Bowling Today; Any Tips For Improving?

[J Daisy]

I am a straight bowler. My starting position is one dot to the right of the center, and I aim just shy of one arrow to the right of the center. I'm currently working on perfecting my aim as a straight bowler before I learn how to really hook it. I will be bowling with my Galexie 300, a vintage plastic ball.

Does anybody have any tips for me? I'm improving every time, but slowly, and I can use all the help I can get. :)

[RobLV1]

Does anybody have any tips for me? I'm improving every time, but slowly, and I can use all the help I can get. :)

As I beginning bowler on this site you have a tremendous advantage. Before you develop all kinds of bad habits, find a certified coach in your area and take two or three lessons to get you on the right path. Go to the USBC website (bowl.com) and look under the "Find a..." tab. Keep in mind that anyone on the planet who is a decent bowler may consider themselves to be a qualified coach, but in most cases, they will do you more harm than good. Look for a Coach that is USBC Certified. This means that they have actually been trained to coach. Good luck!

[J Anderson]

I am a straight bowler. My starting position is one dot to the right of the center, and I aim just shy of one arrow to the right of the center. I'm currently working on perfecting my aim as a straight bowler before I learn how to really hook it. I will be bowling with my Galexie 300, a vintage plastic ball.

Does anybody have any tips for me? I'm improving every time, but slowly, and I can use all the help I can get. :)

First let me second RobM’s suggestion of finding a qualified coach to get you started on the correct foot, both literally and figuratively. A lot of how well you aim is affected by how you walk up to the foul line, how your arm swings, the timing of your swing in relation to your footsteps, even how you set up for your approach. Youtube is great for getting ideas of how to do things, but trained set of eyes to see what you’re doing is even better.

One of the main reasons newbies don’t improve as fast as they might want to is that they think throwing a lot of games, trying to get a lot of strikes, is the same as practice. Set a goal or two for each practice session. You might for example, try to hit the pocket using different arrows as your target.

Lastly, there are things that you can work on without having to be at a bowling alley.

[boatman37]

I agree with the coach suggestion but I don't agree with working on your straight game before trying to hook. If you want to throw a hook learn it now. Might be hard with a plastic ball but I think getting good with one thing will make it harder to switch when you decide to.

[J Anderson]

I agree with the coach suggestion but I don't agree with working on your straight game before trying to hook. If you want to throw a hook learn it now. Might be hard with a plastic ball but I think getting good with one thing will make it harder to switch when you decide to.

I have never seen a young person who started with a straight ball who wasn’t able to learn to throw a hook. Most of the time kids switch from straight to hook and then can’t make a ten pin because even their plastic ball hooks.

[RobLV1]

I agree with the coach suggestion but I don't agree with working on your straight game before trying to hook. If you want to throw a hook learn it now. Might be hard with a plastic ball but I think getting good with one thing will make it harder to switch when you decide to.


Your post speaks volumes about long-time bowlers in the modern era. You don't "try" to hook a bowling ball, you let it hook.

[boatman37]

Your post speaks volumes about long-time bowlers in the modern era. You don't "try" to hook a bowling ball, you let it hook.

yeah. didn't necessarily mean 'try' to hook, i meant attempting to learn how to...lol. but yeah, it is different than todays game.

[MajorPhoenix]

Once my players understand the basics of form and have a good feel for their approach, then I recommend moving up to a straight ball.

[J Daisy]

As I beginning bowler on this site you have a tremendous advantage. Before you develop all kinds of bad habits, find a certified coach in your area and take two or three lessons to get you on the right path. Go to the USBC website (bowl.com) and look under the "Find a..." tab. Keep in mind that anyone on the planet who is a decent bowler may consider themselves to be a qualified coach, but in most cases, they will do you more harm than good. Look for a Coach that is USBC Certified. This means that they have actually been trained to coach. Good luck!

I, for several reasons, can't get a certified coach at this time. Thank you for your suggestion, though. That just wouldn't work for me. That was why I am asking you guys for tips on how I can better myself.

However, I have had help from four of the best bowlers at my bowling alley, each of whom taught me something different.

Number one taught me form and how I should stand. This, I mastered to the point that other skilled high-score-holding bowlers have told me my form was “perfect”.

Number two taught me where to stand and how to walk. This was hard at first because I kept wanting to end on the wrong foot, but now I have it mastered to the point that I don't even need to think about my footwork.

