Ten Pin Bowling Tricks

In the game of bowling, a perfect turn involves knocking over all 10 pins with a ball that is much heavier and moving at high speeds. Though it may sound easy, the slightest change in angle, speed or follow through can ruin the perfect throw. When training to master 10 pin bowling, each player will throw a little differently depending on strength, size and preference. There are some tricks you may not think of to help improve your overall game without exhausting you with training.

  1. Bowler's First-aid Kit

    • When preparing to bowl, you know that you need your bowling shoes and your ball to complete a game. However, keeping a bowler's first-aid kit full of helpful accessories can improve your game in small but important ways.

      Keep two towels in your bowling bag. Before you throw the ball, wipe your hands with one towel and the ball with the other. This will remove excess oil from the ball and excess sweat or oil from your hands, giving you a firmer grip on the ball and, therefore, more control.

      Along the same lines, keeping baby powder or a rosin bag in your bag can help you keep your hands dry between turns.

      Keep spares of your equipment nearby as well. This can include extra shoe laces and finger inserts (if you use them in the fingerholes of your ball for a snug fit). You should also keep ball polish and cleaner on hand to remove any built up dirt, dust or oil residue on your ball.

      Tailor the rest of your first-aid kit to your needs. If you have long nails, nail clippers and a file can come in handy if a nail cracks or is getting in the way of your game. Keep bandages, pain killers and patches for your thumb in case of injury or irritation. You may also choose to keep sliding assistants or sandpaper on hand for your shoes and finger holes.

    Mental Attitude

    • Like many sports, your bowling skill is often influenced just as strongly by your mental state as by your physical ability. Controlling your mental attitude in practice and in competition can improve key parts of your game.

      Bowling Coach Tom Blasco states that there is no such thing as a failure, and that bowlers should focus on translating mistakes into opportunities. When something doesn't go as you planned, take the time to figure out what went wrong. Channel that information into positive changes for the future.

      The pressure of competition can overwhelm some, but Blasco states that nervousness is a good thing. Learn to relax and to use the adrenaline of nervousness for positive purposes, such as increased focus on your game. Remember that those you compete against, even the best, were once in your shoes; everyone starts somewhere.

    Dreaded Spares

    • Few things can ruin a good game like throwing a few strikes in a row, and then leaving either a seven or 10 pin standing alone. This often occurs because the ball's rotation, speed, angle or follow through changed just slightly, and it can be a frustrating situation for many bowlers.

      Dick Ritger, who runs a bowling camp for beginners and amateurs, says that those single pins are not as disastrous as they appear. Many bowlers can sometimes see these standing pins as symbols that their game is going downhill, but remember that you still knocked down 90 percent of the pins. Instead of allowing this one pin to ruin the rest of your game, take your time to effectively hit the spare and move on.