swing. This may correct your problem, but whatever you do to prevent throwing the ball, don’t force the forward swing because this is the major root of your problem.
Controlled and consistent lofting of your ball to adjust to a drier lane condition is not “throwing” the ball. Opposite the powerful cranker’s turn-and-lift release, many bowlers gently loft the ball onto the lanes at distances of three to five feet or more as a normal and acceptable release while maintaining excellent bowling form without “throwing” the ball.
2. Strive for consistent lift and loft. This is an old expression telling a bowler how she can achieve consistency in her bowling delivery by lifting and turning the ball the same way on each release or shot.
Today, due to different lane finishes and dissimilar bowling techniques, bowlers do the reverse by turning-and-lifting the ball at release instead of lifting-and-turning the ball. Doing the same release either way provides consistency.
3. “Left-right-left-right” is the uncontrolled opening and closing of the shoulders. Opening and closing the shoulders helps the bowler square up to the target line for a more direct ball release and alignment for timing, body balance, and maximum ball leverage at the release point. The right-hander’s shoulders automatically open when pointed to the right of straight ahead (toward the 10-pin, for example) and are closed if pointed to the left (say, toward the 7-pin).
When the bowling shoulder opens too much right of the target line at release, the ball is late and will go to the outside. If the shoulder closes too much during the delivery, the ball is early and will go inside the target line.
When the bowler feels this happening, he or she will use muscles, if able, to correct the faulty timing. Unless corrected in the delivery, even the slightest uncontrolled opening or closing of the shoulders eventually will lead to bad timing of the release and inconsistent shots.
To square up your shot and improve timing of the release, keep the ball in line with the bowling shoulder and parallel your armswing with the target line.
4. Think of your next shot in the settee area and not on the approach. Standing more than a few seconds on the approach stresses the eyes and the bowling muscles and adds tension to the body and mind. Your mental game and perceived changes should be focused upon while you are sitting in the settee area awaiting your turn to bowl. That is where you determine where you will stand on the approach, your intended target line, if needed, or changes you plan to make in your delivery.
Once on the approach, what are you going to think about? There can be thousands of things: How high is my backswing? How far should I bend over? Where is the breakpoint? What is the ball speed I need? Is my little finger at 7 o’clock? Is my coffee getting cold?
As you take your stance on the approach, think and concentrate only on hitting your target. Relax, take a deep breath, exhale, and roll the ball, seeing the pins fall in your mind.
Then, just let it happen.
5. You can concentrate on your bowling and still be sociable. The only time you need to totally distract yourself from your surroundings and concentrate on your game is when you’re in the settee area getting ready to bowl.
Some bowlers distant themselves from other bowlers entirely while bowling, and others get surly when bowling badly and go off and pout. Both are missing the wonderful encircling friendship and camaraderie bowling provides.
When not on the approach, have fun and enjoy being with your bowling friends. Who knows, even your bowling may improve!
Harlin Matkins is a retired Naval architect, a certified instructor and graduate of Dick Ritger’s Bowling Academy for Instructors, and a certified youth and bowling development instructor for Bowl America.