Number three taught me how to throw the ball. I had a nasty habit of releasing early. “Get it out there,” he would tell me. “Follow through with the swing.”

Number four taught me what it should feel like to keep my wrist straight. He lent me his Wrist Master. I would use it for a while, and get used to the position my wrist should be in, and then I would take it off and try to duplicate what I did. I have to work on this some more, because I still have a problem with my wrist twisting, but I am seeing improvement.

Each of these skilled bowlers tried to teach me a lot more than just those few things I listed, but they each had a unique way of teaching, and certain things helped more when taught by one person than another. Not everybody learns everything the same way, and because not everybody teaches the same way, I seem to do better when having multiple people coaching me, not just one.

[J Daisy]

First let me second RobM’s suggestion of finding a qualified coach to get you started on the correct foot, both literally and figuratively. A lot of how well you aim is affected by how you walk up to the foul line, how your arm swings, the timing of your swing in relation to your footsteps, even how you set up for your approach. Youtube is great for getting ideas of how to do things, but trained set of eyes to see what you’re doing is even better.

One of the main reasons newbies don’t improve as fast as they might want to is that they think throwing a lot of games, trying to get a lot of strikes, is the same as practice. Set a goal or two for each practice session. You might for example, try to hit the pocket using different arrows as your target.

Lastly, there are things that you can work on without having to be at a bowling alley.

I am unable to get a certified coach at this time, but I certainly agree that it is good to learn what you can from those who know what they are doing. :)

Better than watching YouTube videos, I like to go on a league night and just watch people bowl. I find the best bowlers, and study their walk, their swing, and their style. I may even ask them questions when they are done, trying to determine why they did something a certain way and if I can apply it myself.

Thank you very much for the tips!

What are some of the things you mentioned that you do not need to be at a bowling alley for?

[J Daisy]

I agree with the coach suggestion but I don't agree with working on your straight game before trying to hook. If you want to throw a hook learn it now. Might be hard with a plastic ball but I think getting good with one thing will make it harder to switch when you decide to.

Don't you need to learn to bowl both ways to be good, though? If the horrid ten pin is left, the righthanded bowlers I have seen must bowl straight to get it. Usually people start easy and work their way up, and since I have a plastic ball anyway it seemed like the natural way to go for me. You don't think so?

[J Daisy]

I have never seen a young person who started with a straight ball who wasn’t able to learn to throw a hook. Most of the time kids switch from straight to hook and then can’t make a ten pin because even their plastic ball hooks.

What is your opinion? Should I learn to hook now, or work on my aim bowling straight first?

[J Daisy]

Once my players understand the basics of form and have a good feel for their approach, then I recommend moving up to a straight ball.

I already have form and footing down pat. Those were some of the first things I learned, and I think I learned them well. I am bowling with a straight plastic ball. Do you think I should improve my straight game, or learn to hook now?

[RobLV1]

The difference between going to a trained coach and getting help from high average bowlers is that the coach will teach you the accepted standards of good bowling; the things that you need to develop your own successful style. Untrained "coaches" will try to teach you to bowl like they do. What works for one person does not work for another, and may in fact be limiting to the person learning. It's easy to say that you are unable to work with a certified coach right now, but find a way to do it. You have a long bowling life in front of you. You can start out on the right foot or the wrong foot (pun intended). It's up to you. The above discussion of a straight game vs. learning to hook the ball is a perfect example of the dangers of talking to untrained coaches.

[J Daisy]

The difference between going to a trained coach and getting help from high average bowlers is that the coach will teach you the accepted standards of good bowling; the things that you need to develop your own successful style. Untrained "coaches" will try to teach you to bowl like they do. What works for one person does not work for another, and may in fact be limiting to the person learning. It's easy to say that you are unable to work with a certified coach right now, but find a way to do it. You have a long bowling life in front of you. You can start out on the right foot or the wrong foot (pun intended). It's up to you. The above discussion of a straight game vs. learning to hook the ball is a perfect example of the dangers of talking to untrained coaches.

No, I actually cannot get a coach at this point in time. The reasons are many, but they are personal so I do not care to get into them. I want to thank you for your input, but a certified coach is not in the picture at this point. Perhaps some day in the future.

