Picking Up Your Spares

Why bother to pick up your spares?

All too often, beginning bowlers overlook clearing their frames. They're just delighted to have knocked down any pins at all, and laugh as they shoot yet another obvious gutter ball down the alley. Picking up spares is the one thing that even a beginner bowler can learn to dramatically improve their game. It can easily make the difference between a 110 and 180 average! While strikes are an important thing to learn, for a beginning to intermediate level bowler, I advise this: Clear your spares and the strikes will come. You will beat most of the competition by simply clearing your frames.

Tools of the trade

Professional bowlers use a "spare ball". That being a regular, plastic ball they use solely for the purpose of picking up their spares. Even if you have your own ball, try using one of the regular, plain-colored, plastic "house" balls to pick up your spares. They are drilled to roll perfectly straight, enabling you to better hit your target.

Ready...Aim...Bowl!

Take the time to learn how to effectively pick up your spares. Start by looking at your body posture and stance. The way you hold yourself makes a difference. When your wrist is straight yet relaxed and your arm flows smoothly and in a straight arc forward (not curving around your body and back) your aim will be more accurate.

The easiest bowling technique to knock down your spare pins is to aim the ball directly at them in a straight line. It's not the time to use your $300 hook ball; you want to minimize any spin. Be sure to relax your wrist as you release the ball and it will roll smooth and straight. Take the time to practice picking up your spares every chance you get. Many experienced league and professional players practice by aiming for the 7 or 10 pin. This method allows them to see how the ball reacts to the effort of crossing the lane.

Practice, relax, concentrate and take your time when going after your spare. A moment taken to line up your shot and take a deep, relaxing breath will make all the difference. A good rule of thumb is to aim your ball at the pin closest to you, striking it on the side opposite any other pins. Always start from the arrow to the left or right of whichever pins remain standing. Roll across the strike target at the pins you're aiming for and before you know it you will be picking up your spares!

What can stop your efforts to pick up spares?

There are a few instances in which your efforts may prove futile. If you know that you're doing the right bowling techniques but are missing your targets, one of the following culprits is usually to blame:

If your ball is too dull or dirty, it can roll early and use up all its energy instead of storing it up until it reaches the back-end. Pop it in the ball-polishing machine.

If your ball is consistently hooking early and slowing down on the back end, it could be the ball's surface. Again, use the polisher or have it buffed with very high-grade sandpaper.

If your ball seems to slip, or obviously moves funny at the same spot on a lane, it could be a divot, oil, or other flaw in the lane. Try a different lane and see if that helps.

If you've tried a new ball surface and a new lane and your ball is still hooking too early, move your feet a little to the left if you're right handed or right if you're left handed to compensate.

With just a little extra effort you can learn to improve your average and clear your frames. You will have a new found appreciation for the sport, admiration of your teammates and the envy of your competitors once you've mastered the bowling tips and techniques to effectively pick up your spares.

5 great tips for that beginner bowler

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.

7 great tips to improve your game

We've heard it many times before... practice makes perfect. And for good reason-it's the truth! The best way to get better at anything is to practice; bowling is no exception. However, how you practice will mean the difference between slowly improving and supercharging your game!

Bowling Tip #1: Use the right tools

In any sport, using the correct equipment for the job you have to do improves your performance. In bowling, the ball is the most important piece of equipment you will use, so choose the right one for the job! Be sure to try out many, and select one that's the right weight, material and finger-grip fit.

Bowling Tip #2: Are you bowling enough?

To progress at bowling, you need to bowl at least once or twice a week. The most economical way to get this amount of practice in is by joining a league. Usually, the more experienced players show up before the game to practice. This is when you can learn the most, from people committed to the sport.

Bowling Tip #3: Learn to walk the walk

While professional bowlers tend to use a 5-step approach, that's just not suitable for someone just learning the sport. Beginners are usually more comfortable with a 4-step approach. You can practice your approach without throwing a single ball. Keep your shoulders square to the front, your head up, arm swing smooth, and your pace consistent and even.

Bowling Tip #4: Let 'em roll

Spend time rolling the ball. A bowling ball should never be thrown. How do you tell the difference? A thrown ball will land with a loud "clunk" and then slide a few feet before beginning to roll. A rolled ball lands quietly and quickly rolls down the lane. If you find that you're in the habit of throwing the ball, simply slow down. Try taking a slow, deep breath or two before bowling to settle any anxiety. You will hit more pins with a rolled ball than with a thrown one.

Bowling Tip #5: What you think is what you do

Spend time visualizing and analyzing your shots. Visualize your movements and your shots before you do them. If your ball goes consistently too far right, begin a little further left. You will learn to "feel" when you've bowled a good ball. When you do, write it down before you forget. What did you do? How did the ball feel? Where did the ball hit? Keep it for future reference so you can do it again.

Bowling Tip #6: What if I can't be at the alley enough to practice?

Any smooth surface with a long, clear distance is suitable for practicing your approach. It's not safe to practice the release, however, as a bowling ball will easily roll straight through walls if you miss your target! Not to mention you'll ruin the surface of your ball. When practicing at home, mark your foul line and arrows in masking tape or other material that will not damage your floor. Also mark where your toes need to be for each step. Practice your approach until it's second nature.

You can practice your arm swing outdoors with a bucket of water with a small hole at the bottom. The water drops on the ground will mark the path of your arm and the direction the ball would go. It's a good way to see if you arc around your body when you bowl and which direction your arm is going. This can be a very enlightening experience.

Bowling Tip #7: Don't spare yourself the trouble

It's a very good idea to practice picking up your spares. A bowler who can consistently pick up his spares can easily hold a 180 average without getting any strikes. It's especially useful to practice bowling at the 7-or 10-pins by aiming at them and bowling across the strike zone (the "x" on the lane) from the opposite side of the lane.

By practicing these bowling techniques on a regular basis, you'll be honing the skills that will help you improve your bowling game!

Tips For Your Bowling Success

Hi my name is Mike Heid from Cincinnati,Ohio and this is an introductory
to my blog.I have been bowling for more than 30 years.My grandparents started
a bowling alley back in August 1957.Here is a great website we put together for our lanes.http://www.heidslanes.com/
In my years of bowling I have accomplished quite a bit.I have thrown quite a few
300 games and a few 800 series.While i thought about going pro a few times i just
didn't feel i could dedicate enough time to compete at that level.I had gotten married
and had a child on the way and it just didn't seem possible.Plus in order to go
pro you pretty much need someone to sponsor you to get you started unless you
have the money to front the cost yourself.So i just stuck to my league bowling which
was 3 nights a week and i used to try out for King of bowling every week.This was a local show in Cincinnati where every week you went to different lanes and competed
to make the show.Anyways i am starting this blog because i am passionate about this
sport and i hope i can give some good tips to help some of you better your scores.