Bowling Tips to Get a Better Score

Bowling is a great recreational sport to play with friends, allowing you to relax and have a good time. If you find that the majority of your shots are ending up in the gutter, however, it can also become quite frustrating. Focusing on the key fundamentals of the game will allow you to improve both your score and your enjoyment of the game.

  1. Equipment

    • Owning your own bowling equipment is an easy way to improve your scores. Playing with lane balls every time you go to the bowling alley means it is unlikely that you will throw the same ball twice in a row, and this makes it difficult to develop a consistent throw. If you own a ball, however, you will grow to understand the feel of the ball and how it reacts in order to more accurately throw it.

    Consistency

    • Once you have found a ball that you are comfortable with, you can work on creating a consistent throwing motion. The more accurately you can replicate the same routine with each throw, the easier you will be able to make the adjustments needed if you are missing in the same way.

    Lane Effects

    • If throwing a curving shot, you must learn to read the lane and adjust to the effects of the oil on the lane. The more heavily-oiled a lane is, the less left-to-right movement can be placed on the ball, as it reduces traction. Conversely, a lane that is low on oil and running dry will require less spin to be put on your throws, as they will cut more sharply, leading to too much break with your standard throw.

    Cleaning

    • Cleanliness on the lanes is directly related to your ability to score well. A ball that has dust or excess oil from the lane on it when released will not behave the way you are used to, affecting your results. Similarly, approaching with dirty shoes can leave you susceptible to slipping on your approach. Your ball should always be toweled off before throwing, and the bottom of your shoes should be checked for impediments that can cause slipping.

    Practice Shots

    • Practice rounds are a great way to learn to make the various shots you might encounter during a round. While the initial strike throw will be the same throughout a game, the differing arrangements of spare pins all require different balls to be thrown. The only way to have confidence in all of your shots is to practice them.