[J Anderson]

I am unable to get a certified coach at this time, but I certainly agree that it is good to learn what you can from those who know what they are doing. :)

Better than watching YouTube videos, I like to go on a league night and just watch people bowl. I find the best bowlers, and study their walk, their swing, and their style. I may even ask them questions when they are done, trying to determine why they did something a certain way and if I can apply it myself.

Thank you very much for the tips!

What are some of the things you mentioned that you do not need to be at a bowling alley for?

These drills are easier to demonstrate than explain so I will give you some suggestions as to what to search for on the internet as I go.
First you can practice a release drill. Norm Duke has an excellent video of how to do this filmed at a bowling alley, however you can easily do it at home. Being older than you, I use either a yoga block or some sort of cushion under the knee that’s on the floor and roll the ball into a pillow or cushion under the mirror on the back of the bed room door. This drill is actually better at home for people who are learning to hook the ball since at the alley you will be paying to watch your ball hook halfway down and roll off into the gutter.
You can practice your swing. If you go to eileen’sbowlingbuddy.com you can find training videos fo their swing trainers, and you can probably figure out a way to make do with stuff you already own.
If you have wood or vinyl floors in your home you can practice your approach assuming there is enough room.

[J Anderson]

What is your opinion? Should I learn to hook now, or work on my aim bowling straight first?

The way bowling has evolved on the typical house shot, usually just called THS, accuracy is less important than getting the ball into the pocket at a good angle. The THS gives people who hook the ball a fairly big area to hit at the breakpoint and still hit the pocket. Throwing it straight you get no advantage from the THS and even if you were to release you ball from right next to the gutter at the foul line you would only have about half of the optimum angle at the pins. Eventually you need to hook the ball

In regards to being accurate, you must remember that it is not about hitting you target at the arrows. It is all about playing the right line. If I drift a board left with my feet and hit my mark, I’ll miss the breakpoint two or three boards right. If I drift one left and miss one left at the arrows I only miss one left at the breakpoint.

I think that if you’re hitting the pins within two boards 90% of the time you’re ready to start on hooking the ball, preferably with an entry level reactive ball.

[Phonetek]

You said you have your approach "down pat"? Let me start by saying that you NEVER have it down pat. You may have your basic style repeatable but it will be always something that will need tweaking over the years. I uploaded a video here last year for critique and let me say that if I uploaded on today you'd would swear it's not the same person. Not because I cut my hair off either. The very basic mechanics of my approach are similar to what I've done for 42 years now, but a trained coach would definitely be able to spot everything I have done and know why I did it. An untrained eye would see only the drastic changes.

You're style is unique to you, a coach will help you refine it to make it work. As a beginner, that should be your primary focus. How your ball spins, what ball you use (as long as it's drilled for you and proper weight) and what pins you knock down are irrelevant at this stage in your development. Like the old adage, "Learn to walk before you learn to run". It's clear you can't get a coach right now. In the interim may I suggest you watch "How to" videos from the pros to learn the basics. There are several volumes online available, many for free. Get yourself a cheap tripod for your cell phone or tablet and record yourself on the lanes. Do it from several angles. Upload videos here for critique. Watch those videos yourself, play them in slow motion and see if you can identify things you are doing wrong. Others here will point out the rest.

Practice, practice and more practice! You can do it in your own living room or kitchen. Sounds ridiculous but it's true. Most of all, don't get frustrated. I'm trying to instill that into my son. I told him just last night, you don't know enough yet to justify getting frustrated. Right now, everything is just a guessing game with him on where to stand, what to target. Once he learns the proper way of doing that and he don't do it....THEN he can get frustrated. Right now the most important thing is patience and learning those things and ignoring the score monitor.

[J Daisy]

These drills are easier to demonstrate than explain so I will give you some suggestions as to what to search for on the internet as I go.
First you can practice a release drill. Norm Duke has an excellent video of how to do this filmed at a bowling alley, however you can easily do it at home. Being older than you, I use either a yoga block or some sort of cushion under the knee that’s on the floor and roll the ball into a pillow or cushion under the mirror on the back of the bed room door. This drill is actually better at home for people who are learning to hook the ball since at the alley you will be paying to watch your ball hook halfway down and roll off into the gutter.
You can practice your swing. If you go to eileen’sbowlingbuddy.com you can find training videos fo their swing trainers, and you can probably figure out a way to make do with stuff you already own.
If you have wood or vinyl floors in your home you can practice your approach assuming there is enough room.

