5 Bowling Tips for Beginners

When a person is a beginner at bowling, there are a number of details at which he should work and of which he should think, if he wishes to bowl correctly and to improve quickly. I have listed below a number of these details and, if strict attention is paid to them, the average beginner may cut his "apprenticeship" to a fraction of the time ordinarily spent in learning the game.

1. Bowling Fundamentals come first.

Check constantly on the fundamentals which are the very backbone of your game. Once you have mastered these fundamentals, you can move on to finer bowling such as playing alleys, etc. You cannot do these until you have perfected your fundamentals. They are the ABC's of bowling.

2. Use a straight ball until you become consistent.

This is good advice unless you have a natural hook. You can learn to control a straight ball quicker and you can learn to hit spares sooner. You can also concentrate on fundamentals at the same time, which is a difficult job when one is trying to throw a hook or curve. After you have mastered the straight ball, you can start putting "stuff" on the ball.

3. Experiment with a three-step, four-step and a five-step delivery.

You will need to experiment until you find the delivery best suited to you. For the average bowler, the following distances are approximately correct for the starting position in the various deliveries: For a three-step, eight to ten feet from the foul line; for a four-step, ten to twelve feet back; and for a five-step, twelve to sixteen feet. These distances apply to a bowler of average size and stride. If your own size and stride are not average, make your own adjustments to fit.

4. Do not release the bowling ball until after it has passed your left foot.

You have two advantages here. First, the ball is out on the alley bed where it should be, and second, it is in front of you, giving you a better direction on your target.

Just how far past the foul line the ball should be released varies with the size of the bowler, the speed with which he approaches the foul line, the speed and length of his footwork, and the number of steps taken. A six-foot man, for instance, with long arms and long legs, might naturally release the ball two feet past the foul line, while a five-footer, who has short arms and takes short steps, might release it two inches past the line. Each man is correct.

5. Work to perfect a natural, easy delivery.

The only way to learn consistency is to bowl naturally with an easy style that allows you to be more consistent and to hold that consistency. Be natural-don't try to ape a delivery just because some expert may be using it. Use your own style.