Thank you so much for these tips! I will look up those videos for sure when I have more time. I really appreciate the help. :-)

[J Daisy]

The way bowling has evolved on the typical house shot, usually just called THS, accuracy is less important than getting the ball into the pocket at a good angle. The THS gives people who hook the ball a fairly big area to hit at the breakpoint and still hit the pocket. Throwing it straight you get no advantage from the THS and even if you were to release you ball from right next to the gutter at the foul line you would only have about half of the optimum angle at the pins. Eventually you need to hook the ball

In regards to being accurate, you must remember that it is not about hitting you target at the arrows. It is all about playing the right line. If I drift a board left with my feet and hit my mark, I’ll miss the breakpoint two or three boards right. If I drift one left and miss one left at the arrows I only miss one left at the breakpoint.

I think that if you’re hitting the pins within two boards 90% of the time you’re ready to start on hooking the ball, preferably with an entry level reactive ball.

Thank you for all your help. That sounds like good advice. I would say that I hit within 2 boards of my mark about 60% of the time when I'm actually able to focus on the game, so I need to keep working on that. Like I've said elsewhere, I'm not very good at this point, haha.

I will be keeping my eye out for a good reactive resin hooking ball for myself in the future.

[J Daisy]

You said you have your approach "down pat"? Let me start by saying that you NEVER have it down pat. You may have your basic style repeatable but it will be always something that will need tweaking over the years. I uploaded a video here last year for critique and let me say that if I uploaded on today you'd would swear it's not the same person. Not because I cut my hair off either. The very basic mechanics of my approach are similar to what I've done for 42 years now, but a trained coach would definitely be able to spot everything I have done and know why I did it. An untrained eye would see only the drastic changes.

You're style is unique to you, a coach will help you refine it to make it work. As a beginner, that should be your primary focus. How your ball spins, what ball you use (as long as it's drilled for you and proper weight) and what pins you knock down are irrelevant at this stage in your development. Like the old adage, "Learn to walk before you learn to run". It's clear you can't get a coach right now. In the interim may I suggest you watch "How to" videos from the pros to learn the basics. There are several volumes online available, many for free. Get yourself a cheap tripod for your cell phone or tablet and record yourself on the lanes. Do it from several angles. Upload videos here for critique. Watch those videos yourself, play them in slow motion and see if you can identify things you are doing wrong. Others here will point out the rest.

Practice, practice and more practice! You can do it in your own living room or kitchen. Sounds ridiculous but it's true. Most of all, don't get frustrated. I'm trying to instill that into my son. I told him just last night, you don't know enough yet to justify getting frustrated. Right now, everything is just a guessing game with him on where to stand, what to target. Once he learns the proper way of doing that and he don't do it....THEN he can get frustrated. Right now the most important thing is patience and learning those things and ignoring the score monitor.

I said that I have my form and footing down pat. Meaning, the proper foot to start on, the proper number of steps, the proper foot to end on, are all like a second nature to me by now. I know that as my skills improve, things like this will change and grow with me.

Thank you for posting. :)

The idea of posting a video is a good one. I'm a little camera shy, but I will think about it.

You said I can practice at home. My choices of flooring are carpet and concrete. Would a concrete floor damage my vintage plastic ball? I would rather not take the chance if there is a large risk of that.

[Phonetek]

LOL I meant practicing at home meaning going through the motions. You don't even need a ball in hand necessarily. I wouldn't recommend pitching a ball around your house, forget about damaging the ball. Bowling balls aren't very good for any home furnishings, pets or other peoples feet. LOL

Oh and on the video, we can either look at the back of your head or just angle it so your face isn't in the video. The expressions on your face really aren't as crutal to the bowling process.

[J Daisy]

LOL I meant practicing at home meaning going through the motions. You don't even need a ball in hand necessarily. I wouldn't recommend pitching a ball around your house, forget about damaging the ball. Bowling balls aren't very good for any home furnishings, pets or other peoples feet. LOL

Oh and on the video, we can either look at the back of your head or just angle it so your face isn't in the video. The expressions on your face really aren't as crutal to the bowling process.

Haha, when you had said it “sounds ridiculous”, I had assumed you meant throwing the ball. If I wasn't actually throwing the ball, it wouldn't be ridiculous. ;)

I'll think about the video. It is a good idea.